I rotated at most of the DO ophthalmology programs and am a senior resident at one of the programs.
One thing that should be noted is that the DO programs have more variation from program to program vs their MD counterparts.
DO programs have the same surgical and didactic requirements as the MD programs with the only exception being cataract surgery. DOs require 50 surgeries by graduation. MDs require 85. All the programs hit those numbers, some a lot higher than others. All the DO programs provide out months for their residents. So about 6 months during the full 3 years are out/travel months for them to do any rotation at any institution. Didactics include weekly CORO video conference lectures, resident run weekly sessions and attending various allopathic grand rounds.
So let's starts comparing:
NY:
The strongest from a didactic standpoint by far. As a PG2 you will be required to attend daily lectures at all the grand rounds around town. So one day it will be at NYEE, one at Columbia, one at Cornell, one at Suny. Almost all are after work from 6 to 9 pm. That could get old really quick. But you are learning with the best. Down fall is no time to read. Most rotations are around town, exception being Peds done in Erie. They live in NY doesn't get better than that. NY is a union state so all the residencies pay the same, $50k plus. They are required to go to India for surgery as a senior. It costs the residents $15 to $20k, which is not reimbursed. That make things tough as a senior because applying for fellowships will also cost $10k w travel and lodging, generally. One big down fall is you were required to do extra year as a surgery or family medicine resident. But I hear they are getting rid of that since now they are having a better time matching at those specialties.
Oklahoma:
The strongest from a surgical stand point. Residents on average do 300 to 400+ cataract surgeries. Its remarkable how much surgery their residencies do. Tulsa is a nice mid size city. One big down fall is they don't have many didactic oriented attendings on a daily basis. But it looks like that's changing. They've recruited a Cornea and Glaucoma specialist. Overall good program.
St. John/POH:
The oldest program. Its an okay program all the way around. Run by a husband and wife team. They get didactic at Wayne State and Beaumont. But they are never acknowledged there. Its like the residents were outcasts intruding in someone else's home. Weird to say the least. They cover 2 hospitals. Most of their rotations is within the metro Detroit area.
Erie:
Good all the way around. Starting off as first years they go to Wills Eye to do a full month crash course in ophthalmology. This is repeated during their mid second year going to Columbia Eye for a full month for review. Didactics is resident run, but done well on a daily basis. They cover 3 hospitals in town, one is a trauma center. Their base clinic is a resident run clinic. Moderate to high amount of cataract and pediatric surgery. Rotations mostly in the state of PA. Down fall is living in Erie, PA. Their interview process most intimidating. High COMLEX scores a must i'm told.
OH programs:
Both have excellent didactics and both consistently score the highest on the OKAPS. Moderate amount of surgery. Didactics done with OSU counterparts, which embrace them and are friendly with each other.
Hillsdale:
Moderate to high amount of surgery. As a PGY2 he will have you doing cataract surgery. The down fall and strengths of the program are related to the program director. He's a one man show, and its a one clinic show. But very strong didactics run by him. They have a cataract simulator that all the residents use. The program director is very very picky on who he accepts. He only ranks a couple people that he wants to train, if he doesn't get them he will just not accept anyone for that year. Kinda weird.
PCOM:
Used to be the best DO program i was told. Now in and out probation all the time. They keep pulling out of the match and accepting someone outside the match. They do get to do didactics at Wills Eye, but outside of that not much to state of value in that program at this time.
The other programs I don't know much about.
Best of luck
One thing that should be noted is that the DO programs have more variation from program to program vs their MD counterparts.
DO programs have the same surgical and didactic requirements as the MD programs with the only exception being cataract surgery. DOs require 50 surgeries by graduation. MDs require 85. All the programs hit those numbers, some a lot higher than others. All the DO programs provide out months for their residents. So about 6 months during the full 3 years are out/travel months for them to do any rotation at any institution. Didactics include weekly CORO video conference lectures, resident run weekly sessions and attending various allopathic grand rounds.
So let's starts comparing:
NY:
The strongest from a didactic standpoint by far. As a PG2 you will be required to attend daily lectures at all the grand rounds around town. So one day it will be at NYEE, one at Columbia, one at Cornell, one at Suny. Almost all are after work from 6 to 9 pm. That could get old really quick. But you are learning with the best. Down fall is no time to read. Most rotations are around town, exception being Peds done in Erie. They live in NY doesn't get better than that. NY is a union state so all the residencies pay the same, $50k plus. They are required to go to India for surgery as a senior. It costs the residents $15 to $20k, which is not reimbursed. That make things tough as a senior because applying for fellowships will also cost $10k w travel and lodging, generally. One big down fall is you were required to do extra year as a surgery or family medicine resident. But I hear they are getting rid of that since now they are having a better time matching at those specialties.
Oklahoma:
The strongest from a surgical stand point. Residents on average do 300 to 400+ cataract surgeries. Its remarkable how much surgery their residencies do. Tulsa is a nice mid size city. One big down fall is they don't have many didactic oriented attendings on a daily basis. But it looks like that's changing. They've recruited a Cornea and Glaucoma specialist. Overall good program.
St. John/POH:
The oldest program. Its an okay program all the way around. Run by a husband and wife team. They get didactic at Wayne State and Beaumont. But they are never acknowledged there. Its like the residents were outcasts intruding in someone else's home. Weird to say the least. They cover 2 hospitals. Most of their rotations is within the metro Detroit area.
Erie:
Good all the way around. Starting off as first years they go to Wills Eye to do a full month crash course in ophthalmology. This is repeated during their mid second year going to Columbia Eye for a full month for review. Didactics is resident run, but done well on a daily basis. They cover 3 hospitals in town, one is a trauma center. Their base clinic is a resident run clinic. Moderate to high amount of cataract and pediatric surgery. Rotations mostly in the state of PA. Down fall is living in Erie, PA. Their interview process most intimidating. High COMLEX scores a must i'm told.
OH programs:
Both have excellent didactics and both consistently score the highest on the OKAPS. Moderate amount of surgery. Didactics done with OSU counterparts, which embrace them and are friendly with each other.
Hillsdale:
Moderate to high amount of surgery. As a PGY2 he will have you doing cataract surgery. The down fall and strengths of the program are related to the program director. He's a one man show, and its a one clinic show. But very strong didactics run by him. They have a cataract simulator that all the residents use. The program director is very very picky on who he accepts. He only ranks a couple people that he wants to train, if he doesn't get them he will just not accept anyone for that year. Kinda weird.
PCOM:
Used to be the best DO program i was told. Now in and out probation all the time. They keep pulling out of the match and accepting someone outside the match. They do get to do didactics at Wills Eye, but outside of that not much to state of value in that program at this time.
The other programs I don't know much about.
Best of luck
