University of Colorado Anesthesiologist Assistant Program
12631 E. 17th Avenue, Suite 2017
Mailstop 8202
Aurora, CO 80045
Phone: 303-724-1764 or 303-724-0197
Fax: 303-724-1761
Email: AAProgram@cuanschutz.edu
Overview
The University of Colorado Anesthesiologist Assistant Program is a graduate medical education program in the University of Colorado School of Medicine. The Program accepts qualified individuals who desire to undertake rigorous didactic and clinical education in order to become knowledgeable, skilled anesthetists. Applicants must complete a baccalaureate degree in any major field of study from an accredited institution, including above average performance (letter grade of "B-" or higher) in courses required in a premedical curriculum (refer to required courses in the Admissions section). All prerequisite courses must be completed before the program's start date.
Individuals who successfully complete this program are awarded a Master of Science Degree in Anesthesiology by the University of Colorado. In February, June or October of their senior year, students take the National Certifying Examination for Anesthesiologist Assistants. Following graduation and successful completion of the Certifying Examination, graduates can become integral anesthetist members of an anesthesia care team practice lead by an anesthesiologist.
The University of Colorado Anesthesiologist Assistant Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org) upon the recommendation of the Accreditation Review Committee for the Anesthesiologist Assistant (ARC-AA).
Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
9355 - 113th St. N, #7709
Seminole, FL 33775
Phone: 727-210-2350
www.caahep.org
Admission Requirements
Academic Requirements
In order to enter the Master of Science Program in Anesthesiology, students will need:
- A bachelor's degree from an accredited institution
- An MCAT score attained within 5 years of applying to the program
- Completion of the prerequisite courses noted below
- A minimum of 8 hours of anesthetist shadowing (Applicants are encouraged to fulfill as many hours as possible)
- Background Check administered through the purchase of package code UF28 on CastleBranch.com
- A CASPer online assessment (see Application Process page)
Prerequisite Courses
Documentation that each of the prerequisites listed below has been completed, with a grade of B-minus (2.7) or higher. Substitutions are NOT permitted, and survey courses for non-science majors are NOT acceptable. For those courses that have been repeated, the highest grade will be recognized. We accept courses taken at a four year institution, community college or online as long as they are from an accredited institution. We do not accept home lab kits as part of any course that requires lab.
The prerequisites must be completed within 7 years of the application deadline; however, if a student takes the MCAT and receives a score of 25 or higher (or above the 45th Percentile on the new MCAT) and has been clinically active in a health profession since completing your prerequisites, the 7 year requirement for prerequisites will be waived. (Call or email the office to confirm.)
- English: 1 semester (7 year window DOES NOT APPLY)
- General Biology with Lab: 2 semesters total
- General Biology I with lab (1 semester)
- General Biology II with lab (1 semester)
- General Chemistry with Lab: 2 semesters total
- General Chemistry I with lab (1 semester)
- General Chemistry II with lab (1 semester)
- Organic Chemistry with Lab: 2 semesters total
- Organic Chemistry I with lab (1 semester)
- Organic Chemistry II with lab (1 semester)
- General Physics with Lab: 2 semesters total (trigonometry or calculus based is preferred)
- General Physics I with lab (1 semester)
- General Physics II with lab (1 semester)
- Biochemistry: 1 semester
- Statistics: 1 semester
- Human Anatomy and Physiology: 1 semester of combined A&P or 1 semester each of Human Anatomy and Human Physiology (Courses in vertebrate embryology and developmental anatomy or mammalian physiology and embryology will NOT satisfy this requirement.)
- Cellular and Molecular Biology: Preferred, but not required
Advanced placement credit for prerequisite coursework that appear in official transcripts may be considered based on courses, scores, and student’s overall undergraduate performance.
Credit Conversion Policy
The University of Colorado uses a semester system; however, the university does accept quarter credit hours. Quarter credit hours are worth 2/3 of 1 semester hour. (One semester is approximately 4-5 quarter hours, and two semesters is 9 quarter hours.) Quarter credit hours may be rounded to the nearest whole number at the discretion of the admissions committee with consideration given to the course work and grade earned.
Test Scores
Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) scores from within five years of the application cycle year. The applicant must have MCAT score reports sent to CASAA. A Score of 25 or higher on the MCAT will be considered competitive using the pre-2015 version. Scores in the 45th percentile or higher on the new MCAT2015 Exam will be considered competitive for current test-takers. The GRE will NOT be accepted in place of the MCAT.
Shadowing Experience
Applicants to the program must be familiar with the practice of anesthesia, including related activities in the operating room. Individuals applying to the program must spend at least 8 hours with an anesthetist or an anesthesiologist in an operating room environment observing the conduct of anesthesia. Applicants who meet the minimum requirement will be considered for admission, but additional hours are strongly suggested. The applicant is encouraged to visit a local hospital and ask to speak with the anesthesiologist who directs the department of anesthesia.
The Documentation of Familiarity with Anesthesia Form must be submitted as part of the application to verify the number of hours that the applicant has spent in the OR.
Background Check
A certified background check must be completed at the time of application. You will not be invited for an interview unless a background check from CastleBranch has been completed. Make sure that you ONLY purchase the UF28 Package Code (Background Check). Do not purchase any of the other packages at this time (UF28a, UF28dt, UF28r).
Foreign Graduate Admission
Please visit our webpage for more information.
Application Process
- Create an applicant account on CASAA (Centralized Application Service for Anesthesiologist Assistants).
- Choose the University of Colorado, Denver from the list of programs.
- Complete all four sections of the application (Personal Information, Academic History, Supporting Information, and Program Materials). The Program Materials section is specific to our program.
- The references portion is called Evaluations and is located in the Supporting Information section. You are required to have a minimum of 3 evaluations. Once you have saved an electronic evaluation, an email request will automatically be sent to the evaluator on your behalf. Please advise your evaluator to look for this email in their inbox, as well as their spam or junk mail folder, as emails do occasionally get filtered out.
- Please use updated transcripts to complete the online application. If a course is "In Progress" at the time of application, enter the letters "IP" for that course when entering Prerequisite Courses.
- In the Program Materials section you will need to upload:
- A CV/Resume (include any medical experience you may have)
- Documentation of Familiarity with Anesthesia Form
- upload under SHADOWING/HEALTHCARE HOURS
- combine multiple forms into a single file
- Documentation Concerning Technical Standards Form
- upload under OTHER
- Criminal Background Check Release Form
- upload under OTHER
- Drug Screen Release Form
- upload under OTHER
- Please note, you will be sending CASAA your official transcripts and MCAT score report from AAMC, not the Program Office. The Program Office will only need these items from you in the event that you are accepted into the Program.
- In addition to the CASAA application, applicants must complete the CASPer online assessment. Successful completion of CASPer is mandatory in order to maintain admission eligibility. Information regarding this mandatory assessment is available on our website.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | |
| ANMS 5000 | Orientation to Anesthesia | 1 |
| ANMS 5001 | Introduction to Clinical Anesthesia | 2 |
| ANMS 6801 | MSA-1 Seminar 1 | 1 |
| ANMS 6701 | Anesthesia Non-Technical Skills & Wellness I | 1 |
| ANMS 5012 | Physiology I | 2 |
| ANMS 5010 | Basic Cardiac Physiology | 2 |
| ANMS 5009 | Anesthesia Monitoring and Delivery Systems | 2 |
| ANMS 5006 | Simulation and Skills Laboratory I | 1 |
| ANMS 5008 | Clinical Anesthesiology I | 5 |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Total Hours | 17 | |
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spring | Hours | |
| ANMS 5011 | Anesthesia Principles and Practice I | 2 |
| ANMS 5013 | Patient Monitoring II | 2 |
| ANMS 5016 | Simulation and Skills Laboratory II | 1 |
| ANMS 5018 | Clinical Anesthesiology II | 5 |
| ANMS 5021 | Anesthesia Principles and Practice II | 2 |
| ANMS 5200 | Pharmacology I | 2 |
| ANMS 6012 | Physiology II | 4 |
| ANMS 5007 | Survey of Anatomy | 2 |
| ANMS 6811 | MSA-1 Seminar II | 1 |
| ANMS 6711 | Anesthesia Non-Technical Skills & Wellness II | 1 |
| Hours | 22 | |
| Total Hours | 22 | |
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summer | Hours | |
| ANMS 5021 | Anesthesia Principles and Practice II | 2 |
| ANMS 5002 | Perioperative Medicine | 2 |
| ANMS 5210 | Pharmacology II | 2 |
| ANMS 5501 | Anesthesia and Co-Existing Diseases I | 2 |
| ANMS 5026 | Simulation and Skills Laboratory III | 1 |
| ANMS 5028 | Clinical Anesthesiology III | 7.5 |
| ANMS 6007 | Anatomical Imaging I | 2 |
| ANMS 6821 | MSA-1 Seminar III | 1 |
| Hours | 19.5 | |
| Total Hours | 19.5 | |
| Second Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | |
| ANMS 6031 | Anesthesia Principles and Practice III | 2 |
| ANMS 6110 | Hepatic and Maternal-Fetal Physiology | 2 |
| ANMS 6220 | Pharmacology III | 2 |
| ANMS 6511 | Anesthesia and Co-Existing Diseases II | 2 |
| ANMS 6038 | Clinical Anesthesiology IV | 7.5 |
| ANMS 6831 | MSA-1 Seminar IV | 1 |
| Hours | 16.5 | |
| Total Hours | 16.5 | |
| Second Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spring | Hours | |
| ANMS 6311 | Senior Seminar II | 2 |
| ANMS 6212 | Senior Project II | 1 |
| ANMS 6048 | Clinical Anesthesiology V | 10 |
| Hours | 13 | |
| Total Hours | 13 | |
| Second Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summer | Hours | |
| ANMS 6311 | Senior Seminar II | 2 |
| ANMS 6212 | Senior Project II | 1 |
| ANMS 6058 | Clinical Anesthesiology VI | 10 |
| Hours | 13 | |
| Total Hours | 13 | |
| Third Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | |
| ANMS 6321 | Senior Seminar III | 2 |
| ANMS 6221 | Senior Project III | 1 |
| ANMS 6068 | Clinical Anesthesiology VII | 10 |
| Hours | 13 | |
| Total Hours | 13 | |
ANMS 5000 - Orientation to Anesthesia (1 Credit)
Overview of basics of anesthesia to familiarize the student to basic competencies prior to their first clinical day. Topics covered include: medical terminology, pharmacology, anesthesia machine, basic monitoring, anesthesia care plans, drug dosing and calculations.Requisite: Must be admitted to MSA Program.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Typically Offered: Fall.
ANMS 5001 - Introduction to Clinical Anesthesia (2 Credits)
Introduction to induction, maintenance, and emergence from anesthesia, history and types of anesthesia, universal precautions, infection control, OR layout, sterile fields and techniques, patient interaction, starting intravenous catheters and arterial cannulation, obtaining arterial blood samples, and applying ASA-standard monitors. Requisite: Must be admitted to MMS Program. Department Consent Required.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Typically Offered: Fall.
ANMS 5002 - Perioperative Medicine (2 Credits)
A course on preoperative evaluation of the patient based on patient and surgery risk factors. Small group application of patient history and physical taking will also be utilized to allow students to apply concepts learned in class. Requisite: Must be admitted to MMS Program. Department Consent Required.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Typically Offered: Fall, Summer.
ANMS 5006 - Simulation and Skills Laboratory I (1 Credit)
Exploration of pulse oximetry, capnography, blood pressure monitoring systems, anesthesia delivery systems, breathing circuits, fresh gas flow effect, theory of dilutional methods of cardiac output monitoring, and relations between mean circulatory filling pressures and central venous pressure using anesthesia simulator. Requisite: Must be admitted to MMS Program. Department Consent Required.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Typically Offered: Fall.
ANMS 5007 - Survey of Anatomy (2 Credits)
o Gross structures of the human body will be covered didactically and integrated with cadaver dissection demonstrations. This course will also develop the knowledge of the human anatomy necessary for the practice of anesthesiology. Requisite: Must be admitted to the MSA Program.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Typically Offered: Spring.
ANMS 5008 - Clinical Anesthesiology I (5 Credits)
Developmental skills and foundations of the clinical practice of anesthesia gained through one‐on‐one supervised instruction in the operating room and other ancillary anesthetizing locations. Participation and responsibilities increase through the year as knowledge and skills develop. Requisite: Must be admitted to MMS Program. Department Consent Required.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Typically Offered: Fall.
ANMS 5009 - Anesthesia Monitoring and Delivery Systems (2 Credits)
Students will learn about basic monitors related to the practice of anesthesia, including ECG, NIBP, Sp02, respiratory gas analysis, temperature monitoring and other standard monitors. Students will be fluent in the interpretation of data from these basic monitors. They will also learn about anesthesia delivery systems including principles of ventilator function, breathing circuit configurations, and safety features of the operative setting including scavenging systems, machine checkout, and line isolation monitors.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Typically Offered: Fall.
ANMS 5010 - Basic Cardiac Physiology (2 Credits)
This course will cover the principles of electrocardiography, ECG interpretation as well as arrhythmias and their pharmacological treatments. Cardiac anatomy and introduction to the different cardiac monitoring devices. ACLS/BLS for adults and PALS with an introduction to pediatric heart will be covered. Introduction to different cardiac surgeries and cardiac pharmacology.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Typically Offered: Fall.
ANMS 5011 - Anesthesia Principles and Practice I (2 Credits)
Principles involved in the formulation of anesthetic plans based upon data obtained during the preoperative evaluation, including the formulation and practices of different anesthetic plans and techniques as related to specific surgical procedures and pathophysiology. Prerequisite: Must be admitted to MMS Program. Department Consent Required.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Typically Offered: Spring.
ANMS 5012 - Physiology I (2 Credits)
Physiology 1: Principles of Airway Management and Respiratory Physiology: Structure, function, pathophysiology, disease and management of the human airway and pulmonary system will be covered. Basic and advanced principles of airway management, elective and emergent will be covered, including equipment and techniques. Examination, recognition, techniques and management involved in pediatric /adult difficult airways. Specific instruction on common disease states, restrictive and obstructive pulmonary disorders, mechanical ventilation, arterial blood gas analysis and how these concepts apply to patient under anesthesia care will be covered.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Typically Offered: Fall.
ANMS 5013 - Patient Monitoring II (2 Credits)
More advanced monitoring including, BIS, Sv02, arterial and central pressure monitoring, basics of ultrasound, advanced ECG and ST analysis. Prerequisite: Must be admitted to MMS Program. Department Consent Required.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Typically Offered: Spring.
ANMS 5016 - Simulation and Skills Laboratory II (1 Credit)
Application of patient monitoring, clinical anesthesia practice and use of a high fidelity patient simulation environment will be covered. Students will utilize critical thinking skills to fully integrate didactic knowledge in patient care situations. Prerequisite: Must be admitted to MMS Program. Department Consent Required.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Typically Offered: Spring.
ANMS 5018 - Clinical Anesthesiology II (5 Credits)
Developmental skills and foundations of the clinical practice of anesthesia gained through one‐on‐one supervised instruction in the operating room and other ancillary anesthetizing locations. Participation and responsibilities increase through the year as knowledge and skills develop. Prerequisite: Must be admitted to MMS Program. Department Consent Required.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Typically Offered: Spring.
ANMS 5021 - Anesthesia Principles and Practice II (2 Credits)
Practical principles, application, and interpretation of various monitoring modalities including ECG, invasive and non‐invasive blood pressure, oximetry, cardiac output, respiratory gas analysis, respiration, and instrumentation as they pertain to anesthesia practice. Prerequisite: Must be admitted to MMS Program. Department Consent Required.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Typically Offered: Summer.
ANMS 5026 - Simulation and Skills Laboratory III (1 Credit)
Application of patient monitoring, clinical anesthesia practice and use of a high fidelity patient simulation environment will be covered. Students will utilize critical thinking skills to fully integrate didactic knowledge in patient care situations. Prerequisite: Must be admitted to MMS Program. Department Consent Required.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Typically Offered: Summer.
ANMS 5028 - Clinical Anesthesiology III (7.5 Credits)
Developmental skills and foundations of the clinical practice of anesthesia will be gained through one‐on‐one supervised instruction in the operating room and other ancillary anesthetizing locations. Participation and responsibilities increase through the year as knowledge and skills develop. Prerequisite: Must be admitted to MMS Program. Department Consent Required.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Typically Offered: Summer.
ANMS 5200 - Pharmacology I (2 Credits)
General pharmacologic concept, membrane receptor, transport, biotransformation, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics will be covered. Prerequisite: Must be admitted to MMS Program. Department Consent Required.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Typically Offered: Spring.
ANMS 5210 - Pharmacology II (2 Credits)
Covers drugs that include inhaled anesthetics, opioids, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, anticholinesterases and anticholinergics, neuromuscular blockers, adrenergic agonists and antagonists, non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs, antiarrhythmics, calcium channel blockers, diuretics, anticoagulants, antihistamines, and antimicrobials. Prerequisite: Must be admitted to MMS Program. Department Consent Required.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Typically Offered: Summer.
ANMS 5501 - Anesthesia and Co-Existing Diseases I (2 Credits)
This course focuses on the anesthetic considerations that must be accounted for in patients with co-existing diseases due to physiological changes. Disease states include substance abuse, obesity, obstructive sleep apnea, asthma, COPD, etc. Prerequisite: Must be admitted to MMS Program. Department Consent Required.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Typically Offered: Summer.
ANMS 5502 - Anatomical Imaging II (2 Credits)
Gross structures of the human body will be covered with emphasis placed on imaging modalities, imaging interpretation, and clinical correlation. This course will further develop the knowledge and hands-on. skills necessary for the practice of anesthesiology and related procedures. Prerequisite: Student must be admitted to MSA Program.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade with IP
Typically Offered: Fall.
ANMS 6007 - Anatomical Imaging I (2 Credits)
Gross structures of the human body will be covered with emphasis placed on imaging modalities and clinical correlation. This course will also develop the knowledge of the human anatomy necessary for the practice of anesthesiology and related procedures. Prerequisite: Must be admitted to MSA Program.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Typically Offered: Summer.
ANMS 6012 - Physiology II (4 Credits)
Structure, function, anatomy, pathophysiology, disease, and management of the human cardiovascular, neurological and renal systems. Covers the principles of cardiovascular, renal and neurological physiology and how it applies to a patient’s anesthetic as well as anesthetic risk. Pediatric physiology included.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Typically Offered: Spring.
ANMS 6031 - Anesthesia Principles and Practice III (2 Credits)
This is a course on improving system-based learning and practice. Prerequisite: Must be admitted to MMS Program. Department Consent Required.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Typically Offered: Fall.
ANMS 6038 - Clinical Anesthesiology IV (7.5 Credits)
Developmental skills and foundations of the clinical practice of anesthesia gained through one‐on‐one supervised instruction in the operating room and other ancillary anesthetizing locations. Participation and responsibilities increase through the year as knowledge and skills develop. Prerequisite: Must be admitted to MMS Program. Department consent required.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Typically Offered: Fall.
ANMS 6048 - Clinical Anesthesiology V (10 Credits)
Clinical experience in required rotations through anesthesia subspecialty areas. Two‐week and four‐week interval rotations assigned, and will require call during some nights and weekends. Clinical practice is gained through one‐on‐one supervised instruction in operating room and other ancillary anesthetizing locations. Prerequisite: Must be admitted to MMS Program. Department Consent Required.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Typically Offered: Spring.
ANMS 6058 - Clinical Anesthesiology VI (10 Credits)
Clinical experience in required rotations through subspecialty anesthesia areas. Rotations assigned in two‐week and four‐week intervals, and will require call during some nights and weekends. Clinical practice gained through one‐on‐one supervised instruction in operating room and other ancillary anesthetizing locations. Prerequisite: Must be admitted to MMS Program. Department Consent Required.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Typically Offered: Summer.
ANMS 6068 - Clinical Anesthesiology VII (10 Credits)
Clinical experience in required rotations through anesthesia subspecialty areas. Rotations assigned in two‐week and four‐week intervals, and require call during some nights and weekends. Clinical practice gained through one‐on‐one supervised instruction in the operating room and other ancillary anesthetizing locations. Prerequisite: Must be admitted to MMS Program. Department Consent Required.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Typically Offered: Fall.
ANMS 6110 - Hepatic and Maternal-Fetal Physiology (2 Credits)
Pathophysiology in a systems approach: cardiovascular, emphasizing hemodynamics, Starling forces, pulmonary responses, renal hemodynamics, temperature regulation, blood gases/pH, and maternal and fetal physiology. Emphasizes systems which affect evaluation and planning for anesthesia and systems affected by anesthesia administration. Prerequisite: Must be admitted to MMS Program. Department Consent Required.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Typically Offered: Fall.
ANMS 6201 - Senior Project I (1 Credit)
Each student will develop a senior year project with the help of a faculty mentor. Project will be research, process, or quality improvement related. Prerequisite: Must be admitted to MMS Program. Department Consent Required.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Typically Offered: Spring.
ANMS 6212 - Senior Project II (1 Credit)
Each student will develop a senior year project with the help of a faculty mentor. Project will be research, process, or quality improvement related. Prerequisite: Must be admitted to MMS Program. Department Consent Required.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Typically Offered: Summer.
ANMS 6220 - Pharmacology III (2 Credits)
This is a continuation of anesthesia specific pharmacology. Prerequisite: Must be admitted to MMS Program. Department Consent Required.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Typically Offered: Fall.
ANMS 6221 - Senior Project III (1 Credit)
Each student will develop a senior year project with the help of a faculty mentor. Project will be research, process, or quality improvement related. Prerequisite: Must be admitted to MMS Program. Department Consent Required.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Typically Offered: Fall.
ANMS 6301 - Senior Seminar I (2 Credits)
Each student will be required to research, prepare, and present on clinical challenges of different clinical scenarios. Each case will be analyzed and discussed by the group with faculty participation. Prerequisite: Must be admitted to MMS Program. Department Consent Required.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Typically Offered: Spring.
ANMS 6311 - Senior Seminar II (2 Credits)
Each student will be required to research, prepare and present on clinical challenges of different clinical scenarios. Each case will be analyzed and discussed by the group with faculty participation. Prerequisite: Must be admitted to MMS Program. Department Consent Required.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Typically Offered: Summer.
ANMS 6321 - Senior Seminar III (2 Credits)
Each student will be required to research, prepare and present on clinical challenges of different clinical scenarios. Each case will be analyzed and discussed by the group with faculty participation. Prerequisite: Must be admitted to MMS Program. Department Consent Required.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Typically Offered: Fall.
ANMS 6511 - Anesthesia and Co-Existing Diseases II (2 Credits)
Continuation of Anesthesia and Co-Existing Diseases I. Focuses on anesthetic considerations that must be accounted for in patients with co-existing diseases due to physiological changes. Disease states include ischemic heart disease, valvular heart disease, systemic hypertension, pulmonary hypertension, coagulation disorders, etc. Prerequisites: Must be admitted to MMS Program. Department Consent Required.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Typically Offered: Fall.
ANMS 6701 - Anesthesia Non-Technical Skills & Wellness I (1 Credit)
(ANTS) will examine and develop an understanding of medical errors, situational awareness, decision making, leadership, management of stress and fatigue. In addition this course will cover pedagogical principles in medical education and professionalism. all of which are integral in developing well-rounded and adaptable clinicians. Requisite: Must be admitted to MSA Program.
Grading Basis: Pass Fail with IP
Typically Offered: Fall.
ANMS 6711 - Anesthesia Non-Technical Skills & Wellness II (1 Credit)
(ANTS) will examine and develop an understanding of medical errors, situational awareness, decision making, leadership, management of stress and fatigue. In addition this course will cover pedagogical principles in medical education and professionalism, all of which are integral in developing well-rounded and adaptable clinicians. Requisite: Must be admitted to MSA Program.
Grading Basis: Pass Fail with IP
Typically Offered: Spring.
ANMS 6801 - MSA-1 Seminar 1 (1 Credit)
An introductory course into Senior Seminar, each student will observe, participate, and be tested over a presentation/PBLD conducted by a Senior Student. This course will not only discuss challenges presented in the clinical environment, but it will also prepare the student for Senior Seminar.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Typically Offered: Fall.
ANMS 6811 - MSA-1 Seminar II (1 Credit)
An introductory course into Senior Seminar, each student will observe, participate, and be tested over a presentation/PBLD conducted by a Senior Student. This course will not only discuss challenges presented in the clinical environment, but it will also prepare the student for Senior Seminar. Requisite: Must be admitted to MSA Program.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Typically Offered: Spring.
ANMS 6821 - MSA-1 Seminar III (1 Credit)
An introductory course into Senior Seminar, each student will observe, participate, and be tested over a presentation/PBLD conducted by a Senior Student. This course will not only discuss challenges presented in the clinical environment, but it will also prepare the student for Senior Seminar.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Typically Offered: Summer.
ANMS 6831 - MSA-1 Seminar IV (1 Credit)
An introductory course into Senior Seminar, each student will observe, participate, and be tested over a presentation/PBLD conducted by a Senior Student. This course will not only discuss challenges presented in the clinical environment, but it will also prepare the student for Senior Seminar. Requisite: Must be admitted to MSA Program
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Typically Offered: Fall.
School of Medicine Deferment Policy
Students can request an opportunity to defer in writing. Normally, deferrals are granted for unusual or mitigating circumstances that create challenges for a student to enter the Master of Science in Anesthesiology at that time. Also some “once in a lifetime opportunities” may arise, making a request to defer reasonable. Some examples include difficult family circumstances, birth of a child, participation in the Olympics, a Fulbright Scholarship opportunity, Teach for America, etc. Students should enter when they have achieved a high degree of readiness to engage fully in the Anesthesiologist Assistant Program. The AA Program Directors will decide whether to grant the deferral.
If a student is a non-resident at the time of initial acceptance, it is not possible to move to Colorado and during the year of deferral become a Colorado resident. There are certain requirements regarding deferral that must be met:
- Student must complete the majority of paperwork as if entering in the year for which they applied and pay the $1000 deposit.
- For the actual year in which the student plans to enter, a CASAA application must be completed. If the student makes an application for deferral and it is granted, the student will be in a category of “deferred/delayed admission.”
- Deferrals are for one year period only.
- The deadline for a requested deferral is May 1st of the year in which the student is scheduled to start. Deferrals after that date will not be accepted.
Program Leadership
Vesna Jevtovic-Todorovic, MD, PhD, MBA
Chair, Department of Anesthesiology
Jaime Daly, MD
Medical Director
Jillian Vitter, MD
Associate Medical Director
Luke Eaton, MHS, CAA
Program Director
Serena Younes, MS, CAA
Associate Program Director
Rachel Johnson, MS, CAA
Associate Program Director
Craig Mare, MS, CAA
Director of Simulation
Erin Stewart, MD, MS
Medical Director of Simulation
Student Learning Outcomes
The Master of Science in Anesthesiology/MSA Program prepares students to be competent entry-level Anesthesiologist Assistants in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains.
Competency Based Learning Objectives
Domain I: Cognitive (Knowledge)
Medical Knowledge – Students will have a mastery of the practice of Anesthesiology and be conversant in its subspecialties.
Systems-Based Practice – Students will demonstrate an understanding of university-based anesthesiology practice, including its interactions with other specialties, both medical and surgical. Students will practice cost-effective health care and resource allocation through evidence-based medical practice that does not compromise quality of care.
Domain II: Psychomotor (Skills)
By the end of the curriculum, the MSA students will have the psychomotor skills and demonstrate the proper technique of; IV placement, intubation with various airway devices, arterial and central line placement, and spinal and epidural placement.
Skills in these techniques will be established through:
Entry Level Skills Mastery – Students will be able to demonstrate a comprehensive knowledge of the practice of anesthesiology and its subspecialties through supervised clinical experiences and be able to perform as an entry-level anesthesiologist assistant.
Practice-Based Learning & Improvement – Students will be adept at gathering current information on their own, and will be able to judge the quality of this information as it pertains to their clinical milieu.
Domain III: Affective (Behavior)
By the end of the curriculum the MSA students will be; consummate professionals, passionate members of the patient care team, life-long learners, and patient care quality advocates.
Students will develop these skills through:
- Patient Care – Students will train to become compassionate, efficient, and effective CAAs that maintain a constant focus on patient safety.
- Interpersonal & Communications Skills – Students will have the ability to communicate needs efficiently and clearly (both verbally and in writing) to anesthesiologists, surgeons, patients, patient families, peers and all perioperative staff.
- Professionalism – Students will demonstrate the ability to interact professionally with the OR staff, and will maintain a professional image at all times, especially with respect to patients and their visiting family members.
Upon completion of the M.S. in Anesthesiology/MSA Program, students will be able to:
- Evaluate patient medical history
- Perform a physical examination
- Understand the risks related to surgery
- Formulate a safe and cost-effective anesthetic plan based on medical history, physical examination and type of surgery
- Have the knowledge base to understand patient physiology and pathophysiology, pharmacology related to anesthesia
- Have the knowledge base to appropriately respond to changes of patient condition during surgery
- Use electronic medical record appropriately
- Create a preoperative evaluation, intraoperative chart and a postoperative note in electronic medical record
- Will be able to perform sedation, regional and general anesthesia safely and cost-effectively