Orientation:
The first year residents are required to attend an introductory lectures series over the first two weeks of their training in the department. The residents have no clinical responsibilities at this time, and are expected to attend all lectures. The general purpose of rotating in the clinic for the orientation period is to instruct the residents in the basic ocular examination techniques, as well as provide basic knowledge of common and emergent ophthalmic conditions. As the residents begin their rotations, they are scheduled with a limited number of patients so they can gradually increase their skills. All patients are seen with attendings that staff the rotations.
Learning Objectives for the First Year:
First year residents at The Ohio State University Department of Ophthalmology will be expected to assist appropriate faculty in the management of simple to moderately difficult ophthalmic medical problems. They will be expected to perform consultations both in the emergency department and in the hospital, and they will be expected to staff these consults with the appropriate faculty. PGY-2 residents will also, in selected circumstances, perform history and physical examinations on preoperative patients. The responsibilities for management of surgical cases will include, but are not limited to, management of simple and complex lid and facial lacerations, removal of lesions from the eyelids and conjunctiva, probing and irrigation of nasal lacrimal system, biopsies of skin, conjunctiva and temporal artery. They will be expected to assist at major ophthalmic surgical operations covering a spectrum of retina and vitreous, glaucoma, orbital and plastics, pediatric ophthalmology, cornea, external disease and cataract. First year residents will be expected to perform laser procedures including: YAG capsulotomies, panretinal photocoagulation, selective laser trabecuolplasties, and peripheral iridotomies.
Rotation Details:
Subspecialty Rotation
Rotation Length: (3) three week rotations (9 weeks total)
The purpose of the subspecialty rotations is to initiate an exposure to glaucoma, plastics/neuro and cornea. The residents are under the direct supervision of the attending physician. Residents work up new referrals, present the case to the attending and discuss the management course with the attending. The residents follow the patient to surgery whenever possible. Actual surgical responsibilities during these rotations are limited, but may include an initial exposure to microsurgery emphasizing basic suturing techniques.
Columbus VA Rotation
Rotation Length: (1) nine week rotation
All first year residents will spend roughly nine weeks at the Columbus VA. The residents rotate through the following subspecialty clinics: Retina, Glaucoma, Pre-Op, Cornea, Uveitis, Ocular Oncology, Oculoplastics and Neuro-Ophthalmology. The first year residents get early, and graduated experience in laser surgery for diabetic retinopathy, primary open angle glaucoma, narrow angle glaucoma, laser retinopexy and YAG capsulotomy. During this rotation, the first year residents also receive initial experience to cataract surgery. Intraocular injections are introduced at this level. There are 5 residents (three third years, one second year and one first year) on this rotation.
Dayton VA
Rotation Length: (1) nine week rotation
This rotation is similar to the Columbus VA rotation where the residents see patients in the subspecialty clinics. Three residents (one from each class) are on this rotation at a time.
Nationwide Children’s Hospital Rotation
Rotation Length: (1) nine week rotation
The first year residents primarily cover the consult service at Children’s. If time permits, they may accompany faculty members to the OR or in their private clinic. All consults are staffed by faculty at Children’s. During the first year Children’s rotation, residents learn proper exam techniques and learn to become comfortable with performing eye exams on children. There are three residents on the Children’s rotation at all times – one first year and two second years.
Ward/Consult Service
Rotation Length: (2) three week rotations, (1) six week rotation
During the course of the three week rotation, there is a team consisting of a first year and third year resident that are responsible for seeing the in house consults from 7:00am – 5:00pm, M-F. During the 6 week rotation (between March and June), there will be a team of two first year residents. These consults are staffed with an attending physician.
Night Float
Rotation Length: (2) three week rotations
We began utilizing a night float system in July 2020. When a resident is assigned to night float, their only responsibility is evening call. The resident takes call Sunday – Thursday, from 5:00 pm – 7:00 am. A third year resident is on back up call in addition to the divisional and general faculty on call back-ups. The night float resident is off during the day in addition to both Friday and Saturday evenings. The weekend call is covered by first year residents (not on night float) and have the same back up coverage available as the night float resident during the week.