Welcome to the Department of Anesthesiology at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center!
As the state’s only Level 1 trauma center, located in the beautiful Connecticut River Valley of New Hampshire, we have a catchment area serving nearly 2 million people and thus are exposed to impressively diverse cases and incredibly high acuity. In fact, we have one of the highest case-mix indexes in the country, and by the end of CA-2 year most of our residents have already completed their ACGME minimum case requirements for graduation. Our residents become well-trained consultant anesthesiologists and succeed in a variety of post-graduate roles in private practice, academics, and competitive fellowships.
In addition to excellent training, resident wellness is a top priority of the department. Here you will be treated as a colleague by both your co-residents and attending physicians. Even on the toughest call days, our residents comment that they consistently feel like they are working among friends. Our commitment to wellness is backed by our dedicated resident wellness program which organizes monthly outings, quarterly dinners, catered lunches, and more.
We believe that our greatest strength is our faculty who are committed to their patients and passionate about the academic mission. Education is a priority and the program is responsive to our needs. This year, we will be instituting a weekly education day during the academic year to ensure resident education is built in to the OR schedule. In our clinical experience, we are a medium-sized program. This ensures that all residents have access to challenging and rare cases and that their clinical experience is tailored to individual needs and professional aspirations. For example, numerous residents have taken and passed the Basic TEE Board exam and many graduates have gone on to do cardiac cases in private practice or matched into prestigious cardiac fellowships. We also have recent residents who have matched into regional, pediatric, obstetric, critical care and chronic pain fellowships.
We value excellence in clinical care and work together to continually improve the perioperative patient experience. Our regional anesthesia program is directed by world-renowned faculty in the specialty and our residents have ample opportunities to work in our regional block area. Starting as interns we spend time on the Acute Pain Medicine consult service, managing complex pain crises and gaining experience placing fluoroscopy-guided thoracic epidurals. We work closely with our labor & delivery colleagues to provide 24/7 resident coverage for obstetric anesthesia, an experience in which we quickly gain autonomy. All rotations are at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, although international electives are permitted in CA-3 year, if desired. A new, unique elective away rotation also allows CA-3s to work in Manchester, New Hampshire and experience private practice and high-turnover healthy pediatrics. Whatever your career goals are, you will receive the training you need in our program.
Beyond the outstanding clinical experience, Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center is famous for its distinctive location. The area is wonderfully safe and family-friendly. We enjoy all four seasons and quintessential New England charm. With phenomenal fall foliage, excellent winter skiing, spring maple sugaring, and summer swimming, fishing, and mountain biking, you are sure to find something to do in your free time. There is even a great hiking trail right on the hospital campus! When looking for a change in scenery, Boston, Montreal, Portland, and Burlington are all easy weekend trips and Manchester-Boston Regional Airport or Boston’s Logan International Airport are convenient launching points for travel.
We are very proud of our program. Congratulations on your choice to become an anesthesiologist. We wish you the very best in your search for a residency program that will be the best fit for you!
Sincerely,
Charlotte Bloom, DO and Natashia Smith, MD
Chief Residents in Anesthesiology, 2026 to 2027