Obstetric Anesthesia

The obstetric service receives approximately 1800 deliveries per year at UVA, with a well-balanced mix of low-risk patients and complex high-risk patients with diagnoses such as placenta accreta, congenital heart defects, obstetric hemorrhage, and multiple gestation. This makes for an exciting and dynamic rotation, with challenging and interesting cases.

UVA Anesthesiology resident performs an epidural.

The stimulating yet very manageable workload and patient volume allows for the resident to obtain extensive experience with neuraxial anesthesia techniques, while still providing plenty of opportunity for teaching and study. A dedicated OB anesthesia attending staffs the labor and delivery floor each day to provide supervision and teaching. Didactic instruction consists of daily teaching topics as well as informal teaching throughout the day. Residents will also have the opportunity to become certified in the Neonatal Resuscitation Program.

Residents do one month of OB anesthesia in both their CA1 and CA2 year. During the CA3 year, residents will typically rotate for 2 weeks on OB anesthesia at UVA and then have the option of a 3-week rotation at INOVA Fairfax Hospital in Northern Virginia. The Fairfax rotation provides a great opportunity to see a high-volume (10,000 deliveries/year) private practice and hone your skills in neuraxial procedures with residents usually performing 75 or more spinals and epidurals during the 3-week rotation

The obstetric anesthesia faculty consists of individuals with diverse intellectual backgrounds but with a common commitment to optimal care of the pregnant patient. All are board certified anesthesiologists with extensive experience in obstetric anesthesia and a genuine commitment to resident education.

• Sachin H. Mehta, M.D., is Director of Obstetric Anesthesia and completed his fellowship in obstetric anesthesia at Stanford University. Several other anesthesiologists routinely participate in supervision and teaching of obstetric anesthesia, including:
• Ashley W. Garneau, M.D.
• Jessica Sheeran, M.D., Director of Education
• Mohamed Tiouririne, M.D., Director of Research
• Sunny Chiao, M.D.
• Katherine Black, M.D.
• Amanda Kleiman, M.D.