First-Year Rotations (PGY-2)

Junior residents (PGY-2) are introduced to the fundamentals of ophthalmology through lectures (given by both the Chief Resident and Ophthalmology Faculty), a series of core ophthalmology clinical rotations, as well as invaluable time in the Mass. Eye and Ear Emergency Department.

In addition, an introduction to ophthalmic surgery is an integral part of the first year including participation in the Mass. Eye and Ear surgical curriculum. Junior residents will perform a handful of operative cases as primary surgeon and spend time on each rotation observing in the operating room.
The rotations are as follows:
Emergency Department

Attendings: Matthew Gardiner, M.D., rotating clinical faculty

The resident experience in the Emergency Department augments an already strong clinical exposure for the junior residents.

The junior residents staff the Mass. Eye and Ear Emergency Department under the supervision of Mass. Eye and Ear faculty and fellows. The first-year resident is responsible for triaging all eye-related emergencies that present to the ward. The cases seen here cover the entire spectrum of ophthalmology (e.g. vision loss related to trauma, infection, oncology, vascular disease, and others). In this capacity, the residents learn to function independently and manage a wide variety of ocular pathology and ocular trauma at an early point in their ophthalmic training.

Junior residents do not take overnight call. Rather, junior residents rotate through a night float system covering nighttime shifts in the Emergency Department. In addition, the junior residents work the day shifts in the Mass. Eye and Ear Emergency Department.

Ophthalmic Pathology

Attending: Frederick A. Jakobiec, M.D.
The Ophthalmic Pathology Department at Mass. Eye and Ear is among the best in the country. Each junior resident spends a clinical rotation in the Eye Pathology Laboratory, examining and reporting on the large volume of specimens received daily by this unit. This provides invaluable experience for the residents as they learn to make clinical-pathologic correlations. The resident works closely with the Eye Pathology fellow to prepare cases for review with the attending. During daily review of the pathology specimens with the attending there is extensive one-on-one training and discussion of cases. Increasing independence is allotted as the resident’s skill-base expands.

Eye Plastics and Orbital Surgery

Attendings: Aaron Fay, M.D., Nancy Kim, M.D., Ph.D.. Francis Sutula, M.D.

The Eye Plastics rotation exposes the junior resident to the medical and surgical management of lid disease, facial fractures, lid and orbital tumors, lacrimal drainage problems, and cosmesis. The junior resident learns to manage patients with a variety of oculoplastics problems through work in the Eye Plastics Clinic.

In addition, approximately 1.5 days per week are spent in the operating room in which the resident participates in a diverse array of surgeries including blepharoplasties, ptosis repairs, excisional biopsies, orbitotomies, facial fracture repairs, and enucleations.

The first-year resident takes a portion of home-call during this rotation with back-up supplied by the Eye Plastics fellow and attending.

Retina

Attendings: Evangelos Gragoudas, M.D., Ivana Kim, M.D., John I. Loewenstein, M.D.,  Joan W. Miller, M.D., Shizuo Mukai, M.D., Lucia Sobrin, M.D., Demetrios Vavvas, M.D., Ph.D, Lucy H. Young, M.D., Ph.D., and Dean Eliott, M.D.

First-year residents become familiar with fundus pathology and learn to manage retinal problems including diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, ocular infections, uveitis, and retinal tears and detachment. The resident also gains valuable experience in interpreting fluorescein angiograms with supervised review of retinal imaging studies on a weekly basis. In addition, the first year resident is responsible for preparing cases for macula conference each week.

Approximately one half to one full day per week is spent in the operating room.

Comprehensive Ophthalmology

Attendings: Sherleen Chen, M.D., Matthew Gardner, M.D., Carolyn E. Kloek, M.D., Scott Greenstein, M.D., Stacey Brauner, M.D., Sheila Borboli-Gerogiannis, M.D., Kenneth Chang, M.D.

First-year residents learn the basics of ophthalmology during this rotation by evaluating adult patients in the comprehensive clinics.

Approximately one half to one full day per week is spent in the operating room.

Glaucoma

Attendings: Louis Pasquale, M.D.,., Ph.D., Teresa C. Chen, M.D., Douglas Rhee, M.D., Lucy Shen, M.D., Stacey Brauner, M.D., Angela Turalba, M.D.

First-year residents will learn basic skills in the management of the glaucoma patient including examination and evaluation of the optic nerve, interpretation of visual fields, and gonioscopy. Teaching rounds with the faculty provide valuable guidance and instruction on the management of the glaucoma patient.
Every week, one-half day is spent in the operating room.

Cornea and Refractive Surgery

Attendings: Reza Dana, M.D., M.Sc., M.P.H., Roberto Pineda, M.D., Kathy A. Colby, M.D., Ph.D., Deborah Pavan-Langston, M.D., Claes H. Dohlman, M.D., Ph.D., Ula V. Jurkunas, M.D., James Chodosh, M.D., Joseph Ciolino, M.D., and Pedram Hamrah, M.D.

The Cornea and Refractive Surgery Service affords an opportunity to participate in the management of large numbers of patients with corneal, anterior segment and external disease problems including patients interested in refractive surgery. They work directly with the inventor of the Boston Keratoprosthesis, Dr. Claes Dohlman, and participate in the care of patients with keratoprostheses in both the clinics and the OR.

Residents learn to manage a wide variety of corneal disease including corneal dystrophies, ocular surface disease, infections, burns, and ocular surface tumors. Residents also gain valuable experience in the management of patients with corneal transplants and keratoprosthesis.
A half to one full day per week is spent in the operating room.

Traum

Attending: Justin Kanoff, M.D.
First-year residents work with the Chief Resident in the Eye Trauma Clinic to care for patients having sustained a variety of ocular trauma including open globe injury, hyphema, lacerations, traumatic cataracts, and traumatic glaucoma.

Boston VA Hospital

There is one rotation each year of training at the Boston VA Hospital. Residents see both general and subspecialty patients and participate in surgery and lasers appropriate to their training level.

Home call is shared between the rotating residents.
 

Page updated 11/10/11