Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine

My name is Gary R. Stier, MD MBA and it is a privilege to serve as the Chair and the Residency Program Director of the Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine and to oversee the growing contributions it offers to both the Riverside University Health System-Medical Center (RUHS-MC) healthcare organization as well as to the surrounding community which it serves.

First, let me share a short overview of the hospital. RUHS-MC has a storied history, dating back to 1893 when the hospital served as the Riverside County’s first general hospital. Today, RUHS-MC continues its service as the referral hospital for Riverside County. RUHS-MC is a 439-bed acute tertiary-care referral hospital and a Level 1 trauma center located in Moreno Valley, CA, about 60 miles east of Los Angeles. RUHS-MC includes 60+ hospital-based primary and specialty care clinics in addition to being the only pediatric intensive care unit within Riverside County. RUHS has been named a Top Performer in key quality measures by the Joint Commission.  

Through our efforts to embrace the RUHS Mission of “improving the health and well-being of its patients and communities through dedication to exceptional and compassionate care, education, and research”, the department is growing and expanding, both in the clinical services it provides to RUHS-MC as well as the growth of the residency program.  The department is fortunate to have a deep bench of skilled faculty committed to the delivery of high-quality, evidence-based, patient-centered clinical care and in resident education and mentorship. Important department goals include expanding the clinical footprint in the areas of perioperative medicine, pain management, quality & safety, point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS), and clinical research. To better meet these goals, the department is expanding the residency complement, recruiting additional faculty, and working closely with the hospital in rolling out unique programs which will facilitate better clinical care and enhance the educational environment for the residents; these efforts will better position the graduates for the rapidly changing and evolving national healthcare environment.

The residency program is a fully ACGME-accredited anesthesiology training program with 40 resident positions. The residents receive substantial experience in all areas of anesthesiology, particularly within the areas of regional anesthesia and perioperative medicine. The residency program is closely affiliated with Cedars Sinai Medical Center and Los Angeles Children’s Hospital (CHLA), two of the top-rated hospitals in the nation. These training sites offer experiences in the areas of pediatric anesthesia, cardiothoracic critical care, cardiothoracic anesthesia, and pain management. Time spent in these facilities provides enhanced opportunities to secure fellowship training within those institutions and within the nation. Clinical research opportunities are expanding due to the growth of our research team and departmental commitment to scholarly activity.

The department believes that the future of the specialty must include enhanced training in perioperative medicine, care coordination, and in leadership skills. Within the area of perioperative medicine, the department is fortunate to have 5 faculty members board-certified in Internal Medicine and Anesthesiology, providing the educational foundation for superior training in perioperative care. In addition, the department has created an ambulatory perioperative medicine clinic with the goal of assessing, medically optimizing, and coordinating care of high-risk patients undergoing complex surgeries and procedures. The clinic objective is to ensure the delivery of patient-centered care and favorable outcomes that align well with value-based healthcare delivery models. Other anesthesiology subspecialties represented within the department and include pain management, regional anesthesia, critical care, neurocritical care, and addiction medicine.  

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) are important principles embraced by the Dept and are integrated within the didactic teaching activities, faculty recruitment strategies, and  by involvement in  social programs and activities, particularly within the local communities. The Dept works closely with RUHS organization in supporting DEI institutional policies and programs.

Finally, many of our faculty and residents are active within national, state, and regional medical societies which provide opportunities for medical advocacy efforts, professional networking, career advancement, and in assuring that the department kept abreast of important issues faced within the specialty and in healthcare nationally.

The future of the specialty is bright, and we are excited to be able to train the residents for the future, wherever the future leads. Please consider joining us for your anesthesiology residency journey.