Resident Education
The UIC Eye Center residency program is organized by a faculty education committee and the director of residency education. The residency selection committee annually receives more than 400 applications to the three-year program and interviews an average of 60 candidates. Six new residents are accepted into the program each year. In making its rankings for the Ophthalmology Matching Program, the committee considers the interview as well as an applicant's curriculum vita and personal statements, academic records and National Board examination scores, letters of recommendation and research experience.
First-year residents receive a two-week introduction to basic ophthalmology. Then they serve six- eight to nine week clinical rotations, learning the basic techniques of diagnosis and medical management of various eye diseases. The residents spend half their first year in the Eye Center's General Eye Clinic and half of the year at three affiliated hospitals. Residents spend most of their time in the clinics, where they encounter a great variety of ocular pathology. The diversity of disease and patients is one of the strengths of the program. In addition, residents assist with surgery at most of the training sites. Residents are provided with a $2,000 stipend, which can be used for educational activities
In the second year of training residents receive indepth exposure to the subspecialities of ophthalmology, spending eight-nine weeks on each of the following services: Pediatric Ophthalmology/ Cornea-Contact Lens/ Westside VA-Plastics/ Glaucoma-Pathology-Consults/ Retina/ Neuro-ophthalmology/ Uveitis-AIDS. During tis year second year residents begin cataract surgery at the Westside VA Hospital.
In the final year, residents take on more clinical responsibility. They help the attending ophthalmologists supervise the junior residents in UIC's General Eye Clinic and at the affiliated hospitals. Senior residents also hone their surgical skills, both at the Eye Center and at the affiliated hospitals, performing 100 cases a year on average. Hospital rotation during residency provides an opportunity to obtain extensive experience in cataract and other ocular surgery.
Throughout the three years of residency, daily lectures in ophthalmology and basic science are integrated into the training program. In addition, residents balance their clinical and surgical experience with research. One research project, to be presented at the annual Residents-Alumni meeting, is required.
The average workday ranges from nine to twelve hours. Vacation, holidays and sick leave are determined by UIC policy.
The UIC Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences utilizes the Central Application Service for Ophthalmology (CAS) sponsored by the Ophthalmology matching program. No other application is required or accepted. Only documents and applications which are sent through the central application service will be reviewed. Interviews are scheduled by invitation only inOctober, November, and December. Applicants selected to interview will be sent an invitation letter. For application information contact:
Central Application Service for Ophthalmology
P.O. Box 7584
San Francisco, CA 94120-7584
Phone: 415-447-0350
Fax: 415-561-8535
http://www.sfmatch.org/