Workshops, SIM, & Journal Club

Simulation Workshops

Our residency program offers a robust simulation experience for our residents, which occurs in our new state-of-the-art MUSC College of Medicine Simulation Center. The center is overseen by Dr. Catherine Tobin, professor of Anesthesia and Perioperative Medicine and the Lewis Blackman Endowed Chair in Patient Simulation and Research. We offer a high-fidelity simulation ACLS course to our incoming residents just prior to the start of their residency. This experience is repeated throughout residency as our CA-2 and CA-3 residents are the Hospital Code Team Leaders while taking call. In addition, Dr. Guldan holds a Central Line training course during intern orientation to provide enhanced confidence from the start. At the end of intern year, Dr. Julie McSwain leads the interns through an introduction to the OR including machine check-out, general case management, and basic airway techniques. Dr. Savannah Hurt also leads our interns into a more robust airway simulation course with real-time diagnostics and performance measures.

During the CA-1 year, advanced Fiberoptic Bronchocopy and Difficult  Airway Management courses are presented in the Simulation Center. These courses are again repeated during subsequent years. Obstetric Anesthesia simulations are also provided to the CA-1, 2, and 3s at the beginning of each OB month. This facilitates managing and developing real-time strategies for both common and uncommon anesthetic emergency management. Crisis Resource Management courses are half-day experiences that cover a broad scope of perioperative emergencies. The faculty at MUSC is actively involved in ongoing simulation research, which provides opportunities to further utilize our state-of-the-art facility.

Additionally, Dr. Alan Finley has developed a comprehensive course that utilizes our advanced TEE simulator in conjunction with patient ECHO exams. This ensures our graduating residents are competent in basic TEE examinations, but also prepares them to pursue their Basic TEE Certification, if desired, after graduation.

In-House Workshops

In addition to the didactic and simulation training, there are several in-house workshops throughout the year. The CT Anesthesia division holds a yearly alternating cardiac wet lab with heart dissection and introduction to TEE workshop. Within the Obstetric Anesthesia division, Dr. Letha Hebbar holds a yearly obstetric hemorrhage workshop to improve our ability to estimate blood loss. Basic vascular ultrasound-guided workshops are held throughout the year by various faculty and upper-level residents. Our Regional Anesthesia division puts on workshops each year to guide residents in the use of ultrasound for peripheral nerve blocks. Since 2015, we have held an IV Starting Workshop for medical students taught by residents. 

Journal Club

 Journal Club is held once a month at different restaurants around Charleston. It is a great way to have residents and faculty gather outside of the hospitals and discuss the newest topics in our field. 

Each month, everyone reads an article that corresponds with and then we come together and a CA-1 presents the article.