Anesthesiology and Critical Care Residency Program

The Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care at the University of Pennsylvania is steeped in a long tradition of patient care, education, and research.

Founded over 75 years ago by Robert Dunning Dripps, the department has always striven to create the future leaders within the field of Anesthesiology. This focus on leadership, with an eye to the future, is a core component of the department's mission. The department is committed to providing an environment in which each individual, whether faculty or resident, can achieve their potential.

By providing excellent clinical training and mentorship, our goal is to produce leaders in all realms of anesthesiology, including the operating room, intensive care unit, labor and delivery floor, and pain clinic. We develop and foster this leadership through discovery, translational research, implementation of evidence into practice, and dissemination of knowledge. We will strive to provide each individual with the opportunity to balance academic and work goals with family life.

We provide our residents with the best possible training at three world-class medical centers: the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, and Penn Presbyterian Medical Center. Our educational program encompasses didactic and Socratic methods of teaching, with a focus on evidence-based care. Our research endeavors go from the bench to the bedside to policy implications, and are clearly outlined on the research section of our website.

Given the department's long tradition within the specialty and our ongoing commitment to excellence, we will continue to be at the forefront of the field in defining our roles as anesthesiologists, intensivists, and pain physicians. We will also continue to develop new and innovative methods to train future generations to provide the best care for their patients.

Emily Gordon, MD, MSEd
Associate Professor of Clinical Anesthesiology & Critical Care
Anesthesiology Residency Program Director
Vice Chair of Education

Chief Resident Welcome

Thank you for your interest in our program. The Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care at the University of Pennsylvania provides a phenomenal training environment for its residents. We are a large community of physicians and researchers who are leaders in the field of anesthesiology and critical care. As one of the leading academic centers in the country, we have the opportunity to work side by side with an equally strong perioperative team of surgeons and nurses, where we are exposed to a high volume of cutting edge surgical procedures on a diverse patient population, many of whom travel from around the globe to be cared for at Penn and CHOP. Residents who learn via hands-on clinical experience, will thrive in our department as we are fortunate to be an integral part of the workflow and clinical team. Even with the clinical demands, our department has made a conscious effort to maintain an environment focused on diversity, teamwork and inquiry.

Our multifaceted educational program combines intraoperative teaching, simulation workshops, written and oral board review, and traditional lecture based didactics paired with primary literature offering our residents several different ways to learn anesthesia. Graduates go on to practice across the country to all types of fellowships, academic, and private practices.

Going forward, we are excited to grow and transition to working in the New Patient Pavilion. The new facility will have 47 state-of-the-art operating rooms and multiple ICUs. In addition to our work lives, we are able to find balance outside of the hospital. Philadelphia is a vibrant young city known for its foodie scene, passionate sports fans, and American history. Despite the size of our residency, Penn Anesthesia is truly a family where your colleagues and co-residents become lifelong friends.

Nathaniel Liu, DO
Jessica Vidas, MD
Harmandip Ghuman, MD