Application Process

Applications are accepted via the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) — administered by the Association of American Medical College (AAMC).

To our 2023-2024 Applicants:

This year we will be using the Residency Central Application as a supplement to ERAS. The CentralApp was started as a free alternative to ERAS in plastic surgery 3 years ago and it is now used specialty wide. We are one of the first programs to trial this platform in anesthesiology, in the hope that in future years we can remove the financial barriers created by progressive application fee structures. As you will see from the questions, CentralApp also promotes holistic application review by focusing on quality application content rather than quantity.

Upon accessing the platform (https://centralapp.accessgme.com), you will be instructed to create a secure account and will be able to request letters of recommendation, transcripts, and MSPE (dean’s letters) directly through the portal. The Match will remain with the NRMP. Please direct any questions about the application to HELP@accessgme.com.

We are following the recommendations from the Coalition for Physician Responsibility and Association of Anesthesiology Core Program Directors (AACPD) to promote equity and access, therefore, our program will have all virtual interviews again this season.

Materials required from all applicants:

A completed ERAS application
A completed Residency Central application (Not required but STRONGLY encouraged)
Letters of recommendation: Three or more letters of reference, including one from an anesthesiologist with whom you have worked (not including MSPE [Dean’s letter]). This letter should address your performance and commitment to the study of anesthesiology.

Personal statement: A narrative statement which should be no longer than one typewritten page. It should include your reasons for choosing anesthesia as a specialty. This statement affords you the opportunity to provide us with a personal profile and to point out any unusual features of your application.
Transcript: Your official transcript from your medical school.
USMLE or COMLEX scores: A passed USMLE 1 and 2 (or COMLEX 1 and 2 for DO applicants) is required
Medical Student Performance Evaluation (Dean’s letter)
Supplemental ERAS Application: For the 2024 ERAS® cycle, our program will be participating to receive information from the supplemental ERAS application offered through the AAMC’s ERAS program. Please bookmark the supplemental ERAS application section of the AAMC website to find the latest information, FAQs, and resources.

International Applicants:

Foreign nationals participating in clinical training programs who require visa sponsorship must obtain a J-1 visa sponsored through the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG). Trainees may be considered for, but are not assured of, H-1B visa sponsorship and only with prior approval from GME and UW International Scholars Operations (ISO)/Academic Human Resources (Academic HR). More information can be found on UW GME website for Prospective Residents & Fellows page under the Visa Policy.

Please see our Eligibility and Selection Criteria Policy here.

Training Programs

In the coming interview season, we are accepting applications for the following training positions:

Categorical Program — Clinical Base Year (CBY) — 22 positions available for 2024

This is the full 4-year anesthesiology residency training consisting of the UW-linked internship year and 3 years of clinical anesthesia (CA) training. These positions begin in June 2024 and are filled via NRMP.

Clinical (Advanced) Anesthesia (CA1) — 1 position available for 2024 (R) and 1 position for 2025

These positions start on July 1, 2024, and 2025 respectively, filled via NRMP: Applicants will need to complete a clinical base/internship year (CBY) prior to starting the CA1 year. Normally applicants apply for the clinical base year (such as a transitional or preliminary program for June 2024) at the same time as applying for the CA1 position for 2025.

The requirements of the clinical base year are as follows—At least 6 months of rotations caring for inpatients in internal medicine, pediatrics, surgery, or any of the surgical specialties, obstetrics and gynecology, neurology, family medicine, or any combination of these. There must be one month and no more than two months of critical care and emergency medicine and up to one month may be taken in anesthesiology.

Five Year Combined Program in Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine — 2 positions available for 2024

This program begins with the CBY year and followed by 4 years of training in clinical anesthesiology and advanced training in critical care medicine.  This innovative program offers a 5-year continuum of education beginning with the Clinical Base (“internship”) year and culminating in eligibility for certification in both Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine through the American Board of Anesthesiology. The first three years of training parallel those of trainees in the conventional residency track and include a total of 5 months of intensive care unit rotations. The last two years of training integrate 12 months of Advanced Critical Care Medicine at the fellow level with conventional Anesthesia rotations and electives. This blending of training over the final two years allows trainees to enhance their operative skills while mastering the field of Critical Care Medicine. Critical Care fellowship rotations are jointly administered between the UW Department of Anesthesiology and the Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine. These positions are filled via NRMP.

Bonica Scholars Program — 2 positions available for 2024

This is a program designed for applicants who wish to pursue a research career following anesthesiology residency. A full description of this program is available at the Bonica Scholars Web Page.  In addition to indicating interest in this track on the ERAS application, a separate 2-page application will be requested of the applicant at the time they are invited for an interview as a Bonica Scholar. Bonica applicants will have two virtual interview days. The first virtual interview day will be with other categorical track applicants and with clinical faculty. The second virtual interview day will be with research faculty. On this interview day, Bonica applicants will have the chance to meet potential research mentors and current Bonica Scholars and discuss their research interests with the program leadership.