Ranking Ophthalmology Programs

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eyeballs

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I know that if you are interested in ophthalmology, you are sort forced to follow the saying "Beggars can't be choosers". I know I will have to apply to a bunch of programs, but does anyone know about the WORST programs in the US...Any that I should stay away from if at all possible??? I'd rather go in with my "eyeballs" open 😱 Thanks!!
 
I was one who left myself in the "I just want to match" category so interviewed at some of the lesser known programs. A few comments....the only 2 schools I would not have been happy to match at were Maryland General Hospital (minimal surgical numbers, I think program is on shaky ground?) and UTMB (Galveston would be like living in Panama City, FLA + patient population is prison instead of VA). However, UTMB has new chairman and he and the program director seemed good. Comment on 2 surprises on the trail that I ranked higher then would have expected....1) Eastern Virginia-though lots of private physicians involved (negative and positive), nice VA and facilities, plenty of surgery, great PD with supposedly lots of research waiting for the manpower to get done. 2) Geisinger-MUST be married and OK with VERY small town living but faculty very nice, all specialties well represented, and decent surgery numbers. Still ended up well down my list though because of the town
 
On that note, I am in the "beggars can't be choosers" category and am unmarried, but don't want to end up in a place like Geisinger described above. I am curious about some more middle tier programs in good cities where I could be excited about my program and where I live. Any suggestions?
 
I liked Penn-State Hershey. It's relatively close to the bigger cities, and the faculty seemed great, good surgical numbers. Also, their last PGY-4 matched at Bascom Palmer for a fellowship (I think it was Retina, but not sure). So I think you have a lot of potential at this program.
 
When I was applying, everybody kept telling me the same thing... there's a small handful of programs that are considered the elite programs and there's a small handful of programs that are a little less desirable than the rest, but 80-90% of programs are in the middle and generally considered to be pretty good.
 
Thanks for the advise!
 
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