The Emory Department of Ophthalmology is excited to announce that its residency program is expanding to include an enhanced emphasis on clinical competency and curricular excellence. Advancing these efforts on behalf of longtime residency director Dr. Jeremy K. Jones will be Dr. Sruthi Arepalli and Dr. Rebecca Neustein, who have been newly promoted to share the position of associate director.
“We are looking forward to working closely with Dr. Jones and [residency coordinator] Tracey Yancey to elevate what is already an exemplary residency experience,” said Neustein, herself a graduate of the Emory ophthalmology residency program.
Annually, the Emory Department of Ophthalmology accepts six medical school graduates to its residency program for a total of 18 active ophthalmology residents. Under the mentorship of the department's clinical faculty, these residents rotate through multiple ophthalmic subspecialties over the course of their three-year training.
Prior to the dual appointment of Arepalli and Neustein, the associate director position was held for 15 years by Dr. Blaine Cribbs, a member of the department's Vitreoretinal Section who completed both his opthalmic residency and retina fellowship at Emory.
"We owe a debt of gratitude to Dr. Cribbs for the foundation he has built," said Jones of his friend and colleague. "It should surprise no one that we filled his shoes with two very talented clinicians."
Though the new associate directors will work together on many projects, each will focus on enriching a different aspect of the department’s residency experience. Arepalli will concentrate on developing and evaluating clinical competency while Neustein will enhance the residency curriculum and lecture series.
Both will oversee a wellness check-in and a one-on-one mentorship program that will pair each incoming resident with a staff physician.
“Residency is a critical chapter in any physician’s education,” said Arepalli. “We are excited to be given the opportunity to build this program to meet the growing demands of the profession.”
--Kathleen E. Moore