Download Residency Training Program PDF - Ross Eye Institute

I. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
The primary purpose of the Residency Training Program is to train
knowledgeable, skilled, and compassionate clinical ophthalmologists. Experience
in teaching and research is also provided. It is expected that the graduating
residents will be exceptionally well-prepared to practice general ophthalmology
or carry on in further subspecialty training.
One of the major strengths of the program is the opportunity for residents to
participate in a full range of subspecialty services where state-of-the-art care is
given and to work directly with the staff. In order to maximize the value of that
experience, the program is designed with a graduated clinical course. The first
year is devoted primarily to learning the skills and developing some competency
in general ophthalmic care. The subsequent years build on this with subspecialty
rotations.
The basic academic design of the subspecialty rotation is a preceptorship. The
experience is clearly best when the staff and resident can learn and deliver care as
colleagues. The development of such a relationship requires a serious
commitment on the part of both staff and resident and a fundamental recognition
of the importance of offering the highest quality care to the patient.
Although a very considerable amount of information is presented in formal
lectures and preceptorships, independent study of texts and journals is mandatory
to supplement this. The ability to critically read and evaluate the ophthalmic
literature is necessary to the continuing education of an ophthalmologist.
Providing top-quality medical and surgical care is a priority of the department of
ophthalmology at the University at Buffalo and participation in this care is an
advantage of the residency program. While some of the surgery is beyond the
scope of residency training, most of it is not and participation is largely
determined by the skill of the resident. Development of technical skills and
surgical judgement is one of the major objectives of the program. In order to
make this learning experience compatible with optimal patient care, lectures,
videotapes and microsurgery lab experience are provided in addition to operating
room experience.
Preservation of the essential ethical values and dignity of patients, colleagues and
self is important to the residency program. Respect for this tenet must be
unequivocal and uncompromising.
In summary, the goal of the residency program is to provide an environment in
which compassion and intellectual curiosity can be combined with a practical
application of increasing skills and knowledge to prevent, diagnose, and treat
ophthalmic disease.
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