Close up of tape used in the Anesthesiology Clinical Simulation Lab
Anesthesiology Medical Student Programs

All second-year University of Michigan Medical School students (M2s) participate in eight clinical rotations, including Anesthesiology (Surgery and Applied Sciences). 

This one-week rotation gives students an introduction to anesthesiology and exposure to the anesthesia knowledge and clinical skills they'll need as a physician, regardless of their ultimate choice of specialty. In addition to the Anesthesiology Clerkship within the Surgery and Applied Sciences rotation, our department offers many elective rotations for branch and visiting medical students who are interested in exploring the field further.

For More Information
Goals of the Program

Medical student education is a top priority for the Department of Anesthesiology. The goals of our program are to:

  • Expose students to the field of anesthesiology
  • Support further discovery into the field during career exploration
  • Mentor our future anesthesiologists of tomorrow during residency application and match process
  • Ensure a safe and inclusive learning environment for all our learners

As a medical student, you’ll learn from anesthesiology faculty throughout all four years of school, including as instructors, advisors, and research mentors.

What You Will Learn

Your training ground is the University of Michigan Medical Center. As a medical student, you'll learn:

  • The scope of anesthesiology and perioperative medicine, spanning the pre-, intra-, and post-operative settings
  • The “Six A’s” of a balanced anesthetic (anesthesia, analgesia, amnesia, akinesis [paralysis], autonomic areflexia [control of ANS], and anxiolysis) and be able to give examples of therapies that provide each effect
  • The ABCs of intraoperative monitoring and be able to diagnose basic issues in each area
  • How to apply the fundamentals of cardiopulmonary physiology and pharmacology to intraoperative diagnosis and management
  • How to apply the fundamentals of resuscitation and bleeding to intraoperative diagnosis and management
  • How to apply the fundamentals of analgesic medications to diagnosis and management of pain

Medical students participate in the pre-, intra-, and post-operative care of multiple patients. There are no call responsibilities on the M2 clerkship.

Branches Electives

The M3 and M4 year, collectively known as the Branches, will prepare you for residency and continue you on the path to being a physician making meaningful impact in your area of interest. 

The electives we offer in the Department of Anesthesiology prepare medical students for residency and a successful career in our field.

Our medical students have access to the Canvas platform, which provides detailed, year-specific course information, and the Oasis platform, which offers detailed elective and rotation information. Both curriculum-related platforms are updated regularly by the Office of Medical Student Education in collaboration with related department faculty and staff.

  • ANESTH 8100- Exposure to Anesthesia
  • ANESTH 8101- SWAT Team Elective 
  • ANESTH 8201 Anesthesia Pediatric 
  • ANESTH  8155- OB Anesthesia 
  • ANESTH 8200- Clinical Anesthesia 
  • ANESTH 8201- Advanced Clinical Anesthesia 
  • ANESTH 8202- Pediatric 
  • ANESTH8203- Pain Management 
  • ANESTH 8204- Clinical VA
  • ANESTH 8440- Research 
  • ANESTH 8700- Cardiovascular ICU/ SUB-I
  • ANESTH 8300- Opioids Best Practices 
  • ANESTH 8302 Intro to Space Medicine 
Anesthesiology Interest Group (AIG)

Our Anesthesiology Interest Group (AIG) is a medical student organization designed to expose students to the field of anesthesiology. To allow early exposure to anesthesia and networking, students have the opportunity to shadow anesthesia residents in the operating rooms as well as meet with anesthesia chiefs throughout their M1 through M4 years.

Visiting Student Program

For fourth-year, non-U-M medical students, the Department of Anesthesiology offers a limited number of clinical electives. Rotations offered to visiting students include:

  • Clinical Anesthesiology
  • Pediatric Anesthesiology

Due to the competitiveness of the program and limited availability, visiting anesthesiology rotations are reserved for those interested in pursuing anesthesiology as a specialty. All applicants must submit an USMLE Step 1 score and rotations are offered on a tiered, first-come, first-served basis. 

These rotations are not audition rotations and do not guarantee a resident interview for those who complete a visiting rotation.

To ensure equitable opportunities for all students, all elective requests should go through the Visiting Student Learning Opportunities (VSLO) application process. Faculty and students should not make individual arrangements.

View eligibility requirements and the application process

Health Equity Visiting Student Clerkship

Michigan Medicine’s Office for Health Equity and Inclusion also offers a 4-week Health Equity Visiting Student Clerkship. This can be paired with your visiting rotation and promotes the development of medical student’s interest in health equity and inclusion.

Learn more about the Clerkship
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Learn more about our department's commitment to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion.

Learn about our programs
See Where Training Takes Place

Get to know the University of Michigan Medical Center and see some of the places where you'll learn your expertise.

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Program Leadership
Rebecca Nause-Osthoff Rebecca Nause-Osthoff, MD
Clinical Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology
Program Director
Program Assistant
Medical Director and Assistant Medical Director
Anesthesiology
user Savannah Powell
Clerkship Coordinator
Michael G. Taylor II Michael George Taylor II, MD
Clinical Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology
Clinical Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Program Assistant, Anesthesiology