Hi SDN,

I have heard a lot about the strong academics at UIC, and no doubt, it seems like an excellent program. From my understanding, a lot of their graduates enter fellowships. Do you think that it would be good training for someone to do comprehensive right after residency? Perhaps my question is naive, but I if anyone has any insight on it- much appreciated.

Thank you, and best of luck to everyone next week.

I would say that there are better programs for comprehensive ophthalmology. If you're sure that's what you want (although I would keep my options open, if I were you) then there are better residency programs out there. The biggest problem with the program is the diversity of the surgical experience - you get a look at everything, but the amount of non-cataract surgery you do is not particularly high in any department. Note that things may be different now - the new chairman has a lot of energy and has added quite a few new faculty, so there may be more opportunities now for surgery.

I would say that there are better programs for comprehensive ophthalmology. If you're sure that's what you want (although I would keep my options open, if I were you) then there are better residency programs out there. The biggest problem with the program is the diversity of the surgical experience - you get a look at everything, but the amount of non-cataract surgery you do is not particularly high in any department. Note that things may be different now - the new chairman has a lot of energy and has added quite a few new faculty, so there may be more opportunities now for surgery.


Reply: Thanks for the information. Although it is after we've already turned in our rank lists, I wanted to know more about the program. Thanks again for the reply.

I don't know how it is with the new chairman, but with the previous one, you were basically expected to do a fellowship, and the program was geared with that in mind.

Dave