Question about UIC for comprehensive

[jacksroy]

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Hi SDN,

I have heard a lot about the strong academics at UIC, and no doubt, it seems like an excellent program. From my understanding, a lot of their graduates enter fellowships. Do you think that it would be good training for someone to do comprehensive right after residency? Perhaps my question is naive, but I if anyone has any insight on it- much appreciated.

Thank you, and best of luck to everyone next week.

 

[7ontheline]

I would say that there are better programs for comprehensive ophthalmology. If you're sure that's what you want (although I would keep my options open, if I were you) then there are better residency programs out there. The biggest problem with the program is the diversity of the surgical experience - you get a look at everything, but the amount of non-cataract surgery you do is not particularly high in any department. Note that things may be different now - the new chairman has a lot of energy and has added quite a few new faculty, so there may be more opportunities now for surgery.

 

[jacksroy]

I would say that there are better programs for comprehensive ophthalmology. If you're sure that's what you want (although I would keep my options open, if I were you) then there are better residency programs out there. The biggest problem with the program is the diversity of the surgical experience - you get a look at everything, but the amount of non-cataract surgery you do is not particularly high in any department. Note that things may be different now - the new chairman has a lot of energy and has added quite a few new faculty, so there may be more opportunities now for surgery.

Reply: Thanks for the information. Although it is after we've already turned in our rank lists, I wanted to know more about the program. Thanks again for the reply.

 

[Wolverine98]

I don't know how it is with the new chairman, but with the previous one, you were basically expected to do a fellowship, and the program was geared with that in mind.

Dave

 

[bmk579]

I think things have changed a bit compared to 5-10 years ago. I definitely think UIC has more of an academic bent, but there have been several people over the past couple years going into comprehensive and they are supported by the chairman. That being said, most people still do fellowships, however most people also come in from the start thinking that they want to specialize.

Specialty surgery numbers may not be as high as a program that does not have any fellows, however the people going into comprehensive still feel comfortable. Trab numbers have gone up significantly, since the glaucoma fellow no longer goes to the VA, and the senior residents do all the trabs there. The plastics experience is much better, because the new younger attending turns everything over. The resident-run clinic is also a good resource because any patients that need specialty surgery (eg. PKP, trab, etc) can be done by the resident unless they choose not to. I'm not sure how much retina surgery any resident at any program will do, but you do get experience doing some core vitrectomies with Dr. M Blair, especially if you are interested in retina.

That being said, I agree that if you are 100% sure from the start that you want to do comprehensive, there are better options out there. But it doesn't make sense to me to go somewhere that limits your options, especially if you might later change your mind and want to do a fellowship. UIC residents do well in getting the fellowships they want.