Volume 77 Number 3

A Day in the Life of an Ambulatory Anesthesiologist

More than two decades ago, my mother’s friend—a seasoned ambulatory anesthesiologist—gave me what she considered sage advice: “Don’t go into anesthesiology. It’s boring. All I do is sedate healthy patients for colonoscopies.”

Fast forward to my third year of medical school, and there I was on a surgery rotation at the VA Hospital—watching in awe as the anesthesiologist swiftly converted a spinal to a general anesthetic and stabilized a bleeding patient. That was the moment I experienced an epiphany: anesthesiology was my calling. Looking back, I am so grateful I followed my heart—and not my mom’s friend’s advice.

For nearly nine years, I’ve worked as an ambulatory anesthesiologist and director of anesthesia services at a freestanding ambulatory surgery center. It has been anything but boring. Rather than give you a play-by-play of my day (which would involve a lot of walking briskly while answering messages and checking charts), here are the top eight reasons why I love my job as an ambulatory anesthesiologist:

1. Variety is the Spice of Life.
Even in an outpatient setting, we anesthetize a surprisingly wide range of procedures—interventional radiology (IR), gastroenterology (GI), breast surgery, gynecologic surgery and urologic surgery, just to name a few. The surgical block schedule varies by day.

2. Fast Pace with No Time for Boredom.
Our cases are generally short, which means I am constantly on the move—meeting patients, coordinating cases and troubleshooting. It keeps me energized and very far from boredom.

3. Work Feels Like Family.
I have never experienced a work environment so close-knit. We celebrate life’s joys—weddings and babies—and support one another through losses and challenges. It makes me proud of the family we’ve become since our facility opened in 2017.

4. Safety is Our Culture.
We are never “done” improving. I collaborate with the rest of our leadership to continuously enhance patient care and processes. This shared commitment to safety makes my work more meaningful and sustainable.

5. My Brain Gets a Daily Workout.
Between caring for current patients and planning for future ones, I stay mentally engaged. While most surgical patients are seen in presurgical testing, our IR and GI patients often are not. I check everyone’s chart and collaborate across teams to ensure our patients are safe for anesthesia at our facility. Our patient population includes a surprisingly high percentage of complex ASA physical status 4 cases, which keeps us all on our toes.

Suggested Reading
If you’d like more detail about patient selections and preoperative testing prior to ambulatory anesthesiology, I recommend these articles on:
1.) Rajan et al., Anesth Analg. 2021 – Patient selection for ambulatory surgery
2.) Sweitzer et al., Anesth Analg. 2021 – Preop care for cataract surgery
3.) Thompson et al., Circulation. 2024 – Perioperative cardiovascular management

6. Research Keeps Me Inspired.
Working on clinical research projects with medical students has become one of the most rewarding parts of my career. Watching them present posters, publish papers and grow into future anesthesiologists is incredibly fulfilling.

7. I Truly Love My Patients.
Yes, it is a bit of a cliché—but it is true. A significant number of our patients, especially those undergoing IR procedures, are repeat visitors. That continuity builds trust, and I love knowing that they want to have their care only with us.

8. A Great Subspecialty Society.
The Society for Ambulatory Anesthesia (SAMBA) has been instrumental in shaping my professional journey. I am proud to serve on the board of directors and chair two committees, where I get to work alongside like-minded leaders committed to advancing our field. Several NYSSA members also serve as leaders and attend the SAMBA annual meeting.

In the end, I hope  you find your professional place and purpose so that you are fulfilled. While I may be running between patients, the operating rooms, meetings and phone calls, I am also using every minute of my workday to achieve my goals. I am blessed to be surrounded by a team who shares the same mission: providing safe, efficient and compassionate care—truly the perfect combination for an ambulatory anesthesiologist.