Clinical training

The fellowship is designed to cultivate advanced clinical expertise in regional anesthesia and acute pain management.
Fellows perform a wide variety of upper and lower extremity peripheral nerve blocks, using both single-injection and continuous catheter techniques. Training includes both landmark-based and ultrasound-guided approaches, ensuring comprehensive skill development.

You’ll also rotate through:

• The cardiac anesthesia service to gain experience in chest wall truncal blocks
• The pediatric anesthesia service for exposure to regional techniques in children

Elective opportunities include:

• Participation in the Department of Anesthesiology’s global health experience in Zambia
• Rotations at one of Mayo Clinic’s Community Hospital locations

Beyond procedural skills, fellows become proficient in the perioperative management of patients receiving regional anesthesia, including:

• Preoperative evaluation
• Procedure-related sedation
• Intraoperative management
• Postoperative care

You’ll also learn to identify and manage inadequate or failed blocks, using a range of analgesic and anesthetic modalities.

Finally, the program sponsors your American Board of Anesthesiology Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) certificate and supports your attendance at the annual American Society of Regional Anesthesia POCUS workshop, further enhancing your training and professional development.

Didactic training

Didactic education is a core component of the fellowship. Fellows participate in a robust schedule of learning activities, including:

• Clinical case conferences
• Core curriculum lectures
• Cadaver lab core curriculum
• Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) training in the Multidisciplinary Simulation Center
• Ultrasound skills workshops
• Journal clubs
• Keyword mini-lectures
• Morbidity and mortality conferences
• Oral board reviews and formal practice exams
• Applied (OSCE) exam simulation
• Attendance at national meetings

These experiences deepen your understanding of the biological and clinical science behind regional anesthesia and pain management.

Research training

Fellows are expected to engage in research activities throughout the program. You’ll have the opportunity to:

• Present at journal clubs and national meetings
• Collaborate on scholarly projects
• Publish a manuscript based on work completed during your fellowship

The Department of Anesthesiology includes experienced investigators who are available to mentor fellows from project development through manuscript submission

Evaluation

Fellow performance is continuously monitored to ensure skill development and clinical proficiency. You’ll receive formal evaluations from supervising faculty at the end of each clinical rotation, followed by review sessions with the program director.

Fellows also provide feedback on faculty, helping ensure that educational goals are consistently met.