Testimonials

Q: Why did you decide to pursue a fellowship with IAA at SVMC, and how has this experience positively influenced and changed the trajectory of your career within our practice?

A: "Choosing to pursue the regional anesthesia fellowship with IAA at SVMC was a natural step after a year as an attending at SVMC, driven by the invaluable mentorship and diverse caseload. The experience has made me a stronger and more versatile anesthesiologist, better equipped for critical care. The fellowship with IAA has also opened doors for academic and educational contributions within the organization. I eagerly anticipate applying the skills and knowledge gained as I transition back into my role as an attending anesthesiologist in a few months. ."

Q: Why did you decide to pursue a fellowship with IAA at SVMC, and how has this experience positively influenced and changed the trajectory of your career within our practice?

A: "I chose the fellowship with IAA at SVMC to immerse myself in a dynamic learning environment, while gaining specialized knowledge from renowned experts in the field of regional anesthesia. The fellowship enhanced my skills, and fostered professional growth, allowing me to make more significant contributions within our practice. As a fellow, I was trained in a wide range of cutting edge nerve blocks and personally performed over 3000 nerve blocks. Ultimately, the collaborative and fun atmosphere of the department prompted my choice to stay on as staff post-fellowship."

Q: Can you share your overall experience on completing the fellowship and what you found most valuable about the program?

A: "I'd say I had a great experience with IAA and feel like a much more complete anesthesiologist after my fellowship. Obviously, the focus was regional anesthesia, but with the role of junior attending, you learn so much more about what it takes to be a good anesthesiologist and to work as a productive perioperative team member. I consider that the most valuable aspect of the program, in addition to the thousands of blocks you end up performing."

Q: Why did you decide to pursue a fellowship with IAA at SVMC, and how has this experience positively influenced and changed the trajectory of your career within our practice?

A: "The fellowship program at St. Vincent's Medical Center provided robust support for my research and scholarly activities in anesthesia. Within a month, I collaborated on a research project with Dr. Frenk, receiving step-by-step guidance in creating a conference-worthy poster and presentation. With continuous support, I successfully presented at the PGA77 conference in December, marking a significant achievement and boosting my confidence for future research endeavors. This contrasted positively with my residency experience, where I felt a lack of support. The fellowship not only enhanced my skills but also made the research process enjoyable, fostering my enthusiasm for pursuing further opportunities in my career."

Q: Can you share your overall experience on completing the fellowship and what you found most valuable about the program?

A: "I have really enjoyed my fellowship experience with IAA. While it's difficult to pinpoint just one valuable asset, the two that stand out to me the most are our block volume and receptiveness to feedback/change. The sheer volume we get allows us to master the majority of upper/lower extremity and truncal blocks within the first 2-3 months. The surgeons understand the importance of regional techniques as well and are open to new approaches. Furthermore, Dr. Frenk and Dr. Bowling are always looking for ways to improve the program and tailor rotations to meet your educational needs."

Q: What motivated you to pursue this particular fellowship program, and how has it contributed to your professional growth and development as a physician?

A: "I was motivated by my interest in regional anesthesia during residency, where I was first introduced to nerve blocks. I wanted to become proficient in this skill since it enabled patients to remain comfortable, at times even allowing them to move forward with a surgery period. That, coupled with my experiences in the ambulatory surgery setting, really showed how valuable a skill set like this was."

Q: What motivated you to pursue this particular fellowship program and how has it contributed to your professional growth and development as a physician?

A: "One of the biggest reasons for me was that I felt as though I could continue to grow as a well-rounded physician. While you do spend the majority of your time focused on regional techniques, you also maintain your skills such as airway management, neuraxial techniques & line placement, just to name a few. Eventually, I had the opportunity to play a supervisory role and work with both CRNAs and SRNAs. This is an invaluable experience for someone relatively fresh out of residency and will serve me well when I transition to my next position."

Q: Would you recommend this program to a future fellow?

A: "I think IAA has a wonderful house staff, in addition to their leadership, and I would 1000% recommend this program to any residents interested in pursuing a fellowship. You will not only hone your regional anesthesia skills but also become a well-rounded anesthesiologist with the myriad of cases, overseeing CRNAs, teaching medical students, and working with surgical and procedural professionals."

Q: How do you plan to apply the specialized training you received during your fellowship to improve patient outcomes in your future practice?

A: "The group I will be joining staffs strictly ambulatory surgery centers, with a heavy emphasis on regional anesthesia, so I consider myself especially equipped after this year to provide my future patients with the best possible care."

Q: How do you plan to apply the specialized training you received during your fellowship to improve patient outcomes in your future practice?

A: "I plan to continue incorporating the regional techniques and ERAS protocols I have learned into my practice. By doing so, I can provide my patients with a multimodal, opioid-sparing regimen and hopefully make a positive impact on patients' recoveries."

Q: Would you recommend this program to a future fellow?

A: "I absolutely would.
Not only is the fellowship well-rounded, but you also are working with an amazing team. From the day I started, I genuinely found the work environment to be very collaborative, and always feel well-supported by my colleagues. It has that family-type feel that you can't necessarily find everywhere."