A resident's roadmap to becoming an anesthesiologist

Below is an outline of each residency year's milestones and different goals to consider.

Post Graduate Year (PGY) - 1 year

• Pass Step 3 (prior to CA-1 year)
• Focus on core medicine principles, learning broad basis for clinical practice, and don’t think of it as a “scut work year”
• Attend anesthesia grand rounds (if feasible) 
• Start reading basic anesthesia textbook such as Miller’s Basics of Anesthesia
• If in a preliminary PGY-1 year, make sure non–anesthesia requirements such as 4 weeks Emergency Medicine and 8 weeks of Critical Care Medicine are completed during PGY1 year
• Strong performance--professional relationship starts--NOW (even non-anesthesia rotations)

CA-1

• 1st 1-2 months:
• Adjust to clinical anesthesia schedule–very different from your medicine and surgical colleagues!
• Read an anesthesia textbook and conduct content review on a daily basis
• 1st 6 months:
• Don’t worry about fellowship!
• Focus on core O.R. anesthesia clinical performance and basic knowledge
• Prepare for the In-Training Exam (ITE) and do the best you can
• 2nd 6 months:
• Prepare and pass the Basic ABA Certification Exam
• Starting thinking if fellowship is right for you
• Explore subspecialty rotations

CA-2

• Consider if fellowship is right for you
• If considering a fellowship, identify a mentor early and apply
• Prepare for ITE (this is a predictor of success on future exams)
      
• If not pursuing fellowship, think about what type of practice you would like pursue
• Academic vs Private Practice
• Community vs Tertiary
• Urban vs Suburban vs Rural
• Hospital vs Outpatient
• Tune in to episode “Career Path & Practice Settings” of ASA’s Residents in a Room podcast series for deeper insights!

CA-3

• Prepare CV and job application, if not applying for fellowship
• Ensure that you have met minimum case numbers (employers may ask for credentialing purposes)
• Explore rotations of interest or further clinical experience
• Make sure you have a lawyer review your contract (your State Society will recommend one)
• Things to consider:
• Salary, hours, call requirements, location, supervision of CRNAs and anesthesiologist assistants, and medical malpractice insurance
• Start applying for your state medical license (if not obtained already)