Four CA-2 residents scored in the top 10% nationally on the American Board of Anesthesiology (ABA) BASIC Examination this summer. Congratulations to Paola Silva Enriquez, M.D., Dawei Guan, M.D., Wendy Guo, M.D., and Ben Yitzhak, M.D.
The BASIC Examination is the first test of the ABA board certification process and is usually taken at the end of a resident’s first clinical anesthesia year (CA-1). It marks an important early milestone in a resident’s journey toward becoming a board-certified anesthesiologist. These high scores speak to the exceptional effort and depth of preparation our residents invest in their education.
Silva Enriquez stressed the importance of consistency in preparing for the test: “This exam can definitely seem intimidating, but if you’re consistently preparing your daily cases, and keeping up with regular practice questions, you’ll be much more prepared than you realize. Trust the process and the work you put in every day.”
Guo reiterates the significance of consistency in her advice to future test-takers: “Take the time to truly understand a topic by reading the explanation. Try to be consistent by doing a few questions every day and re-reviewing missed questions and concepts.”
The exam covers four content categories: basic sciences, clinical sciences, organ-based basic and clinical sciences, and special problems or issues in anesthesiology. These areas focus on the scientific basis of clinical anesthetic practice, including pharmacology, physiology, anatomy, anesthesia equipment, and monitoring.