Welcome to the University of Louisville Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine Residency Program! We are so glad that you are interested in learning more about our program!

UofL Hospital is located at the heart of the Louisville Metro area in downtown Louisville. It is the only Level 1 Trauma Center in the region, admitting more than 3,000 patients each year, along with a comprehensive burn center in the Kentuckiana region. UofL is also the first Joint Commission-certified Comprehensive Stroke Center in Kentucky and the 20th in the nation. The UofL Brown Cancer Center has multi-disciplinary teams that specialize in the treatment of cancers. UofL-Jewish Hospital is a world leader in organ transplantation for lung, heart, liver, and kidneys. In fact, the first female artificial heart transplant in the world was performed right here at UofL-Jewish Hospital in September 2021! The Norton Children’s Hospital is the region’s only full-service, free-standing pediatric hospital, and is Louisville’s only Level 1 Pediatric Trauma Center and serves as the primary pediatric teaching facility for UofL.

Our residency program features a Clinical Base Year where interns rotate through several departments including Medicine (with subspecialty rotations in Cardiology, Pulmonology and Geriatrics), Radiology, and Diagnostic Cardiology. Residents are slowly being acclimatized to life for the next three years as we have rotations in the ICU, Obstetric Anesthesia, POCUS ultrasound, and most importantly, a month-long preceptorship in the general operating rooms prior to the actual anesthesia year.

During the Clinical Anesthesia Years (1 to 3), the opportunities for the residents are endless! During CA-1 year, we provide anesthesia to a multitude of patients, whether trauma victims, burn patients, robotic-assisted surgery patients, orthopedic patients to stroke patients at UofL, VA, and Jewish Hospitals. Our OB anesthesia rotation encompasses both low and high-risk OB. You will be exposed to different neuraxial techniques in managing those types of patients. We have an acute and regional pain rotations during our CA2 and CA3 years where we get experience doing thoracic epidurals, peripheral nerve blocks, both single-shots and catheters as well as managing acute pain perioperatively. We provide a smooth transition of care with regards to pain as we have our chronic pain service to follow-up these patients outside the hospital. We have a strong chronic pain rotation as we provide comprehensive and multidisciplinary approach to pain that includes medication management, interventional procedures, neuromodulation as well as cancer pain management. This year, we have been formally approved by ACGME to have a global health rotation as we do medical missions in Kenya.

Being a stand-alone pediatric hospital, our pediatric anesthesia rotation is truly unparalleled. As a resident, we are exposed to a variety of cases such as newborn surgeries, general surgeries, spine, orthopedic, neurologic, and cardiac surgeries, including nerve blocks, working alongside fellowship-trained pediatric anesthesiologists.

Our cardiothoracic anesthesia rotation is one of the strongest as we can provide care to patients undergoing open-heart surgeries, TAVRs, and heart or lung transplants. Residents are exposed to this depth of experience early in residency, offering opportunities to care for diverse patient populations as well as train us to be adaptable in any situation.

Most importantly, our education is top priority in the department. Our department boasts of faculty members who are leading experts and pioneers in the field of academics, research, advocacy, as well as authors of numerous papers and textbooks. Our faculty’s commitment to provide a conducive training environment for residents are exceptional. Our program also strives to prepare the residents to life after residency – be it pursuing fellowship training, academic, or private practice. Among ourselves, we strive to have a family-friendly environment and maintain good work-life balance.

Finally, the city of Louisville is a wonderful place to live! Many residents live in areas that have the feel of a neighborhood but are conveniently located very close to the hospitals where they work. Louisville is the home of the world-famous Kentucky Derby, as well as a variety of other sports activities including the Louisville Bats baseball team, the two-time USL champion Louisville City FC soccer team, and of course all the great athletic teams of the University of Louisville. With a diverse and award-winning food scene, Louisville is known for excellent dining and has been named “Best Local Food Scene” by USA Today. Louisville is also home to attractions such as The Louisville Slugger Museum, Thunder over Louisville, the Muhammad Ali Center, Forecastle Festival, Louisville Trifecta Festival, and so much more!

Thank you for your interest in our program. We look forward to hearing from you during the application process. Please do not hesitate to contact us for any questions you may have!

Zachary Phipps and Lady Ong Sio

2021-2022 Chief Residents