The MedStar Health - Georgetown University Hospital Residency Program in Anesthesiology
Since 1956, the anesthesiology residency program at Georgetown University Hospital offers residents an outstanding blend of clinical experience, didactic instruction, and personal attention. It is a medium-sized academic program within a large, non-profit health care system that provides high quality perioperative care to patients of all genders, races, and socioeconomic status in the Washington, D.C. region. Georgetown residents are well prepared to excel as either community or academic consultant anesthesiologists. Residents train to become perioperative physicians who can handle the simplest cases to the most complex anesthetics and intensive care situations.
The residency program utilizes the breadth and depth of clinical experiences available at Georgetown and its affiliated hospitals (Washington Hospital Center, Children’s National Medical Center). Residents build an educational portfolio that includes a high volume of subspecialty cases in cardiothoracic, neuro, obstetric, hepatobiliary, and transplant anesthesia. They provide care for patients undergoing advanced “fellow level” cases in a department which does not offer competing fellowship programs. The senior year is nearly completely elective, allowing residents to personalize their education through a variety of pathways.
Residents are taught by dedicated faculty who cultivate a supportive learning environment and who exemplify clinical excellence, professionalism, and life-long learning. The clinical experience is supplemented by a carefully designed didactic and simulation program where residents are both learners and teachers guided by experienced faculty. In the Jesuit manner of the institution, the program fosters a culture of cura personalis – placing value on the physical, mental, and spiritual well-being of our patients and our physicians.
Mission
MedStar Georgetown University Hospital will provide expert, compassionate care for each and all of our patients, advancing the tradition of Catholic health care and the Jesuit spirit of service to others. We are committed to promoting health and wellness through the delivery of the highest-quality education and first-class research.
- We will commit to a culture of patient care by physicians and staff who are grounded in standards of bhavior, accountability and loyalty.
- By attracting the best doctors, nurses and staff, we will ensure superior clinical outcomes in a safe environment, using innovative state-of-the-art procedures and technology.
- We will provide a workplace of positive regard, mutual respect and open communication that empowers our employees to develop and excel and recognizes and rewards outstanding performance.
- As part of a premier academic medical center, we will work to educate and mentor the next generation of health care professionals and leaders.
- With Georgetown University, we will develop and support innovative research for the betterment of our patients and humankind.
- Through careful financial stewardship based on sound business principles, we will assure our patients, physicians and employees of our continued fiscal strength.
Values
Knowledge: We believe that excellent patient care is contingent upon a strong knowledge base and innovative research.
Compassion: We will treat our patients and their families with kindness and empathy while attending to their physical and spiritual comfort.
Service to Others: We will strive to anticipate and meet the needs of our patients, physicians and co-workers.
Heritage: We pledge to continue and advance the tradition and ideals that flow from more than a century of excellence at Georgetown University Hospital. As a Catholic hospital, Georgetown University Hospital subscribes to the Ethical and Religious Directives as promulgated by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Trust: We are committed to open communication and mutual respect, engendering interdependence and confidence in each other.
Integrity: We will be honest, direct and just in our everyday interaction, respecting each other in a professional manner and protecting the confidentiality and privacy of our patients.
Sense of Team: We will endeavor to work together in an efficient and seamless manner, bridging divisions and disciplines, and continuously adapting to the changing health care environment.
Accountability: As physicians, management and staff, we will accept ownership and fully discharge the responsibilities of our respective positions.
Curriculum
Program Structure
The goal of the residency program of the Department of Anesthesiology is to train physicians to become both consultants in anesthesiology as well as diplomats of the American Board of Anesthesiology. It is a four-year categorical program organized in accordance with the American Board of Anesthesiology and the RRC of the ACGME. The current structure is:
PGY 1 & 2: Clinical Base Year and Basic Anesthesiology
PGY 3 & 4: Subspecialty and Advanced Anesthesiology
Throughout their training, residents are fully supervised by anesthesiology faculty and staff members. The faculty is composed of about 30 full- and part-time anesthesiologists whose subspecialty training includes fellowships or expertise in cardiovascular anesthesia, pediatric anesthesia, neuro-anesthesia, pain management, and critical care medicine. During their training, residents continually reflect on their performance, seek feedback and guidance from faculty, and work towards improvement and eventual mastery. This cycle is the key to life-long learning and mastery of the skills necessary to become an independent consultant anesthesiologist.
Residents are assigned an individual clinical advisor to act as a mentor throughout the 3 years of Clinical Anesthesia training. Residency training is a team effort by the resident and the faculty, with an emphasis on progressive independence, constantly improving knowledge, and development of a professional and ethical attitude that defines the best physicians. Each training year and each individual clinical rotation has its own educational “Goals and Objectives.” Meeting the “Goals and Objectives” of the training years and rotations is the pathway of the educational process.
Our program has 12 residents per class. The Department participates in the National Resident Matching Program for all positions at the PGY1 level.
Clinical Depth
- 2,000 open-heart procedures/year (WHC)
- Adult liver, kidney, pancreas and pediatric liver and small bowel transplants (GUH)
- Level 1 trauma center and acute burn unit (WHC)
- 3,000 OB cases/year (GUH and WHC)
- Acute, Chronic and Cancer Pain Center (GUH)
- Basic and advanced pediatric cases (GUH and CNMC)
- Large critical care unit with 24/7 attending coverage (GUH)
- Robust CA-3 regional anesthesia rotations (GUH and WHC, as well as CA-3 rotation at Hospital for Special Surgery in NYC)
Attending Coverage
- Georgetown University Hospital
- 1:2 attending to resident coverage during daytime hours
- 2 attending anesthesiologists in-house overnight and weekends
- Washington Hospital Center
- 3 attending anesthesiologists in-house overnight and weekends
- Children’s National Medical Center
- 1 attending anesthesiologist in-house overnight and weekends
Geographic Advantages
- Located on historic Georgetown University campus
- Washington is unparalleled in the diversity of people, activities, and opportunities it has to offer
- Georgetown University Hospital is a part of MedStar Health, which is the Largest healthcare system in Baltimore/Washington DC
Resident Support
- $3,000 for books, supplies, meetings.
- Full Department sponsorship when presenting at national meetings (independent of $3,000 book fund money)
- ASA, DCSA, IARS memberships, ACE program, AKT and In-Training exams funded by Department
- Free parking at all training sites
- Competitive House Staff Salaries
- Generous benefits package (health, dental, life, disability, etc).
Rotations
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Clinical Base Year (CBY)
We are a Categorical program that includes a Clinical Base Year (PGY-1) with balanced rotations in several specialties. The goal of this year of training is to obtain a base of knowledge in order to treat a variety of patients undergoing anesthesia. All residents rotate at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital.
Rotations include:
- OR Anesthesia: 3 blocks
- Acute Pain Service: 1 block
- Presurgical Testing Clinic: 1 block
- MICU: 2 blocks
- CCU: 1 block
- Medical Wards: 3 blocks
- Emergency Medicine: 1 block
- Night Float: 0.5 block
- Vacation: 1 block
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CA-1
The goal of the first year of clinical training is to give residents the broadest possible exposure to the range of the practice of anesthesia. This is achieved through a series of month-long clinical rotations at Georgetown University Hospital. At the start of the CA-1 year, a week-long session of lectures and workshops will serve to orient each resident to the fundamentals of anesthetic practice. Throughout the year, supervision of a resident’s performance will be guided by the levels of proficiency and comfort each resident exhibits, in a manner that allows for independence in judgment and action while ensuring safe patient care. At the completion of the CA-1 year, each resident can expect to have experience in a broad sampling of anesthetic care and techniques.
Rotations include:
- Ambulatory
- Chronic Pain
- ENT / Airway
- ENT Surgical Service
- General & Gynecologic Surgery
- Neuro
- Satellite
- Obstetrics
- Orthopedics
- Pediatrics
- Urology
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CA-2
Rotations include:
- Cardiac at Washington Hospital Center
- SICU
- Neuroanesthesia
- Obstetrics
- Acute Pain/Regional
- Chronic Pain
- Pediatrics at Children’s National Medical Center
- Thoracic/Vascular
- Transplant (Adult and Pediatric Liver, Kidney, Small Bowel, Pancreas)
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CA-3
Residents pursue a year of advanced training in those clinical or research areas of greatest interest, which includes 6 months of elective rotations. Elective rotations exist at Georgetown University Hospital, Washington Hospital Center, Children’s National Medical Center, University of Maryland Shock Trauma, Hospital for Special Surgery, Georgetown Pain Management, MedStar SiTEL, and MedStar Lafayette Ambulatory Surgery Center. Residents may also choose to pursue an international mission trip to provide anesthetic care in an underserved region.
Rotations include:
- Acute Pain/Regional (MGUH, WHC, HSS)
- Advanced Clinical Track
- Ambulatory (MedStar Lafayette Center)
- Cardiac
- Chronic Pain
- Obstetrics
- PACU
- Pediatrics
- Point of Care Ultrasound
- Thoracic/Vascular
- Transition to Practice
- Transplant
- Trauma
Training locations
MedStar Georgetown University Hospital
MedStar Washington Hospital Center
Children’s National Medical Center
Georgetown Pain Management
MedStar Surgery Center at Lafayette Centre
Hospital For Special Surgery (HSS)
A message from the program director
Dear Applicant,
The anesthesiology residency program at Georgetown University Hospital offers residents an outstanding balance of didactic instruction and clinical experience. Your training will progress from administering anesthetics to healthy patients undergoing minor procedures to becoming a consultant in anesthesiology, managing critically ill patients undergoing major surgical operations. You will learn from experienced and enthusiastic faculty with expertise in all the subspecialties of anesthesiology.
Your rotations at Georgetown University Hospital, Washington Hospital Center and the Children’s National Medical Center offer ample opportunity to manage a wide variety of interesting and complex medical and surgical problems. We have an abundance of clinical material for a program of our size. Between the two primary MedStar Health teaching hospitals alone (GUH and WHC), we can offer over 2,000 open heart procedures, a level one trauma center and acute burn unit, more than 4,000 obstetrical cases, adult and pediatric liver transplantation as well as cardiac transplantation. All residents obtain the minimum required number of cases before finishing the CA-2 year. This allows each resident to design his/her final year of clinical training, choosing from any of the various clinical subspecialties to supplement your residency experience.
At Georgetown, we educate our residents so that they may excel in their careers either as academic or private practitioners. I hope you will look at our program closely, and choose to join us for four exceptional years of rewarding professional growth.
We wish you the best of luck in your pursuit of an exciting career in anesthesiology.
Sincerely,
Meredith A. Coppinger, MD
Assistant Professor
Residency Program Director
Department of Anesthesiology
Welcome from our Chief Residents
Welcome to the anesthesiology residency program at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital! We truly appreciate your interest, and we are proud to share some of the many aspects that make our program an excellent place to prepare you for a career in anesthesiology.
From the very beginning, our categorical intern year is tailored to a career in anesthesiology. First year residents spend a total of five months working with the department of anesthesiology. You will spend one month with the Acute Pain Service (APS), one month with the Pre Anesthesia Testing (PAT) department, and three months in the operating room. The remainder of your intern year is spent with our Internal Medicine department, where you will develop a strong clinical foundation and breadth of knowledge as you begin your journey in becoming a successful anesthesiologist.
As CA-1’s, CA-2’s, and CA-3’s, residents will rotate primarily in the brand-new $750 million Verstandig Pavilion (opened December 2023) at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, which offers the opportunity to manage a diverse range of complex cases. These include one of the highest volume abdominal transplant services in the country (liver, kidney, pancreas, small bowel in both pediatrics and adults), complex neurosurgery, and robotic surgery. Additionally, residents will rotate through Washington, DC’s largest hospital, MedStar Washington Hospital Center, which offers a robust and diverse clinical experience – including complex cardiothoracic, regional, OB/GYN, and trauma anesthesiology. Residents will also spend two months rotating at the world-renowned Children’s National Hospital for pediatric anesthesiology. As CA-3's, residents will also have the unique opportunity to live in New York City (housing provided) while rotating at the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS).
Our program is unique, in that residents will not be training alongside fellows in anesthesiology. This allows for strong clinical exposure throughout the entirety of the medical training experience. The CA-1 and CA-2 years are designed for gaining foundational knowledge and subspecialty experience, while the CA-3 year offers a great deal of flexibility and the opportunity to pursue electives, as residents are empowered to tailor their final year of training to fit their career goal. Whether these goals involve further fellowship training or a moving directly into a career in practice, residents are very well-prepared.
Our Washington, DC location provides a wonderful opportunity for residents to immerse themselves in a large, diverse, and exciting metropolitan area. The nation’s capital is home to 25 Michelin-starred restaurants, 17 Smithsonian Institution Museums (free entry), an array of professional sports teams, and a vast network of running & biking trails. This area offers something unique for everyone, and there is never a dull moment!
We truly look forward to meeting you! Please reach out to us with any questions that you have along the way, and don’t forget to follow us on Instagram (@georgetowngas) for further program updates and information. Thank you again!
Scott Given
Eric Kim
Chief Residents, Anesthesiology, Class of 2025
MedStar Georgetown University Hospital
Application information
The Anesthesiology program at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital considers applicants from all backgrounds and experiences. We encourage applications from US and high quality international medical schools. Applicants with substantial experiences outside of medicine are welcomed. Because we base our selection on the entire application, competitive applicants must have outstanding recommendations and academic credentials.
All applications for Anesthesiology Residency Training must be submitted through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) and includes receipt of curriculum vitae, three letters of reference, including a Dean’s letter, a medical school transcript, and appropriate USMLE scores.
In accordance with recommendations from the American Association of Medical Colleges, the 2024-2025 interview season will be entirely virtual.
Contact us
Department of Anesthesiology
MedStar Georgetown University Hospital
Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care
CCC Building, Lower Level Rm CL-60
3800 Reservoir Road, NW
Washington, DC. 20007
Office: (202) 444-8640
FAX: (202) 444-8854
Dr. Kerry DeGroot M.D.
Chairman
Dr. Maggie Coppinger M.D.
Program Director
Dr. Caron Hong, M.D.
Associate Program Director - MedStar Washington Hospital Center
Administrative Staff
Alexis Williamson
GME Administrator
Email: alexis.n.williamson@medstar.net
Kaitlyn Rinn
Administrator
Kimberly Poppleton
Account Analyst
Frequently asked questions
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How many residents are in the program?
Each future incoming class will have 12 residents per PGY class, totaling 48 categorical positions.
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What are the “pros” of the residency program?
The superb faculty – house staff interactions, the diversity of clinical experiences, the outstanding quality of the residents, great location in Washington, DC, the opportunities for varied electives, and the responsiveness of the administration to resident concerns all stand out as highlights. There are no fellows at Georgetown, and so residents perform advanced fellow-level cases early in their clincal training. Our transplant program in particular is very strong. Our interns get the opportunity to rotate with the anesthesia department for up to 5 months during their first year which allows them to experience challenging cases early in their CA1 year. Every graduate has obtained their first choice of post-residency fellowship or job placement.
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What are the differences between Georgetown (GUH), Washington Hospital Center (WHC), and MedStar?
Georgetown has had many years of partnership with MedStar Health, the largest health system in the Mid-Atlantic region. MedStar is a not-for profit organization. This partnership was entered in order to better manage the Georgetown University Hospital and physician practice; MedStar is known to excel in financial management of hospital systems. Georgetown University Hospital program is the only University-based residency program in the MedStar system.
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Are the patients at Georgetown “private” patients?
All patients admitted to GUH have a designated attending of record. The vast majority of these patients (approximately 80%) are admitted to full-time, on site faculty. Most of these patients are admitted to our full-time hospitalist service, and are essentially “service” patients.
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What are the advantages / disadvantages of rotating through the various hospitals in the MedStar system?
Our affiliates add tremendous diversity (in terms of demographics, diseases, acuity, hospital size, location) to the program. WHC offers superb cardiovascular and trauma experience within the MedStar system. The faculty members at all of our affiliates are tremendously loyal to Georgetown, and have been educating students and residents for more than 60 years. The advantage is the breadth of experiences available to the Georgetown Anesthesiology resident, as well as opportunities for residents to become familiar with private practitioners – this may be helpful for future job opportunities.
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What about the cost of living in the DC area?
True, Washington DC is viewed as a high cost place to live. Many residents choose to live in less expensive areas within a few miles of DC (Arlington, VA / Rosslyn – just over Key Bridge / suburban Maryland) – these areas are easily accessible to Georgetown and all affiliates and significantly reduce housing costs. Significant salary increases over the past two years have also helped ease the burden to some extent.
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Where do most of the residents in this program live?
There are numerous areas where residents live. Some areas that are popular include Dupont Circle, Adams Morgan, Georgetown, Arlington (Virginia), Alexandria (Virginia), Silver Spring (Maryland), and Bethesda (Maryland). Some people even live as far north as Columbia, Maryland, which is half-way between Baltimore and Washington DC.
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What about vacation time?
You have a total of 20 days of vacation (the maximum allowed by the ACGME): 15 days of vacation/sick and 5 days of meeting/conference time (which can be taken as vacation days as well). The chief residents and program leadership work hard to accommodate each residents’ calendar requests.
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What is the status of the information technology systems at Georgetown?
Hospital financial successes have allowed for dramatic improvements in the computer and systems services at Georgetown. The medical floors, physician offices, common workspaces and ORs are all equipped with computers that are updated on a regular basis. All clinical sites have fully implemented the Cerner electronic medical record (EMR) system. We have Pyxis Medstations in all of our operating rooms as well. In all, MedStar Health System is at the cutting edge in terms of technology and IT.