UW Anesthesiology & Pain Medicine Residency and the Bonica Scholars Program

On March 17, 2023, the UW Department of Anesthesiology & Pain Medicine welcomed the newest class of residents to the department. It is with great excitement that we introduce these talented individuals who have joined our team to embark on a journey of clinical excellence, professional growth, and personal development. These 28 highly qualified clinicians include two Bonica Scholar Research Track residents and two Critical Care Medicine Track residents.

They come from across the country and around the world representing 23 different medical schools. The 2023 residency match statistics are as follows:

• Total Residents: 28
• Medical Schools Represented: 23
• MD Degrees: 23
• DO Degrees: 3
• MBBS Degrees: 2
• Additional Advanced Degrees: 5

Our Residency Program Experience

The educational programs at the Department of Anesthesiology & Pain Medicine are dedicated to training physicians to be skilled in the care of perioperative patients from all backgrounds with a focus on critical care, pain medicine, patient safety, quality, and research. Our program strives to offer a rich and inclusive educational environment that prepares graduates to be leaders – not just in anesthesiology, but also in the evolution of all healthcare delivery on a local and national level.

We welcome these bright physicians into our community where we work every day towards providing exceptional patient care, conducting cutting edge research and fostering a culture of inclusivity and respect. Residents will experience a broad range of cases, procedures and diverse patient population while training at UW’s major health care facilities. To support their growth, residents engage in weekly didactic sessions, simulations, mock orals trainings, workshops and journal clubs.

Bonica Scholars Research Program

To prepare residents for the challenge of leading the future development of academic anesthesiology and research in all aspects of this field, UW Anesthesiology has created the Bonica Scholars Program. This program is designed to provide advanced training opportunities for exceptional individuals who desire a career in academic anesthesiology. The “Bonica Scholars Program” is named for John Bonica, the first chair of Anesthesiology at University of Washington and a pioneer in the fields of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine.

Program Overview and Training

The Bonica Scholars Program is a 4-year program intended to provide high quality clinical training and comprehensive mentoring from program leadership and from externally-funded principal investigators. Throughout their time in the Bonica Scholars program, trainees receive excellent clinical training in anesthesiology and perioperative medicine. They also receive rigorous training in research methodologies relevant to their focus area, including scientific principles, statistical methods, scientific writing and grant applications, and ethical research practices.

Bonica Scholars have regular opportunities to attend journal clubs, seminars, and contribute to national meetings such as the Association of University Anesthesiologists (AUA), the International Anesthesia Research Society (IARS), and the Western Anesthesia Residents Conference (WARC).

Potential Research Foci

• Population Health and Health Systems: Bioethics, health care economics, bioinformatics, and health metrics.
• Clinical and Translational Research: Acute and chronic pain, outcomes, palliative care, health services, clinical trials, and novel quality improvement.
• Basic Science: Fundamental neuroscience (consciousness, sleep, anesthetic mechanisms/toxicity) and fundamental pharmacology.

Application Process

Apply through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS). In addition to indicating interest in this track on the ERAS application, a separate two-page application will be requested if applicants advance to interview as a Bonica Scholar. There are two virtual interview days to maximize opportunity to explore the program. The first virtual interview day will be with other categorical track applicants and clinical faculty. Select applicants will receive an invitation for a second interview with research faculty. On the second interview day, Bonica applicants will meet with potential research mentors and current Bonica Scholars, and discuss research interests with program leadership.