Technical Standards

All applicants must have the general abilities required of anesthesia healthcare providers. This includes:

• Motor skills – the physical ability to perform the technical and procedural functions required in patient care, including the ability to perform complex two-handed skills with sufficient speed and coordination.
• Communication skills – the ability to effectively communicate with patients, faculty, staff, and peers both in written and oral form.
• Physical health – the physical capacity to stand for prolonged periods of time in an operating room and/or clinic, the ability to lift up to ten pounds of equipment (intravenous fluids, monitors and other equipment necessary to administer a complete anesthetic).
• Sensory abilities – the ability to assess a patient utilizing the five senses, including sight (color differentiation, light and dark conditions, depth perception), hearing (processing multiple sounds and inputs) and touch.
• Professionalism – must exhibit professional behavior, including honesty, altruism, respect for others, compassion, empathy, and respect for patient privacy.
• Having no impairment, pre-existing or acquired, that would preclude continuous performance of all of the above activities or any and all of the other activities that are an integral part of an anesthesiologist assistant’s participation in the anesthesia care team.

A disability does not preclude a student from admission. In accordance with state and federal laws and regulations, the MSAA Program is committed to providing equal opportunities for qualified students with disabilities. Equal access is given to individuals with disabilities who are otherwise qualified to meet the essential demands of the program.