The Department of Anesthesiology at MetroHealth Medical Center is committed to ensuring the success of our resident physicians. We are a teaching hospital of Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. Our faculty holds academic appointments at Case Western Reserve University.

The setting is very dynamic. All surgical specialties are well represented giving our residents a broad range of clinical experience. The hospital is also a Level I Trauma Center. This adds to a high degree of complexity in patient management.

Excellence In General Anesthesia and Subspecialty Care

The fact that we are a Level I Trauma Center ensures that we are delivered a plethora of unstable, critically ill patients. Busy general surgical and surgical subspecialties (such as vascular, orthopedics, urology, otolaryngology, cardiothoracic, pediatrics, neurosurgical, gynecology, plastics) provide extensive teaching material for our residency.

In addition to extensive experience in surgical anesthesia, we offer significant exposure in subspecialty areas. We have a well-established Acute Pain Service that performs a wide variety of blocks under ultrasound and manages hospitalized patients with challenging pain issues. Our Chronic Pain Service takes care of a high volume of patients with interventions which can include medical management, nerve blocks, spinal cord stimulators, and more. High-risk obstetrical anesthesia offers the resident exposure to complex obstetric patients. Transesophogeal echocardiography is extensively utilized for cardiac anesthesia. Our large Surgical Intensive Care Unit treats critically ill patients with a wide range of diseases and traumatic injuries.

Friendly Work Environment and Commitment to Education

Our program is very collegial. Just ask one of our residents! Although a major academic center, our resident class averages seven per year. This size allows for faculty and residents to know one another well and for special attention to the needs of our residents. There are no fellows to compete with for cases. Thus, the education is directed wholly toward our resident physicians. Recent graduates have secured fellowships in Pain Management, Cardiothoracic Anesthesia, Regional Anesthesia, Critical Care, and Pediatric Anesthesia. Others have directly pursued careers in academic and private practice.

Fostering Clinical Expertise and Leadership Skills

The residency in anesthesiology offers a graded increase in responsibility coupled with close supervision by our faculty. After initial rotations in basic surgical anesthesiology, the residents are challenged early on with an array of subspecialty rotations. By the end of the first year of clinical anesthesia, this experience leads to significant proficiency and a strong foundation.

In addition to shoring up expertise in more advanced general anesthesia and subspecialty areas, the second year of clinical anesthesia offers an in-depth experience in Acute and Chronic Pain Management. Leadership skills are fostered as residents begin taking "senior" call. Senior call provides the resident the opportunity to help coordinate the care of anesthesia while on call under the supervision of faculty.

During the third and last year of clinical anesthesia, the senior resident is further maturing in his/her leadership skills. Senior residents manage complex cases, engage in research, teach junior residents, and take electives of their choosing. Senior residents have more time to pursue fellowships, job opportunities, study for boards, and prepare for the next phase of their career. Our senior residents leave poised to contribute to the field of anesthesiology.