Education

Ophthalmology Residency

Our ophthalmology residency program is designed to provide a graduated experience leading to independent responsibility in the medical and surgical management of all ophthalmic patients. The three-year residency offers a diversity of clinical settings, patients, and pathology. Training is centered at the University of Chicago Medical Center, with additional experiences at the University of Chicago’s educational affiliates, and NorthShore University HealthSystem.

Dr. Peter Veldman Vice Chair of Education and Residency Program Director
Peter Veldman, MD
Email: pveldman@bsd.uchicago.edu
Phone: 773-702-3671

Applying to the Ophthalmology Residency Program

Three first-year residents are selected to begin training on July 1st of each year after completion of an approved 12-month internship.

Positions are filled through SF Match (P.O. Box 7584, San Francisco, CA 94120-7584, (415) 447-0350). Information and applications may be obtained from SF Match.

 

  • Surgical experience as a primary surgeon commences in the first year of residency.
  • Phacoemulsification cataract extraction training begins in the first year of residency.
  • Subspecialty training in corneal, glaucoma, oculoplastics, and retinal surgery occurs in all three years of residency.
  • Exposure to a highly diverse patient population between the University of Chicago Medical Center and NorthShore University HealthSystem.
  • 24-hour access to both surgical wet lab equipped with operating microscopes, surgical instruments and phacoemulsification machines, as well as a new ophthalmic surgery simulation center with two surgical simulators (Eyesi and MicroVis), three dry lab stations and a multi-media learning lounge.
  • Access to the University of Chicago John Crerar Medical Sciences Library, which houses over 1.4 million volumes and offers electronic (and remote) access to thousands of journals, including all of the major ophthalmic publications.
  • Opportunities for research (clinical and basic science) are abundant and resident participation is encouraged and supported. Many of our faculty are actively engaged in research and welcome resident participation.
  • Opportunities for non-conventional, cross-disciplinary research are available, in conjunction with faculty from the University of Chicago’s Biological Sciences Division, Booth School of Business, Harris School of Public Policy, and the Grossman Institute for Neuroscience, Quantitative Biology & Human Behavior.
  • Residents are encouraged to submit posters to ARVO and the Academy, and if accepted, reimbursement is provided for meeting expenses.
  • All third year residents attend the American of Academy of Ophthalmology Annual Meeting.
  • Residents participate in system-based practice and quality improvement projects. For each project, the resident identifies an area of the healthcare delivery system that can be improved upon that is pertinent to the University of Chicago eye service. The resident devises and enacts a plan of improvement and reports findings to faculty and housestaff.
  • Residents aid in the education of University of Chicago.

For all of our applicants: here is a virtual tour from the University of Chicago campus to the eye clinic in the adjacent UChicago Medical Center! We hope you enjoy!