Letter from our Chief Residents

Dear Prospective Applicants:

We are excited to welcome you to the University of Maryland Department of Anesthesiology! Here on our website, you can find information about our didactic curriculum, clinical experiences and rotations, life outside of the hospital, and applications.

We offer 16 total spots each year, spread between our four-year categorical program and three-year advanced program. Residents in our categorical program will spend all four years in training at the University of Maryland, including the PGY-1 year spent primarily with the departments of medicine, emergency medicine, and anesthesiology. Residents in our advanced program have the opportunity to complete a medical, surgical, or transitional year outside of the University of Maryland Medical System, but many choose to complete their intern year with us or at another institution here in Baltimore.

The early portion of the CA-1 (PGY-2) year begins with early clinical exposure in the operating rooms where you will be paired with a fellow CA-1 resident or senior resident, and an attending anesthesiologist. The beginning of the year is further enhanced by daily afternoon didactic sessions led by our faculty about key foundational topics in the practice of anesthesiology so you can build a reliable knowledge base before beginning more independent practice. Over the following weeks and months, you will transition to closely-supervised independent practice and quickly accelerate your knowledge to take on tougher cases, integrate with the call team, and respond to hospital-wide emergencies as part of the airway/code team. CA-1 residents have the benefit of staffing large cases such as vascular surgeries and liver transplants early in the year to gain experience with high-acuity patients early in a supportive environment.

Patient acuity (according to the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services' Case Mix Index) lies in the 99th percentile nationally, meaning you will be routinely caring for patients with multiple comorbidities requiring complex and cutting-edge elective and emergent surgeries. Experiences like these during your CA-1 year will prepare you well for the specialty-focused CA-2 year and situate you to be flourishing leaders as CA-2 residents. Our training is further enhanced by the attached Veterans Affairs Medical Center and world-renowned Shock Trauma Center, as well as by a high-acuity obstetric anesthesiology referral service. Our residents spend an average of 3-4 months total across all four years away from our main campus for their chronic pain and primary regional anesthesia/outpatient surgery experiences. Ample elective time in the CA-3 year allows for a custom-made conclusion to your training to suit your interests in the field and your career goals.

Our graduating CA-3 residents demonstrate outstanding clinical competency and are sought after by top-tier fellowship programs, private practices, and academic institutions. About half of our graduating residents elect to complete fellowship training, while the other half enjoy their pick of job offers in a variety of settings.

With an average work week of about 50-60 hours, our residents have ample time to explore Baltimore and the surrounding areas. Baltimore is a hub for exceptional cuisine, concerts, sporting events (go Orioles and Ravens!), water views, and cultural events. Within a 45-minute drive of downtown Baltimore lie numerous wineries, breweries, hiking trails, the Chesapeake Bay, and Washington, DC. Our department hosts several social events throughout the year including a summer crab picnic, resident retreat, holiday party, happy hours, softball/kickball games, and more.

We are so excited to show off our amazing program to you and look forward to the opportunity to meet you on an upcoming interview. Thank you for considering our program, and please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions!

2024-2025 Chief Residents

Drs. David Yim, Chris Parrino, Rachel Reindorf (L to R)