Vital Times 2021 - 46

This fall, we were thrilled to host Senator Dave Min,
representing California Senate District 37, to our
beautiful campus. Our residents and faculty advocated
for physician-led care while discussing the vitally
important roles that physician anesthesiologists play
within the hospital, within Orange County, and our
response to the pandemic.
Dr. Hong going over ventilator management
with Kurt Leininger, CA-1.
Program provides PGY-1 residents an early opportunity
to gain foundational medical knowledge and skills in
preparation for clinical anesthesia. Recognizing the
importance of preparation and practice, we have also
now transitioned to a program that includes monthly
mock oral sessions aimed at reproducing the inherent
stress and excitement of the real oral boards.
UC Irvine also has a strong three-year curriculum of
monthly point-of-care ultrasound objective structure
clinical examinations (OSCEs) to demonstrate growth
and retention of our residents' ultrasound skills.
Annually in January, we conduct a high-fidelity mock
OSCE for all our graduating residents and fellow
physicians. Feedback has been unanimously positive,
with participants saying our OSCE prep day has
scenarios that essentially mimic the experience of the
real OSCE day.
An exciting new clinical endeavor has been the
availability of virtual reality therapy for our patients
during painful and anxiety-provoking interventions.
Providing an alternate setting such as a peaceful
scene or gaming scenario, patients can experience
presence as an avatar in a non-clinical environment.
A study validating the use of virtual reality therapy
during genicular nerve radiofrequency ablations was
selected for a president's choice award at the 2021
ASRA conference.
Finally, we are vaccinated and ready to safely embrace
togetherness and wellness! Our residents are thrilled
to return to hosting pre-interview day dinners for our
med student (Zoom) applicants to get to know the UCI
vibe, answer questions, and really connect. I'm so proud
of the phenomenal job our recruitment team is doing
during this unprecedented NRMP season. Weekly pickup
basketball games and pickleball tournaments are fun
venues for residents, fellows, CRNAs and faculty to get
together for some competitive fun. We've also enjoyed
much success on department deep sea fishing trips!
Newly for 2022, the department is forming wellness
captains and teams with group challenges in the
context of nutrition, exercise, and sleep.
Residents and friends enjoying Huntington Beach.
46 | CSA Vital Times
Vital Times 2021

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