Preceptorship Program

The goal of this program is to provide a strong clinical experience as well as a basic overview of the American medical system as it is carried out at The University of Florida Shands Hospital in Gainesville, Florida.

Participants in this program can expect to learn from and exchange perspectives with their American colleagues. Clinicians will be in the operating room daily and complement experience to clinical practice with theory presentations, simulations, and daily didactic sessions encompassing topics ranging from medical, technical, pharmacoeconomics to training program organization and management in American universities.

Program Offerings

University of Florida can offer valuable experience in the following areas:

  • Cardiovascular thoracic anesthesia (4 ORs)
  • Vascular anesthesia (2 ORs)
  • Ambulatory anesthesia (6 ORs)
  • General anesthesia with airway management (25 ORs)
  • Acute pain services
  • Intensive care unit (approx. 80 beds)
  • Neuroanesthesia (4 ORs)
  • OB-GYN Anesthesia (2 ORs)
  • Regional Anesthesia (≥ 20 cases/day)
  • Research (laboratory and clinical projects)
  • Web-based simulation and physical simulation activities
  • Intraoperative echocardiography (recurring 2-week curriculum)
  • Teaching laboratories and ICU rounds

The rotation will begin each day at 6:30am with a daily one-hour didactic session. Following that, each visiting faculty member will be paired with a University of Florida faculty mentor to observe firsthand clinical care and teaching or research in the visiting faculty member’s area(s) of interest.

All local didactic materials will be made available to visitors. They are invited to attend all conferences, daily ICU rounds and conferences, and daily OB teaching conference.

Interested visiting faculty may also observe and participate in research. There are a number of long-term projects that lend themselves to international collaboration on a variety of topics. In addition the University of Florida’s Center for Simulation and Advanced Learning Technology has many opportunities to participate in web-based simulation and physical simulation development that are available to visitors with the opportunity for shared authorship. Examples of such simulations can be viewed in the simulation portfolio.

Scholar Candidate Profile

  • Senior clinicians in top medical institutions who have practiced anesthesia for > 5 years.
  • Motivated to learn new techniques/new culture; open-minded.
  • Passionate to advance the practice of anesthesia;
  • Demonstrate leadership characteristics and good communication skills.
  • Demonstrated English language proficiency

Selection Process

1.  Nationwide selection process: the following documents can be sent to sponsored institutions or to the University of Florida directly, and should include the following:

  • Curriculum Vitae and diploma;
  • Three reference letters, one of which should come from an institution different from the one where the candidate currently works;
  • One page outline description of candidate’s goals and objectives which (s)he wishes to accomplish during the training period;
  • Proof of English proficiency.

2.  Candidate’s English proficiency will be assessed through phone interview by the University of Florida.

3.  University of Florida initiates visa application process for candidate.

  • Sponsored institution provides supporting documents if necessary.
  • Candidate prepares immunization record/physical examination record.
  • Candidate completes HIPPA test independently.

4.  Candidate completes preceptorship and writes final presentation to summarize course of study, give constructive feedback to the program.

5.  University of Florida provides a certificate acknowledging participation.

Number of Attendees & Duration of Training

  • Ideally a group of 2 anesthesiologists for each program, but final number of scholars may vary. The training period will vary; in general the preceptorship is designed as two-three months rotation. Additional training time may be considered on a case by case basis
  • Sponsored institutions will consider providing tuition/education grants to cover administrative cost or cost of course materials etc.

Certificate of Training

At the end of their training, all trainees will receive a certificate acknowledging their participation and length of rotation at the University of Florida.

Yong G Peng, M.D., Ph.D., FASE
Chief, Division of Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology
Associate Professor, Departments of Anesthesiology
Joint Associate Professor of Surgery

Tel: 352.273.8952
Fax: 352.392.7029

Email Dr. Peng