Ophthalmology Residency Didactic Curriculum

The Baylor Ophthalmology Department offers numerous structured and non-structured learning opportunities throughout the academic year as outlined below:

• Orientation - Incoming residents have a protected two-week orientation where they meet faculty, are oriented to the different hospital sites, are lectured on key-topics of ophthalmology, and are taught ophthalmology skills such as the slit lamp and indirect ophthalmoscopy exams.
   
• Wet Lab Lectureship and Surgical Series - The first months of the year are complemented by a structured lecture series on ophthalmic surgery that is followed by hands-on surgical training in the wet lab. Residents are joined in the wet lab by faculty members, fellows, and industry, which affords residents the unique opportunity to learn and hone their skills with different surgeries, techniques, and equipment.
   
• Basic and Clinical Science Course Review Course - The department provides a structured approach for residents to systematically review all books of the BCSC.  A suggested reading list is reinforced by weekly lectures held Thursday mornings. The lectures are presented by upper-level residents with a faculty member expert of the BCSC topic in attendance.
   
• Friday Core Lecture Series - Friday mornings are protected didactic time that cover core competencies in the ophthalmic specialties, Program Director’s Rounds, Chair’s Rounds, Grand Rounds (noted below), quality improvement/quality assurance, and business development.
   
• Grand Rounds - Approximately twice per month residents present interesting cases under the mentorship of a faculty member. About six Grand Rounds per year are Houston Ophthalmological Society Grand Rounds (noted below). 
   
• Houston Ophthalmological Society Grand Rounds - Approximately six times per year, Baylor joins the Houston Ophthalmologic Society in welcoming a visiting professor and expert in their field to present and lead a Grand Rounds. Residents are welcomed to attend a “Meet the Speaker” networking reception, dinner, and lecture the night prior to the event, as well as a “Breakfast with the Expert” the day of the Grand Rounds.
   
• Houston Ophthalmology Women’s Society - Several times per year the Houston Ophthalmology Women’s Society welcomes female residents to networking dinners and events.
   
• Imaging Conference - Twice per month on Tuesday evenings, the retina faculty lead an interactive imaging conference to review retina cases and their associated imaging modalities and analysis.
   
• Optics Conference - Once per month on Tuesday evenings, the anterior segment faculty lean an interactive conference that covers fundamental optical principles, problem solving in optics, anterior segment imaging, and intraocular lens calculations.
   
• Neuro-ophthalmology Conference - Once per month on Tuesday evenings, the neuro-ophthalmology faculty lead an interactive review of cases and topics in neuro-ophthalmology.
   
• “Chalk-talks” - Faculty provide residents a list of “chalk-talk” topics at the beginning of the year for senior residents to review and teach junior residents at the end of clinic.
   
• Journal Club - While on their subspecialty rotations residents participate in subspecialty specific journal clubs.

All residents participate in the annual Ophthalmology Knowledge Assessment Program examination in April. This examination provides the trainees an opportunity to compare proficiency in basic and clinical science topics with other residents of the same level of training throughout the country. The director of the Residency Training Program serves as an advisor to the residents, guiding them in their educational process and career planning.