Can anyone who is dedicated master anesthesiology?

Anesthesiologists treat and prevent pain and monitor the vital functions of patients during surgical procedures. They do not just work in operating rooms, however. They can also practice in pain clinics, intensive care units, or labor and delivery units. Becoming an anesthesiologist requires completion of undergraduate prerequisite courses, medical school, and a residency, as well as post-residency (fellowship) training if one wants to further specialize (for example, in pediatric anesthesiology).

Undergraduate Education

There is no official degree required for admission to medical school, and many baccalaureate programs can adequately prepare students for this endeavor. Some schools prefer graduates with a 4-year degree in natural sciences, which should include classes in physics, organic and inorganic chemistry, anatomy, and biology.

Medical School

Prior to specializing in anesthesiology, all perspective anesthesiologists must graduate from a 4-year Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathy (DO) program at an accredited medical school. These extremely competitive programs are renowned for their academically demanding and time-consuming nature.

The first two years of medical school build on students' undergraduate knowledge of the natural sciences and add more specialized sciences to the mix. Med students take classes in biochemistry, microbiology, neuroscience, pharmacology, pathology, immunology, and behavioral science. During these first two years, students also have their first patient contact as they learn to conduct examinations and interviews.

The second half of medical school is primarily dedicated to clinical study. Students take part in 4-12 week clinical rotations that serve as their on-the-job introduction to various branches of medicine, such as pediatrics, geriatrics, oncology and anesthesiology. Known as interns, these students operate under the supervision of attending physicians or residents. They interact with patients, performing preliminary diagnoses, and then developing treatment plans and presenting them to their supervisors.

Residency and Fellowship

Anesthesiologists in the U.S. must undergo a 4-year resident training program after graduating from medical school. The first year may be either a medical or surgical internship, followed by three years of intense training in anesthesiology. Elevated to the status of residents, these future anesthesiologists are one rung higher than interns but still only practice medicine under supervision. Expectations for performance are considerably increased for residents, who diagnose and treat patients, participate in team meetings, known as rounds, and present cases and research to professors and supervising physicians.

Specialized elements of anesthesiology that are taught and practiced during a residency might include:
•Chronic and acute pain management
•Pre-operative patient evaluation
•Post-operative pain evaluation and control
•Intensive care pain management
•Pre-existing disease factors in surgical care

At this stage in their training, many anesthesiologists go on to complete an additional year of study in a subspecialty. This training, called a fellowship, is within a subset of anesthesiology that may be of particular interest, such as pediatric, obstetric, cardiac, neurologic or critical care. A particularly ambitious anesthesiologist might undertake additional subsequent fellowships to combine subspecialties.