Ophthalmology

During the second year, residents become integrated into Stroger Hospital Eye Clinic, as well as at our satellite clinic at Provident Hospital.

Provident Hospital

Residents attend biweekly clinics for three months during the year where they experience their initial exposure into the operating room, as well as individualized attention with anterior segment and retina subspecialty attendings.

Stroger Hospital

There are three three-month rotations in general clinic where residents learn to assume increasing responsibility in managing patients.

General Clinic- First-year residents staff the general clinic and perform anterior segment lasers, retinal laser procedures, intravitreal injections, and other in office procedures as proficiency allows.

Oculoplastics – The resident on oculoplatics will staff the oculoplastics clinic. They will perform medical management as well as serving as primary surgeons in minor procedures. They will also perform surgical evaluations.

Pediatrics/Strabismus – Residents staff the pediatrics and strabismus clinic. They will also be able to go to the operating room for weekly first-hand experience in strabismus surgeries.

The third-year resident schedule is divided into four blocks.

Consult Resident – During the three months of the consult rotation, the resident is responsible for treating both outpatient and inpatient consults. The consult resident also gains exposure to pediatric ophthalmology and retinopathy of prematurity screening during this rotation block.

Retina Rotation – The retina rotation comprises a second block, where residents are exposed to extensive retinal pathology. This block provides residents with an opportunity to gain proficiency in intravitreal injections and retinal laser procedures.

Blue Island – A third block consists of three months at the Blue Island Health Center Eye Clinic, which is staffed by Stroger Hospital Ophthalmology faculty. During this rotation, a second-year resident is introduced to major intraoperative procedures, including cataract surgery. The resident performs 20 to 30 cataract surgeries as the primary surgeon during the Blue Island rotation.

Clinic Chief – A fourth block is spent as chief of the comprehensive Eye Clinic. There is one morning per week devoted to ophthalmic pathology under the guidance of our ocular pathologist, Dr. Bamba where residents gross in ophthalmic specimens and review previous slides at the microscope.

The major focus of the fourth-year resident is performing surgical procedures. More than 2,300 major operative eye cases are performed each year. The senior resident performs all surgical cases. All major surgery is supervised by attending physicians.

Starting in 2017, a new rotation at Provident Hospital, another Cook County Health affiliate, has been established. Stroger Hospital Ophthalmology faculty also staff Provident Hospital. This rotation will allow for three days weekly in the operating room with further emphasis on expanding residents surgical skills. Senior residents are also responsible for aiding in patient care, and overseeing junior residents and medical student education in the general eye clinic.

Two senior residents are selected yearly to function as Chief Resident with administrative and educational responsibilities.