Residents are an integral part of our team
Program Year 1
The first year of ophthalmic residency training is known as the internship year, (or PGY1), hence this residency cohort is called interns. The first-year is coordinated through the Emory School of Medicine. This ACGME-accredited, transitional program introduces medical school graduates to a foundation of core internal medicine principles that they will buld upon as practicing physicians during the remainder of their residency at Emory.
Program Year 2
Second-year residents (PGY2) participate in renucleations, chalazion excisions, YAG capsulotomies, LIs, CPC, temporal artery biopsies and intravitreal injections. A third-year resident will serve as their 'buddy' in establishing a call-schedule that will include coverage of Grady, Emory Midtown, Emory University Hospital, and the VA Medical Center.
Program Year 3
Third-year residents (PGY3) will be involved in cataracts, strabismus, focal lasers, selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT), panretinal photocoagulation (PRP) laser, and open globes. They will have the opportunity to take the Harvard Medical School Intensive Cataract Surgical Training Course. Their call schedule will be every sixth night and every sixth weekend, primarily at Emory University Hospital and Egleston Children’s Hospital.
Program Year 4
Fourth-year residents (PGY4) routinely assume the role of primary surgeon during their clinical rotations. They serve as on-call buddies and overall mentors for their first-year cohorts. Their own call schedule is every sixth weeknight and every sixth weekend. They are given dedicated time to conduct ophthalmic research that is presented before their peers at an Emory Eye Center lecture or at a professional conference. All fourth-years attend the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) annual meeting and receive time off to attend job or fellowship interviews.