Navigating Anesthesiology Without a Home Program: A CUNY School of Medicine Perspective Introduction

by Adebola Ademola

As a medical student at the CUNY School of Medicine, Manhattan's only public medical school and one of the few remaining combined BS/MD programs in the country, I've experienced firsthand the unique challenges of pursuing anesthesiology without a dedicated home program. While our institution excels in many areas, making us aware of research opportunities across specialties like pediatrics, surgery, and internal medicine, anesthesiology remains notably underrepresented. This reality has taught me valuable lessons about resourcefulness, advocacy, and the importance of seeking mentorship beyond institutional boundaries.

The Reality of Limited Resources

At CUNY School of Medicine, our Office of Research maintains a comprehensive Excel spreadsheet listing research opportunities for both undergraduate and medical students in our combined program. This resource, while invaluable for most specialties, starkly highlights the anesthesiology gap. Among dozens of research opportunities spanning multiple medical disciplines, only one entry exists under anesthesiology: the Medical Student Anesthesia Research Fellowship (MSARF). Even more challenging is the absence of anesthesiology faculty on campus; unlike other specialties where students can easily schedule informal meetings or seek career guidance from department physicians. This scarcity isn't unique to CUNY. Research opportunities can help medical students gain exposure to specialties, mentors, training and can help build an impressive CV when it's time to go through The Match and transition to a residency program. However, many medical schools without anesthesiology departments face similar resource limitations. The question becomes: how do we, as medical students at institutions without home programs, successfully navigate our path toward anesthesiology?

Maximizing Limited Opportunities: The MSARF Experience

As a current 2025 MSARF fellow at Vanderbilt University, I can attest that this program represents far more than just a research opportunity; it's often our primary gateway into the anesthesiology community. This eight-week fellowship has provided me with invaluable shadowing experiences in the
OR, where I've witnessed the intricate balance of acute care medicine that initially drew me to anesthesiology. Watching anesthesiologists seamlessly manage complex physiology while maintaining the welcoming, collaborative culture that defines the specialty has reinforced my career aspirations.
The hands-on exposure to anesthesia practice from pre-operative assessments to intraoperative management to post-operative care has truly been transformative. These experiences, which would be routine for students at schools with anesthesiology departments, become precious learning
opportunities for those of us without home programs. Through MSARF, I've finally been able to observe the blend of medicine and acute procedural care that initially sparked my interest in the field. However, MSARF applications are highly competitive, and relying solely on this program isn't sufficient. Many MSARF fellows have gone on to anesthesiology residencies, but what about students who aren't selected or who discover their interest in anesthesiology later in their medical school journey?

Creative Strategies for Building Anesthesiology Experience

1. Leverage Other Research Programs for Unexpected Opportunities: Before MSARF, I participated in the Medical Student Summer Pipeline Program, which led to an unexpected but invaluable experience at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. While the program wasn't anesthesiology
focused, I actively sought opportunities to shadow in the OR and connect with anesthesiologists. This experience taught me that anesthesiology exposure can emerge from seemingly unrelated programs. It’s up to you to be proactive in seeking it out! The Summer Pipeline experience at
MSK was my first real exposure to anesthesiologists in their clinical environment. Observing perioperative care for oncology patients showed me the specialty's complexity and the critical role anesthesiologists play in patient outcomes. This early exposure, gained through initiative rather than formal curriculum, became a cornerstone of my developing interest in the field.

2. Navigate the Challenge of Finding Mentors: Perhaps the greatest challenge for students without home programs is finding mentorship. Unlike specialties with robust faculty presence at our school, connecting with anesthesiologists requires deliberate effort and often depends on program assignments or mutual connections. Through my various research programs, I've learned that mentorship in anesthesiology often comes through structured programs rather than informal relationships, a reality that makes programs like MSARF and Summer Pipeline even more crucial. The mentorship challenge is real: without anesthesiology faculty on campus, students must be exceptionally proactive in seeking guidance. Email introductions, program applications, and leveraging any hospital connections become essential strategies.

3. Leverage Clinical Rotations Strategically As I prepare to begin my third-year clinical rotations with surgery, I plan to maximize exposure during OR time. Having now shadowed anesthesiologists through my research experiences, I understand what to look for and what questions to ask. I intend to arrive early to observe anesthesia induction, stay late for emergence, and engage meaningfully with OR staff about the specialty.

4. Seek External Electives Aggressively: The connections I've made through MSARF at Vanderbilt and my experiences at MSK have opened doors for future elective opportunities. Building relationships through research programs creates pathways for clinical experiences that wouldn't otherwise exist for students from schools without anesthesiology departments.

Advice for Fellow Students

Start Early, Think Broadly: Begin exploring anesthesiology during your first year, not your fourth. Without home program advantages, you need extra time to build relationships and gain exposure.

Apply to Multiple Programs Early: Don't put all your hopes on one program. I applied to multiple programs, and each provided different but valuable perspectives on anesthesiology.

Leverage Every Research Experience: Even programs not specifically focused on anesthesiology can provide exposure if you're proactive. My MSK experience came through a general research program but led to meaningful anesthesiology exposure.

Build Relationships Through Programs: Since informal mentorship is challenging without faculty on campus, make the most of structured program relationships. The mentors I've gained through MSARF and other programs have become invaluable resources.

Document Everything: Keep detailed records of every anesthesiology related experience, no matter how brief. These interactions become valuable talking points in personal statements and interviews.

Consider the Bigger Picture: Your unique background as a student without a home program can be an asset. You demonstrate initiative, resourcefulness, and genuine interest, qualities that program directors value.

Looking Forward

Pursuing anesthesiology without a home program requires extra effort, creativity, and persistence, but it's entirely achievable. My journey from discovering the specialty through Summer Pipeline at MSK to currently participating in MSARF at Vanderbilt has taught me to be resourceful, proactive, and appreciative of every opportunity, qualities that will serve me well as I pursue residency and eventually fellowship training.

The experience has also shown me the importance of structured programs in providing access to specialties not represented at home institutions. Each program has built upon the previous one, creating a pathway that wouldn't have existed through traditional channels at my school. For institutions like CUNY School of Medicine, I hope this perspective highlights the need for expanded anesthesiology exposure and resources. Perhaps future partnerships with local anesthesiology programs could provide our students with the mentorship and research opportunities currently lacking. To my fellow students navigating similar challenges: your path may be less conventional, but your dedication and initiative will distinguish you in the application process. The anesthesiology community recognizes and values students who pursue the specialty despite obstacles.