UVA is a smaller program, but also very solid both clinically and surgically. Previous posts that comment on the variety of pathology are not true. UVA covers all of central and western Virginia, and gets a plethora of interesting and diverse pathology (diverse indigent population, large area for recent refugees, trauma, etc.)
Call: There are 3 residents per year, and call is front loaded, like many other smaller programs out there. However, 2nd and 3rd year is much better. Open globes are frequent.
Happiness: Residents are all very happy, as this is a very close knit program, both between residents and faculty. Unlike many bigger programs where you may go through your residency with many faculty not knowing your name, you develop a close relationship with all faculty members at UVA.
Curriculum: 1st year is spent in your own resident continuity clinic, with 3rd years and faculty available for backup. At first, you run patients by upper levels or attendings, but as you get more comfortable, you have excellent autonomy. 2nd year is spent in sub-specialty clinics (neuro-op, cornea, retina, glaucoma, peds). 3rd year is spent doing an insane amount of surgery. Last year, residents were in the 250-300 range for cataracts, while also getting a great variety of other cases. Residents spend some time during 3rd year at the Salem VA (~2 hrs away), but you are set up with an apartment. You have great autonomy here, and get a large amount of cataracts.
Faculty: The faculty at UVA are excellent and very eager to teach! Dr. Conway is well-known for retina. Dr. Newman is a world-class neuro-op who sees an abundance of pathology, and is an excellent teacher. Dr. Ghazi is also in retina and is an amazing teacher. They just brought in a new glaucome physician. Overall, great faculty who take a vested interest in each resident.
Fellowships: 1 or 2 residents each year decide to pursue a fellowship. They have sent residents in the past years into cornea (Devers EI with Dr. Terry, and Colorado), retina (boston area program).
Facilities: I have heard concerns from other applicants that the facilities at UVA are dismal. The facilities do not compare to the likes of some other large programs, but they utilize the space they have very well. The main clinic has 15-16 exam rooms, and residents get there own exam room. There is a photography suite, Humphreys, OCT, etc. with excellent ancillary staff. There is also a minor procedure rooms for TA biopsies, chalazion removal, etc. There is an eye OR in the main OR, and also several rooms at the outpatient surgery center where most of the cases are performed. There is also a more modern facility where many of the subspecialty clinics are held. These facilities are extremely nice and only a 5 minute drive away.
Charlottesville: A wonderful mid-sized city of ~150,000 people that is beautiful and includes the historic UVA and home of Thomas Jefferson. There is a wide array of outdoor life to enjoy including hiking in the Blue Ridge Mountains, beautiful road biking, great single-trac mountain biking. There is an abundance of cultural life, including arts, music, and plenty of places to eat (you name it, Cville probably has it). The music scene here rivals that of many bigger cities. There is a newly built venue that brings in big names all the time. As previous post pointed out, named best place to live in Frommers previously. Tons of great places to live that are very affordable, and many residents purchase homes. Large population of young professionals for those who are single. Plus, it is 2 hours from DC and an hour from Richmond. Although shopping is weak, they are building a brand new mall with some high-end stores which will be completed in 2010.
Overall: Solid clinical experience with some of the higher surgical numbers around. Excellent autonomy with back-up as needed.
