Welcome to the Anesthesia Residency Program at the Baylor College of Medicine! We are excited that you have decided to explore our program and hope you’ll enjoy our perspectives on what we find special about our training and why we are proud to call Baylor home!
Baylor College of Medicine is nestled in the heart of the Texas Medical Center – the largest medical center in the world. As an anesthesiology resident at BCM, our training spans across seven clinical sites. This means we have a diversity of experiences in each of these unique learning environments.
We begin your Clinical Anesthesiology- 1 (CA-1) training at the historic Ben Taub Hospital, which is one of two Level 1 trauma centers in Harris County. Here, we take care of complex patients that not only enhance our medical knowledge, but also, instill in us an appreciation of healthcare inequality and its impact on population health. Ben Taub Hospital is considered the home base of our department, and we return to this site multiple times during our training to complete rotations in general, trauma, cardiac anesthesiology, neurosurgical, regional, remote and high-risk obstetrical anesthesiology. The Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center is the second largest government hospital in the nation with over 20 cutting-edge operating rooms and procedural suites. As a CA-1, we care for our nation’s heroes, many of whom require highly specialized anesthetic care. Later, as a CA-2, we will have an opportunity to learn about chronic and interventional pain management as well as subspecialties at the VAMC.
As suggested above, the CA-2 year at Baylor revolves around the subspecialties and includes rotations at the Baylor St. Luke’s Hospital (BSLM), Texas Heart Institute (THI), Texas Children’s Hospital (TCH), and MD Anderson Cancer Center (MDA). At the famous THI, we learn the fundamentals of performing cardiothoracic and transplant surgery and care for countless patients on ECMO and other mechanical circulatory support devices. At TCH, one of the leading Children’s Hospitals in the world, we learn how to provide anesthetic care to correct a complex congenital defect in a tiny neonate to a routine laparoscopic appendectomy in an adolescent patient. There is a good mix of “bread and butter,” congenital, NICU, and complex cases. Finally, we learn to care for complicated cancer patients in the Intensive Care Unit as well as provide Acute Pain care at the world-renowned MD Anderson Cancer Center.
Within this array of clinical sites, we also work with a diverse cohort of faculty who hail from all over the country, bringing along their training experiences from highly reputable institutions. Without a doubt, the heart and soul of our program lies in our faculty and residents. We are a tight-knit bunch, even across residency classes, and this large professional network along with our reputation for producing highly skilled anesthesiologists, helps our residents match to top-notch fellowships and land great career opportunities after graduation.
While our clinical training is robust, we firmly believe in a strong foundation of knowledge. Protected time for lectures is provided to all residents during their CA-1 through C-3 years. The value we put on education is reflected in our residents’ outstanding performance on board exams.
Outside of work, Houston is a fun and affordable place to live as an individual or as a family. It is the fourth largest city and one of the most diverse and multicultural melting pots of America. If you love to eat, Houston is definitely for you! You can find delicious bites from any corner of the world. The medical center is just minutes away from live music, museums, parks, farmer markets, zoos, and of course, bars and restaurants. There are always events to check out at the NRG Stadium or the Toyota Center (including the annual Houston Livestock & Rodeo event!). No matter where you come from, Houston has something for you, and we have no doubt that you will find many reasons why you would want to call it your new home too.
Once again, thank you for your interest in our program. If you have any questions at all, don’t be shy—feel free to reach out to us and we will be happy to help.
Hope that you will join us!
Chief Residents
Newaj Abdullah
Wendy Tsai
Christian Du Mont
