In the CA-3 year, there will be an emphasis on clinical competence and independence. 12 months of advanced and complex anesthesia assignments will be provided. All CA-3 level residents are required to take four core subspecialty rotations (cardiothoracic anesthesia, neuroanesthesia, obstetric anesthesia, and pediatric anesthesia). Residents will review the advanced subspecialty rotation(s) desired with his/her advisor and submit the requests to the Program Director. Every effort will be made to satisfy the requests. All residents must earn an overall satisfactory evaluation in each core rotation in order to graduate. Rotations must be approved by the Program Director, the Clinical Competency Committee, and the resident's advisor. A curriculum and specific program for each resident must be on file in the department.
An academic assignment is required. These may include grand rounds presentations, preparation and publication of review articles, book chapters, manuals for teaching or clinical practice, or similar academic activities. A faculty supervisor must be in charge of each project.
Trans Esophageal Echocardiography (TEE), a rotation to the Overton Brooks VA Medical Center and Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center at New Orleans will be available as rotations for CA3 residents.
Education at the CA-3 level is divided into two distinct "Clinical Tracks".
Advanced Clinical Track (ACT)
The Advanced Clinical Track consists of 6 months of required rotations as stated above and six additional months in selected subspecialty rotations. The selected subspecialty rotations can be any of the subspecialty rotations for the CA-3 level as listed below. The following criteria are considered in selection of advanced subspecialty rotations for each resident: First, residents who are deficient in the number of cases required by the RRC and ABA will be assigned to rotations that will allow the resident to obtain the number of cases that they need. Second, residents whom the anesthesia faculty members feel need additional training in certain areas of anesthesia will be assigned to rotations that will allow them to gain that additional training. After these two criteria have been met, the resident can choose the rotation(s) that s/he wishes to take from the options below. No particular month(s) can be specified. The resident will list choices in order of importance (first choice is number one). No more than 6 months can be in the same subspecialty. All requests for specific rotations must be submitted in writing to the Residency Coordinator by May 1 of the CA-2 year.
The subspecialty rotations for the CA-3 level include:
- Advanced and Complex Anesthesia
- Neuroanesthesia
- Cardiothoracic Anesthesia
- Pediatric Anesthesia
- Obstetric Anesthesia
- Pain Medicine
- Vascular Anesthesia
- Regional Anesthesia
- Critical Care Medicine
Research Track (CST)
The Research Track is designed for residents who are pursuing a career in academic medicine. This track allows the resident to spend time in a clinical research project or a basic science research project. There are both clinical and basic-science research faculty who can be mentors. The Research Track consists of 6 months of required rotations as stated above and six months in research assignments. All requests for the Research Clinical Track must be submitted in writing to the Program Director by January 31 of the CA-2 year, and all arrangements for research rotations must be finalized by May 1 of the CA-2 year. This track requires prior approval by the Chairman of the Clinical Competence Committee, the Program Director, and the Chairman of the Department of Anesthesiology.
