On Saturday, May 30th, UNC Anesthesiology’s residency program was thrilled to host its 10th Annual CA-1 Family Anesthesia Day. Each year, this occasion allows first-year anesthesiology residents (CA-1s) to introduce family members, significant others and additional support persons to the peri-operative settings, procedural skills and didactic approaches that are a part of learning core anesthesiology practice. At the 2026 CA-1 Annual Family Anesthesia Day, the program was thrilled to have 14 rising CA-1 residents and 35 family members and other support persons participate in this event.
Each year, the CA-1 Family Anesthesia Day centers around introducing resident support guests to some of the core technical learning that anesthesiology residents must master. At this event, UNC Anesthesiology faculty and residents conduct procedural demonstrations, and CA-1s guide their guests through hands-on learning opportunities at the cutting-edge simulation lab settings of UNC School of Medicine’s Roper Hall.
The residency program’s Annual Family Anesthesia Day also serves as an opportunity to overview with resident families how the training experience centers around “residency family.” Built upon shared experience across three intensive training years, the program’s culture of family is overviewed during Annual Family Anesthesia Day as an assurance to a resident’s closest supporters that the rigorous training years are not an isolated experience.
UNC Anesthesiology Residency Program Director Susie Martinelli, MD, noted: “Every year I am amazed at the enthusiasm our guests exhibit at CA-1 Annual Family Anesthesia Day. Participating in daylong activities gives them a better understanding of the settings and types of learning that are part of the UNC Anesthesiology residency experience. Reaching our 10th Annual Family Anesthesia Day is a true milestone that speaks to the strength and purpose of this annual event.”