Department of Anesthesiology

Research

Although training dedicated researchers is not UT's primary goal, the UT program is grounded in the belief that research is essential to a resident's academic and professional development. Familiarity with research enables residents to understand data that all physicians must read on a daily basis. Involvement in research keeps residents and faculty intellectually stimulated and progressive. In medicine, as in life, one rarely sees the significant unless one steps off the beaten path. One of the UT program's goals is to guide residents off that path.

The program's extremely large patient base provides an abundance of unusual pathologies ideal for study. Residents who are enthusiastically encouraged to become involved in new or ongoing research studies. Residents interested in careers in research may elect the Clinical Scientist Track. The research staff is currently involved in 20 research protocols, including an ongoing study of cerebral blood flow velocity in preeclamptic patients using a cerebral transcranial doppler.

Ongoing projects include the evaluation and therapy of pain management and endocrine responses in trauma patients, and clinical research in postoperative nausea and vomiting.

Lab facilities are located in the Coleman Building, which is staffed by a full-time lab technician and two nurses, including a full-time RN with ten years experience as a research nurse in cardiology and anesthesiology.