CA-3 Year Overview

The CA-3 year is specifically designed for each resident to use for career preparation and planning. This year is often used to explore subspecialty and/or research interests. It may also be a time to gain additional expertise in a specific area such as regional anesthesia, critical care, or transesophageal echocardiography.

Residents may select from one of two tracks described by the American Board of Anesthesiology:
Advanced Clinical Track

• Minimum of 6 months of advanced anesthesia training
• One to three selected subspecialty rotations (residents may train in one anesthesia subspecialty for at most six months)

Clinical Scientist Track

• Option A: 6 months of clinical or laboratory research during 48 months of training (12 months of clinical base and a minimum of 30 months of clinical anesthesia)
• Option B: 18 months of clinical or laboratory research at any time during 60 months of training (12 months of clinical base and a minimum of 30 months of clinical anesthesia)

Residents are taught:

• In depth understanding of the principles of all major subspecialties (ambulatory, cardiac, critical care, endocrine, neurosurgical, obstetrics, pediatrics, acute and chronic pain, thoracic, trauma, vascular) in depth
• To know and address important articles in recent literature

Case management

• To manage independently, with staff availability: ASA physical status 4 patients with multisystem diseases for
  • Complex elective and emergency surgery
  • Acute and chronic pain
  • Recovery room care

Technical skills

• Perform all aforementioned anesthetic and invasive monitoring procedures independently

Oral skills

• Attain the qualities and attributes fundamental to performance as a consultant anesthesiologist (according to the American Board of Anesthesiology):
• Ability to organize and express thoughts clearly
• Sound judgment in decision-making and application
• Ability to apply basic science principles to clinical problems
• Adaptability to rapidly changing clinical conditions
• Supervise and mentor medical students
• Participate actively in teaching fellow residents