Liver Transplant Anesthesiology

About the Liver Transplant Anesthesiology Fellowship

The UW Department of Anesthesiology & Pain Medicine offers a one-year, non-ACGME accredited faculty fellowship in Liver Transplant Anesthesiology that prepares fellows for leadership positions in transplant centers and fulfills the criteria required to become a Director of Liver Transplant Anesthesiology as put forward by the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA).

Our program’s mission is to equip anesthesiologists with the advanced knowledge and skills required to safely manage high acuity cases in the operating room. Liver transplant cases require integrated knowledge and advanced decision-making skills in a wide variety of clinical areas, thus providing an ideal platform for advanced anesthesia training. Among the nation’s most historic programs, the UW transplant program boasts outstanding outcomes in over 3,000 cases performed, substantial accumulated experience and resources, and an excellent educational environment.

By the end of the fellowship, Transplant Anesthesiology fellows will be able to: 

  • Perform comprehensive and compassionate patient care in perioperative period, 
  • Demonstrate mastery of procedural skills (vascular cannulations, Swan-Ganz catheter, transesophageal echocardiography) required for liver transplant and other high acuity cases, 
  • Learn clinical knowledge, which is required to manage Liver transplant and high acuity cases, 
  • Work cooperatively and efficiently within a multidisciplinary team, and 
  • Advocate for quality patient care and an optimal patient care system.

This is a one-year, non-ACGME accredited fellowship training program with one or two position openings each year. In this unique program, our fellows split their time between working as a liver transplant anesthesiology fellow and serving on faculty as a clinical instructor attending in the general OR.

Liver Transplant Anesthesiology fellows care for patients undergoing adult liver transplant cases and high acuity cases in the OR. We encourage our fellows to attend didactic activities and participate in at least one scholarly project during the year. We also offer several ongoing research, education, and quality improvement projects in which fellows may participate. 

Education

Our fellowship incorporates multiple didactic programs to help fellows gain proficiency in caring for patients who undergo liver transplants and high acuity cases. Fellows are expected to attend the following didactic programs and conferences provided by our program:

  • Daily hands-on education and discussion with transplant anesthesia faculty
  • Faculty lectures
  • Grand Rounds
  • Resident lecture series
  • Transesophageal Echocardiography (TEE) sessions
  • Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) sessions
  • Case conferences
  • Journal Club

Clinical experience

In UW faculty fellowships, 60% of the fellowship year is devoted to educational opportunities and 40% of the fellowship year is devoted to time as a junior attending with clinical, supervisory, and call commitments. Throughout their training, our fellows participate in a variety of cases, procedures and electives. 

Cases:

  • Liver transplant (cadaveric and live donor)
  • Donor Hepatectomies and other major abdominal surgeries
  • Other high acuity cases

Elective Rotations:

  • Blood Bank
  • Echocardiography
  • Surgical Intensive Care Unit
  • Research

Research experience

We encourage our fellows to participate in or develop transplant-related or anesthesiology-related research projects. We offer several national and local research projects in which fellows may participate. 

Financial support

Annual Stipend: We are proud to offer competitive salaries for our faculty fellowship positions.

Academic Allowance: Subject to available funding, faculty fellows will receive $1,500 each academic year as “all inclusive” support of their general academic expenses incurred during their time of training.

Program Director: Kyota Fukazawa, MD, PhD

Program Operations Specialist | Fellowship Program Administrator:  Ruby Tang

See a complete list of our transplant anesthesiology faculty.

Application documents:

  • Current Curriculum Vitae 
  • Application for Faculty Fellowship
  • Letter of intent/personal statement 
  • Three current reference letters, including one from your residency program director or current director 
  • Copy of medical school diploma 
  • Copy of anesthesia degree (if applicable) 
  • Current medical license 
  • USMLE (all three steps) 
  • ECFMG documentation (if applicable) 
  • Documentation supporting citizenship status (if applicable)  
  • H1B Visa holder or eligible (if applicable) 

Interviews 

We accept applications for the Liver Transplant Anesthesia faculty fellowship program on an ongoing basis for positions beginning in Fall of each year. Interviews may be conducted remotely through Zoom or another appropriate video conferencing platform.