Welcome Medical Students: 

The Department of Anesthesiology takes an active role in training medical students at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.

Read about the following courses offered to students through MedScope, the medical student registration hub.

ANES 541 – Anesthesiology Elective 

Duration: 4 weeks
Sites: University of Maryland Medical Center, Downtown Campus (UMMC), University of Maryland Rehabilitation & Orthopaedic Institute, University of Maryland Midtown Campus, SICU, & R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center
Eligibility: Medical students with completed prerequisites (visiting students welcome)
Prerequisites: Completion of GSUR 530: Core Surgery Clerkship or MEDC 530: Core Medicine Clerkship
Elective Directors: Dr. Samhati Mondal, MBBS, smondal@som.umaryland.edu, and Dr. Karla Villacin, MD. mvilliacin@som.umaryland.edu
Administrative Contact: Medical Student Coordinator, anesmsedu@som.umaryland.edu

This four-week elective offers an in-depth, hands-on introduction to anesthesiology for third- or fourth-year medical students. The rotation is hosted at the University of Maryland Medical Center and the renowned Shock Trauma Center, providing exposure to high-acuity surgical care and advanced anesthetic practices. When available, we also host at the University of Maryland Medical Center, Midtown, SICU, and UMROI.

Students actively participate in the perioperative management of patients across a wide range of anesthesiology subspecialties, including cardiac anesthesia, neuroanesthesia, pediatrics, regional anesthesia, obstetrics, and trauma. The elective emphasizes airway management and the practical application of basic sciences in clinical anesthesia.

Each student’s experience is tailored to their career interests, with individualized scheduling across anesthesia specialties. Learning is reinforced through bedside teaching, simulation-based training, and participation in anesthesiology conferences.

Key Learning Objectives:

• • Gain broad exposure to the scope and subspecialties of anesthesiology

  • Understand the anesthesiologist’s role in preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative care

  • Develop core clinical skills, with a focus on airway management

  • Apply principles of physiology, pharmacology, and pathophysiology in anesthetic practice

  • Participate as an active member of the anesthesiology team in a high-acuity setting

ANES 542 – Pain Management Elective

Duration: 4 weeks
Location: University of Maryland Rehabilitation & Orthopaedic Institute
Prerequisites: Completion of the first three years of medical school
Eligibility: Open to fourth-year medical students, including visiting students through VSAS
Elective Director: Dr. Thelma Wright, M.D., J.D. – twright@som.umaryland.edu
Administrative Contacts: Kamilah Grant – Kamilah.Grant@som.umaryland.edu, 410- 448-7120

This four-week elective provides medical students with comprehensive exposure to modern pain management strategies in a multidisciplinary setting. Based at the University of Maryland Pain Center, students will work alongside physicians, psychologists, physical therapists, and nurses to evaluate and manage patients with chronic pain syndromes.

The rotation emphasizes both pharmacological and interventional approaches to pain management. Students will gain familiarity with the appropriate use of opioids, as well as adjunctive medications such as antidepressants and anticonvulsants. Hands-on exposure to interventional procedures, including nerve blocks and spinal cord stimulation, is a key component of the experience.

In addition to clinical responsibilities, students will participate in weekly multidisciplinary pain conferences and didactic sessions. They will be expected to contribute to discussions by presenting cases they have seen during their rotation.

Key Learning Objectives:

• • Evaluate and manage a variety of chronic pain conditions

  • Understand the multidisciplinary approach to pain care

  • Gain familiarity with pharmacologic and interventional pain management techniques

  • Participate in interdisciplinary team meetings and contribute to case presentations

  • Develop clinical decision-making skills in opioid stewardship and multimodal therapy

Anesthesiology Externship (Rising Second-Year Medical Students)

Duration: 4 weeks
Dates: June 1 - June 26, 2026
Eligibility: University of Maryland School of Medicine students only
Application Deadline: March 30, 2026
Elective Director: Dr. Samhati Mondal, M.B.B.S., smondal@som.umaryland.edu, and Dr. Karla Villacin, MD. mvillican@som.umaryland.edu
Medical Student Coordinator Contact: anesmsedu@som.umaryland.edu

This summer externship is designed for University of Maryland medical students completing their first year of medical school. Students receive a stipend and gain early exposure to anesthesiology through observerships and subspecialty rotations in:

Application Requirements:

• Personal Essay (≤500 words)
  Describe your interest in anesthesiology.

• Letter of Good Standing
  Request from Student Affairs: (studentaffairs@som.umaryland.edu)

• Two Letters of Reference
  It may be submitted by you or directly by the letter writers.

Submit all documents via email to the Medical Student Coordinator: anesmsedu@som.umaryland.edu, with the email subject line ANES Externship Applicant [your first and last name]