With so many subsections of medicine, it can be tricky to find the right one for you. Are you the type to get your hands dirty as a surgeon, or is bedside manner more your forte? Or perhaps you prefer a blend of both? If that last one sounds more like you, then you might be considering anesthesiology. So, what is anesthesiology and where, oh, where should you go to pursue it? Well, stick around and I’ll be sure to give you all the best colleges for anesthesiology.
Today we’re going to be looking into everything anesthesiology, including:
- What is Anesthesiology?
- What Can You Do With a Degree in Anesthesiology?
- And the Best Colleges for Anesthesiology.
Without further ado, let’s dive right in!
What is Anesthesiology?
Anesthesiology is the branch of medicine that is focused on the relief of pain before, during, and after surgeries and other major medical procedures. It’s a lot more difficult than many assume it to be. Anesthesiology is more than just pumping someone full of laughing gas and putting them to sleep. It requires a deep knowledge of mechanical ventilation, various monitors of physiological functioning, neuroanatomy and so much more. Of course, that’s why it takes between eight and twelve years of medical school to become an anesthesiologist. So, now that you know what anesthesiology is, let’s find out what you can do with it.
What Can You Do With a Degree in Anesthesiology?
Anesthesiology is a pretty narrow field. There’s not a ton of wiggle room when it comes to different or adjacent fields. It’s a bit of an all or nothing field. But, because anesthesiology occurs in all aspects of surgery (before, during, and after), you really get to be involved in so many different medical fields at once. So, while anesthesiology is a bit constricting, it can actually involve you in a lot of different aspects of medicine and surgery! So, now that you have a good idea of anesthesiology’s ins and outs, let’s start looking into the best colleges for anesthesiology.
The Best Colleges for Anesthesiology
Harvard University
Harvard University in Boston, Massachusetts already had greatness woven into its name. Everyone knows about the legacy Harvard harbors, but it has such a great reputation for a reason. It is crazy hard to get into—with an acceptance rate of only 3%—but it is ranked second in terms of anesthesiology programs. Harvard offers a fellowship program in tandem with Massachusetts General Hospital, offering aspiring anesthesiologists the opportunity to train for two to three years.
By participating in the program, students have the opportunity to join a research group at a number of facilities, including:
- Mass General
- Harvard University
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Boston Children’s Hospital
- And More
As an Ivy League school with the second best anesthesiology program in the U.S. and stellar opportunities to get into the field, Harvard is a great school to attend!
Stanford University
Stanford University in Stanford, California is another strong Ivy League school with a cutting-edge anesthesiology program. Yet another program aimed at getting students practical application and in the field. The best way to learn is often by doing, and Stanford is the place to get started. Plus, if you’ve got a hankering for STEM, Stanford’s medical school is known for blending medicine with engineering. Of course, much like Harvard, it’s a bit tricky to get into, but if you’re able to cement a spot, you truly won’t regret it! With hands-on experience and cutting-edge technology make Stanford one of the best colleges for anesthesiology.
John Hopkins University
John Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland has an amazing pre-med program and a stellar anesthesiology program as well! One of the biggest draws has to be the mentorship program. Learning from talented and experienced anesthesiologists is perhaps the best way to get the experience you need to succeed. Reading out of a textbook can only get you so far, so it’s great to know you’ll have experienced veterans in your corner helping you get the most bang for your buck. John Hopkins University is definitely one of the best colleges for anesthesiology out there!
Duke University
Duke University in Durham, North Carolina is another great addition to our list. Duke partners with the community in order to give back and support the city around the university. For example, the university has grants that organizations can use for their patient’s health or programs that work to improve food security and sustainable food production around Durham and other places. Plus, Duke has one of the strongest faculties and, of course, provides a hands-on learning experience for all of its students!
University of California
Last but certainly not least on our list is the University of California in San Francisco (USCF). UCSF is a top-notch educational program with a diverse training environment for its residents. UCSF focuses on perioperative and critical care, where students can experience clinical rotations in a multitude of different teaching hospitals. And the university has some state of the art tech where students can partake in and learn from high-tech simulations. The University of California is the perfect school to wrap up our list of the best colleges for anesthesiology!
Those are our picks for the best colleges for anesthesiology!
The path to a career in anesthesiology is a long and arduous journey, but with one of these amazing schools, you’ll be sure to succeed! No matter which of these great schools you decide to attend, you’ll be getting an amazing education!
