Anesthesiology

What is Anesthesiology?

Anesthesiology is defined as the medical specialty concerned with the total perioperative care of patients before, during, and after surgery. It encompasses anesthesia, intensive care medicine, critical emergency medicine, and pain medicine.

Salary:

The average salary of an anesthesiologist is $405,000 but it can vary depending on state, hospital, seniority, etc. But while considering specialties, it is important to choose a field you are passionate about and to take into account all factors that make up a certain field.

Education pathway:

The pathway to becoming any type of doctor starts in high school. It is important to take AP science or math courses to find where your interests lie. After earning a high school diploma, attending a college, and meeting all the pre-med requirements. Taking these courses will help you earn an undergraduate degree and prepare you for the Medical College Admission Exam (MCAT). The MCAT is an essential part of the medical admission process, it is a 7.5-hour exam so it is important to study so you don’t have to take it twice. From there, you can apply to medical school, where you must earn either a doctor of medicine (MD) or a doctor of osteopathic medicine (DO). At the end of two years, you take a test called Step 1, required by the United State Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) or (COMPLEX-USA) for DOs, to obtain a medical license and practice medicine. Step 2 for anesthesiology students includes two years of clinic training which is concluded by a written test on internal medicine, gynecology, preventive medicine, surgery, communication, and interpersonal skills. Residency is 4 years long: 1 year of non-anesthesia training and 3 years of focused clinical anesthesia training. Ending residency is the final USMLE test on whether physicians can apply their training in ambulatory settings. Finally, you have a couple of options when it comes to certification. You can either earn an American Board of Anesthesiology (ABA) which includes one year of internship and a fellowship program or the American Board of Physician Specialties (ABPS) which includes a written and oral exam. And that is the pathway of becoming an anesthesiologist.

Subspecialties:

• An anesthesiologist who specializes in Critical Care Medicine diagnoses and treats patients with critical illnesses or injuries, particularly trauma victims and patients with multiple organ dysfunctions who require care over a period of hours, days, or weeks. Their primary base of operation is the intensive care unit (ICU) of a hospital.

• An anesthesiologist who specializes in Hospice and Palliative Medicine provides care to prevent and relieve the suffering experienced by patients with life-limiting illnesses. This specialist works with an interdisciplinary hospice or palliative care team to maximize the quality of life while addressing the physical, psychological, social, and spiritual needs of both patient and family.

• The medical specialty of Neurocritical Care focuses on the comprehensive multi-system care of critically ill patients with neurological diseases and conditions.

• An anesthesiologist who specializes in Pain Medicine diagnoses and treats patients experiencing problems with acute or chronic pain, or pain related to cancer.

• An anesthesiologist who specializes in Pediatric Anesthesiology provides anesthesia for neonates, infants, children, and adolescents undergoing surgical, diagnostic, or therapeutic procedures as well as appropriate pre-and post-operative care, advanced life support, and acute pain management.

• An anesthesiologist who specializes in Sleep Medicine has expertise in the diagnosis and management of clinical conditions that occur during sleep, that disturb sleep, or that are affected by disturbances in the wake-sleep cycle. This specialist is skilled in the analysis and interpretation of comprehensive polysomnography, and well-versed in emerging research and management of a sleep laboratory.

What can you do as an anesthesiologist?

As an anesthesiologist, you typically work a 9-5 job in the operating room, ensuring that a patient is sedated and comfortable, have stable vitals, hemodynamic status(blood circulation), and an open airway. Their job is to administer drugs and make adjustments to maintain stable vitals. Anesthesiologists work with patients pre-op, intra-op, and post-op. Specialists are either academic, practice, or private anesthesiologists. Practice and private just perform clinical work while academic work at larger hospitals where they either teach or research.

Factors to consider:

An essential part of pursuing any specialty is to be willing to spend years studying and training, and a lifetime of keeping up with advancements within your field. Anesthesiology can be a stressful job that requires quick decision making, working for long hours in an operating room, and being a good communicator.

Sources:

“Anesthesiology.” American Board of Medical Specialties, 25 Nov. 2020, www.abms.org/board/american-board-of-anesthesiology/.

Best_Schools. “How to Become an Anesthesiologist.” TheBestSchools.org, Thebestschools.org, 23 Nov. 2020, thebestschools.org/careers/anesthesiologist-overview/.

Fulciniti, Francesca. The 7 Steps to Becoming a Doctor: A Complete Guide, blog.prepscholar.com/how-to-become-a-doctor.

“What Is an Anesthesiologist?” Hospital for Special Surgery, www.hss.edu/what-is-an-anesthesiologist.asp.