Drs. Strand and Pauly

Welcome to The University of Iowa Department of Anesthesia residency web site. We are glad that you have taken the time to learn more about our department, and would like to take this opportunity to tell you about what The University of Iowa has to offer. An Iowa anesthesia resident is a member of a legacy that dates back to the very inception of our specialty. In fact, the first formal anesthesia residency program in the United States was established here at The University of Iowa in the 1920s. In addition to being part of an impressive lineage, our residents have an opportunity to define the cutting edge of both clinical anesthesiology and anesthesia research at one of the nation’s top academic medical institutions.

The process of choosing a residency program can be quite daunting, and there are many programs that offer excellent clinical training. Often, the choice comes down to a preferred geographic location or an abstract feeling of “belonging” that might be sensed during the interview process. One factor cannot be overlooked, however, and that is the success of our residents after they complete their training. Our residents have an excellent track record no matter how this success is measured. Iowa anesthesia graduates go on to earn spots in top fellowship programs across the country and become highly valued and sought-after members of academic departments and private groups throughout the nation. Additionally, our board certification rate far exceeds the national average year in and year out.

There are many factors responsible for this success. Most importantly, our residency program offers unsurpassed diversity of clinical experience in a relaxed, hospitable Midwestern setting. In fact, if you were to ask our residents what makes this program truly unique and special, most would mention the family atmosphere and sense of camaraderie that surrounds the entire department. It would be difficult to find a more amiable group of residents than ours. We genuinely care about each other and are always willing to help out. Within our resident lounge, you will find a safe atmosphere for commiseration, socialization, and relaxation. There is never a shortage of witty banter to lighten your mood, even during the most stressful of days. Residency is a very challenging endeavor, and it eases the burden to go through the journey with a group of people that you truly consider friends.

That friendship extends outside the walls of the hospital. Our residents will commonly be found together in numerous social settings. From department sponsored picnics, cookouts, and family outings, to gatherings of the Xenon Society (our anesthesia residents’ social club), there is no shortage of time or opportunities outside of work to get to know your fellow residents. The Iowa City area is a wonderful place to live whether you are single or moving here with your family. Being situated amidst the beautiful wooded campus of a major public university affords the residents of Iowa City and the surrounding towns an abundance of leisure activities, from performance arts and humanities, to Big Ten athletics. The University of Iowa’s very diverse population adds a cosmopolitan feel to Iowa City’s downtown area, where specialty shops, cafes, and gourmet restaurants abound. Iowa City is also a terrific place to raise a family. Local public schools are consistently ranked among the best in the nation, cost of living is very low, and our communities are extraordinarily safe and secure. Finally, nearby Coralville Lake and Lake MacBride and their associated recreational areas offer more than 5,000 acres of freshwater lake for water sports, fishing, and boating, as well as camping areas, and hiking and biking trails.

Clinical anesthesia training at The University of Iowa is nothing short of remarkable. Residents are exposed to an impressive array of unique and challenging cases beginning relatively early in their CA-1 year and thus quickly develop an extraordinary clinical acumen. In addition to receiving very solid experiences in virtually every area of perioperative medicine, we receive truly superlative training in pain medicine, regional anesthesia, pediatric anesthesia, neuroanesthesia, obstetric anesthesia, and intensive care. Our Ambulatory Surgery Center provides opportunities to practice alternative anesthetic techniques that may better reflect a private practice setting. Our graduates uniformly feel prepared to manage any anesthetic upon completion of our program.

In addition to excellent clinical training, there is a strong focus on resident education. We receive didactics three times per week in addition to quality intraoperative teaching. Our senior resident-led key word lectures emphasize board examination preparation, and these lectures are placed on our departmental intranet for review. We perform mock oral boards twice per year and are fortunate to have Dr. Niels Jensen (www.boardprep.com) provide his board preparation sessions privately for our residents throughout the academic calendar. Each resident receives valuable training through our Patient Simulator Center’s program, where we are frequently challenged with rare intraoperative scenarios. The department promotes basic science and clinical research and fosters any resident involvement in independent or ongoing projects. Our many renowned faculty inspire an intellectually stimulating environment in all arenas and help open doors to the most competitive fellowships via international connections.

It is easy to see that we are very proud of our residency program, our department, our university, and our communities. We believe that at The University of Iowa we have found a hidden gem of sorts, where unsurpassed clinical training is offered in an idyllic setting, surrounded by warm and friendly people, and are extremely grateful to have trained in such an environment. Please feel free to contact us with any inquiries at UIAnesthesiaChiefs@yahoo.com.

Sincerely,

Nick Pauly, M.D.
Jens Strand, M.D.
Chief Residents 2009-2010