Our Future Physicians

From the Program Director:

The Anesthesiology training program at the University of Missouri-Columbia Health Sciences Center has twelve clinical anesthesia residents (PGY-2 through PGY-4) plus two categorical residents (PGY-1). Residents may enter the program at either the PGY-1 or PGY-2 (CA-1) levels. If you do not wish to do a rotating internship in the Department of Anesthesia, we can assist you in arranging a clinical base year through the Departments of Internal Medicine or General Surgery here at the University of Missouri-Columbia.

The University of Missouri Anesthesiology training program has maintained full accreditation since it's inception approximately 45 years ago.

The goal of this department is to teach young physicians to become consultant physicians in anesthesiology. The American Board of Anesthesiology has defined anesthesiology as follows:

1. The assessment of, consultation for and preparation of patients for anesthesia.
2. The provision of insensibility to pain during surgical, obstetrical, therapeutic and diagnostic procedures, and the management of patients so affected.
3. The monitoring and restoration of homeostasis during the perioperative period, as well as homeostasis in the critically ill, injured, or otherwise seriously ill patient.
4. The diagnosis and treatment of painful syndromes.
5. The clinical management and teaching of cardiac and pulmonary resuscitation.
6. The evaluation of respiratory function and application of respiratory therapy in all its forms.
7. The supervision, teaching, and evaluation of performance of both medical and paramedical personnel involved in anesthesia, respiratory and critical care.
8. The conduct of research at the clinical and basic science levels to explain and improve the care of patients.
9. The administrative involvement in hospitals, medical schools, and outpatient facilities necessary to implement these responsibilities.

A consultant in anesthesiology is a physician who possesses knowledge, judgement, adaptability, clinical skills, technical facility and personal characteristics sufficient to carry out the entire scope of anesthesiology practice. A consultant in anesthesiology is able to communicate effectively with peers, patients, their families and others involved in the medical community. The consultant can serve as an expert in matters related to anesthesiology, deliberate with others and provide advice and defend opinions in all aspects of the specialty of anesthesiology. A board-certified anesthesiologist is able to function as the leader of the anesthesiology care team.

Because of the nature of the role of the consultant anesthesiologist, the consultant must be able to deal with emergent life-threatening situations in an independent and timely fashion. The ability to acquire and process information in an independent and timely manner is central to assure individual responsibility for all aspects of anesthesiology care. Adequate physical and sensory faculties, such as eyesight, hearing, speech and coordinated function of the extremities, are essential to the independent performance of the functions of a consultant anesthesiologist. Freedom from the influence of or dependency on chemical substances that impair cognitive, physical, sensory or motor functions also is an essential characteristic of the consultant anesthesiologist. The individuals that complete their training here are readily accepted into practice opportunities and have successfully fulfilled the need for Boarded anesthesiologists not only in Missouri but in surrounding and distant states.

After your application has been reviewed, selected individuals will be invited to interview at a mutually convenient time. Medical students applying through the match program generally must wait until after their Dean's Letters are available. Physicians already in practice or in training may arrange for interviews anytime.

When you visit our institution you will have the opportunity to meet with some of our residents and faculty and get first hand knowledge of our program. Please visit the pages noted on the sidebar for further details of the training program, the hospital, and the community.

I look forward to visiting with you during your interview.

Sincerely yours,
Michael Brown, MD

Interim Chair in Anesthesiology