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Fellowships

Obstetric Anesthesiology Fellowship, University of Washington

The Division of Obstetric Anesthesia at the University of Washington is opening an Obstetric Anesthesia fellowship program. This will be dedicated to providing state-of the-art clinical training and expertise in labor analgesia, anesthesia for deliveries and management of high risk patients, as well as extensive research opportunities for those interested.

Scope of Clinical Practice

The Obstetric unit at UWMC is a tertiary referral center for five states (Washington, Alaska, Idaho, Wyoming and Montana). This results in an extremely diverse, high-risk patient population.

We have an average of 2000 deliveries a year, with a 41% cesarean section rate and an 85% epidural rate.

Conditions that we deal with include:
            Severe preeclampsia & HELLP syndrome
            Placenta previa, accreta and percreta
            Major cardiac disease
                        Adult congenital disease
                        Valvular disease
                        Pulmonary hypertension (& Eisenmengers)
            Respiratory disease
            Endocrine disorders
            Transplant patients
            Extremes of height and weight
            Cancer patients
            HIV
            Polysubstance abuse

Some of these patients need invasive monitoring including arterial, central venous and pulmonary artery catheters, which are usually placed by the anesthesia team.

Research

The fellows will be highly encouraged to initiate and/or participate in clinical research and /or more basic science research.
For those involved in the research program, a 2 year fellowship is also available (and highly encouraged). Other possible options are to combine an OB Anesthesia and Pain fellowship.

Research projects initiated by the OB anesthesia team currently evolve around the following topics:

Studies on labor pain such as the prediction of acute and chronic pain after delivery as well as post-cesarean delivery pain (i.e. implementation and validation of Quantitative Sensory Tests in the obstetric population)
Pharmacogenetic studies of drugs used for analgesia (e.g. opioids) or any pregnancy-related disorder (e.g. tocolytics, anti-hypertensive drugs)
Studies on vascular reactivity during pre-eclampsia (in collaboration with the Department of Obstetrics)
Studies on preterm labor and delivery (in collaboration with the Department of Obstetrics)

Teaching & Education

The fellow is expected to give some of the didactics for the residents on the obstetric rotation, which take place three times a week. Occasional didactics to the obstetric medical students may also be required.

Involvement with obstetric team training and resident training in the simulator will be part of the fellow’s responsibilities.

Education will occur during clinical practice supervised by Obstetric Anesthesiology Attendings, didactics, reading of recommended textbooks and publications and attendance at local and national meetings and seminars
Presence is required at weekly Wednesday morning Department of Anesthesiology Grand Rounds.

All fellows will be encouraged to participate at the annual meeting of the Society for Obstetric Anesthesia and Perinatology (SOAP) and at the ASA. Non-clinical time and financial support will be provided for at least one conference.

Clinical Responsibility

The split between clinical and non-clinical time will be agreed with the Director of Obstetric Anesthesiology and the Chairman of the Department of Anesthesiology. The clinical time will vary between 70-80%. More research-orientated candidates may negotiate for more non-clinical time. 25% of the clinical responsibility will include functioning in the capacity of an Attending anesthesiologist on-call. This will involve taking late shifts on the obstetric unit and overnight call, covering the main operating room and obstetrics together. Advice and support will be readily available from senior faculty.

Faculty

	Jo Davies MB BS, FRCA Assistant Professor Anesthesiology Interim Director Obstetric Anesthesia
	Ruth Landau MD Professor Anesthesiology Director of Obstetric Anesthesia & Clinical Genetics – as of June 1st 2008
	Cliff Chadwick MD Associate Professor Anesthesiology
	Brian Ross MD, PhD Professor Anesthesiology Director ISIS
	Ryan Jense MD Acting Assistant Professor Anesthesiology

Contact us

Inquiries and applications should be directed to:

Kati Koszegvari
Program Coordinator
Department of Anesthesiology
University of Washington
1959 NE Pacific Street, BB1415
Box 356540
Seattle, WA 98195-6540

E-mail: katibell@u.washington.edu
Phone: 206-221-6453

Applicants should send a cover letter describing their interests, along with a curriculum vitae. Qualified applicants will be asked to forward three letters of recommendation.