PDs @ SEA
PDs @ SEA is a conversation series created for anesthesiology residency leaders, faculty, and trainees who want an honest look into the evolving world of anesthesia education. The show features Residency Program Directors from across the country discussing the decisions, challenges, and real-world considerations behind recruiting, training, and supporting residents.
Hosts Bryan and Marianne draw from their own experiences while inviting colleagues to reflect on practical issues such as changes to the interview and application process, transitions in leadership, and shifting expectations in graduate medical education. Each episode offers candid dialogue, shared lessons, and the sense of community that many program directors look for but often find difficult to access in day-to-day work.
The series includes in-depth conversations with current and former residency leaders, members of the American Society of Anesthesiologists Medical Student Component, and educators who are shaping how residents learn. Together, these discussions provide insight into how program directors think, how residency decisions are made, and how the field continues to adapt to the needs of students, residents, and institutions.
Produced by the Stanford AIM Lab on behalf of the Society for Education in Anesthesiology.
For questions, topic suggestions, or to join the conversation, email: pdsatsea@seahq.org
PDs @ SEA
The Truth About Signaling, Letters of Intent, and The Match: A PD’s Unfiltered Guide
In this conversation, Dr. Brian Mahoney sits down to speak directly to the concerns and confusion many applicants experience during the residency match process. The discussion focuses on how the signaling system is evolving, practical strategies for allocating gold and silver signals, and why signaling should be based on thoughtful alignment rather than a sense of safety or prestige.
The episode also addresses a topic that creates anxiety every year: how to prepare for residency interviews and how much communication before and after interviews really matters. Dr. Mahoney offers clear guidance on when letters of interest or intent are appropriate, how to convey genuine enthusiasm without appearing performative, and why interview day is best understood as a search for a mutual fit rather than a test.
The conversation closes with advice for students who may not have strong local mentorship or a home anesthesia program, along with reflections on the value and limitations of networking at national meetings such as the ASA annual conference. Throughout, the emphasis remains steady: applicants should rank programs in the true order of their preference, trust the match algorithm, and focus on presenting themselves with sincerity, preparation, and humility.
This episode was originally published June 20, 2024 on YouTube
