Expert: Ronald Levy, M.D. - 2/3/2010

Question
QUESTION: Good day sir, i am interested to do anesthesiology and i am equally aspiring to work in an intensive care unit/reanimation unit and i wanted to know if taking this course equips me for that.
Well, i do understand that some medical schools offer joint residency;Anesthesiology/Reanimation, like in Cameroon but i have not been able to find something like that in the USA and i won't like to do it separately.
thanks

ANSWER: In the US, you first complete medical school and then you do a 4 yr residency in Anesthesia. After residency, if you want to do critical care, that is an additional 1-2 yr fellowship. I do not know what reanimation is, that is not a term we use here.

Ronald Levy, MD
Professor of Anesthesiology
UTMB-Galveston

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you sir for the first answer. Furthermore, i will like to know if i can pursue all these things directly without having to spend some years off to get work experience. I just got a degree in nursing and i wish to enter medical school and immediately after do my 4yr residency in anesthesia and then the 1-2years fellowship in critical care so i work in a Critical Care Unit. I guess that should be giving me a max. of 10years.
Can it work out that way as i wish it to be? especially in the USA or Canada.
thanks

Answer
You do not need to take time off (most people do not) so 10 yrs is correct. You need to make sure that you meet all the pre-med requirements with your nursing degree and you must take the MCAT exams. I am not sure how it works in Canada but that is how it works in the USA.

Ronald Levy, MD
Professor of Anesthesiology
UTMB-Galveston