The curriculum is designed so that residents rotate through each of the subspecialties
at least twice during their three-year tenure. The first-year resident spends
time in Cornea and External Disease, Glaucoma, Neuro-ophthalmology, Retina,
Oculoplastics, Contact Lenses and Low Vision. The resident is also introduced
to patients that he/she will follow for three years in a comprehensive continuity
clinic. One-half day each week is devoted to an Ophthalmic Pathology practical
experience with fellow first-year residents. First-year residents assist in
intraocular surgeries and gain primary surgical experience in minor oculoplastic
procedures and enucleations. Call responsibilities allow the resident to become
comfortable with the management of ocular trauma and other emergencies.
Second-year residents spend time in their comprehensive clinics as well as with
subspecialists in Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus, Neuro-ophthalmology
and Retina. During the Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus rotation, the
resident gains primary surgical experience performing horizontal strabismus
procedures. During four months of the second year of residency, residents see
patients in a busy eye clinic at the Fayetteville VA Medical Center (FVAMC)
in Fayetteville, North Carolina, approximately 95 miles from Chapel Hill. During
the FVAMC rotation, residents spend Monday through Thursday in Fayetteville
(housing is provided) and return to UNC for didactics and clinics on Friday.
At FVAMC, residents see patients with a variety of pathology in a busy eye clinic
and perform laser procedures, minor plastics procedures as well as intraocular
surgery as the primary surgeon.
Third-year resident gain additional primary surgical experience in cataract,
glaucoma, and oculoplastic procedures. During their 8 months at UNC, senior
residents spend the majority of their time in comprehensive clinic or in the
operating room. In addition, glaucoma and oculoplastics clinics are revisited.
Four months are spent at the Veterans’ Administration Hospital in Minneapolis,
MN. There, residents work side-by-side with residents from the University of
Minnesota in a busy VA Eye Clinic. This rotation allows residents to perform
a large number of cataract, glaucoma, and oculoplastic procedures. In addition,
residents attend lectures given by the University of Minnesota faculty every
Friday afternoon. Housing in a desirable area of town and a travel stipend are
provided.
Quality teaching and adequate resident supervision are priorities of the faculty.
One of the unique aspects of the program is that during the entire time at UNC,
residents and faculty see patients in the same facility. Therefore, a faculty
member is always available in the clinic to answer residents’ questions,
providing immediate feedback on challenging patients and maximizing learning
opportunities. In addition, because there are few fellowships offered at UNC,
the resident has 1-on-1 faculty interaction in the clinic and is the first assistant
on almost all faculty surgeries. There is also ample opportunity for residents
to develop their own teaching skills by instructing medical students and residents
from other specialties who rotate through the department.
Morning ward rounds on inpatients and postoperative patients are attended by
the residents. Experience is gained with formal and informal oral presentations
at Grand Rounds, weekly department rounds, and clinical case conferences. In
June, second and third-year residents present the results of research projects
completed during the year under the supervision of a faculty member. Historically,
approximately one-half of residents have elected to pursue subspecialty fellowship
training.
