I'm a senior resident at Storm Eye. Wanted to provide my perspective.
Pros:
1. Training:
-Average 200-250 cataracts with many of them being challenging cases (white whales, pseudo ex with placement of CTRs, uveitic, post PPV, etc)
-Certified on Catalys laser system for FLACS by completing 10 cases at no additional cost to the patient. All graduates the past 2 years after been certified with ease and that is the case this year thus far
-Exposure to Alcon, AMO, and B&L lenses. We get free alcon torics through the VA of course, limited number of free AMO torics and multifocals at the University, and B&L lenses at the VA through arrangement with our friendly local industry reps.
I've implanted 10 Crystalens or Truligns (the trulign patients are particularly thrilled, most places don't get to try these lenses), countless torics, and have started to recruit multifocal patients for my FLACS cases
I was surprised with our programs involvement with industry when I started residency since I came from a traditional medical school that shunned all reps, but have found it to be a valuable experience. I've been able to use a wide variety of lenses and machines, and reps also know where good jobs and even know the skinny on some fellowships.
-Exposure to iStents. I've implanted 15 and probably will do 25-30 easily
-No fellows except 2 peds fellows. We get to do the complex anterior segment, glaucoma, and retina cases.
My numbers:
Cataracts: 143 (I'll get to 250 easily)
Glaucoma: 62 SLT (will do >100), 3 Ahmed valves (will do 5-10 I'm guessing), 5 phaco/trabs with/without Express shunt[will do 10 at least (for the record, I don't like trabs)], 5 diodes CPC, 1 scleral window surgery for choroidals
Retina: >50 injections, 3 tap and inject, 30 PRP, 5 retinal tear demarcation, 3 focals for cme, 12 core vitrectomies (2 in phakic patients), 3 scleral buckles, my favorite case: a 25 gauge PPV, lensectomy, and scleral pocket glued 3 piece IOL (I did the entire surgery with retina attending scrubbed for first part, anterior segment attending scrubbed for pocket IOL part)
Cornea: our current weakest surgical area in my opinion. We rotate as 1st year residents and don't get to do as much as we would as seniors of course. This year we started to have seniors spend 1-2 days a week in the cornea OR during a VA elective block. I've done most of 1 PK, assisted 2 DSAEKS, but will return in the spring when on the elective to do plenty more.
We're in process of implementing resident LASIK through discounts to MUSC employees and family.
Peds: 25 muscles (a few obliques and vertical, few adult strab, few re ops), exposure to one of the highest volume peds cataract surgeons in the world (M. Ed Wilson, president of AAPOS this year), since there are 2 peds fellows, it's almost unheard of for a resident to do a peds cataract.
Oculoplastics: 40 blephs, 15 lateral tarsal strips, at least 10 tarsorrhaphies (stopped tracking), assisted as many DCRs and orbital cases as I'll ever care for
2. People
-the faculty, residents, administrative staff, techs, and nurses are awesome. Very friendly environment
-we match quality residents that are great to work with
Fellowship Match last 2-3 years:
Retina: Virginia, UCLA
ASOPRS: Tennessee
Peds: Michigan, MUSC
Glaucoma: Virginia
Cornea: Kerry Solomon's fellowship
My class has 2 going into cornea, 1 into glaucoma, 1 with a job already in comprehensive.
We've gotten great interviews (Mass Eye, Wilmer, Iowa, Cleveland Clinic, Bascom, Duke, Lindstrom's, Baylor, Emory, Colorado, UIC, etc)
We have faculty who trained at Wills, Wilmer, Mass Eye, Emory, and Cleveland Clinic that are well connected.
3. Research
-basic science faculty are available if lab research is your thing. Strong areas are AMD, glaucoma, peds
-we are required to present at the Kiawah Eye Meeting each May. Great meeting, lots of fun, instant CV filler. Most residents complete retrospective chart reviews. Some ambitious residents have completed stem cell stuff and prospective projects in years past.
-provided $1000 to present at a national meeting each resident, each year. $1500 to go to AAO as senior (no presentation required)
4. Location
Charleston is a historic city with reasonable cost of living for being on the coast ($1000-$2000 per month rent depending on location/size), many residents buy nice 3 bed/2+ bath condos or houses for ~160-200k
Beach, boating, golf, tennis, music, food, 5Ks FTK (for the kids), etc abound
Cons:
1. Size of department: we are a small department with minimal depth in a few areas
Eg. 1 Part time neuro op person who does 2 days a week
Glaucoma and plastics: 1 person at the university, 1 at the VA
1 person who does path/uveitis/comp. Rare to have a pathology trained person though
1 cornea, 1 refractive person
2. Scut
IMO the residents here do more than our share of answering patient phone calls and filling e-prescriptions. Most places have a designated lead tech for each attending. Here, the techs seem inadequate at triaging and the residents on the service deal with most of it.
It's improved since I started residency, but it's my biggest complaint about the program. I typically spend 10-30 min per day dealing with phone calls or epic mychart messages. This could be the future of healthcare though with the big push for "customer service" and online surveys growing in popularity.
Also, we don't "tech" patients hardly ever, which is nice.
3. Wet Lab
-our wet lab is being "enhanced" as it needs a face lift. All residents (except jr. and sr. on call) go to AMOs phaco course at UNC chapel hill, 2nd years go to B&L's course in Tampa, and seniors go to Alcon's course. We get pig eyes for free whenever you want. We don't have the EyeSi. My medical school had one and I played with it for 3-4 hours. To me, actual practice with a real phaco machine and microscope is more valuable, but the EyeSi is a fun video game!
Bottom line:
Solid surgical training, enough research to match into whatever specialty you want or to launch your academic career, great people and location.
I interviewed for residency at Cleveland Clinic, Mayo, Iowa, Dean McGee, Casey, Emory, and several other solid programs. At my Storm Eye interview, we went to a roof top bar for crab cakes, wine and looked out at the city in 65 degree weather in December.
I was sold, and I'm glad I came here.
