What is the history of the Sinai Ophthalmology Program?

Ophthalmology residents have been trained at Sinai hospital since the 1940s.   The original Sinai residency in Ophthalmology was accredited by the ACGME in 1983.   There was then a period of merger with Johns Hopkins Hospital Ophthalmology Residency in 1997 that will continue until the class of 2009 completes their training.  The Sinai freestanding program was re-accredited as a new program� in 2005. 

How many residents are in each class?

Two, for a total of six residents.

What is the call schedule?

There is no overnight in-house call.  Schedule is every fourth night with PGY2 and PGY3 residents sharing first-call.   Third year residents perform back-up call.   An attending takes call each night.

How often does one get paged on call?

Typically the on-call resident will be paged several times when on call.   Emergencies requiring the first on-call resident to come into the hospital occur approximately once in two to three call nights.

Will there be senior residents for the first two years of the freestanding program�?

Yes.   The integrated residency phase out� starts in 2007 and ends in 2009.

Is there a pathology rotation?

Yes.   There is a two-week rotation at the LF Montgomery Eye Pathology Lab during the second year.   Each second year will go separately.  Living and travel expenses will be covered fully by the hospital.

Is research required?

Residents are expected to participate in a yearly research project of the quality necessary to present at a national meeting (usually ARVO).   Presentation at such meetings is encouraged and travel is paid by Sinai Hospital for accepted presentations on which the resident is first author.

What are the research facilities?

Clinical projects are performed in the department. The Department of Microbiology offers research space for resident projects and Sinai Hospital has its own animal research facility.

Do residents attend AAO?

Third year residents are expected to attend the annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Presentation at the meeting is not necessary. Sinai pays for registration and travel expenses.

Is there an opportunity for foreign rotations?

Residents may perform a 4-6 week elective at the Aravind Eye Hospital in India during their third year.  Sinai Hospital covers the majority of travel expense associated with this rotation.

Is the India rotation necessary for volume purposes?

No. Cataract volume is strong without the India elective. Currently, approximately 25% of residents in the combined program go to India.

Are other Senior electives possible?

With faculty approval, a different senior elective may be arranged instead of Aravind.

Are there lectures at Sinai or at Hopkins?

With the exception of a few lecture series, lectures and grand rounds will be on-site.

Are all rotations on site?

Yes. All clinical rotations are in the Morton Mower, M.D., Medical Office Building where the Krieger Eye Institute is located.

What is the cataract surgical experience?

Current cataract volume is approximately 100 per year.  Each case is performed with supervision of a fellowship trained attending.

Do most residents do fellowships?

While many have chosen to enter fellowship training to further specialize, many also are confident in their training and eager to enter practice directly from residency.