Mark Pressler, M.D.

Hometown: Ann Arbor, MI

Undergraduate School: Michigan State University

Medical School: Michigan State University, Grand Rapids

Hobbies/Outside Interests: I love history, reading audiobooks, skiing, hiking (getting into it, VA’s scenery really helps), junk TV.

Favorite things about/to do/to eat in Charlottesville: I’m slowly exploring Shenandoah and the other national parks / nature reserves. There is a really nice trail around a reservoir that is a literal 5min drive from Downtown, Ragged Mountain. I (as well as my co-interns) love Asado’s happy hours, great wings.

Why did you choose UVA? I chose UVA for the same reason I like Charlottesville, it is a fun/welcoming/vibrant city for all types of people. It celebrates new ideas and heterogeneity. I also chose UVA it has easy access to nature (Shenandoah, GW Nat’l Park) and cities (Richmond and DC).

Anesthesiology Interests: I feel the most excited about treating chronic pain and ICU patients. But I want to keep an open mind for fellowship stuff.

Favorite Rotation: I have only been through the on service anesthesia orientation month. That being said, I was FLOORED by how well organized and helpful it was. We transitioned from shadowing senior residents to doing cases in pairs, in preparation for solo cases in August. We had additional lectures every day at noon. Since practicing anesthesia is so different than any other specialty’s day to day task, it does need a longer “on ramp” type of rotation so new residents can get a handle of the workflow.

I felt that this orientation month was a really well designed “on ramp.” All of the attendings were well aware of the goals of the rotation. I did not feel bogged down in minutiae, the lectures were tailored to having an initial action plan while help is on the way. I also want to credit the attendings for having a very measured approach to autonomy. The first week of paired cases the attending was always helping in the room. The second week they would get coffee but be close by. The third week they would pointedly push one of the new interns to sit down while the other did a “solo” case. As of writing this, I’m starting solo cases tomorrow. I feel ready.