Creighton launches anesthesiology residency programs in Omaha and Phoenix
The Creighton University School of Medicine has launched new anesthesiology and perioperative medicine residency programs in Omaha and Phoenix, an initiative designed to help address a growing national shortage of anesthesiologists while preparing future physicians through rigorous clinical training and compassionate patient care.
According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, the United States could face a shortage of 10,300 to 35,600 physicians in specialties such as anesthesiology, neurology, addiction medicine and emergency medicine by 2034. The demand for anesthesiologists is expected to rise as the U.S. population grows and ages, increasing the need for surgical and procedural care. At the same time, much of the current anesthesiology workforce is nearing retirement age.
Creating a culture of clinical excellence and patient-centered care
Brian Wilhelmi, MD, who has served on the Creighton Phoenix medical faculty for more than a decade, said the new residency program creates a new era of opportunity.
“The development phase of any new program allows for a fresh start, to establish traditions and culture, and to develop the team that will move us forward as an institution,” says Wilhelmi, program director in Phoenix. “In four years, we will graduate fully trained anesthesiologists and start a culture of excellence that will endure for the future.”
The launch comes as Creighton medical students across Omaha and Phoenix celebrated Match Day, learning where they will continue their training as resident physicians. Members of the Class of 2026 achieved a 95% match rate into their No. 1 specialty choice, with anesthesiology among the four most popular specialties.
“Match Day was a major milestone for our faculty who have been working diligently to make sure everything is coming together for the residency,” says Mark Reisbig, MD, chair of the Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine in Omaha. “It was exciting to find out who our anesthesiology residents will be.”
Building on a legacy of mentorship and service
Among those joining the inaugural cohorts are Vinh Ngo, MD’26, and Ryan Kauper, MD’26.
For Ngo, joining the first cohort in Phoenix is both a professional milestone and a chance to continue the mentorship and service-driven formation that shaped him as a medical student.
“Honestly, what excites me the most is building a legacy here at Creighton with all of the people who supported me along my journey,” he says.
Ngo was drawn to the School of Medicine by the faculty’s passionate commitment to teaching, the wide range of clinical experiences through partners such as Valleywise Health and Barrow Neurological Institute, and opportunities for global health experiences in Mexico and Africa.
“I know that at Creighton, I am not only training to be a clinically excellent anesthesiologist but also a leader in my community,” he says.
Staying at the School of Medicine in Phoenix for residency also represents his commitment to service and social justice that began during his undergraduate years at Loyola Marymount University and deepened through his medical education at Creighton. Ngo said the program is a natural place to continue his training “ensuring that my practice of medicine is not just a career, but a sustained vocation to be for and with others.”
Future anesthesiologists help shape Creighton’s new residency
In the Omaha cohort, Kauper said the opportunity to help shape a new residency program made Creighton’s Omaha-based anesthesiology residency especially appealing. “I think I am most drawn by the opportunity to help shape the culture and traditions in a new program,” he says. “Being told we will have some say in what we think works well and what could use some improvement is a super exciting privilege.”
As a medical student, Kauper experienced firsthand the department’s enthusiasm for teaching and mentorship. He said remaining at Creighton allows him to train in a familiar environment while helping strengthen the experience for future medical students and residents.
“Creighton has become my home over the past few years too, so I am honored to be staying and working to make this program as strong as it possibly can be,” he says.
Continuing his medical training at Creighton reflects Kauper’s long-standing connection to Jesuit education that began in high school. The Jesuit value of cura personalis, or care for the whole person, he says, “is what anesthesia is all about—to provide compassionate and individualized care for each patient during their most vulnerable moments.”
