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Q&A
What is the culture of the residency program? (resident clinics, teaching philosophy)
There are 3 practices: ColumbiaDoctors Faculty Practice, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital Ambulatory Care Network (ACN), and Harlem Hospital. Trainees are assigned individual patients in both ACN and Harlem, but always directly supervised by attending faculty. The residency program has a combination of both hands-on and attending-guided teaching, but is more hands-on overall.
How does resident surgical responsibility progress over the course of residency?
Residents are expected to start operating during their PGY-2 year, and have graduated surgical responsibility throughout the residency. This includes cataract surgery starting in the PGY3 year. Residents are expected to take part in both formal and self-guided wetlabs, as well as to take part in a 1-week surgical simulation educational experience during their PGY3 year.
What does the schedule look like for residents?
Internship is a Transitional Year internship, with clinical experiences changing every 2-6 weeks. PGY2-4 rotations switch every 6-12 weeks.
Call is home-call based. It is significantly more heavy during the PGY2 year, and more surgical/supervisory the PGY4 year.
For teaching schedule, Thursday afternoons are reserved for didactics, case presentations, journal clubs, and Grand Rounds. In addition, there are a series of rotating monthly conferences, specific ocular pathology review days, and a month-long Basic Science Course during PGY2.
The schedule is relatively inflexible from a rotation standpoint, though vacations are as personally optimized as possible PGY2-4. There is a 1-week individualized elective during the PGY4 year.
How many sites do residents train at during residency? What hospitals are involved?
Residents rotate through Columbia faculty practice sites and the affiliated NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital campus and ACN clinic, as well as Harlem Hospital.
Is there an emphasis on research or dedicated time for research?
All residents are expected to complete at least one research project per year (most complete multiple), with required project presentation during our Annual Research Day in June. Research takes place during off-time. Research is also encouraged with an annual budget for conferences to which they have had posters or presentations accepted.
What percentage of graduates go on to complete fellowships?
The vast majority, with occasional exception.
What does your program look for in an applicant? Advice for applicants for your program?
Our best residents are highly self-motivated, ambitious, humble, independent, kind, studious, communicative, ethical, organized, flexible, resourceful, academic, internally happy individuals who are able to follow policies and procedures, thrive in a fast-paced environment with multiple different types of medical workflows and patient needs.
We aim to train the future leaders of Ophthalmology!