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Clinical Rotations
Clinical rotations at the UCLA Jules Stein Eye Institute include
both general ophthalmology and subspecialties. In general ophthalmology,
residents work as a team, handling clinics, emergencies (including
on-call coverage from home) and walk-in patients. They also
serve as an ophthalmology consult service for inpatients in the
UCLA Medical Center. Residents assigned to subspecialty service
rotations are provided with intensive exposure to the various divisions
within the Department, working closely with faculty members in a
private practice environment. At the UCLA-affiliated medical centers,
residents work in teams that provide both general and subspecialty
patient care.
First year residents are given a firm clinical foundation with an emphasis
on general ophthalmology. They develop skills in refraction, diagnostic
evaluations, and the medical management of ophthalmic problems. They also
begin their training in surgery and take an intensive rotation in ophthalmic
pathology under the direction of a full-time ophthalmic pathologist. Second
year residents begin in-depth training in all of the ophthalmic subspecialties.
Third year residents assume greater responsibilities for medical and surgical
patient care and participate in supervision and teaching of medical students
and first- and second-year ophthalmology residents. They also engage in
administrative duties at the various medical centers.
Didactic Education
Residents receive didactic education in the classroom on an ongoing basis.
Once each week, all residents attend a mandatory half-day program that
includes faculty lectures in a series that over the course of the three-year
program cover each of the required subjects in the American Academy of
Ophthalmology (AAO) and Clinical Sciences Course. These lectures are followed
by Grand Rounds, consisting of presentation and discussion of specific
patient cases, and faculty lectures on clinical topics related to ophthalmology
subspecialties.
Throughout the week, clinical conferences in ophthalmic subspecialties are held,
where problems are presented and discussed. These conferences sometimes
consist of visiting faculty lectures. First-year residents also meet weekly
with faculty members in a course designed specifically for their needs
as new trainees. There are additional opportunities for residents to participate
in any of the extensive continuing education programs conducted by the
Department and the Institute. All residents attend at least one annual
meeting of the AAO in their second or third year of the program.
Surgery Training
Residents begin to perform surgery in their first year of training
and continue to operate throughout their residency. Surgical cases are
assigned commensurate with level of training and experience. First-year
residents begin in the Institute's microsurgery laboratory, learning basic
techniques. The Laboratory is available to residents throughout their training.
Residents first assist on selected surgical cases; by the end of their
training, they are performing procedures independently.
Research
An understanding of and an appreciation
for research are major prerequisites for assimilating future
developments in ophthalmology. Accordingly, ophthalmic research is an integral component
of residency training. Residents are expected to undertake independent investigation
or to participate in an ongoing clinical or basic science
research project in ophthalmology. They present the results of their work at
the Department's Annual Clinical and Research Seminar during their second and third years
of residency. They are also encouraged to report their studies at regional
and national meetings and many publish their results in scientific journals.
Residents with special clinical or research interests have an opportunity
to use elective time to increase their exposure to a particular area of
ophthalmology. This time can be spent with full-time or volunteer faculty
at UCLA or at other institutions.
Training Rotations Information
Residency Training Program
(310) 206-6138
residencytraining@jsei.ucla.edu |
