— College of Medicine — Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences — Education — Residency Program — Curriculum

Curriculum

Our program consists of rotations where the resident is expected to spend the majority of their time in hands-on clinical activities and responsibilities.

Rotation Schedule

Call Schedule

Didactics

Research

PGY1 training is coordinated through our residency program, so PGY1 residents are able to spend the maximum number of months allowed by the ACGME in Ophthalmology.
During the PGY2 and PGY3 years, residents rotate in three-month blocks. Our current blocks are:
- Block 1: Cornea and Refractive
- Block 2: Glaucoma and Pediatric Ophthalmology
- Block 3: Neuro-Ophthalmology and Oculoplastics
- Block 4: Retina and Uveitis
PGY4 residents primarily rotate at the Omaha VA. Under faculty supervision, the residents are allowed increased autonomy in both the medical and surgical care of patients. Each senior resident typically performs more than 250 surgical cases as primary surgeon.

PGY1 residents take some “buddy” call during Ophthalmology rotation months. Call requirements during non-Ophthalmology months are variable.
PGY2 and PGY3 residents take primary call one week out of four. The residents determine their own call schedule and usually take one Monday-Thursday block and one Friday-Sunday block each month.
PGY4 residents do not take first call. They rotate supervisory/surgical call every other week.

Resident lectures are held every Friday from 7 to 10 a.m. This is protected time free from clinical responsibilities.
Grand Round conferences are held twice per month on Wednesdays from 7 to 9 a.m.
Journal Club is held once each month on Wednesdays from 7 to 9 a.m.
M&M Conferences are held once each quarter on Wednesdays from 7 to 8:30 a.m.
Residents have multiple opportunities to present cases and journal articles throughout the year (usually between 4-7 times per year, depending on training level).
Residents hold weekly informal self-guided study sessions together to review topics of interest. Our residents say, “The residents teach one another. We are a team, and no one gets left behind.”

Currently conducting numerous high-impact clinical research studies
Highly productive in regards to publication of research data
Residents become involved in a number of exciting research projects and give a formal research presentations each year during our annual Gifford-Truhlsen Conference.
Most residents graduate with several publications/book chapters.