18 July 2010
Posted in
Pearls in Ophthalmology
By Rahul Khurana, MD
Be Strong. What does that mean? Strong residents are hard working, honest and team players that get along with others. Start Residency at full throttle, taking everything in. Don’t be lazy. Sometimes that means doing the scut in clinic so it runs smoother to helping out a fellow resident when he or she is overwhelmed. Faculty always appreciate the hard worker and team player in residency.
Keep an Open Mind. Don’t commit to any sub-speciality in Ophthalmology early. Even if you know what you want to do or what you don’t want to go, keep an open mind. Treat each rotation as it is the field you will be entering (even if you are not!). You will learn more and faculty will want to teach you more.
Make Good First Impressions. Faculty are very busy with their demanding clinical, research and administrative duties. Bad first impressions can be difficult to overcome. It is common sense stuff (i.e. sharp presentations, well groomed, on time/early to clinic, etc) that should not be dismissed
Read. First year of Ophthalmology residency is very challenging with much to learn (steep learning curve) with very little time. The BCSC is always the authority but the books are lengthy and in busy residencies, there is not always time. Use a review manual as a starting point (I highly recommend Friedman et al Review of Ophthalmology). Reading about your patients always makes the material stick easier in one’s mind. Another tip is to set aside a certain amount of time every night to read (even 20-30 minutes helps).
Practice Suturing. Get under the microscope. Suturing under the microscope is a very different experience. If your residency program has a practice lab, try suturing animal eyes (I actually practiced on oranges!). When you finally get to the OR, faculty will more likely pass the case if you look comfortable under the microscope.
Find Mentors. Mentors are extremely important to your career development. The relationships you nurture in residency can last a lifetime. Take to your senior residents and find the “resident friendly” faculty. Invest some time with the faculty and you will enjoy the benefits well after you leave residency.
