In 2002 the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry marked the graduation of the first class completing the "Double Helix" curriculum. This curriculum blends both strands (basic science and clinical) of medical education throughout the four years of medical school. This curriculum also depends more on the use of problem based learning in the basic science classes. These small group sessions require the use of a facilitator to help the students develop the appropriate learning objectives for the case. The Department of Anesthesiology takes its role in medical education very seriously and its faculty members play important roles in the education of our future physicians. For example, Dr Denham Ward, the Chair of the Department of Anesthesiology, is an examiner for the Third Year Comprehensive Assessment, participates in PBL sessions, and gives lectures on a number of topics. He also leads a medical education journal club for students in the Medical Education Pathway (MEP).
 

Although the Anesthesiology Department does not have a required clinical clerkship, our elective clinical clerkships (clinical anesthesia, pain, hemodynamic monitoring, obstetric anesthesia and ICU) are very popular with both third and fourth year students. Many members of the faculty also participate in the basic science strand throughout the four years, a great opportunity to expose student to the specialty.

New in 2009, the Department of Anesthesiology has partnered with the Department of Surgery and developed an Anesthesiology curriculum within the core surgical rotation. Directed by Jennifer Macpherson, MD, all students participate in an afternoon Airway Lab where they learn about the anatomy of the airway and the various tools used to aid patients in ventilation and oxygenation, and the indications for such intervention. Also, a separate lecture series focuses on teaching students about the various ways that Anesthesiologists provide care for patients.

One of the most notable teaching (and evaluation) innovations that the Department has contributed to the Medical School is the high fidelity human patient simulator.The Center for Medical Simulation, Directed by David Stern, M.D., is used in several courses and in an integral part of the unique comprehensive assessment (Denham Ward, M.D., co-director) component of the curriculum. In the 2nd year comprehensive assessment, teams of students diagnose and treat the simulator for a shock condition. The team receives a score based on both clinical management and teamwork. In the 3rd year comprehensive assessment, the students manage a simulated post-operative patient with hypotension and hypoxemia.

In the fourth year as part of the Successful Interning series of lectures, Stew Lustik, M.D., runs a 2 hour seminar on preoperative patient evaluation for about 15 students. There is also an elective simulator session on managing an ICU patient as part of the successful interning course.

The Department of Anesthesiology continues to be an integral part of the medical student curriculum. Perhaps one measure of our success is the number of students we attract into our specialty from the University of Rochester, but more importantly is the fact that all the other students, no matter what specialty they pursue, leave here with an understanding of how important the practice of Anesthesiology is to modern health care.