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UNC School of Medicine Rotations

UNC Department of Ophthalmology offers formal clinical and research rotations sponsored by the UNC School of Medicine. These are available to both local and visiting medical students during their fourth year of school based on the strength of their application.

Clinical rotations are four weeks (approximately 180 hours) in duration and include a broad, rotating experience in each of our subspecialty clinics, significant time in the OR, call and consultation experience with our residents, and the opportunity to present to faculty at one of our weekly case conferences.

Research rotations are self-coordinated with individual faculty members as available and can vary in length from one month up to one year. Please contact individual UNC Ophthalmology Clinical Faculty and Basic Science Faculty members directly to discuss research interests and availability prior to requesting registration.

Medical students wishing to participate in a clinical or a research rotation must first apply through the UNC School of Medicine (SOM) Office of the Registrar. Once in the Registrar Office’s system, students should complete the UNC Eye Medical Student Rotation Application and submit to UNC Ophthalmology Medical Education Coordinator Mary Hammett (mary_hammett@med.unc.edu). Students who wish to shadow but are neither interested in a formal rotation nor are pursuing ophthalmology for residency must also complete the UNC Eye Medical Student Rotation Application and submit to our Medical Education Coordinator.

Visiting students can obtain more information on our clinical and research rotations at the UNC School of Medicine Visiting Student page, as well as the AAMC’s “Visiting Student Learning Opportunities” (VSLO) program page.  Rotations are primarily approved in the winter and early spring for the upcoming academic year but are accepted on a rolling basis. Priority is given to students considering a career in ophthalmology, especially during the summer residency application season.