Welcome from Program Leadership

Message from the Chair

On behalf of the entire Anesthesiology family at MetroHealth, I am pleased to invite you to explore our residency program—a place where collaboration, diversity, and inclusion are deeply valued and where our team reflects the rich fabric of the Northeast Ohio community.

Our commitment to delivering exceptional quality care to every member of our community, regardless of financial circumstance, is at the heart of everything we do. This mission resonates throughout the entire MetroHealth system, driving significant investment across our main campus and enterprise to support the best in patient care and medical innovation.

MetroHealth proudly operates a Level 1 Trauma Center and a regional burn center, offering residents unparalleled exposure to a wide spectrum of complex cases. As a resident in our program, you will have the opportunity to learn from outstanding clinicians while utilizing the latest advances in medical technology.

Our residency program offers a robust foundation in clinical expertise, research, and leadership development. Our close affiliation with Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine further enriches your educational experience and underscores the excellence of our training.

We are proud of our program’s mission, our tradition, and the exciting future ahead. It is my hope that you find these values as inspiring as we do and consider joining our team.
Thank you for your interest. We look forward to welcoming you to the MetroHealth Department of Anesthesiology.

Luis E. Tollinche, MD
Chair, Department of Anesthesiology

From the Program Director

I am very pleased to have been the Program Director at MetroHealth for 15 years! 

As of June 1st, 2026,  I am handing over the reins to our new Program Director, Dr. Robert Owen.  Dr. Owen is a cardiothoracic anesthesiologist with a passion for teaching and education.  He has expertly served our Department as Director of Quality.  He has supported our residency in many ways, including lecturing, mentoring, running simulation exercises, and participating in our Program Evaluation Committee. 

Our residents and I are excited to welcome Dr. Owen to this new role!

Augusto J. Torres, MD
Director, Anesthesiology Residency Program, The MetroHealth System
Assistant Professor, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine

Robert Owen, MD
Program Director, Anesthesiology Residency Program
Beginning June 1, 2026

From Our Chief Residents

Welcome to MetroHealth’s Department of Anesthesiology Residency Program. Located in Cleveland, Ohio, MetroHealth offers exceptional clinical training. It is home to Cuyahoga County’s most experienced Level 1 Adult Trauma Center and is Ohio’s only Trauma and Burn Center serving both adult and pediatric patients. Additionally, MetroHealth is a center for high-risk obstetric care and is a designated Center of Excellence by the SOAP (Society of Obstetric Anesthesia and Perinatology). Aside from rotations at MetroHealth, our residents rotate at the Cleveland Clinic and Cleveland’s Veteran’s Affairs Hospital. There is also an option to rotate with our Metro Life Flight department. The Glick Center is our new, state-of-the-art billion-dollar hospital opened in 2022. It offers modern, aesthetically pleasing, and functional facilities for our patients, their families, and staff.

At MetroHealth, more than 25,000 cases are performed every year. These include high-volume trauma, cardiothoracic, vascular, ambulatory, high-risk obstetric, pediatric, and non-OR anesthesia (NORA). There are also robust acute pain and chronic pain services. Every anesthesia resident contributes to over 400 cases annually. Since there are no anesthesia fellows, our residents participate in fellowship-level cases and easily meet the ACGME minimum requirements for all case types. The hospital is affiliated with the Case Western Reserve University, a regional and national leader in innovation and bio-medical research.

In addition to the diversity of cases that residents participate in, continuing education is another priority of our program. There is protected time for lectures, departmental grand rounds, morbidity and mortality conferences, SIM lab experiences, and oral board preparation. The Anesthesia Department’s commitment to resident education is evident by our high pass rate on national board exams. The research department is thriving and allows residents opportunities to be involved in multi-center randomized controlled trials, manuscript writing and editing, case reports and other research-centered activities. Our graduates secure competitive fellowships and impressive placements in private or academic practice across the country from coast to coast.

The Anesthesiology Department is comprised of 8 residents per year, anesthetists (both CRNAs and AAs), and board-certified anesthesiologists from all subspecialties. Each incoming class is comprised of 4 categorical residents and 4 advanced residents. Residents are all supported by a robust mentorship program involving other anesthesia residents and multiple attendings.

Other fantastic benefits to our program include catered lunch twice a week for our residents, a generous meal stipend to spend at our cafeteria, and a $7500 USD education fund (can be used for textbooks, digital technology, equipment, and attendance at local, state, national, and international anesthesiology conferences).

Finally, Cleveland is a hidden gem city. It offers affordable living on the Great Lakes, the second largest theater district in the country, a nationally renowned orchestra, numerous museums, three professional sports teams, countless festivals, nationally awarded state parks, and some of the best breweries in the country! All this is present in the city of the Rock & Roll Hall of fame and is just a few hours drive from other major cities and attractions. As Cleveland continues to thrive, residents are provided with a great living opportunity that exceeds expectations! For more information, see Living in Cleveland.

Thank you for your interest in MetroHealth and Cleveland. Please contact us with any questions or for additional information on life as a MetroHealth Resident. We hope to meet you soon.

Andrew Bayes, MD and Kirsten Ponsart, DO

Chief Residents