Comprehensive clinical training that builds skill + confidence

Each year of the Anesthesiology Residency Program at Tufts Medical Center is designed to support progressive growth in clinical care and professional development. Our curriculum is aligned with the ACGME anesthesiology milestones, including:

• Patient care
• Medical knowledge
• Systems-based practice
• Practice-based learning
• Professionalism
• Interpersonal and communication skills

Training follows a clear path of increasing responsibility and autonomy. Early on, residents receive close supervision through a combination of one-on-one faculty teaching and peer support. As they advance, they are gradually entrusted with more complex procedures and independent decision-making.

Clinical training includes diverse rotations across anesthesiology subspecialties, hands-on procedural experience, simulation-based learning, research opportunities and regular educational conferences. Every resident receives individualized mentorship and ongoing feedback, ensuring they grow into thoughtful, capable anesthesiologists ready to lead in any care setting.

Subspecialty exposure + areas of concentration

Each subspecialty rotation is led by an anesthesia faculty expert and is carefully structured, monitored, and evaluated to ensure educational value. Rotations are designed to meet clinical needs and individual learning goals, with elective time available during the CA-3 year to support focused career development.

Residents rotate through the following areas during their clinical anesthesia years:

• Acute and regional pain management
• Adult cardiac anesthesia
• Cardiac Surgical Intensive Care Unit (CSICU)
• Center for Preoperative Assessment
• Chronic pain
• Neuroanesthesia
• Obstetric anesthesia
• Pediatric anesthesia
• Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU)
• Research
• Thoracic anesthesia (including cases at West Roxbury VA Hospital)
• Vascular anesthesia

These experiences give residents the opportunity to explore a wide range of cases and care settings while preparing them to pursue fellowship training or transition directly into independent practice.

A comprehensive four-year training program in Boston

The Anesthesiology Residency Program at Tufts Medical Center offers 12 categorical positions per year. Our ACGME- and American Board of Anesthesiology-accredited program spans four years, beginning with a multidisciplinary Clinical Base Year and followed by three years of clinical anesthesia training (CA-1 through CA-3).

We prioritize early exposure to subspecialty care, believing that hands-on experience in complex cases from the start builds confidence, clinical judgment and competence. Within the first few months, residents are involved in obstetric, cardiac, vascular, thoracic and neurosurgical cases—returning to these areas in later years with increased skill and autonomy.

Anesthesiology training designed for real-world confidence + clinical leadership

Becoming a strong anesthesiologist takes more than knowledge and technical skill. It also takes confidence, composure and compassion in high-stakes situations. At Tufts Medical Center, our Anesthesiology Residency Program is designed to help residents develop all of these qualities through a focused, hands-on approach.

We offer a well-rounded, rigorous training experience rooted in clinical excellence, collaboration and continuous growth. From day one, residents learn to think critically, communicate clearly and provide high-quality care in complex settings.

Our learner-centered curriculum emphasizes early responsibility, meaningful subspecialty exposure and personalized support. With dedicated mentorship, simulation training and structured milestones aligned with ACGME requirements, residents gain the clinical judgment and leadership skills needed to succeed in any practice environment—from academic medicine to private practice.

A legacy of anesthesiology training in Boston

The Anesthesiology Residency Program at Tufts Medical Center in downtown Boston has been training future anesthesiologists since 1961. For more than 60 years, our graduates have gone on to successful careers in academic medicine, private practice and leadership roles across the U.S. and internationally.

Our program has evolved to meet the growing complexity of surgical care at Tufts Medical Center and across Boston’s world-renowned medical institutions. As demand for skilled anesthesiologists continues to rise, we’ve expanded to reflect that need. In 2024, with approval from the ACGME, we increased our class size from 10 to 12 residents per year (PGY1–4)—a milestone that recognizes both our program’s continued excellence and the breadth of clinical opportunities we offer.

Today, the Tufts Medical Center Anesthesiology Residency Program continues to build on its rich history while preparing tomorrow’s leaders in anesthesiology through rigorous training, early subspecialty exposure and a supportive, close-knit learning environment.