Department of Anesthesiology

We wish to continue to attract students who want to be terrific physicians - the clinical training at Columbia is second to none given the case mix of the hospital; however, in addition a major part of our role is to train physicians not only for private practice but to be cutting edge master clinicians within the academic medical center. Quite simply, our goal is to attract medical students who know they want to remain in academic medicine - and to enter either clinical subspecialty or research fellowships following residency. To that end, in November 2002 we instituted the Virginia Apgar Scholars Program. Medical students commit to either a two year clinical or research fellowship program following residency - they have to designate whether they wish to be a clinical or basic science scholar. Basic Science Scholars have the opportunity to enter our NIH T32 program. They become lifelong members of the Virginia Apgar Society, are on the committee to select the Virginia Apgar Annual Lecturer, and receive a $15,000 annual supplement during their CA1, CA2, CA3, and fellowship years.

"Participating in the Virginia Apgar Scholars program has been a wonderfully rewarding experience. Here at Columbia, our department does more than claim a dedication to academic pursuits it delivers by fostering an atmosphere conducive to training the next generation of leaders in academic medicine and biomedical research. I have been especially impressed by its commitment to providing diverse mentorship, a true sense of collegiality, and for allowing the flexibility and latitude to tailor projects with my particular interests in mind."

George Gallos
Virginia Apgar Scholar
NIH T32-Trainee

Dr. Gallos received 1st prize in the ASA Residents Research Competition in 2004 and 2008 and Dr. Hannah Wunsch 3rd prize in the same competition for 2006. Their abstracts can be accessed here. It is evident that the Virginia Apgar Society is growing and of course will continue to develop as the years go on. The Virginia Apgar Endowed Society Lecturers can be accessed here.

Dr. Gallos joined our faculty on July 1^st as an obstetric anesthesiology attending. In October 2008, he received a FAER Mentored Research Training Grant for Basic Science Research, “Endogenous GABAA Receptors on Airway Smooth Muscle: A Novel Therapeutic Target in Asthma”.

Dr. Wunsch joined the faculty in July 2008, and received a FAER grant Research Fellowship Grant, “Evaluation of Long-Term Outcomes for Intensive Care Patients”.

Dr. Gleason has completed a Critical Care Fellowship at Columbia, is currently receiving additional cardiac anesthesia and TEE training, and he also joined the faculty in the Critical Care and Cardiac Anesthesia Division.

Dr. Laurence Ring received the 2009 Resident Travel Award from the Association of University Anesthesiologists for his abstract oral presentation entitled: Hypothalamic Knockout of Leptin Receptor in a Murine Model Leads to Early Obesity and Diabetes” and also the ASA 2009 Resident Research Competition First Prize.

Columbia at the Association of University Anesthesiologists
Annual Meeting, Galveston, Texas, April 2009
Congratulations to Dr. Laurence E. Ring for his presentation entitled:
“Hypothalamic Knockout of Leptin Receptor in a Murine Model Leads to Early Obesity and Diabetes”

Laurence Ring received the Resident Travel Award at the AUA for his abstract.

Dr. Ring is currently on our T32 Fellowship Training Grant as a Research Fellow, and is also an Obstetric Anesthesia Fellow.

Dr. Julia Sobol (MD/MPH) was on our T32 program before becoming a CA1 resident, and in 2009 will commence her Critical Care Medicine Fellowship training.