University of Texas Medical Branch Hospitals

Ophthalmology Residency Program Compendium Table of Contents

University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston
Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences
301 University Boulevard
Galveston, Texas 77555

http://utmb.edu/ovs

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Butters415 said:

When I was applying last year, I got an e-mail from Galveston saying they were on probation. I forgot why. You might want to look into that. Sometimes programs are on probation for innocuous reasons, but sometimes it's a red flag.

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Galveston, in my opinion, is the weakest program in Texas. They got a new program director who claims that they are going to become the premier program in Texas, but I don't see it happening. I hope he does improve things though. They have to do alot of work at the jail, which supposedly gives good exposure and cases, but it's a jail and they are prisoners. The new chairman seems to be very academic/research oriented. They send you away to Austin for a few months to do pedi, which didn't seem good to me.They also send their residents to Houston for various rotations. There seemed to be alot of faculty turnover. The city of Galveston is pretty run down and doesn't seem like it would be a fun place to live...the beaches are gross. The residents that interview you try to make it seem like they're enjoying the experience, but I talked with a girl who rotated there and she said that the residents are unhappy. They do have nice clinics though.

Had the opportunity to visit this year. Would like to first mention that on ACGME website, program is listed as continued accreditation with warning. Did not check on this before interview so I did not ask. Note: status may change come Jan 2017

Unique program in that you work with Texas Department of Corrections and see inmates at TDC. It is their version of VA, as a resident put it, but you also do 3 months senior year at Orlando VA. Have the Opportunity of rotating at MD Anderson at TMC (6 weeks oncology/plastics PGY3) and with well known NeuroOphth faculty at Methodist TMC for 3 months PGY2. New facilities at UTMB medical center, very nice. LASIK rotation PGY4, can recruit patients for reduced cost surgery. Research time during Peds PGY2 and Cornea PGY2 and PGY3. Submission of work to peer reviewed journal by end of residency. Haiti international elective.OKAPS prep Houston area review.

2 weeks orientation PGY2, buddy call first 3 months where more senior residents available.

Start surgery exposure PGY2 at TDC on phaco fridays. Start full cases PGY3. Phaco average: 157 Total surgical cases: 486

Rotations in Houston and most of time in Galveston. Go to Orlando VA senior year.

Perks:
2 free lenses, BCSC
$1000 for education spending (for all 3 years, not per year)
AAO meeting covered senior year
5 days off PGY4 for interviews
Quarterly resident outing.