Alumni

During medical school, I knew I liked the clinical volume seen at community hospitals, but knew I wanted to be involved in research usually seen in academic centers. It's difficult to find anesthesia residency programs that incorporate both these aspects well and it was Geisinger's ability to combine the two that helped me decide on the program. The faculty and institution are vested in training adept physicians and creating an environment to do so successfully. We meet with our program director regularly and are involved in discussions on many of the evolving aspects of our anesthesiology training.

My experience at Geisinger Medical Center has been very positive. The experiences I have had thus far have been rewarding and have provided plenty of opportunities to learn and grow as a physician. I have been exposed to a wide variety of pathology that will prepare me for a successful career in anesthesia. The teaching faculty here at Geisinger Medical Center, on all services, are excited about teaching and preparing the upcoming generation of physicians.

Geisinger promotes an excellent environment that fosters learning and individual growth as a resident. With its diverse patient population and high acuity of cases, Geisinger offers a variety of learning opportunities.

I am happy to have chosen Geisinger for my anesthesiology residency. My intern year provided me with sound baseline medical knowledge in internal medicine, critical care and surgery, among others. Over a year into clinical anesthesia, I have worked closely with incredibly knowledgeable physicians who enjoy teaching and encouraging the utilization of the most modern techniques and technologies. This, in addition to significant dedicated educational time, has made ascension up the CA-1 learning curve relatively simple. There is plenty of opportunity for research and quality improvement projects as well. Studying anesthesiology at Geisinger has strengthened my clinical acumen and improved my efficiency while adequately preparing me for the ABA board exams and ultimately paving the way for a successful career in anesthesiology.

My integration into the Geisinger anesthesiology residency has been a serendipitous experience. We're a new program, but our preceptors are not new to resident education. It’s apparent that our program chair, director and core faculty understand the delicate balance of direct oversight and independent practice in our clinical training. This understanding has led to a competent progression to autonomy in the operating rooms and perioperative settings. Our resident education consists of resident-led morning reports, traditional weekly lectures and online tutorials. This educational format caters to all facets of learning styles. Our attendings effectively help us translate theoretical learning to practical application and, by extension, best practices for patient care. Our caseload is diverse and extensive. Although we do a significant amount of operative cases and other anesthesia practices, our work hours are protected. It’s obvious that our program exists for the sake of resident education and optimal patient care. I’m confident that Geisinger's approach to anesthesia residency not only sets us apart from other anesthesiology programs but also puts us at the forefront of anesthesia residency education.

Geisinger Medical Center provides me the opportunity to see challenging patient cases along with a strong support system within the Department of Anesthesiology — all these qualities made this program appealing to me. During my first year, I improved my clinical judgment and communication skills through direct patient care, didactics and simulations within the wide variety of rotations offered. I believe the program will provide me with a solid foundation for my career in anesthesiology.

Geisinger's rural setting and tertiary care capabilities offer a unique combination. The exposure to a diverse patient population and clinical pathology, combined with an incredibly stable and resourceful healthcare system, ultimately led me to choose Geisinger. Teaching faculty are engaged and committed, residents are challenged but also respected, and the numerous clinical and academic opportunities available to residents make this center an excellent place to train.

As a learner and caretaker, my experience at Geisinger has been enjoyable and educational. I am impressed by the unique mix of community-oriented medical care and academic medicine, high degree of resident autonomy, diverse patient populations, a broad range of pathologies and excellent faculty mentoring. In addition to the rich learning atmosphere, the friendly and supportive collegiality at Geisinger makes me feel like part of a family.