Department of Anesthesiology
Training & Education

Didactic Education

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Anesthesiology Didactic Education

Keck School of Medicine of USC Anesthesiology Program offers dedicated didactics using innovative teaching methods, and provide mentorship, coaching, and resources to help residents pursue their passions and interests within medicine and anesthesiology.

Didactic activities include lectures, conferences, simulations, Grand Rounds, morbidity and mortality conferences (M&M), journal clubs. Each resident class will attend lectures on separate days.

Didactic Activity

EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITY OCCURRENCE
PGY1 Lecture Series Weekly: Thursdays
CA1 Lecture Series Weekly: Mondays
CA2 Lecture Series Weekly: Tuesdays
CA3 Lecture Series Weekly: Wednesdays
Anesthesiology Grand Rounds Weekly: Friday Mornings via Zoom
Journal Club Quarterly
M&M – QI /QI project/ Case presentation Quarterly
OSCE clinical skills prep/SIM/POCUS Quarterly
Ethics/Wellness Quarterly QI/Quarterly QI project
ASA Conference October (2024)
WARC Conference May (2025)

  • The PGY-1 class will have opportunities to participate in combined lectures with CA-1-CA-3 classes, as part of Quality Improvement (QI) meetings, science Fair, workshops, and resident meetings.

    PGY1 lectures on Thursdays, protected study time
    Orientation
    Simulation – Airway
    QI project for PGY1
    Machine/Ventilators
    Academic Break
    QI for all
    Respiratory system (anatomy, physiology). Blood gas
    Ethics: Advanced Directives for all
    Restrictive/obstructive lung diseases
    ARDS
    ASA Science Fair – Poster competition
    JC-PGY1
    Acute Coronary Syndrome
    Wellness for all
    Heart failure/ECMO
    Academic break – ASA Annual meeting
    Pulmonary hypertensionn
    QI for all
    Simulation – POCUS
    Thanksgiving Holiday
    Arrythmia Management, pacemakers and AICD
    Coronary stenting &  anticogulation
    Pharmacology – vasopressors
    Academic Break – Winter Holidays
    Academic Break – Winter Holidays
    Science Fair – Projects for the next year ASA submission
    QI project for PGY1
    Ethics: Transfusion Free Patients
    Pharmacology – induction agents
    QI for all
    Monitors
    Academic Break
    JC-PGY1
    QI project for PGY1
    JC-PGY1
    OSCE clinical skills prep
    DM – Management of hypo- and hyperglycemia
    Pharmacology – antibiotics
    Stroke/ICP
    Blood transfusions
    OSCE clinical skills prep
    QI for all
    WARC
    Shocks
    Renal failure/hemodialysis
    QI project for PGY1
    JC-PGY1
    Acute postoperative pain management
    Chronic pain and substance abuse
  • CA1 lectures on Mondays, protected study time
    OR Setup, pre-induction routine, waste disposal
    Preoperative airway evaluation/management
    Preoperative airway evaluation/management
    EMR/charting/documentation/quality/incident reporting
    Basics of Monitoring
    Pharmacology IV induction agents
    Pharmacology – inhalation agents, gas laws, viperizers
    Pharmacology – Neuromuscular Blocking Agents
    Pharmacology – opioids/local anesthetics
    Pharmacology – opioids/local anesthetics
    Fluid management
    Machine
    Ventilators
    Emergence/PACU transport/handoff/complications
    Sim: Difficult Airway Algorithm/respiratory emergencies
    Sim: Hemodynamic disturbances
    Positioning, steril techinich, Infection control in the OR
    Professionalism/Pluralism
    Feedback session
    AKT-1 – Post
    Cardio-vascular system – anatomy/physiology
    Cardiac Output: Fick, Dye Dilution, Thermodilution, Doppler, Impedance, Pulse Wave Analysis, Stroke Volume Assessment, and Oxygen Delivery
    Myocardial Oxygen Demand, Perfusion, and Tachycardia
    Hemodynamic instability: Fluids and  vasopressors
    Respiratory system (anatomy, physiology). Blood gas
    Respiratory system (pathophysiology, respiratory dysfunctions); Shunts and Dead Space
    Bronchospasm and Laryngospasm
    Workshop: Double lumen tubes/bronchial blockers; A-line/cental line placement with use of US
    Peds: Basiscs of peds anesthesia: Breathing circuits, ETTs, Airway considerations, Warming devices, premedications, agents and techniques
    Hematology: pharmacology, Anticoagulants, Antithrombotics, and Anti-PlateletDrugs
    Academic break – ASA Annual meeting
    Hematology: Transfusions-indications, reactions, complications
    Thromboelastography
    Renal and Urinary Systems: Pathophysiology/Perioperative electrolyte abnormalities/Common surgical procedures
    Thanksgiving Holiday
    Immunosuppressive and Anti-Rejection Drugs
    Gastrointestinal/Hepatic Systems a. Physiology: Hepatic Function
     Trauma
    Academic Break – Winter Holidays
    Academic Break – Winter Holidays
    AKT – 6 months
    Neuroanatomy and neurophysiology/Cerebral blood flow
    Neuromuscular junction and transmission – anatomy and physiology. Neuromuscular disorders
    Neurotrauma
    Endocrine: Thyroid/ hypothyroid/Carcinoid tumor
    Endocrine: Diabetes/Adrenal Diseases
    ITE Exam
    Temperature Management, Hypothermia, and Shivering
    Pain management: pharmacology
    Pain: Non pharmacologic Techniques; Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS); Cryotherapy; Acupuncture, Hypnosis
    Postoperative Care/Transport/PONV
    Burns
    Regional Anesthesia:  Neuraxial Blocks including Epidural (Cervical, Thoracic, Lumbar, Caudal, Transforaminal),
    Spinal (Subarachnoid), Combined Spinal-Epidural
    Regional Anesthesia: Peripheral Nerve Blocks
    Regional Anesthesia : Local Anesthetics (Pharmacokinetics and LAST) and Physiologic Effects (GI, Pulmonary, Cardiac, Renal)
    Multimodal Analgesia/ERAS
    Electrical currents; Fire and Explosion Hazards
    Anaphylaxis
    Malignant Hyperthermia
    Non-OR Anesthesia (NORA)
    CC: Ventilators/Pulmonary CC
    Crisis Resource Management
    Medication Errors: Assessment and Prevention; Disclosure of Errors to Patients
     Informed Consent (Principles, Components)
  • CA3 lectures on Wednesdays, protected study time
    Workshop: Echocardiography: Technical Aspects, Complications
    Oral Boards Review
    Pacemakers: Design and Function; defibrillators
    TEE Practicum: Basics, Biventricular function and wall motion, Valvular effects
    TEE Practicum:  Pulmonary emboli, TEE Practicum: Biventricular function and wall motion
    Oral Boards Review
    TEE Practicum:  Basics, Valvular lesions
    TEE Practicum: Septal defects, Pericardial effusion, Aortic dissection
    Peds: Congenital heart and major vascular diseases in peds in neonates
    Oral Boards Review
    Academic break – ASA Annual meeting
    Workshop:  Perioperative US: Hemodynamic
    Research Series: How to conduct and submit a PBLD session
    Oral Boards Review
    Thanksgiving Holiday
    Workshop: Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS): Lung, IVC, Bladder, Gastric
    Business and Beyond: Insurance
    Oral Boards Review
    Academic Break – Winter Holidays
    Academic Break – Winter Holidays
    EEG: Raw and processed; Depth of Anesthesia; Burst Suppression, Electrical Silence, Specific Anesthetic and
    Drug Effects
    Oral Boards Review
    Neuro: Open Cranium Vascular surgeries
    Legal and Liability: Negligence and the Standard of Care
    Residency meeting CA3
    Oral Boards Review
    ITE Exam
     Legal and Liability: Reporting
    Workshop: Perioperative US: Cardiac
    Oral Boards Review
    Pain – Drug Delivery Devices: Patient-Controlled Intravenous and Epidural Analgesia, Epidural and
    Business and Beyond: Contracts’ Negotiation
    Business and Beyond: Money Management
    Oral Boards Review
    Workshop:  Perioperative US: Pulmonary
    Business and Beyond: Insurance
    Legal and Liability: Charting and the Electronic Medical Record
    Oral Boards Review
    Residency meeting CA3
    Written Board Review
    Written Board Review
    Oral Boards Review
    Academic Break
    Academic Break