Stony Brook University Department of Anesthesiology

Residency Program

Division of Veterans Administration Anesthesia

 The Division of Veterans Administration Anesthesia is comprised of the following members of the attending staff:
  The Division of Veterans Administration (VA) Anesthesia provides anesthesia at the VA Medical Center in Northport for General Surgery, Vascular Surgery, Thoracic Surgery, Otolaryngology, Urology, Ophthalmology, Plastic Surgery, Orthopaedics, Psychiatry, Oral Surgery, Gynecology and Podiatry. The service also provides care for cardioversion, endoscopy and special procedures. There are ample opportunities to provide regional anesthesia, such as axillary blocks, ankle blocks, epidural and spinal anesthesia, and other more specialized blocks. In addition, Pre-Admission Testing (PAT), and the Pain Clinic fall within the Division of VA Anesthesia. We anticipate continued growth in all areas.

  The Division of VA Anesthesia provides a complete and diverse experience to residents rotating at the VA. The residents receive a monthly orientation, and daily morning lectures on pertinent topics/ cases. They receive individualized and personalized instruction on the basics of anesthesia as well as taking care of more complex patients with coexisting diseases. Senior residents are usually assigned to the more difficult cases. CA-1, CA-2 and CA-3 residents are on call one-on-one with an attending. Unique to the VA is the experience all of our residents gain in PAT. All patients are interviewed by residents and then reviewed with an attending. This review is an essential part of the resident’s education, i.e., evaluation of patient’s coexisting diseases in relation to anesthesia, the anesthetic plan/technique. VA residents are not assigned to the Pain Clinic, but since it is in close proximity to the OR many residents can actively participate in pain procedures/evaluations. Procedures in the Pain Clinic consist of: trigger point injections, epidural steroid injections, stellate ganglion blocks, peripheral nerve blocks, celiac plexus blocks, facet joint injections and radiofrequency.

  Overall, the Division of VA Anesthesia provides a diverse and well-rounded experience for the residents on rotation. The VA population is complex and demanding and this makes for a positive educational experience for all of the residents.


VAMC Clinical Workloads:  FY06

Surgical OR Cases 2364
ECT 200
Pain Clinics 292
PAT’s 1674
Total 4530


Return