IM vs. ophthalmology

[mercaptovizadeh]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

I'm wondering about the importance of research and ophthalmology electives for applying to ophtho?

For the longest time I've been on the IM track, I've done my PhD research on an IM subject, and my electives are in medical subspecialties.

Since I didn't enjoy my IM rotation that much (still hoping to get honors), I'm thinking of alternatives. I always considered ophtho even before college, but worried that it would be too narrow of a field for my breadth of interest. I am currently on surgery and have an IM AI scheduled in July. So I really only have August to take an ophtho elective and explore my interest. That gives me no time before applying in September to develop professional relationships, perform research, etc. for applying to ophtho residency (which I'm not sure I would at this point, I just don't know enough about the field).

Would I need to take off an extra research year to build up a strong ophtho application? Would one ophtho elective recommendation, no ophtho research (but PhD research in another field), good clinical grades (~1/2 Hs and ~1/2 HPs), and a >250 step 1 be enough to get a good ophtho residency spot?

 

[ophthope]

Would I need to take off an extra research year to build up a strong ophtho application? Would one ophtho elective recommendation, no ophtho research (but PhD research in another field), good clinical grades (~1/2 Hs and ~1/2 HPs), and a >250 step 1 be enough to get a good ophtho residency spot?

If you can, switch your AI and get some Ophtho exposure earlier since that will make your decision far easier.

PhD should help you, grades should help, Step score is great. The only things that could give you trouble are Ophthalmology specific:

1. You need a good reason why or a story to tell about why you're doing Ophthalmology.
2. It would be helpful to have some Ophtho 'research.'

You've got time to develop a good narrative about your Ophthalmology interests. You can focus on the overlap between Medicine and Ophtho and then highlight the differences that attract you to Ophthalmology.

You've got research already, so just do *something* to throw Ophthalmology a bone. You have no time to do the types of research projects that you're used to doing as a PhD but that's fine. I'm sure I don't have any Ophtho research on my app that compares to your Medicine research, but I still matched my #1. What I did have was an in-progress case report and some grand rounds presentations. You can get both of those things on your application during a single month of hustling in an Ophtho rotation; probably even if you don't take it until August.

Doing this stuff you should be able to match - I met plenty of people on the interview trail who had decided on Ophthalmology late in 3rd year. Keep in mind that it is common for many medical students to get little exposure to Ophtho, and when they get exposure it's later on in third year. Plenty of people in your boat match. Taking off for a research year might be a big waste of time.

All that said: this is just advice about matching somewhere. If by "good ophtho residency" you mean a top 10 eye institute then maybe not. If however you mean somewhere with good clinical and surgical training, well that describes 95% of Ophtho residencies. Very few places have a 'bad' reputation. You can probably match at a place that will train you to be a great Ophthalmologist and get you into a fellowship if you'd like.