Anesthesia Clerkship Rotation

General Information

The Department of Anesthesiology at Wayne State University School of Medicine offers an extensive course on the basics of anesthesiology. This one-month elective course is offered to medical students in their senior year, and is facilitated through the Department of Anesthesiology, Anesthesiology Education Office, Wayne State University. 

Interested applicants should apply through the Records and Registrants Office at 313-577-1470 for assignment of this elective. Online applications can be downloaded here. If there is no response from the Records and Registrants Office, please contact the Anesthesiology Education Office at 248-858-6068

Anesthesiology Research Activities

The Department of Anesthesiology welcomes third and fourth year medical students who are interested in participating in anesthesia research related activities. The department typically rotates 5-7 students every six months. All medical students will be evaluated upon completion of the research. This is an excellent opportunity for those medical students seeking more information about the practice of anesthesia. Please contact Stephanie Harris, M.B.A., at 313-966-5022 for more information.

Course Information

The Anesthesiology course is offered in periods 3-11 (August-May), with the length of the elective equal to one month; 5 days per week approximately 8-10 hours per day (6:30am-3:00pm). Although there are no prerequisites for this course; coursework (academic credit) in medicine and surgery are recommended. Please note that this course may not be reduced to a two-week elective and/or combined with another related course or independent study elective.

Course Schedule

Students should expect to spend time (in a rotation period of 3-5 days) on a variety of services including inpatient and outpatient anesthesia, pain management, obstetrical anesthesia, and pre-operative and postoperative anesthesia. Locations include Trinity Health Oakland Hospital and Ambulatory Surgery Center in Pontiac.

In addition, medical students are required to attend weekly didactic lectures sponsored by the Wayne State University Department of Anesthesiology.

Recommended Reading

  • Basics of Anesthesia, ISBN 0-443-06573-X - (Robert K. Stoelting, MD; Ronald D. Miller, MD)
  • Introduction to Anesthesia, ISBN 0-721-66279-X - ( David E. Longnecker, Frank L. Murphy, eds.)

Course Goals

To acquire an understanding of the basic physiology, pharmacology, and clinical management involved in anesthesia care and perioperative medicine.

Course Objectives

Students will be expected to:

  • Learn the basics of preoperative evaluation
  • Learn the basic principles and techniques of airway management
  • Learn how to select appropriate anesthetic agents and have a basic understanding of the pharmacology agents used for anesthesia
  • Understand the basics of monitoring patients under anesthesia
  • Become familiar with common regional nerve blockade
  • Become familiar with the basics of invasive monitoring
  • Understand the basics of anesthetic management in obstetrical patients
  • Become acquainted with the modalities available to treat acute and chronic pain problems
  • Develop an appreciation of the anesthesiologist as a problem solver in the hospital and outpatient settings

Course Evaluation

Residents receive continuous evaluation from senior residents and faculty throughout the duration of their rotation. For those who have completed rotation, evaluations may be obtained by contacting the Anesthesia Education Office. Personal evaluation may be scheduled with Steven Landau, M.D., Director of Student Medical Education or Tiffany Lopez, Student Coordinator.

Anesthesia Medical Student Education Office

Trinity Health Oakland-Medical Office Building
44555 Woodward Avenue, Suite 308
Pontiac, MI 48341
P. 248-858-6068
F. 248-858-3022
Email: hr9039@wayne.edu

Note: course cannot be reduced to two week elective and combined with another related course into an independent study elective.

*Guest students must complete a VSAS application prior to scheduling an anesthesia elective rotation through WSU