Full disclosure: Information from a UB resident
Dispelling the myths of Buffalo: Buffalo gets a lot of bad press because it snows. Get a coat, buy some snow tires, you’ll be fine. It snows in a lot of places; Buffalo is really no different, except they probably plow the roads a lot better. On the other hand, if you haven’t experienced spring, summer and fall in western New York it is incredible - Perfect 70-degree weather, tons of outdoor activities, lots of local things going on. With regards to warmer climates down south where you sweat balls all summer long. This is a nice change. Cost of living is great and there are lots of nice (and not so nice) neighborhoods within 15 mins from work.
UB Ophtho (or The Ross Eye Institute) is a great program. It remains lesser known in the Ophtho world but it is definitely on the rise. It may never be an enormous research powerhouse like the wills and Bascoms out there but certainly is backed by a massive university system with a huge investment in research (UB/SUNY buffalo). Most importantly, if you have an idea – the sky’s the limit. If you don’t, then there are lots of eager faculty members with projects for you to join.
Clinically it has all the pieces that make an outstanding teaching program. It has a large VAMC (resident clinic) that serves all of western New York, ECMC (county hospital which is essentially the only Level 1 trauma around), a big children’s hospital and a university based clinical facility that serves as a tertiary care facility for a huge catchment area. With only 3 residents per class and one cornea fellow there is tons of surgical volume to go around and more importantly the opportunity to be actively involved in complex sub-specialty cases if you desire. The program is centered on education from the top down; you will not be a forgotten workhorse.
As a first year you essentially have call one weekend a month and then once a week (except the week preceding the weekend you're on call). That decreases your second year and as a senior you're only on backup call. The hospitals are all within 15 minutes from each other so traveling is not an issue. The faculty are great and very much centered on making the program better. They do have very high expectations for the residents.
Ultimately you should pick a place you will be happy. It’s hard to find a sucky Ophtho program. If you work hard you will be successful, regardless of your residency program.
The website listed on SDN is outdated. They're working on updating it.
https://rosseye.com/ is the patient side website that contains more info.
