Best Medical Schools for Anesthesiology

Pursuing a medical specialization in Anesthesiology is exciting and challenging at the same time. 

Being an Anesthesiologist is considered a high stake medical profession that requires intensive training and expertise because of the significant responsibilities one handle in their day-to-day work. 

For you to succeed in this career, you also need to carefully choose the medical school where you want to pursue this specialization. You should pick an institution that provides an excellent training ground for Anesthesiology. 

This article gives you a list of the best medical schools to study Anesthesiology. We have included a preview of each residency and fellowship program offered by these medical schools for this specialization.

What is an Anesthesiologist?

One of the branches of medicine is Anesthesiology, which is focused on the safe administration of anesthesia. Its primary scope is to relieve the pain and suppress the patient's consciousness before, during, and after surgery. 

An Anesthesiologist is a board-certified medical specialist trained to evaluate, monitor, and administer anesthetics that range from local numbing agents to general anesthesia during a surgical procedure. 

Here are the different types of anesthesia administered by an Anesthesiologist.

These medical professionals also specialize in pain management and critical care. They must also carefully assess the anesthetic needs of each patient depending on one’s medical condition, responses to anesthesia, and the requirements of the medical procedure. 

And they are also responsible for the patient before and after surgery care and safety. However, the primary responsibility of an Anesthesiologist is to safely support the patient’s vital functions throughout the medical operation. 

Also, an Anesthesiologist is an essential part of the surgical team, and they must have fundamental knowledge in physiology, pharmacology, neuroanatomy, mechanical ventilation, surgery, and other general areas of medicine. 

There are different subspecialties in Anesthesiology that one may pursue further. 

Below are the subspecializations in this field of medicine:

How Much Do Anesthesiologists Earn?

Anesthesiologists are one of the top highest-paid medical professionals worldwide. The average annual income of an Anesthesiologist exceeds all other medical professionals in the field. 

However, the average base salary for these medical specialists also depends on the country where one is currently working. 

Below are different countries where Anesthesiologists are highly paid. 

The average salary of an Anesthesiologist in the US is USD 403,168. 

And the entry-level salary ranges from USD 263,727 up to USD 300,000. 

Those with more than five years of experience can earn as much as USD 551,244.

In the UK, an Anesthesiologist has a median annual salary of GBP 212,099, while a junior specialist receives a yearly income of GBP 138,741. 

Senior Anesthesiologist’s average base salary is between GBP 280,000 to GBP 289,998. 

An Anesthesiologist working in Canada has an average base salary of CAD 424,937. And those with one to three years of working experience in the medical field can earn around CAD 277,937 up to CAD 300,000. 

Those Anesthesiologists with extensive experience have a yearly income of CAD 541,000. 

Doctors specializing in Anesthesiology based in India have an average annual income of INR 41,590,426. 

And the median salary of a Senior Anesthesiologist ranges from INR 55,000,000 to INR 57,740,833. 

In Australia, the average base salary of an Anesthesiologist is AUD 485,517 a year. While Junior Anesthesiologists may earn an average income of AUD 318,111, and a Senior Anesthesiologist’s salary is around AUD 664,917. 

An Anesthesiologist in Germany has a median wage of EUR 240,403 annually. 

Those with a minimum of three years of experience in the field may receive a yearly income of EUR 157,257. 

Those medical professionals with eight years and above experience have an average salary of EUR 328,699. 

In Switzerland, these medical professionals have an average salary of CHF 394,386. And those who only have three to two years of experience in the field can earn an average of CHF 257,265 to CHF 300,000. 

Senior specialists with more than five years of working experience can make around CHF 537,750. 

Those Anesthesiologists working in France can earn an average of EUR 218,909. 

And the starting salary for junior medical professionals ranges from EUR 143,114 to EUR 150,000. 

The average annual income for a Senior Anesthesiologist is EUR 299,137. 

Summary Table: Average Salary Rate of Anesthesiologists in Different Countries

What are the Best Medical Schools for Anesthesiology?

In this section, we discuss the best medical schools for studying anesthesiology. 

Harvard University 

Harvard University is highly regarded for its exceptional educational training and teaching facility. It is also part of the well-respected Ivy League, and the university is internationally recognized for its top-ranking programs. 

Why Study Anesthesiology at Harvard?

The Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care, and Pain Medicine of HMS offer ACGME-approved residency and fellowship programs in Anesthesia sub-specializations. 

The program also focuses on integrated and advanced discussions in acute pain and surgical intensive care. The residents are trained in Brigham and Women’s Hospital, one of the major teaching hospitals of Harvard Medical School. 

The medical students will also be trained and participate in simulation programs at Harvard Center for Medical Simulation, wherein they will learn the basic administration of anesthesia. 

Also, they will be exposed and do rotations in internal medicine, surgery, and emergency medicine departments. And they will attend skills workshops and simulation learnings which aim to develop their skills and give them a foundation in practicing Anesthesiology. 

Anesthesia sub-specializations will be introduced as part of the residency program wherein the residents will handle complex case rotations such as in cardiac and thoracic.

Johns Hopkins University

John Hopkins University is a world-renowned university with a top-ranked educational training system. It takes pride in its advanced, innovative, and enriching courses and programs. 

Why Study Anesthesiology at John Hopkins?

The Johns Hopkins Anesthesiology and Critical Care Department offers a good fellowship and residency program in Anesthesiology. It focuses on the fundamental and advanced administration of anesthesia during any clinical procedure to reduce surgery-related complications. 

The department offers various divisions for Anesthesiology, such as Ambulatory Anesthesia, Neuroanesthesia, Pediatric Anesthesiology, Ophthalmological Anesthesia, Cardiac Anesthesia, and more. 

And it also gives importance to enhancing the medical skills of its residents in the application, acquisition, preparation, and troubleshooting of various types of equipment used in the delivery of anesthesia care. 

The residents will have rotations in operating rooms, intensive care units, inpatient floors, outpatient clinics, and emergency rooms. 

The program is also integrated with other essential branches of science, including anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, pharmacology, and the principles of anesthesia technology.

Duke University 

Duke University is an established university with high standards for its undergraduate and graduate programs. It is dedicated to training future leaders by nurturing their passion and offers a vast opportunity for growth with a diverse learning environment. 

Why Study Anesthesiology at Duke University?

Duke Med’s Anesthesiology Department is supported by world-class faculty that consistently aims to provide engaging and excellent hands-on experience in the field. 

The program is highly innovative and concentrates on general medicine, surgery, pediatrics, critical care, and emergency medicine. It also offers three elective programs in acute pain service, hyperbaric and undersea medicine, and a general anesthesia rotation. 

And the Anesthesiology program of the school is tailored to develop its residents' fundamental clinical skills and anesthesiology knowledge. 

Residents are also given opportunities to engage in research projects, lectures, and intraoperative and bedside teaching programs. 

And they can experience a wide range of medical cases wherein they can discuss preparation and planning to enhance their perioperative pain management skills, review perioperative medications, learn to calculate the proper dosing and choice of intravenous fluids, and plan postoperative care.

The University of California - San Francisco

University of California San Francisco (UCSF) is a leading educational institution fully committed to developing top-notch educational programs. It also instills integrity, professionalism, diversity, and excellence in its learning system. 

Why Study Anesthesiology at the University of California?

The UCSF Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care offers a diverse training environment for its residents. The program is highly intensive, with elective rotations in the subspecialties of Anesthesiology. 

It focuses on perioperative and critical care, where students experience clinical rotations in different teaching hospitals. They will be exposed to the intricacies of anesthesia machines and learn how to monitor anesthetic agents. 

Also, the program is structured with a didactic teaching method and problem-based learning simulation that challenges and gives a vast opportunity for its residents to grow and improve their clinical skills. 

The curriculum includes Anesthesia Crisis Resource Management training, mortality and morbidity conferences, and mock written and oral board exam review courses.

Columbia University

Columbia University is part of the first-class Ivy League Universities and Colleges in the US. It is highly recognized for its unique and highly diversified learning environment. 

Why Study Anesthesiology at Columbia University?

The Department of Anesthesiology is packed with state-of-the-art anesthesia machines and facilities. Also, it is supported by top surgeons and anesthesiologists in the country. 

Residents will be exposed to the operating room and given opportunities to practice in other hospital areas, such as post-anesthesia care units, MRI laboratories, endoscopy departments, and other radiologic areas. 

The curriculum promotes a supportive learning environment and supports professional growth. Also, it is composed of both clinical and research fellowship programs. 

It is in-depth clinical training in the different subspecialties of anesthesia, including obstetric anesthesia, pain medicine, neurosurgical anesthesia, pediatric anesthesia, and more. 

The residents will also have clinical case discussions, research meetings, and seminars. These activities will help them prepare for independent practice, and senior residents and medical specialists will supervise these programs.

Summary Table: Best Medical Schools for Anesthesiology 

Additional Reading – Best Medical Schools: