Dream Job Anesthesiology’s allure: High pay, flexibility, intellectual stimulation DO anesthesiologists describe their field as fast-paced and demanding, yet amenable to family life and personal time. March 1, 2012Thursday Carolyn Schierhorn Contact cschierhorn Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Topics anesthesiologyspecialties (Page 2 of 2) Anesthesiologists need to be team players who work well with surgeons and surgical residents, and they need to have the management skills to supervise anesthesiology assistants and nurse anesthetists effectively, Dr. Kane says. “Contrary to what many people think, anesthesiologists need to have good interpersonal skills because this is a field in which you must be able to connect with patients very, very quickly,” Dr. Escher observes. “A lot of patients are quite scared before having an operation. A good anesthesiologist answers patients’ questions, puts them at ease, makes that personal connection and does everything he or she can to ensure a good outcome.” Getting there The right personality traits and interest in the field are not enough, however. Academic achievement and high board scores are important for anyone considering an anesthesiology residency. The immediate past chairman of Drexel’s anesthesiology department, George Mychaskiw II, DO, notes that each year Drexel’s ACGME-accredited residency program receives more than 800 applications for eight positions. To land an interview at Drexel, osteopathic medical students need to score at least 200 on the USMLE or at least 500 on the first attempt for Level 1 of COMLEX-USA. The COMLEX scores for Drexel’s ranked candidates average around 570. What’s more, says Dr. Mychaskiw, many of the more than 130 ACGME-accredited anesthesiology programs do not accept the COMLEX-USA and have higher cut-off scores for the USMLE. Excellent academic credentials are essential for anesthesiology program candidates, concurs Dr. Kane, the director of an eight-position AOA-approved anesthesiology residency program at South Pointe Hospital in Warrensville Heights, Ohio. “We only look at students whose COMLEX or USMLE scores are in the top 10% or top 15% nationally,” he says. But overall the 13 AOA-approved anesthesiology residencies will consider candidates with a broader range of scores, depending on the competition in a given year, according to data published by the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine. The association reported that those matching into AOA-approved anesthesiology residencies in a recent year had average COMLEX scores of 501 for Level 1 and 518 for Level 2. Osteopathic medical students who hope to pursue an anesthesiology career should consider taking both the USMLE and COMLEX to expand their prospects, Dr. Kane suggests. Because anesthesiologists frequently engage in research on everything from pain modulation to postoperative cognitive function, residency candidates with research experience have an edge, Drexel’s Dr. Green says. Dr. Green also favors candidates who demonstrate interest in anesthesiology before their fourth-year anesthesiology elective. Students can shadow anesthesiologists, spend time with anesthesiologists when they are on surgery rotations, and attend anesthesiology conferences. “Face time is very valuable,” Dr. Green says. “Try to get to know people in the field.” Board certification and beyond The road to becoming an anesthesiologist is a long one, requiring a four-year residency or an osteopathic rotating internship followed by a three-year residency. Those training in AOA-approved programs need to become AOA board certified, a process requiring written, oral and clinical examinations that can take four years to complete. Those training in ACGME-accredited programs take part in a similar examination process to become certified by the American Board of Anesthesiology (ABA). Anesthesiologists have the option of furthering their education by serving a one-year fellowship or obtaining a certificate of added qualification in pain management, critical care, pediatric anesthesia or some other subspecialty. Because of the greater availability of ACGME anesthesiology residencies and fellowships, today most DO anesthesiologists become ABA certified. But DOs in certain key administrative positions in the profession, such as osteopathic medical school deans and osteopathic residency program directors, must be AOA board certified. Consequently, students who hope to become to become leaders in osteopathic medical education should carefully weigh the long-term pros and cons of serving an ACGME-accredited versus an AOA-approved anesthesiology residency. The AOA does, however, have a mechanism called “Resolution 56” that allows DOs who are certified through the American Board of Medical Specialties to take part in the AOA board-certification process. The DO difference During his time at Drexel, Dr. Mychaskiw observed that DO residents tend to be more mature overall than MD residents. “Most of Drexel’s chief residents are DOs. Many are somewhat older because osteopathic medicine is their second career. They tend to have more experience in the real world outside of school,” says Dr. Mychaskiw, who recently was appointed chairman of the anesthesiology department at the Nemours Children’s Hospital under construction in Orlando, Fla. “DO residents work hard, and they take their responsibilities seriously.” Outside of pain management practices, most DO anesthesiologists do not perform osteopathic manipulative treatment on patients, but their osteopathic approach to care shines through, according to Dr. Escher. “I think our interpersonal skills set us apart from a lot of MDs,” he says. “And our ability to look at the whole patient brings another dimension to our preoperative assessment and postoperative care of patients.” Patients don’t expect to remember their anesthesiologists. Anesthesiology is not a field in which physicians establish long-term relationships with patients. “But my patients usually do remember me because I talk with them and I joke with them,” Dr. Dougherty says. “This interaction has only a positive impact on patient outcomes, and it makes the work more fun.” Previous articleIndiana takes aim at physician shortfall with new osteopathic medical school Next articleHow DOs are clicking with social media
However,if you are solo or a small group,enjoy those 3 am hours in OB or Trauma if you are located in a high volume area Mar. 5, 2012, at 7:44 pm Reply
So, you’re telling me that Anesthesiologists make money and have great hours, when not being replaced by a CRNA for half the price? I think we knew about all that, but the author needed the pub for his CV I guess. This is irrelevant to most of us osteopaths because there are very few DO Anesthesiology Residencies for us anyways and no MD program will take us seriously after how much mud we’ve slung at the AMA/ACGME. A DO to CRNA program may be the best compromise at this point. Nov. 8, 2014, at 12:46 pm Reply
I and 15 other of my osteopathic classmates matched into an acgme anesthesiology program this year. We were all strong applicants but I tell everyone, “If I can do it, you can do it”, and I honestly believe it. Mar. 24, 2015, at 8:13 pm Reply
I agree. If you want an ACGME residency it can be done. Lay the foundation by doing rotations in a hospital that has an anesthesia residency and connect with the people there like a great Osteopathic physicians that we are. I was the FIRST DO to graduate from my ACGME program (1998) and then more DOs followed after my success in the program. Granted I had a really cool chairman. However, most Anesthesia positions are not glamorous and hours are not fixed as the cases have no set times to end in private practice. And our rates are being killed by CRNA and HMO. My practice has not seen an increase in pay for the last 15 years. Also, I often worked 36 hours many a times as you take 24 hours OB call and if you are short you will be asked to take the shortest room which will add another 6 to 8 hours. Mar. 28, 2015, at 11:03 pm
My experience has not been at all like you have described. I attended an osteopathic internship and then an allopathic residency and found the qualities I obtained in in my osteopathic training fit extremely well with Anesthesiology. My attendings and follow residents never had an issue with my background, in fact they often took opportunity to learn from it. I was one of 2 DO’s in a class of 10. The class before me had 3 DO’s out of 10. We did as well as medical graduates from Mayo Clinic, UVA, UNC, etc. There are major issues in Anesthesiology though. CRNAs have a powerful lobby that fights every minute for independent practice rights. Private practice pays well (for now) and when you are off, you are off. When you are on, the hours are long and demanding. Overall…I am happy with my chosen profession. Apr. 8, 2015, at 1:05 pm Reply
There is a lot of flexibility in all of this. I was invited for anesthesia residency interview to 3 MD Medical Centers in the 90s in California. Two of the three spoke to me very nicely, one of them was so rude, and they did not even complete the scheduled program with me. I had flown in from NY to the West Coast during my internship year. The other two were elite centers in Los Angeles and they spoke to me very nicely. After all these years, one of our family friends has become the recruiter for this one center that did not finish my interview. Now, she flat out reveals that they do not hire DOs as attending as their policy. Ironically, this MD school and Medical Center ranks the lowest among the MD schools in California. I was accepted at one of the places I interviewed. May. 6, 2015, at 11:00 pm
The hospital that has the policy of not hiring the DOs, they hire FMG MDs, MBBSs, and MBCHBs etc. Basically, they are willing to hire and give away jobs (supported by the USA tax payer’s money) to non-American trained FMGs, but, not DOs. They have made up their mind in concrete that FMG MBBSs coming from the Common Wealth countries are better than the USA DOs, hence, they can choose to overlook the American DOs looking for jobs and hire FMGs. This is just so malignant. Our tax money goes to support these hospitals, yet they hire FMGs over DOs. May. 6, 2015, at 11:14 pm
I love anesthesiology (as well as ICU). But the truth is it’s far from lifestyle friendly! See the comments here for example. Jan. 2, 2015, at 6:14 am Reply
court, you still got a long way, highschool courses hacve litteraly no effect on me school or becoming an anesthesiologist, Get a good ACT and get accepted into a good Pre-Med, do good on your pre med and MCATs go to med school or DO and then you look for residency prgorams Feb. 19, 2015, at 10:29 pm Reply
This random comment has nothing to do with the article. BTW, thanks for the helpful information for my career class!!!!!!!!!!!! Apr. 14, 2015, at 1:47 pm Reply
Thnx for the info Pikachu, I am also in high school and I was looking around to see what profession I might want to strive towards in the future! Dec. 3, 2015, at 7:23 pm Reply
My name is M sadiq. i learning anesthesia from Bashir para medical institute islamabad pakistan.I like anesthesia than other field of Medical because it is one of the best field in Medical line through anesthesia we can also help the many peoples.Allah hafiz Jan. 12, 2016, at 1:05 pm Reply
More like the opposite. They have good hours but they are always on call. Oct. 20, 2020, at 11:44 am Reply