We have an excellent clinical training program:

•  Greater than 60,000 anesthetics annually

• 4 hospitals, 3 outpatient surgery centers, and 3 private practices provide a broad training experience and exposure to diverse working environments

• Small resident class relative to case volume (13 per year) allows resident access to the best teaching cases

• Excellent case variety: thoracic, neuro, pediatric, pain, cardiac, transplant, level 1 trauma center, extensive regional anesthesia experience

• Residents assigned based on educational rather than service needs

• World-class simulation center and comprehensive didactic program

• Great environment for resident training with high resident satisfaction

Hartford, Connecticut has an important place in the history of anesthesiology. At one point, Hartford was the home of Horace Wells who first described the anesthetic properties of nitrous oxide in 1844. The Hartford Hospital Anesthesiology Residency was one of the first anesthesiology residencies in the country, and the American Board of Anesthesiology was headquartered in the city of Hartford for many years.

The merger of the University of Connecticut School of Medicine Anesthesiology Residency Program with that of Hartford Hospital integrated two well-established anesthesiology residency programs. What emerged is an excellent training program that blends superb clinical training sites with the academic strength of the University.

All residents prepare and present a rigorously researched review of a self-selected topic during their second and third year of training in consultation with a faculty mentor. In addition, several of our faculty have ongoing research projects and residents are encouraged to involve in research activities. Many of our residents present at national/regional meetings and have co authored publications in peer reviewed journals.

Under the guidance of Drs. Thomas Mort and Michael Archambault, residents participate in simulator-based training using Hartford Hospital’s cutting edge facility, Center for Education, Simulation and Innovation (CESI). CESI is the first simulation center of its kind in the state of Connecticut and the largest simulation teaching facility in New England region. Our anesthesiologist, Dr. Thomas Mort was the champion in establishing the center and served as the founder director of the simulation center for many years. CESI is one of the 20 centers recognized by the Laerdal Corporation as Center of Excellence. Before entering the OR, new residents gain confidence through three days of simulation focused on difficult airway skills, BLS/ACLS protocols, invasive line placements and drilling on team-based management of OR emergencies. Simulator training continues throughout residency, allowing residents to practice managing uncommon clinical emergencies such as malignant hyperthermia while reinforcing management strategies for more common clinical scenarios. We believe this educational activity adds greatly to the experience of our residents.

Our residents have time to study and to pursue outside interests and obligations during training. New residents have no call or weekend duties for the first three months to maximize their time to read and settle into their new role. Afterward, night call is every fifth night on average with 7 a.m. relief and the next day off. Daily relief from clinical OR duties usually occurs at approximately 5 p.m. Resident duty hours are tracked to ensure compliance with ACGME rules.