Chief Resident Message

Chief Residents
A Letter of Welcome

Welcome to UCSF Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care! We are delighted that you want to learn more about our residency program. Our former Chair, the prolific Dr. Ronald Miller, has said that "the status quo is unacceptable" at UCSF. We are immensely proud of the rich history of innovation at UCSF and continue to build on its storied past - we strive to educate, innovate, and lead in the field of anesthesia. Now under the guidance of our current Chair, Dr. Michael Gropper, the UCSF Department of Anesthesia continues to support the training and development of the future leaders of anesthesiology in one of the top residency experiences in the country.

The clinical education offered at UCSF is simply unparalleled. For our categorical residents, the journey begins with the integrated Clinical Base Year during which interns rotate through Internal Medicine, Trauma Surgery, Neurology, Emergency Medicine, and Critical Care. The Clinical Anesthesia years (CA-1, 2, and 3) are structured to expose our residents to all types of cases with various patient populations across San Francisco. Our residents train at eight distinct clinical sites, each offering a unique dimension to their training. Whether you are doing a liver transplant at Moffitt-Long Hospital, resuscitating a trauma victim at Zuckerberg San Francisco General, honing your regional anesthesia skills at our Orthopaedic Institute, or providing anesthesia for open-heart surgery at the VA hospital, you will be exposed to an unbelievable depth and breadth of experience comparable to few other training programs. This variety has trained us to be adaptable and comfortable providing excellent care in any situation or environment.

Our esteemed faculty members are another critical component of our residency program. In addition to being international leaders in the field of anesthesia, our faculty members are deeply committed to creating a welcoming training environment for residents. They not only strive to develop our skills as a master clinician, but also to encourage our intellectual curiosity and foster professional growth to make us valuable perioperative consultants.

An added bonus of coming to train at UCSF is the ability to live and work in San Francisco, one of the world's premier cities. You will find that our "city by the bay" offers an endless variety of food, culture, entertainment, and panoramic views. Your weekends off can be spent exploring our distinctive neighborhoods on foot or on a bike. A short drive can take you surfing in Santa Cruz, hiking the Marin Headlands, or wine tasting in Napa and Sonoma Valley. A longer drive will allow you to explore Lake Tahoe or Yosemite National Park (and countless places in-between). 

Thank you for your interest in our program and we look forward to hearing from you during this year's application process. Whether your ultimate career goals include private practice, pursuing fellowship training, or establishing a research career in academics, you will be supported and well-prepared for whichever path you may choose. Please do not hesitate to contact us - we look forward to meeting you this interview season!

Your chief residents,

Kit, Mary, Sivan, Teal