Anesthesiology, Perioperative, and Pain Medicine

The Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative, and Pain Medicine at Stanford Medicine is a world-class center of clinical excellence, scientific discovery, and educational innovation. Operating under the mission to "care, educate, and discover," the department is guided by a singular vision: to heal humanity through science and compassion, one patient at a time.

With approximately 300 distinguished faculty members, the department provides highly skilled, compassionate, patient-centered care while driving major advances in perioperative medicine. The department is deeply committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, with dedicated faculty in every division working to provide active mentorship, foster inclusive spaces, and address the unique health needs of a diverse global patient population.

Academic and Clinical Training Pathways

The department provides a rich, resource-dense environment designed to help clinical and scientific learners achieve their highest professional potential. Training programs span several distinct pathways:

• Anesthesiology Residency Program: Training approximately 100 residents annually. Residents gain unmatched clinical exposure by rotating through premier regional facilities, including Stanford Hospital, Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, the Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, and the Santa Clara Valley Medical Center.

• Subspecialty Clinical Fellowships: Hosting approximately 50 ACGME-accredited and specialized fellows. Elite training programs are offered in cardiac anesthesia, critical care medicine, obstetric anesthesia, pediatric anesthesia, regional anesthesia, and pain medicine.

• Undergraduate and Medical Education: Welcoming hundreds of Stanford medical and undergraduate students each year through immersive pre-clerkship courses, clinical clerkships, and hands-on research electives.

• Postdoctoral Research Fellowships: Supporting approximately 40 postdoctoral scholars engaged in cutting-edge, mentored scientific discovery across basic and translational research laboratories.

Research, Innovation, and Clinical Excellence

Stanford’s Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative, and Pain Medicine consistently ranks among the top departments in the United States for National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding. Investigators and clinicians collaborate across disciplines to lead high-impact basic, translational, clinical, and population health research:

• Clinical Subspecialty Leaders: Pioneering advanced protocols in high-risk obstetric anesthesia, complex pediatric and neonatal care, cardiovascular anesthesia, and advanced critical care medicine.

• Pain Medicine and Neuroscience: Advancing the scientific understanding of acute and chronic pain mechanisms, non-opioid pain management, and innovative neuromodulation therapies.

• Simulation and Technology Development: Utilizing state-of-the-art immersive simulation training—including partnerships with the Center for Advanced Pediatric and Perinatal Education (CAPE)—to optimize clinical performance, cognitive workflows, and patient safety.

• Global Health Equity: Designing sustainable anesthetic and perioperative training programs in resource-limited settings worldwide to improve global surgical outcomes.