My name is Anh Le, and I am a second-year student at Case Western Reserve University’s Master of Science in Anesthesia Program in Houston, Texas. I completed my undergraduate education at The University of Texas in Austin, where I graduated with a degree in Biomedical Engineering. After college, I worked for a medical technologies company with the goal of becoming part of their research and development team to further advance the field of medicine. Eventually, my work experience led me to a position in operating room services right here in the Texas Medical Center! When I found out about the MSA program, I immediately knew that this was something I had been looking for, so I left my career as an Engineer and decided to become a Certified Anesthesiologist Assistant. Looking back on the past year, I can confidently say that I couldn’t have made a better decision.
Our training has given us the opportunity to see such an amazing variety of surgical procedures as well as take care of patients, each with a different story and background. I am constantly being challenged as a future anesthesia provider, and I love that I am able to apply what I learn in the classroom to real life clinical situations. My favorite specialty rotation so far is my cardiac rotation at Baylor St. Luke’s Texas Heart Institute. It was an amazing experience being a part of the anesthesia care team in some of the biggest open-heart surgeries! From minimally invasive procedures the cardiac catheterization lab to repair of massive thoracoabdominal aneurysms, our training as CWRU MSA students adequately prepares us for the challenges of cardiac anesthesia.
Besides clinical work, I am one of the Student Chiefs for my cohort. This role has given me the opportunity to be involved with the process of selecting candidates for next year’s incoming class, as well as be a part of decisions that improve the way our students can learn clinically and didactically. Last month, our student leaders were able to attend the annual Anesthesiology conference organized by the American Society of Anesthesiologists. As students, we were able to academic sessions and take part in committee meetings discussing current issues in the field of anesthesia.
Outside of school, I enjoy traveling and trying new local restaurants! Originally from Houston, I have been extremely blessed with the opportunity to be a part of the MSA program right here in my hometown. Houston’s diverse food scene gives us so many options to choose from after a long day in the OR. When I don’t feel like leaving the comfort of my apartment, I like to just kick back, relax, and play video games or binge watch TV!