The University of Kansas Ophthalmology residents embark upon a challenging schedule of academic training and clinical practice during their four-year residency. PGY-2 is stimulating because our residents are immersed in ophthalmology full-time. This year, residents will rotate at the University of Kansas Eye Center, the University of Kansas Hospital, Children's Mercy Hospital, and the VA Medical Center. Residents begin training in routine eye examination techniques guided by faculty, residents and technical personnel.

Education

Second-year residents start to master basic ophthalmic skills, including slit lamp examination, applanation tonometry, direct and indirect ophthalmoscopy, refraction for glasses and contact lenses -- all under the direct supervision of senior residents and teaching physicians. The Surgical Practice curriculum builds with an introduction to surgical and microsurgical techniques. Practice in the wet lab is mandatory prior to participating in surgical cases. Residents rotation on the comprehensive, neuro-ophthalmology, glaucoma, uveitis, cornea, retina, plastics and pediatrics services. Clinical responsibilities increase as residents gain knowledge and experience, and residents will perform minor surgical procedures under staff supervision.

Community

Pictured below are residents on their field trip tour of our local eye bank, Saving Sight. Here, they learn about the donation process, donor tissue, autologous serum drops and other ways we partner for vision restoration.

Call

Second-year residents begin taking at-home calls with their senior resident mentor immediately. Starting In early August, each second-year resident takes an at-home call approximately every fourth night. A senior resident and faculty member are always available for backup on call.

Research

Second-year residents also begin initial research and quality improvement projects. The program pays for residents to attend regional or national meetings in order to present their results. Pictured to the left are KU Medical Center participants in the Women in Ophthalmology 2022 meeting. Our residents have presented at prestigious meetings including, but not limited to, the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, the American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, and the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus, and the four-state ophthalmology society Table Rock Regional Round-Up.

Resident Teaching

Teaching and mentoring opportunities abound as our residents and faculty staff the free medical student clinic at JayDoc. The department also has the KU Eye Lions Club that runs a free eye clinic and sponsors free eye surgery in the department's ambulatory surgical center. Residents run the periodic lecture series covering basic ophthalmologic topics for department and health system technicians and nurses.

For additional information on the University of Kansas Department of Ophthalmology residency program, contact Darwin Ball, Residency Coordinator, at .