Enrichment

Fully Integrated Program

Our residency program became fully integrated starting with the 2020/21 academic year. Candidates will match for four years as ophthalmology residents, and the intern year curriculum is controlled and designed by the ophthalmology program. We have partnered with other services at URMC to provide the educational experiences that we feel are most helpful to prepare residents in their transition to ophthalmology training.  Interns rotations will include experiences with internal medicine (inpatient, outpatient, and subspecialty), emergency medicine, neurology, and various surgical subspecialties (ENT, dermatology, facial plastics, or neurosurgery). Three months of dedicated ophthalmology experience will be included during the intern year. This has many benefits including:

• No need to enter the internal medicine match or look for internship positions
• Interact with upper-level residents and faculty
• Become accustomed to facilities and processes where you will complete your training
• Potential reduction in moving expenses

International Opportunities

Senior residents may elect to spend a month at our sister institution the L.V. Prasad Eye Institute in Hyderabad India. Surgical, clinical and public health emphases are available.

Protected Research

As a world renowned vision research center, residents are encouraged to develop projects related to their areas of interest. Residents completing research projects are provided with protected time allowing them to focus intently on their work. This approach has resulted in an impressive rate of publication and presentation at international meetings such as the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology. Mentorship and project guidance are provided basic science faculty from within the Eye Institute and other departments. 

External Educational Opportunities

Residents are given ample opportunities to expand their horizons through attendance at educational meetings and scientific conferences. Underwritten by the department and endowment, examples include:

• American Academy of Ophthalmology Meeting
• Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology Meeting
• Women in Ophthalmology
• American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus
• American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery

Visiting Professor Series

Residents fully participate in the Flaum Eye Institute's Distinguished Visiting Professor Series. These lectures included case reviews prepared by residents and presented to subspecialty experts from throughout North America. In addition residents attending the annual Rochester Ophthalmology Meeting that includes one of Americas longest continually running named lectures: the Snell Memorial Lecture. These educational events provide prime opportunities to interact with some of the finest academic ophthalmologists and cultivate relationships for continuing study through fellowships after residency.