Chief Residents' Letter

Welcome to the Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care at the University of New Mexico! Thank you for your interest in our program. As chief residents, we are familiar with the program's many strengths, and we would like to share some of our insights with you.

UNM Hospital is home to the state’s only Level 1 Trauma Center with busy trauma services in Neurosurgery, Orthopedics, and Acute Care Surgery. We manage a high volume of complex cases including advanced laparoscopic surgery, pediatric and neonatal surgery, vascular surgery, neurosurgery, as well as thoracic and cardiac surgery. In addition, we are a tertiary referral center for high-risk obstetric patients with complex maternal-fetal comorbidities. We provide a variety of peripartum care options and have achieved a Society for Obstetric Anesthesia and Perinatology (SOAP) Center of Excellence Designation. We rotate through multiple locations including UNM hospital, the VA hospital, OSIS (Outpatient Surgery and Imaging Services), and other affiliated hospitals for rotations. Residents also get exposure to a variety of complex critical care cases requiring Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) in our Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Unit that has been recognized as a Center for Excellence.

During the OSIS rotations, residents quickly become proficient in peripheral blocks for outpatient surgical procedures. One of the highlights of our program include extensive use of the ultrasound guidance for nerve block and vascular access, emphasized by our annual National Regional Anesthesia and Perioperative Ultrasound Conference held in the fall. Our Acute Pain Service provides regional anesthesia for thoracic, abdominal, obstetric, orthopedic and vascular cases. Our chronic pain rotation provides interdisciplinary training in all aspects of Pain Medicine, including interventional, medical, and multimodal approaches. Residents and Fellows gain experience with fluoroscopy-guided neuraxial approaches on chronic pain as well as management of various intrathecal chronic pain systems. 

Your anesthesiology training will begin with one-on-one guidance from senior residents and faculty with increasing amounts of autonomy as you progress through your training, thereby preparing you to become a confident and independent consulting anesthesiologist. Through a structured system, we ensure every resident feels supported by both a senior resident or by our friendly and approachable faculty. We have a one-on-one mentorship system that allows seniors and faculty to guide juniors through residency, research opportunities, and career planning.

Lastly, let us tell you about Albuquerque. You will find that New Mexico, the “Land of Enchantment,” has a lot to offer with more than 300 clear, sunny days throughout the year. Albuquerque has miles of well-organized walking and hiking, as well as mountain and road biking trails throughout the city. Northern New Mexico is home to beautiful high alpine lakes, fly-fishing, white-water rafting, and world class skiing at Taos Ski Valley to name a few. Take a hike up to Wheeler Peak, New Mexico’s highest peak at 13,161 feet, or drive south to our state’s largest lake, Elephant Butte. Whatever you choose, you’ll discover New Mexico offers some of the best outdoor recreation in the Southwest.

In summary, if you are looking for comprehensive clinical training in a highly supportive and collegial environment with affordable living, endless outdoor activities, and great year-round weather, UNMH is the right place for you.

Please feel free to contact us; we look forward to answering any questions that you may have about our program.