How do anesthesiologists visualize anatomic landmarks? From arterial line placement and basic airway management, to delicate spinal anesthetics, it takes practice to acquire the proper technique. 

First- and second-year students at the Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine had an opportunity to put their anesthetics skills to the test during the College’s inaugural “Anesthesia Olympics” event, organized by Dr. Michael D. Gold, an anesthesiologist and adjunct faculty member at ICOM.

“Students like to have fun, learn things and practice their skills,” Dr. Gold said. “We do a lot of lectures during their pre-clinical years, and this is an opportunity for them to practice their clinical skills.” 

ICOM’s “Anesthesia Olympics” required participants to complete six stations showcasing different skills, including: starting an IV; intubating an adult patient; intubating a neonatal patient; correctly placing an epidural needle; correctly placing a 22-gauge spinal needle; and correctly placing a 25-gauge spinal needle. Students were given a maximum of three minutes to complete each station, but the faster the procedures were completed, the higher the score. 

A total of 8 teams competed in the event, and a tie for first place required a tiebreaker. The top two teams faced off in a common procedure — endotracheal intubation. 

Second-year students Jacob Welch and Frank Filicetti, team name “Throat GOATS,” won first place; and first-year students Eric Schwegman and Gregory Rybacki, team name “Sons of Still” — in honor of the founder of osteopathic medicine, Andrew Taylor Still — placed second. 

Winners received a coveted “Larry” award, modeled after an anesthesiologist’s most handy tool — a laryngoscope. The hand blown glass awards were made by Dr. Gold himself.