Anesthesiology

2011 Match Data

In the 2011 NRMP Match, nearly 1,400 positions were available. In recent years, anesthesiology has been a moderately competitive specialty. The mean USMLE score among matched applicants was 226, considerably higher than the mean score of 203 among unmatched applicants.¹ The Mayo Clinic Department of Anesthesiology stresses the importance of USMLE scores. "Although we consider each application in its entirety, USMLE scores are often one of the earliest components of your application that we receive. Therefore, it's very important to work hard and excel in the first two years of medical school to be well prepared for USMLE Step 1."

Osteopathic and international medical graduate (IMG) applicants have had some degree of success matching into the field. In the 2010 NRMP Match, 124 osteopathic applicants and 106 IMGs matched into allopathic residency programs. In fact, these two groups of applicants make up approximately 20% of total residents.

Matching into an ACGME-accredited anesthesiology residency program is more difficult for osteopathic and IMG applicants when compared to allopathic applicants. The NRMP classifies osteopathic and IMG applicants as independent applicants. In 2011, nearly 50% of independent applicants failed to match. Of note, osteopathic applicants may also apply to a dozen AOA-approved residency programs.  

2011 Anesthesiologist Compensation/Salary

The specialty of anesthesiology is among the highest-paying medical fields. According to the Medscape Anesthesiology Compensation Report: 2011 Results, the median salary is $325,000. Read more

Subspecialties of Anesthesiology

Subspecialties in which anesthesiologists can pursue fellowship training leading to board certification include pain medicine, hospice and palliative care, and critical care medicine. Fellowship training is also available in obstetric anesthesia, cardiothoracic anesthesia, neuroanesthesiology, regional anesthesia, pediatric anesthesia, transplant anesthesia, and trauma anesthesia.

Excelling in your Core Clerkships

In a recent NRMP survey of anesthesiology residency program directors, 64% cited "honors in clinical clerkships" as a factor in selecting applicants to interview.² Our book, Success on the Wards: 250 Rules for Clerkship Success shows students proven strategies for success in core clerkships. Nineteen U.S. medical school have made our book a required or recommended text for third-year medical students. Read reviews of the book and Q & A with the authors. The first chapter is available free to read. The book can be purchased through our online store or at Amazon.

Excelling in your Anesthesiology Clerkship

Read about how you can excel in your anesthesiology clerkship

Medical Student's Internet Guide to Anesthesia

Anesthesiology Residency Application

Almost all residency programs require applicants to submit their completed application through the Electronic Residency Application Service, also known as ERAS. ERAS does not, however, allow applicants to submit their curriculum vitae or CV as part of this application. Instead, ERAS requires all applicants to transfer information from their CV to the ERAS Application Form. It is the ERAS Application Form that is then sent to programs for review along with the the rest of your application.

Once the application is received, program directors will read it closely and carefully. The application will be used to assess the quality of your written communication skills. Programs place considerable emphasis on communication skills because effective communication has been shown to directly affect the quality of care given to patients.

Therefore, it is imperative that all information in your application is well communicated and error-free. In our experiences reviewing and editing applications, errors are common. We agree with the words of Dr. Catherine Kuhn, Vice Chair for Education and Program Director of the Duke University Anesthesiology Residency. "DETAILS matter - grammar, spelling etc. Anesthesiology is a detail-oriented specialty and small errors can be quite important." These errors can prevent even applicants with the highest USMLE scores from securing interviews.

We have considerable experience reviewing and editing the ERAS Application Form can make sure that your application is polished, professional, and powerful.

Our ERAS Application Review/Editing Service can be purchased through our online store. All clients will work directly with Dr. Samir Desai, author of The Successful Match.

Anesthesiology  Residency Personal Statement

The anesthesiology personal statement is an important component of the residency application. In a recent NRMP survey of anesthesiology program directors, 66% cited the statement as a factor in selecting applicants to interview.²

We have created the e-document Anesthesiology Personal Statement: Evidence-Based Advice for the Residency Applicant to help you write a strong personal statement. Written by Dr. Samir Desai, the author of The Successful Match, this document features tips and quotes from program directors offering important advice.

It can be difficult to develop a unique and compelling personal statement. For this reason, we show you the common features of anesthesiology personal statements submitted by applicants. This will help you create a statement that sets you apart from other applicants.

How are these statements evaluated by programs? We provide you with this crucial information.

This is evidence-based information you must have. Anesthesiology Personal Statement: Evidence-Based Advice for the Residency Applicant is available through our online store.

Anesthesiology Residency Interview

Among the most common questions you will be asked during anesthesiology residency interviews is "Why do you want to become an anesthesiologist?" or "Why have you chosen to pursue a career in anesthesiology?" To help you develop a compelling answer, we have developed the e-document Why Anesthesiology?

In this e-document, you will learn the top 20 reasons why anesthesiology residents chose the specialty. You will also read about the 10 Best Things about Anesthesiology. The document also features actual quotes from 40 academic and private anesthesiologists about the reasons that led them to enter the field. Use our resource to develop a response that will set you apart from other candidates.

Written by Dr. Samir Desai, author of The Successful Match, Why Anesthesiology? is available through our online store.

Important Information for Aspiring Anesthesiologists

Learn more about the medical specialty of anesthesiology

Attributes of an excellent anesthesiologist

Important professional qualities for anesthesiologists

What are the most frequently cited reasons for selecting anesthesiology as a career?

What factors are important to senior medical students in selecting an anesthesiology residency program?

Why do some anesthesiology residents struggle during residency? Dr. Robert Willenkin discusses cognitive and affective learning problems in residents. 

References

¹NRMP Charting Outcomes in the Match. Available at www.nrmp.org.
²NRMP Program Director Survey. Available at www.nrmp.org.