Welcome to the University of Wisconsin Department of Anesthesiology!
We are delighted that you are considering joining our community of residents, faculty, and staff. Our residents receive comprehensive clinical training, didactics, and simulation training, and have access to research, global health, and leadership development opportunities throughout their time at UW.
Our goal as chief residents is to help cultivate a supportive community in which our future anesthesiologists can develop the skills and knowledge they need to confidently navigate the dynamic landscape of our field and emerge as leaders in perioperative medicine. We pride ourselves on providing a comprehensive and rigorous education in anesthesiology.
Our program is designed to cultivate not only your clinical skills but also your personal and professional growth. You will find an inclusive environment where diversity is celebrated, and every resident is valued as an integral part of our team.
Most of our training takes place in Madison, WI, at the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics. Consistently ranked as the #1 hospital in the state of Wisconsin, University Hospital (UWH) is a 505-bed level 1 trauma center. It is a major referral center for the region, a leader in neuro-interventional care, an NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center, and has one of the largest organ transplant programs in the country. Our residents gain valuable clinical expertise at UWH caring for our most complicated patients. We take great pride in managing a diverse clinical caseload, which includes trauma surgery, neurosurgery, major vascular and cardiothoracic procedures, burn surgery, and an array of transplant surgeries including kidney, pancreas, heart, lung, and liver transplants. Our integrated outpatient surgery center ensures residents have experience taking care of patients undergoing routine procedures and surgeries by services such as ENT, ophthalmology, urology, and plastic surgery.
Just across the skywalk from UWH, is the American Family Children’s Hospital (AFCH) which is a standalone, 111-bed level 1 trauma center with both pediatric and neonatal intensive care units. UW residents receive comprehensive training in all aspects of pediatric surgery, from quick turnover outpatient ENT cases to congenital heart surgery, complex congenital facial deformity repair, and craniosynostosis repairs. Our residents also rotate at the East Madison Hospital (EMH) and Madison Surgery Center (MSC), which currently serve as ambulatory surgery centers and provide residents with additional experience providing anesthesia for outpatient cases, including orthopedic surgery, endocrine surgery, and bariatric surgery. Residents also rotate through EMH’s Pre-Anesthesia Clinic to learn how to evaluate and prepare patients for surgery. Our obstetric anesthesia rotation takes place at Meriter Hospital, a UW Health Partner, located just down the road from UWH. Meriter has over 5,000 deliveries per year making it the busiest birthing hospital in the state. Additionally, our CA-2 residents are able to spend a month rotating at Northwestern University in downtown Chicago to gain additional world-class experience in the practice of OB anesthesia. These multiple locations allow our residents to experience and become familiar with different practice models, better preparing them for their future careers.
We are proud of being the first academic department of anesthesiology in the country under the leadership of Ralph M. Waters. We have continued to refine our didactic approach to ensure residents receive an outstanding education both in and outside of the operating room. We participate in regularly scheduled didactic sessions, including expert lectures, problem-based-learning-discussions, case conferences, and journal clubs. To support our residents’ success on written board examinations, we provide access to ‘TrueLearn,’ a valuable resource that equips them with the knowledge and skills needed to excel on written examinations. Many of our faculty are oral board examiners and help us prepare for our exams in both structured and informal settings. There is a state-of-the-art simulation center open to our residents 24 hours a day where we do group OSCE scenarios, as well as POCUS and TEE simulations. Additionally, we have several physician researchers with successful NIH funding in projects ranging from basic science to multi-center clinical trials. Our research elective time allows residents to explore their own research interests under the mentorship of renowned physician scientists.
It is also important to us as chief residents that our peers feel safe and supported throughout the rigorous years of training. Our program prioritizes the well-being of our residents in many ways — from providing a dedicated resident lounge with plenty of snacks, to ensuring that policies are in place to protect residents who choose to become parents during their training. We are proud that many of our residency classes have developed close relationships with their peers during their time at UW which further demonstrates the tight-knit culture within our program. Our residency leadership also works hard to create a caring and collaborative relationship with residents. They are always willing to listen—even hosting twice-yearly ‘Resident Summits’ intended to be an open discussion about the program—and take our suggestions for improvement very seriously.
Overall, our program prepares residents for success in whatever direction they wish to take their career. Many of our residents go on to pursue fellowships in Critical Care, Cardiothoracic, Pediatrics, Regional, Transplant, and Chronic Pain at top-ranking institutions all over the country, including Harvard/Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Stanford, Duke, Vanderbilt, Mayo, UCLA, UCSD, Seattle Children’s Hospital, University of Michigan, and our very own University of Wisconsin! Many of our residents have found great success with job placement in private practice after graduation all over the country. Our robust alumni network ensures that no matter the region of the country you would like to practice, there is likely an alumnus willing to help you and speak to your excellent training.
Madison, the capital city of Wisconsin, is a vibrant college town with a welcoming community. Madison is consistently ranked among the top cities to live in the country and for good reason! Outside of work, you will find plenty to do outside of work. Outdoor lovers will enjoy the easy access to lakes, state parks, and hundreds of miles of trails. Once you’ve worked up an appetite, don’t forget to visit some of our top-notch restaurants, craft breweries, and one of the largest weekly farmer’s markets nationwide. You’ll also find many options for entertainment, including concerts on the capital square, outdoor festivals, live music, comedy shows, museums, performing arts at the Overture Center, and, of course, UW athletic events! If you are able to visit us, we would be happy to show you all the reasons we love living here.
We hope this brief introduction helps give you a preview of all that we have to offer you the University of Wisconsin Department of Anesthesiology. We look forward to meeting you during the 2026-2027 recruitment season and wish you all the best in your interviews. Go Badgers!
Your Chiefs,
Margaret Smoot, MD
Kaya Garringer, DO, MS
