The Department of Anesthesiology has been chosen as the recipient of the 2009 Professional Association of Interns and Residents of Ontario (PAIRO) Residency Program Excellence Award.

“The award is a testament to the department and its faculty, as well as to the affiliated teaching hospitals,” says David Walker, dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences. “There are hundreds of residency programs at Ontario's six medical schools, and to be chosen for this award is truly remarkable.”

Also remarkable, Dr. Walker says, is that Queen's has taken the top prize two years out of the last three: the Department of Surgery won the award two years ago. Not only is it a feather in the cap of the university and its affiliated teaching hospitals, Kingston General and Hotel Dieu hospitals, the nod from PAIRO, which looks through the eyes of the consumer, is a triumph for the residents in the program, Dr. Walker says.

The award recognizes programs that have consistently provided an exceptionally positive and rewarding experience to their residents, while producing physicians who are expertly trained to deal with the challenges in the upcoming careers.

Anesthesiology program director Melanie Jaeger will receive the award on behalf of the department in Toronto in May. PAIRO will also make a $1,000 donation to the residency programs education fund.