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Alumni support helps fund key step in surgical education of second year UNC Eye residents.

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Dr. Kenneth Cohen (second from right) poses with second-year UNC Eye Residents Robert van der Vaart, MD, Bradley King, MD, and Drew Hunter, MD at the 10th Annual Harvard Medical School Cataract Course for Second-Year Residents
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Dr. Cohen provides direction to residents during a training session at the 10th Annual Harvard Medical School Cataract Course

Kenneth Cohen, MD, Sterling A. Barrett Distinguished Professor of Ophthalmology, recently led the three second-year UNC Eye residents (Bradley King, MD, Drew Hunter, MD, and Robert van der Vaart, MD) in participating in the 10th Annual Harvard Medical School Cataract Course for Second Year Ophthalmology Residents. This event featured over 125 residents from around the country and was hosted by Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary the weekend of June 7th and 8th, in Boston, MA.

Dr. Cohen, who has been invited faculty since the inception of the course, conducted two wet-labs, focusing on phacoemulsification & capsulorhexis and hydrodissection. He also presented a lecture on the “The Mature White Cataract,” with emphasis on how the diversity of these cataracts affects the operative approach.

“I was excited to present a video of our three second year residents performing surgery on mature, white cataracts,” Dr. Cohen said. “Other faculty commented that they could not believe the quality of the surgical procedures performed by our second year residents, stating that the surgical techniques looked like experienced, graduating third year residents.”

Along with Dr. Cohen’s in-house surgical curriculum, participation in this course is an important step in the surgical education of UNC Eye residents. “The quality of the lectures and wet-labs was the best ever,” said Dr. Cohen.

Alumni support helped fund the trip for the UNC Eye second year residents. “I am honored and deeply appreciative of the five alumni who donated to support our residents at the Harvard course,” said Dr. Cohen.

There is no registration fee for the course and at its conclusion, all residents were given a copy of Dr. Barry S. Seibel’s book, “Phacodynamics: Mastering the Tools and Techniques of Phacoemulsification Surgery.”

The second year UNC Eye residents all shared glowing feedback about the course:

Robert van der Vaart, MD – 2014/2015 Chief Resident:

Robert van der Vaart

“I had a great educational experience at the Harvard Cataract Course and appreciate the department supporting this course for our second year residents. It was a vital addition to our already strong surgical curriculum. The wet lab and lecture at the course underscored points of cataract surgery that have been discussed in our surgical conferences and wet labs here at UNC and allowed us fresh perspective on these topics.”

 

 

Bradley King, MD:

Bradley King

“It was a pleasure to attend the Harvard Cataract Course. It highlighted the benefit of our early experience that we have at UNC. Whereas most other residents get the majority of their surgical training during their third year, at UNC we have already completed over 100 cases. Instead of being an introduction to cataract surgery, it was a great review.”

 

 

 

Drew Hunter, MD:

David Hunter

“The Harvard course was a great capstone experience with Dr. Cohen and my fellow 2nd years to really solidify everything that we have learned over the past two years regarding cataract surgery. Working with multiple world-renowned surgeons in the wet-labs and in lectures provided fresh perspectives and instigated multiple discussions regarding the nuances of cataract surgery and how each of us could improve our own surgical plans and execution. Like my fellow residents, I appreciate the support of our department and Alumni in allowing us to attend this course.”