Physician specialty: Anesthesiology

Whether you’re a medical student considering a specialty, a resident or fellow, or a practicing physician, the American Medical Association is here to help with information, resources and continuing medical education (CME) for anesthesiology.

Anesthesiology focuses on administrating anesthesia for pain relief to patients undergoing surgical, obstetric, diagnostic or therapeutic procedures, before, during or after care.

Anesthesiologists play a crucial role in ensuring patient comfort and safety. By considering factors such as medical history, health status and potential risks, they formulate personalized anesthesia plans. Anesthesiologists also provide care during recovery, managing postoperative pain. Other duties can include providing anesthesia for nonsurgical procedures, pain relief during childbirth, critical care medicine and chronic pain management.

Anesthesiologists may encounter a wide variety of patients and procedures during a typical day. An anesthesiologist’s ideal skillset includes exceptional technical skills, problem-solving abilities and coolness under pressure, as well as a caring, empathetic demeanor. “Going under” is often cited as patients’ primary fear during medical procedures.

Anesthesia for surgery is administered primarily in hospitals or medical centers, ambulatory surgical centers or a doctor’s office. Anesthesiologists collaborate closely with surgical teams, communicating vital information and working together to achieve optimal results. Their expertise extends to critical care situations, ensuring the well-being of patients with complex medical conditions.

Beyond anesthesia administration and pain management, anesthesiologists are experiencing greater variety in employment options in both academic settings and private practice. Anesthesiologists have also taken leading roles in hospital management, as safe and effective patient care is an important focus to mitigate risks and optimize outcomes.

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Following medical school, four years of specialty training in anesthesiology is required prior to certification. Additional training may vary for subspecialists in anesthesiology depending on their focus.

In 2023, the average anesthesiology physician salary was $462,506*. The average resident/fellow salary was $61,653.70+.

• American Society of Anesthesiologists

If you’re a medical student considering an anesthesiology residency or a current resident looking to change programs to anesthesiology, these were the top 10 most-viewed residency programs in anesthesiology in 2023 from FREIDA™, the AMA Residency & Fellowship Database®.

1.  University of Alabama Medical Center Program
2.  Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science (Phoenix) Program
3.  University of Miami/Jackson Health System Program
4.  University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) College of Medicine Program
5.  University of Florida Program
6.  Yale-New Haven Medical Center Program
7.  University of Arizona College of Medicine-Tucson Program
8.  UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine/UCLA Medical Center Program
9.  Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Program
10.  Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Program

For practicing physicians in anesthesiology, the AMA Ed Hub™ provides a deep selection of CME options to help keep skills and knowledge current, at home or on the go. Earn as much as 4.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ from these popular courses for starters.

• Effect of Regional vs General Anesthesia on Incidence of Postoperative Delirium in Older Patients Undergoing Hip Fracture Surgery (1 credit)
• Prevalence and Nature of Sexist and Racial/Ethnic Microaggressions Against Surgeons and Anesthesiologists (1 credit)
• Association Between Anesthesiologist Volume and Short-term Outcomes in Complex Gastrointestinal Cancer Surgery (1 credit)
• Intelligent Virtual Operating Room for Enhancing Nontechnical Skills (1 credit)

Podcasts

• Ethics Talk: Beyond the Drape in Surgeon-Anesthesiologist Relationships (0.5 credit)

No matter where you are in your career, stay current on the latest research and findings in anesthesiology with content from the JAMA Network™.

Podcasts

• Anesthesiologist Staffing Ratio and Surgical Patient Morbidity and Mortality
• The Not-So-Good Idea of Sedating Patients Who Have Obstructive Sleep Apnea
• Association Between Anesthesiologist Volume and Outcomes in GI Cancer Surgery
• Simulation Exercise Improved Family Understanding and Support of Anesthesia Providers 

Video

• Will This Patient Be Difficult to Intubate?

*Doximity 2023 Physician Compensation Report (PDF)

+FREIDA Specialty Guide