Anesthesiology Assistant Student Rotation

There are 45 attending anesthesiologists, six fellows and 31 house staff working throughout UNM Health. Additionally, we have 45 full-time AA-Cs, one full-time CRNA and one full-time PA covering operating rooms at UNM Hospital in Albuquerque.

Our patient population tends to bring us complex clinical cases that require high acuity anesthetics. Case mix includes:

• Trauma
• Burns
• Otolaryngology
• Orthopedics
• General surgery
• Pediatrics
• Urology
• Neurosurgery
• Gynecology and gynecological oncology
• ENT
• Transplants

Obstetrics and cardiothoracic cases are generally reserved for resident training.

Students are required to complete a questionnaire on current anesthesia skills and goals prior to starting their rotation. This questionnaire allows for a more individualized rotation. Initially, AA students will be paired with an AA for one week, then we will give guidance to them for the remaining rotation. Some attending anesthesiologists are amenable to taking AA students as well. We try to accommodate requests for specific types of cases when available. Students are now able to train at OSIS, shadow the Acute Pain Service team, and the preop clinic.

• AA students should report to the OR no later than 6:30 a.m. for preparation of the new case day.
• Students should prepare appropriate airway equipment, syringes, transducers and pumps/hotlines for each case. We have pyxis medication dispensers in each room, so you’ll need to contact whoever you are working with for access to meds. Our anesthesia techs are happy to help with setting up lines, etc.
• AA students will review the PMH and anesthesia plan for the day’s caseload with attending anesthesiologist/anesthetist.
• AA students are expected to attend our weekly resident lectures and/or grand rounds/visiting professor lectures. These occur every Friday morning at 6:30.

The AA student should look at the next day OR schedule and be familiar with the anesthetic implications of their chosen cases.

We have students work standard shifts until 3 p.m. five days a week or for 10 hour shifts with the ability to take a day off Monday through Thursday. We hope students will take the opportunity to finish cases whenever possible. There is no required call, but 3-11 p.m., weekend, and night shifts are available for those with noted interest in open positions within our department, or those looking for more clinical hours.

Grand rounds, held by attending and resident anesthesiologists, are held every Friday at 6:30 a.m. Visiting professor lectures are usually held every third Thursday afternoon at 4:30 p.m., and Friday at 6:30 a.m. of each month. Pediatric grand rounds are held every Wednesday at 6:30 a.m. Students are able to attend the Acute Pain Service journal club on Thursdays at 6am and the Chronic Pain Service journal club on Fridays at 10am.

We are currently not providing housing during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Housing is currently provided for one student each month in an on campus apartment. We have expanded to accepting four students each month, the other three students are responsible for their own housing. Contact Cassie for housing suggestions.