We asked our 2016-17 chief residents to share their thoughts on the job. Meet Michael Chestnut, M.D.

DESCRIBE A TYPICAL DAY AS A RESIDENT: Junior residents prepare the OR and then act as the main anesthesia provider during surgery. As an upper-level resident, your time is spent preparing to oversee junior residents, participating in advanced/sub-specialty cases, or acting as the team leader for a service (ICU, acute pain, regional). Your day revolves around more challenging cases, more challenging procedures, sicker patients, and acting as a consultant to junior residents.

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE ANESTHESIOLOGY AS YOUR SPECIALTY? : I enjoy acute care, the operating room, procedures, and variety. I wanted to choose a specialty where I was an expert and obtained skill sets that were unique to my specialty and not common among others.

WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES YOU FACE IN RESIDENCY? Continuing to challenge yourself after meeting milestones. There are so many new skill sets and an abundance of knowledge that you acquire as a resident. As soon as you develop a comfort zone, you have to jump back into an environment that challenges you again. 

WHAT DO YOU DO FOR FUN? I like to spend time with my wife and two kids. My hobbies are skiing, deer/duck hunting, fly fishing, traveling. I went to Clemson, I'm a big fan of the school, the town, the football team. Go Tigers!

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE UAB FOR ANESTHESIA RESIDENCY? The people in this department are great. There are so many different ways a department can attribute success, but I knew that I wanted to go to a program where one of its primary strengths were its people, including office staff, residents, and attendings. The people in addition to challenging cases, solid clinical training, and unique educational opportunities outside of the OR made it clear to me that I wanted to go to UAB for residency.

WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS AFTER FINISHING YOUR RESIDENCY? I'm staying at UAB for a cardiothoracic fellowship.

WHAT’S THE ONE THING YOU WISH SOMEONE HAD TOLD YOU TO BETTER PREPARE YOU TO BE A CHIEF RESIDENT? The chief year does actually end! When you get to the end, you naturally look back on some things you wish you might have done differently. I think the earlier you keep the end in mind, the more time you will have to adjust in response to mistakes you may have made along the way.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ARE THE QUALITIES OR CHARACTERISTICS OF A GOOD ANESTHESIOLOGIST? 

• Strong communicator
• Competent in skills and knowledge
• Sober minded in stressful situations
• Ability to multitask