Best Anesthesiology Residency Programs

In-state tuition: $40,562 per year

Anesthesiology Residency

The number of anesthesiology positions increased by 23% over the past 5 years. Today 172 anesthesiology programs offer around 1600 PGY-1 positions and 52 programs offer around 300 PGY-2 positions. It’s about 4% of all residency positions. Most of the matched applicants are US MDs – 75%. Also, 15% DOs and just 7% IMGs. The proportion is stable over the past years. Around 100% of positions are filled during the main match and near nothing left for the SOAP. Mean Step1/Step2 scores of matched US MDs are 234/246 respectively. Mean Step1/Step2 CMPLEX1/2 scores of matched DOs are 233/243 590/625 respectively. Mean Step1/Step2 scores of matched US/Non-US IMGs are 232/239, 236/242 respectively. Anesthesiology is enough competitive specialty with a high percent of matched US MDs, relatively high mean scores of matched candidates, and 89%,78%,50% match rates among interviewed US MDs, DOs, and IMGs respectively.

PGY-1 Anesthesiology residency positions by state

1. New York (209)
2. California (161)
3. Texas (110)
4. Massachusetts (109)
5. Pennsylvania (96)
6. Illinois (85)
7. Ohio (80)
8. Florida (71)
9. Michigan (70)
10. Missouri (43)
11. North Carolina (42)
12. Wisconsin (33)
13. Tennessee (33)
14. Washington (32)
15. Louisiana (32)
16. Minnesota (28)
17. Connecticut (27)
18. Kentucky (27)
19. Virginia (25)
20. New Jersey (25)
21. South Carolina (24)
22. Georgia (23)
23. Alabama (21)
24. District of Columbia (18)
25. Oklahoma (16)
26. Colorado (16)
27. Iowa (15)
28. Kansas (15)
29. Oregon (14)
30. Arkansas (13)
31. Utah (10)
32. Nebraska (10)
33. West Virginia (9)
34. Arizona (9)
35. Maryland (8)
36. Nevada (8)
37. Maine (8)
38. Mississippi (8)
39. New Hampshire (7)
40. New Mexico (6)
41. Vermont (6)
42. Indiana (4)
43. Puerto Rico (3)

Most competitive Anesthesiology residencies – Top 20 ranking

0400521023 University of California (San Francisco) California

0403631115 Duke University Hospital North Carolina

0400521025 Stanford University California

0404121134 University of Pennsylvania Pennsylvania

0402431064 Massachusetts General Hospital Massachusetts

0403521098 New York Presbyterian Hospital (Cornell Campus) New York

0403511107 New York Presbyterian Hospital (Columbia Campus) —

0400521020 UCLA Medical Center California

0402421066 Brigham and Women’s Hospital Massachusetts

0404700202 University of Tennessee College of Medicine Tennessee

0400521022 University of California (San Diego) California

0401221037 Emory University Georgia

0402311059 University of Maryland Maryland

0403521104 Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai New York

0404831150 Baylor College of Medicine Texas

0402811081 Washington University/B-JH/SLCH Consortium Missouri

0400121010 University of Alabama Medical Center Anesthesiology residency program Alabama

0405111159 University of Virginia Virginia

0404711146 Vanderbilt University Medical Center Tennessee

0404711144 University of Tennessee Medical Center at Knoxville —

Top 10 most competitive Anesthesiology residencies with %DO > 25

0401821049 University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics Iowa

0402021052 University of Kentucky College of Medicine Kentucky

0404821155 University of Texas Health Science Center School of Medicine at San Antonio Texas

0401721048 Indiana University School of Medicine Indiana

0402021053 University of Louisville Kentucky

0401911050 University of Kansas School of Medicine Kansas

0403521105 New York Medical College at Westchester Medical Center New York

0404111130 Penn State Milton S Hershey Medical Center Pennsylvania

0404500144 Grand Strand Regional Medical Center South Carolina

0405621164 University of Wisconsin Wisconsin

Search by criteria to find more information about best Anesthesiology residency programs.

Percent MD,DO,IMG Anesthesiology PGY-1 residents (main match)

Anesthesiology PGY-1 main residency Match statistics

Year	Positions	Filled(%)	MD	DO	IMGs
2023	1609	99.8	1219 (75 %)	245 (15 %)	127 (7 %)
2022	1509	99.9	1107 (73 %)	263 (17 %)	118 (7 %)
2021	1460	99.8	1062 (72 %)	268 (18 %)	116 (7 %)
2020	1370	99.9	961 (70 %)	262 (19 %)	136 (9 %)
2019	1322	98.4	914 (69 %)	248 (18 %)	139 (10 %)
2018	1253	97.8	894 (71 %)	206 (16 %)	126 (10 %)
2017	1202	95.3	823 (68 %)	164 (13 %)	159 (13 %)

PGY-2 Anesthesiology residency positions by state

1. California (46)
2. New York (37)
3. Maryland (32)
4. Florida (24)
5. Indiana (24)
6. Pennsylvania (21)
7. Massachusetts (20)
8. Rhode Island (20)
9. New Jersey (15)
10. Illinois (13)
11. Arizona (7)
12. Connecticut (7)
13. Michigan (6)
14. Ohio (4)
15. Utah (4)
16. Washington (4)
17. Colorado (4)
18. Texas (3)
19. Oregon (2)
20. Virginia (2)
21. Nebraska (2)
22. District of Columbia (2)
23. Wisconsin (1)
24. New Mexico (1)

Percent MD,DO,IMG Anesthesiology PGY-2 residents (main match)

Anesthesiology PGY-2 main residency Match statistics

Year	Positions	Filled(%)	MD	DO	IMGs
2023	301	100.0	228 (75 %)	48 (15 %)	21 (6 %)
2022	346	100.0	255 (73 %)	53 (15 %)	31 (8 %)
2021	339	100.0	236 (69 %)	69 (20 %)	29 (8 %)
2020	398	99.5	276 (69 %)	65 (16 %)	50 (12 %)
2019	425	98.1	264 (62 %)	96 (22 %)	57 (13 %)
2018	447	98.9	267 (59 %)	75 (16 %)	99 (22 %)
2017	441	93.9	256 (58 %)	63 (14 %)	95 (21 %)

The Best Medical Schools for Anesthesiology

The field of anesthesiology plays a critical role in modern medicine, ensuring the safe and comfortable delivery of healthcare services during surgical procedures. Anesthesiologists possess unique expertise in patient care, pain management, and life-saving interventions.

Aspiring anesthesiologists must receive training from medical institutions to embark on this specialized career path. Choosing the right medical school is a pivotal decision for any aspiring physician, and it becomes even more crucial when pursuing a specialization as demanding as anesthesiology.

In this article, we’ll delve into the best medical schools for anesthesiology, considering academic reputation, faculty expertise, clinical opportunities, research initiatives, and overall program comprehensiveness.

Let’s get started!

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Top 10 Medical Schools for Anesthesiology

Here are the top 10 medical schools for anesthesiology.

Johns Hopkins University

Location: Baltimore, Maryland

Average GPA: 3.92

Average MCAT: 521

Acceptance rate: 6.3%

In-state tuition: $62,850 per year

The anesthesiology program at Johns Hopkins is known for its commitment to excellence in all aspects of education, clinical practice, and research. The program combines a strong basic and clinical sciences foundation with extensive hands-on training in anesthesia techniques, patient management, and perioperative care.

Clinical rotations are crucial in the program, exposing students to various surgical specialties and patient populations. Under the guidance of experienced faculty preceptors, students gain practical experience in administering anesthesia, monitoring patients’ vital signs, managing pain, and handling potential complications.

The program places a strong emphasis on patient safety and the development of critical decision-making skills.

Students benefit from a collaborative and supportive learning environment, where they work alongside renowned faculty members who are experts in their respective fields.

The Johns Hopkins anesthesiology program graduates are well-prepared to pursue careers in academic medicine, private practice, research, or leadership roles. They are equipped with the necessary knowledge, technical skills, and critical thinking abilities to navigate the complex and rapidly evolving field of anesthesiology.

Harvard University

Location: Boston, Massachusetts

Average GPA: 3.90

Average MCAT: 520

Acceptance rate: 3.4%

In-state tuition: $66,284 per year

Harvard University School of Medicine offers a fellowship program in anesthesiology. This fellowship collaborates with Massachusetts General Hospital and offers aspiring anesthesiologists the opportunity to train for two to three years.

Participants in the program would have the option to join a research group at:

• Mass General
• Harvard University
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
• Brigham and Women’s Hospital
• Boston Children’s Hospital
• Harvard School of Public Health

The program provides participants with experience in various scientific disciplines in anesthesiology. This includes but is not limited to the following:

• Bioengineering
• Biochemistry
• Comparative outcomes
• Endocrinology
• Epidemiology
• Genetics
• Metabolism
• Neurobiology
• Pharmacology
• Physiology
• Toxicology

This program prepares anesthesiologists to contribute meaningfully to advancing knowledge and become leaders in academic medicine, research, and innovation.

Duke University

Location: Durham, North Carolina

Average GPA: 3.83

Average MCAT: 517.6

Acceptance rate: 2.9%

In-state tuition: $63,310 per year

Duke University School of Medicine’s anesthesiology residency program is highly regarded for its commitment to exceptional clinical training, research opportunities, and academic excellence.

As one of the top-ranking anesthesiology residency programs in the United States, it offers aspiring anesthesiologists a comprehensive and immersive educational experience.

Duke Medical School has esteemed faculty known for their leadership in practice and research. They prioritize resident education and career development, enhancing the nationally-acclaimed Duke Anesthesiology Residency Program.

Interns gain experience across different services, while CA-1 and CA-2 residents build knowledge and receive subspecialty training. CA-3 residents customize their training and engage in research. The program offers comprehensive didactic sessions organized by faculty leaders, ensuring up-to-date content.

The University of California-San Francisco

Location: San Francisco, California

Average GPA: 3.87

Average MCAT: 517

Acceptance rate: 2.8%

In-state tuition: $38,073 per year

Over the past 50 years, the University of California San Francisco’s anesthesia residency program has been a leading provider of exceptional clinical training, shaping influential leaders in the field.

The program allows residents to learn and deliver patient care across six medical centers. The school prioritizes residents who excel academically, embrace challenges and opportunities, demonstrate enthusiasm, and exhibit strong teamwork skills.

Residents are encouraged to engage in scholarly activities and pursue additional fellowship training. The anesthesia residency program also offers innovative pathways for critical care and research training enabling residents to be fully equipped to enter the medical field.

The University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan

Average GPA: 3.78

Average MCAT: 515

Acceptance rate: 18%

In-state tuition: $50,265 per year

The University of Michigan-Ann Arbor anesthesiology residency program offers a comprehensive and rigorous curriculum that prepares residents to provide exceptional patient care in various clinical settings.

The anesthesiology residency program also strongly emphasizes teaching, with dedicated faculty members committed to resident education. Didactic sessions, simulations, and case conferences are organized to enhance knowledge and foster critical thinking skills.

Research is encouraged and supported within the program, allowing residents to engage in scholarly activities and contribute to advancements in anesthesiology. The program has a strong research infrastructure and collaborations with other departments and institutions.

The University of Michigan-Ann Arbor anesthesiology residency program equips residents with the skills, knowledge, and confidence needed to excel as competent anesthesiologists and leaders.

The University of Pennsylvania (Perelman)

Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Average GPA: 3.95

Average MCAT: 521

Acceptance rate: 6%

In-state tuition: $61,586 per year

Robert Dunning Dripps founded the Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care at UPenn over 75 years ago. It offers an anesthesiology residency program with a robust didactic curriculum, lectures, case discussions, and simulations.

Residents have access to cutting-edge resources and technology to enhance their learning experience. Collaboration and interdisciplinary interactions are also emphasized at Perelman, with opportunities to work alongside healthcare professionals from various specialties. This fosters a well-rounded approach to patient care and interprofessional teamwork.

Perelman’s program also provides residents with opportunities for leadership development, teaching experiences, and involvement in quality improvement initiatives. Residents can access various career guidance resources and support to help them navigate their professional journey.

Stanford University

Location: Stanford, California

Average GPA: 3.89

Average MCAT: 518

Acceptance rate: 4.3%

In-state tuition: $63,747 per year

The anesthesia residency program at Stanford Medicine is a prestigious and highly sought-after program known for its excellence in training future anesthesiologists.

The residency program at Stanford University is dedicated to training exceptional anesthesiologists. In the initial year, residents acquire fundamental anesthesia skills in routine cases, closely supervised by faculty, primarily at:

• Stanford University-Packard Children’s Hospital
• Veterans Administration (VA) Palo Alto Health Care System
• Santa Clara Valley Medical Center (SCVMC)

Residents take on night and weekend calls with faculty supervision as they advance in training. In the second half of the first year, all residents receive two months of specialized training in subspecialties. The program incorporates training in the Preop Clinic and Anesthesia Simulator Center from the outset of residency.

The second year provides residents with expanded exposure to various subspecialties within anesthesiology, enabling them to gain extensive experience in those areas.

Overall, the Stanford University anesthesiology residency program prepares residents to become highly skilled anesthesiologists with the knowledge, technical expertise, and leadership skills necessary to excel in their careers.

New York University (Grossman)

Location: New York, New York

Average GPA: 3.92

Average MCAT: 522

Acceptance rate: 2.1%

The Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative Care, and Pain Medicine at NYU offers a highly regarded three-year residency program. The program emphasizes clinical experience, independent thought, and scholarship.

Residents receive comprehensive didactic education and have opportunities to engage in research across various areas of anesthesiology. The program emphasizes the relationship between research and clinical practice, resulting in a strong performance on certification examinations.

Graduates of the program have secured positions in prestigious institutions, and several have become department chairs and clinical leaders.

The first year focuses on general and subspecialty rotations, while the second year allows residents to refine their skills and explore career interests. The third year involves complex patient cases and elective rotations catered to personal interests.

The NYU anesthesiology residency program offers a comprehensive education, preparing residents to become skilled clinicians and researchers.

The University of California-Los Angeles

Location: Los Angeles, California

Average GPA: 3.8

Average MCAT: 516

Acceptance rate: 8.8%

In-state tuition: $40,562 per year

The University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA) anesthesiology residency program is dedicated to training anesthesiologists through a comprehensive curriculum that combines clinical excellence, research opportunities, and academic development.

Residents in the program gain extensive experience in various clinical settings, including renowned UCLA hospitals and affiliated medical centers. They work closely with faculty members who provide mentorship and guidance throughout their training.

Residents are encouraged to pursue research opportunities and have access to cutting-edge resources and support to pursue these interests, present at conferences, and publish their work in medical journals.

Furthermore, the program offers a comprehensive didactic curriculum, including lectures, case discussions, simulation-based training, and interdisciplinary conferences. This ensures residents acquire the necessary knowledge and critical thinking skills to excel in their practice.

The UCLA anesthesiology residency program also emphasizes resident well-being and provides a supportive learning environment. There are mentorship programs, wellness initiatives, and opportunities for networking and social activities to promote a healthy work-life balance.

Moreover, UCLA’s anesthesiology residency program equips residents with the skills, expertise, and leadership qualities necessary for successful anesthesiologist careers.

Columbia University

Location: New York, New York

Average GPA: 3.90

Average MCAT: 522

Acceptance rate: 3.9%

In-state tuition: $66,816 per year

The anesthesiology residency program at Columbia University offers residents a comprehensive curriculum that prepares them to become skilled and knowledgeable anesthesiologists.

Residents receive training across various clinical specialties, including general surgery, cardiovascular surgery, neurosurgery, obstetrics, pediatrics, and critical care medicine.

Columbia’s anesthesiology residency program provides residents with a strong foundation in clinical anesthesia, critical thinking skills, and patient care. Residents gain hands-on experience in various anesthesia techniques, perioperative management, pain management, and intensive care medicine.

The program also emphasizes interprofessional collaboration and teamwork. Residents can work alongside other healthcare professionals, fostering a comprehensive and patient-centered approach to care.

Columbia University Medical School is committed to resident education, well-being, and professional growth. The program offers a supportive and stimulating learning environment, with dedicated faculty and resources to support residents throughout their training.