Home Residency Program in Medical School

[Eagle529]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Hello, I am attending medical school next year, and I am possibly interested in ophthalmology. I am wondering how important it is for the medical school I attend to have a home ophthalmology residency program. Is this required to get strong letters of rec and research opportunities?

I was also admitted to a community health center track where all four years are done at a satellite location rather than at the paired academic medical center. While there are some clinical research opportunities available here, there aren't any wet labs. Is there a bias for clinical research vs. wet lab research in a residency application for ophthalmology?

Thank you for any advice you can give me, and I'm sorry if I am posting in the wrong forum.

 

[Cawolf]

As a medical student who recently went through the process with a home program, I think it is a huge (but not mandatory) advantage for the field. Students with home programs can develop longer relationships with mentors in ophthalmology and pursue longitudinal research projects (basic or clinical). You can also rotate at home, making it so less or no away rotations are needed (depending on the school). Having a home PD and residents to "have your back" and provide guidance is also very useful.

That said, I met many students from programs without home residencies who matched very well. They just had to work a little harder, travel more, and spend more money on aways.

If you are seriously interested in ophthalmology as a potential speciality, I would go to a school with a home program if possible.