Curriculum

Curriculum

Each resident's experience can differ thru the course of their training. Below are descriptions and examples of each training year for the Ophthalmology Residency. Rotations primarily take place at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital (SNGH), Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters (CHKD), and Hampton Veteran's Affairs Medical Center (VAMC).  

Preliminary year (joint track) - Department of Medicine

Ophthalmology residency is a joint track program. Residents will spend their preliminary year with The Department of Medicineand all four years of residency training in Norfolk, VA. Training is primarily at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital and the Hampton Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Each ophthalmology preliminary resident will rotate with their future ophthalmology colleagues during their preliminary year.

First Year - PGY2

First-year Residents

During the first year of training, residents learn the basic techniques of ocular diagnosis and medical management of a variety of ocular diseases. Subspecialty training in neuro-ophthalmology, glaucoma, retina pathology, and pediatric ophthalmology is offered through a variety of clinical and didactic experiences. On-site and off-site pathology experience is included.

Each first-year will rotate through Sentara Norfolk General Hospital (SNGH) and Hampton VA Medical Center (VAMC) in alternating one-month blocks. 

First year residents attend several courses over the academic year, examples are VSEPS Annual Conference, UIC Eye Review Course, and GWU Pathology Course.

Second Year - PGY3

Second year

The second year of training is dedicated to in-depth exposure to the ophthalmic subspecialties, as well as an introduction to ophthalmic surgery.

Each resident has the opportunity to tailor his or her rotations to their interests with the exception of core rotations. 

Second-year residents attend multiple away courses, some of these include GWU Pathology Course, Trauma Course, Cataract Training course, and VSEPS annual regional conference.

Third Year - PGY4

Third-year/chief year

During the third year, the resident assumes full responsibility for the medical and surgical care of patients at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital (SNGH) and Hampton Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) with all types of ophthalmic diseases. Time is equally split between both sites with an emphasis on cataract surgery at the VAMC.

Third-years attend several away conferences including AAO Annual Conference, Wills Eye Review Course, and Cataract Surgery - Telling it Like it Is.