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Ophthalmology Residency Program


 

About

The Madigan Army Medical Center Ophthalmology Residency Program consists of three years of graduate medical education (PGY-2 through PGY-4) leading to eligibility for certification by the American Board of Ophthalmology. There are two residents at each level of training. All residents selected for the Ophthalmology Residency Program will have completed their first year of post-graduate training (PGY-1). The Madigan Ophthalmology Residency accepts exceptional residents who are clinically, surgically and academically excellent and molds them into competent and confident practicing ophthalmologists.

The program is designed to give each resident a broad and comprehensive education in the field of Ophthalmology. This is accomplished through didactic and practical training utilizing the assets of Madigan staff and distinguished consultants. The Madigan Ophthalmology staff is handpicked for their teaching, surgical skill and research abilities. We have subspecialty fellowship trained staff in cornea/external disease, glaucoma, retina, pediatric ophthalmology, pathology, ocular oncology, neuro-ophthalmology, uveitis, and oculoplastics. We also have a very talented comprehensive ophthalmology staff. Madigan serves a large local active duty and retired population providing our residents with a very broad clinical and surgical experience. With its state-of-the-art Refractive Surgery Center, Madigan is regarded as one of the most modern hospitals in the entire Pacific Northwest.

In addition to benefiting from a comprehensive in-house educational program, residents are given the opportunity to attend and participate in several local and national meetings such as the Washington State Academy of Ophthalmology, University of Washington sponsored conferences, the San Antonio Ophthalmology Review Course as well as the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) annual meeting to name just a few. A highly valued training opportunity outside the region is the 5-week Bay Area Ophthalmology Course. This basic science and comprehensive ophthalmology review course in Stanford, California. Unique to Madigan, the Mental Skills curriculum is a new course in cooperation with the Army Center of Enhanced Performance to maximize or improve surgical outcomes and performance.

Academics and Research

The time devoted to personal research and reading is fundamental to the education of the resident. The three year schedule is such that residents may spend considerable time participating in clinical and/or laboratory investigations where they can formulate, test and expand upon their chosen research topic. Modern research facilities are available on site with a highly professional staff available to support each project. Each resident is required to complete a clinical or laboratory research project and prepare a paper suitable for presentation and/or publication at the national level.

Rotations

PGY-2


The first year is organized to provide the resident with a comprehensive ophthalmology experience while being introduced to subspecialty eye care. The resident develops proficiency in refraction, indirect ophthalmoscopy, gonioscopy, visual field analysis and other customary clinical skills. The resident also has regular clinics in contact lens fitting and low vision evaluations. The first year of training is highly academic in nature. In addition to attending weekly lectures and a variety of local conferences, the first-year residents will be guided through the American Academy of Ophthalmology Basic and Clinical Sciences Course by the senior residents as part of a home-study program. At the end of the 1st year residency, the resident attends the 5-week Bay Area Ophthalmology Course in Stanford, California.

Clinically, the first-year residents alternate as the emergency walk-in physician during the day and perform the initial examination on all acute cases. The first-year resident responds promptly to all telephone queries, emergency room referrals, urgent air evacuations, urgent inpatient consultants and ward problems. Surgically, the first year resident is introduced to surgical ophthalmology by assisting staff surgeons on a variety of intra–and extraocular procedures and acting as the primary surgeon on several basic oculoplastic cases. The resident is introduced to microsurgery through surgical wet labs and surgical simulator training.

PGY-3


The second year resident has subspecialty rotations in Neuro-Ophthalmology, Glaucoma, Pediatric Ophthalmology & Strabismus and Oculoplastic clinics. Additionally, the resident continues to devote time to General Ophthalmology by seeing both new and follow-up patients in the General Clinic.

During the second year the resident attends the Triservice Cataract Surgery Course on the USUHS campus in Bethesda, MD. The hands-on portion includes all types of cataract extractions, including phacoemulsification and IOL implantation on an animal model. The resident also attends the Tri-Service Ocular Trauma Course. This course consists of both didactic and hands-on eye, orbit, and ocular adnexal trauma training.

PGY-4


The senior year of the residency is organized to allow the resident to mature not only as a clinician and surgeon, but also as an administrator and leader. It is an intense year, with the resident acting as the primary care giver on most major surgical cases with their attendant responsibilities. The third year resident has subspecialty rotations in Cornea/External Dz/Glaucoma and Vitreo-retinal Dz. The resident participates in all aspects of medical and surgical patient care commensurate with their increased clinical and surgical abilities.

Senior residents typically get the unique privilege of participating in the planning and execution of a humanitarian surgical mission. Prior locations have included Africa and Central America.

Senior residents also attend the San Diego Refractive Surgery Course and consequently during the year perform over 100 refractive laser procedures.

By the end of this year the resident should be competent AND confident enough in all aspects of general ophthalmology and basic subspecialty procedures to practice independently in a military medicine environment.

Contact Us

Location

Madigan Army Medical Center
9040 Jackson Ave.
Tacoma, WA 98431

Phone

Tel:  (253) 968-1770
 (253) 968-0375
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