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Education

Educational Programs

The Department of Ophthalmology strives to incorporate its core mission of education into all aspects of its work. In clinical programs, students, residents and fellows care for patients as part of an interprofessional team in partnership with faculty and staff. The Mitchel and Shannon Wong Eye Institute at UT Health Austin provides trainees with the opportunity to learn about value-based care through hands-on participation in integrated practice units. The team continuously studies and improves the outcomes of its patient care through involvement in research projects and other scholarly work.

The department’s educational programs offer innovative training infused with the elements of Dell Medical School’s mission and vision, including a focus on leadership, teamwork, care transformation and the pursuit of outcomes that matter most to patients. 

Undergraduate Medical Education

Electives

The department offers a number of electives to provide unique learning opportunities in the field of ophthalmology. Students gain exposure to general ophthalmology as well as subspecialties such as glaucoma, retina, oculoplastics, pediatric ophthalmology, uveitis and neuro-ophthalmology. Eileen Bowden, M.D., directs the elective programs.

The department provides two-week experiences dedicated to career exploration in students’ second and fourth years as well as a four-week comprehensive ophthalmology elective. Students also gain the exposure they need through an independent clinical elective, which is based on individual needs around continued training.

Visiting Students

Fourth-year medical students from Liaison Committee on Medical Education- or American Osteopathic Association-accredited institutions are eligible to complete a visiting student learning opportunity. Dell Med uses the Association of American Medical Colleges’ Visiting Student Learning Opportunities system to receive visiting student applications. To apply, students will need to complete an application in VSLO. Applications are due no later than six weeks prior to the start of the rotation.

Visiting student learning opportunities are considered an audition period for the residency program. The month-long rotation is treated as an evaluation of candidates, and their performance will receive careful consideration during a holistic review of their SF match application. Students who complete a visiting student learning opportunity with the department will be highly considered for an interview with the residency program. However, interview invitations will be given based on merit and not all rotating students will receive an interview. 

Graduate Medical Education

The Ophthalmology Residency offers the foundation of great clinical training through care for the uninsured/underinsured population of Central Texas and veterans. It is one of a few programs in the country to have both academic and private faculty involved in teaching, and it aims to create a down-to-earth and lateral culture that respects residents as colleagues and values their unique role in the health care system.

The residency’s didactic curriculum focuses on teaching residents to become problem solvers. Most of the in-person education revolves around a “workshops” construct, which focuses on teaching residents how to think and apply information and not just memorize facts. The workshops are in addition to the traditional constructs of lectures and grand rounds. Lectures are available online, and there is a specific lecture schedule tailored for each PGY year, making the lecture time more effective.

Dell Med also features a signature graduate medical education curriculum called Advancing Care Transformation, or ACT. ACT focuses on value-based health care, leadership and other key competencies in health systems science, training residents to be more than passive participants in the health care system. The curriculum aims to develop active leaders who will help shape the future of medicine.

Continuing Medical Education

The Department of Ophthalmology hosts visiting professors, virtual visiting professors and other distinguished speakers in the department’s monthly education series. The department also hosts the annual Dr. John and Ms. Suzanne Shore Distinguished Lectureship for Excellence in Ophthalmology. Speakers are distinguished experts who speak on a wide range of topics related to ophthalmology and systems of care to improve patient outcomes.