Q: What are typical work hours?
A: Our residents typically work 50 hours per week, depending on rotations and call. This includes high-yield, focused training during clinical hours, giving residents a realistic and well-prepared perspective on expectations in today’s work environment. While independent study outside of scheduled hours is expected, we also recognize the importance of balance.
When not in the hospital or studying, residents have ample opportunity to enjoy life outside of work—whether that’s exploring Portland or spending time in the surrounding area. We take pride in working hard while we’re here and making the most of our time away from the hospital.
Q: What is the call schedule?
A: The resident call scheduled is managed by our Chief Residents with oversight by the Residency Program Leadership. There are two call residents in-house every night, in addition to two attending faculty and CRNA's. Weekday call starts at 4:30pm and concludes at 7:00am. Residents are off pre and post call. Weekend call is done as a 24-hour shift, starting at 7:00am. Call is shared equally among all residents. There is no beeper call or late call.
Q: How do our benefits & vacations compare?
A: Our residents' salaries have consistently been above the 75th percentile. On top of this is a benefit package including medical, dental and disability care, malpractice insurance and life insurance. Vacation time is 20 working days per year in accordance with ABA national standards. The department also provides educational funds for our residents so they can attend meetings and/or buy textbooks or journals. We also have a very good child care referral service. Please see our benefits section.
Q: Do we have fellowship?
A: We pride ourselves on providing fellowship-level experiences to our residents. To that end we have chosen to remain a small residency program in a large tertiary medical center and only offer one high quality fellowship in Adult Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology. With approximately 1500 cardiac cases per year, our volume easily supports both resident and fellow training goals. Our resident cardiac rotation primarily consists of 1:1 pairing with cardiac staff and all procedures and TEE exams are part of the resident experience.
Q: Do you have a night float system?
A: In general, we do not utilize a night float system, with the exception of a two-week OB night float during the CA-1 year. This follows two weeks of OB day shifts, providing early, immersive exposure to obstetrical anesthesia and preparing residents well for the transition to junior call.
Q: Can you go on away rotations or international electives?
A: Our program offers a wide range of elective opportunities, including local, national, and international experiences. Over the years, residents have completed rotations across the globe—including in Africa and South America, and most recently in Japan. MaineHealth Maine Medical Center also offers several Global Health Scholarships to help support these international experiences.
In addition, residents have the flexibility to pursue away electives at other institutions. Recent example including an elective at R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore, Maryland.
Closer to home, one of our newest elective offerings is a Rural Anesthesia rotation at MaineHealth Franklin Hospital in Farmington, Maine, providing valuable experience in a community-based setting.
Q: How many vacation or sick days we have each year?
A: We have 20 working days of vacation each year. Also we allow 5 working days to attend conferences.
Q: Critical Care Rotation what is the structure?
A:
- Clinical Base Year: 1 month Medical ICU, 1 Month of Surgical ICU/ Trauma ICU. Some time is also spent in Cardiac ICU while in intern year.
- CA1: 1 month Surgical ICU/ Trauma ICU
- CA2: 1 month CTICU
- CA3: 1 month senior Surgical ICU/ Trauma ICU
Q: Is there Ambulatory Surgery Center experience?
A: MaineHealth Surgery Center Scarborough is a free-standing ambulatory surgery center with 10 ORs . The MaineHealth Scarborough Campus is 10 minutes from the MaineHealth Portland Campus
Q: Is there an on-call meal allowance?
A: Residents are provided with a meal allowance that is determined by the number of service months each year. There is also a discount for MaineHealth employees at our Impressions Café.
Q: Do you have to travel to multiple sites for different clinical rotations?
A: MaineHealth Maine Medical Center is an 800-bed hospital with 70 anesthetizing locations and state of the art facilities, including a brand new cardiothoracic Malone Family Tower. It is a Level 1 trauma and tertiary referral center for the entire State of Maine as well as parts of New Hampshire. The vast majority of training is done at our main campus in Portland and residents are continually exposed to a wide range of cases throughout their training, whether it is high-risk OB, emergent cardiac, or extreme prematurity pediatric patients. The only exception is Ambulatory Anesthesia and Pain that is done at our Scarborough campus 10 minutes away.