Medical Students

Anesthesiology is part of the required curriculum for all third-year medical students. In addition, the Department continues to maintain a strong presence in the entire medical school curriculum.

The rotation's emphasis is on instilling principles and practices that will serve the students regardless of their chosen field and, in particular, assist the future physician in providing effective perioperative consultation for the surgical patient. Students gain practical experience in airway management, endotracheal intubation, and intravenous cannulation. Lectures and discussions focus on perioperative issues such as:

• Preoperative evaluation
  
• Fluid management
  
• Cardiopulmonary physiology
  
• Invasive hemodynamic monitoring
  
• Sedation/paralytics/local anesthesia outside the OR
  
• Postoperative pain managementco-existing disease
  
• Making the patient ready for surgery

Students are considered to be part of the anesthesia care team and are expected to participate in our patients' preoperative and postoperative care.

• The Anesthesia Interest Group, led by Dr. Shams Akhtar, brings together students with an interest in anesthesiology and exposes them to ongoing research ideas, career guidance and general enrichment.
• Our fourth-year elective attracts students from around the world. Students receive instruction in the principles and practice of anesthesiology. They can customize their own training experience in anticipation of a career in anesthesiology.
• To encourage excellence in the teaching of medical students, each year we recognize one resident by giving the Resident Award for Excellence in Medical Student Education.

• Anesthesiology 103
  Clinical Clerkship
  Full-time two-week clinical clerkship for students. Students will be assigned throughout the year to Yale-New Haven Hospital for introduction to clinical anesthesiology, including preoperative evaluation of patients, selection of anesthetic technique, and administration of anesthetics under supervision. Perioperative medicine, airway management, monitoring techniques, clinical pharmacology and physiology are emphasized.
  
• Anesthesiology 104
  Advanced Clinical Clerkship
  Four-week elective, full-time clinical clerkship throughout the year (except July and August) for two students. Individualized program of instruction in anesthesia sub-specialties, including cardiovascular, neurosurgical, obstetrical, ambulatory and pediatric anesthesia.
  
• Anesthesiology 141
  Clinical Research
  One or two students - hours arranged. Participation in ongoing research by Departmental faculty (on varying topics including non-invasive monitoring, cardiovascular monitoring, cerebral fMRI clinical pharmacology, and quality management) The development of individual research projects is also encouraged.
  
• Anesthesiology 142
  Basic Research Within Anesthesiology
  One or two students - hours arranged. Laboratory research training in the autonomic, cardiopulmonary or neurophysiological effects of drugs. Students may also participate in basic research in tissue engineering and on the mechanisms of pain and itch.