Education / Residency Information / What Distinguishes Us?

Outstanding Features of the Residency Program

FACULTY

Full time University Attendings for all subspecialties in Ophthalmology, including ocular tumors, oculoplastics, uveitis, medical retina. We have a very healthy mix of senior, established faculty and junior members, and have hired four new clinical faculty in the past three years.

RESEARCH

We are the nation's #3 National Eye Institute (NEI) grant recipient, and are #1 in basic research. As a first year resident, you have the opportunity to work with members of the country's largest full-time ophthalmology research faculty during the 10 week research rotation.

AWARDS

Endowed Research Awards

Rosenbaum $1000 Research Award:

Criteria: Originality and quality of research project

William Ellis Research Prize in Ophthalmology:

Criteria: Outstanding research of a Washington University medical student or resident

Max & Evelyn Grand Prize:

Criteria: Research achievements of a Washington University medical student or resident

Doris P. and Harry I. Wexler Award:

Criteria: Washington University medical student or resident recognizing outstanding research
Alternates yearly between ophthalmology and multiple sclerosis research

Venable, Katie & Howard Research Award:

Criteria: Senior Resident of African-American Descent who has demonstrated excellent potential in the field

Heed fellowship

Since 1998, we have had nine graduates receive the prestigious Heed Fellowship for their subsequent fellowships.

MEETINGS/SYMPOSIA

American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO)

November 8-11, 2008

ARVO Annual Meeting (Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology)

May 3-7, 2009

Travel to Meetings:

ARVO/Academy: Each third year resident will be allowed $1,000 to travel to either ARVO or the American Academy of Ophthalmology meeting.
First Authorship: Residents of all years are encouraged to present papers as first author, and are allowed one meeting per year in this capacity in addition to the third year ARVO/AAO meeting. In rare instances and with prior approval of the Program Director, a second meeting will be allowed. In this case, the paper being presented must be different than that presented at the first meeting, and the meeting must be a major ophthalmologic society meeting (AAPOS, ASOPRS, etc.). If a resident in any year is the first author of a presentation at either the American Academy of Ophthalmology or ARVO, the resident will be allowed time off with pay to attend the meeting. This time will not come out of vacation time. Sponsorship for travel costs to the meeting should be identified from the research laboratory or program involved. If presenting at ARVO, it is incumbent upon the resident to apply for a travel fellowship through ARVO. If a resident does not apply for a travel fellowship, he/she will not be eligible for departmental support. If the fellowship is received, the Department will provide additional support in order to bring the total to $1,000. If a travel fellowship is not awarded, then the department will underwrite the cost of the travel up to a maximum of $1,000, upon evidence provided by the resident that a travel fellowship was applied for but not received.

Visiting Professor Series at Washington University, Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences

Presentations coincide with the Ophthalmology Grand Rounds, Vision Science Seminar and the
St. Louis Ophthalmological Society.

BARNES-JEWISH HOSPITAL, OUR PARENT INSTITUTION

  • Ranked No. 9 among the nation's best hospitals in US News and World Report
  • Washington University Medical School, Department of Ophthalmology was ranked No.10 in the same 2007 Specialty Rankings
  • One of the largest teaching hospital complexes in the nation with over 2000 beds in the complex

Statistics reported to ACGME for accreditation in April 2002

Barnes-Jewish Eye Clinic and Wash U Eye Center
  • 2920 Ophthalmic emergency patients per year
  • Inpatient Facilities: 28 eye beds available
  • Operating Facilities: 5 rooms for eye surgery, 6 operating microscopes, 15 photocoagulators, 4 retinal cryopexy units, 6 closed vitrectomy units, 1 YAG laser
  • Major ophthalmic surgical procedures in 2000: 4010, 2002:  4183
  • Emergency Room: 4 ophthalmic examining rooms, 3 Outpatient surgical rooms

St. Louis Children's Hospital

  • Children's Eye Clinic: 221 outpatient visits per week
  • Inpatient Facility: 15 beds, 2 operating rooms
  • 869 Major ophthalmic surgical procedures in 2002
  • 527 Emergency eye visits per year

John Cochran Veteran's Affair Medical Center

  • 172 Outpatient visits per week
  • 11 examining rooms
  • 320 major ophthalmic surgical procedures
  • Inpatient Facility: 5 beds, 1 operating room
  • 118 Emergency eye visits per year

St. Louis ConnectCare

  • 54 outpatient visits per week
  • 100 emergency eye visits per year
  • 204 major ophthalmic surgical procedures

SURGICAL CASES

  • High volume of surgical experience in University Eye Service and the VA Hospital
  • Cataracts: average 100 phaco cases per resident
  • Lasers: hundreds of laser procedures

DIDACTICS

9 hours per week

WET LABS

We have a recently remodeled and fully equipped practice laboratory with two phaco machines dedicated to resident use on the 13th floor. We also have proximity to Bausch & Lomb Surgical in
St. Louis, who provide phacoemulsification wet labs for the residents.

WUMCHA

Washington University Medical Center Housestaff Auxillary - a very supportive group to provide social opportunities for housestaff and their families: Adult Activities, Book Club, Children's Activities, Coffee Talk, Babysitting, Co-op, Craft Club, Gardening Club, Gourmet Coooking Class, Gourmet Dinner Club, Halloween Party, Outreach, Scrappers, Seminars, Spring Picnic, Playgroup, Welcoming Party

DEPARTMENT EVENTS

  • Holiday Party

LIVING IN ST LOUIS

With a metropolitan population of 2.5 million, St. Louis ranks 17th among urban areas in population size, ensuring an outstanding mix of big city culture and medicine and small city living. Housing is affordable and convenient. St. Louis has world class sports teams (Rams, Cardinals, Blues), an outstanding symphony, and excellent museums, along with a very active cultural life. St. Louis' central location also makes travel to either coast convenient. Please talk with our residents about living in
St. Louis!


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