For all you soon to be starting ophthalmology residents, this commentary was published in Ophthalmology, Volume 108, Number 8, August 2001, p. 1372. Good luck and congratulations on choosing a great career path! 
Commentary
Words of Wisdom for the New Ophthalmology Resident
DAVID A. QUILLEN, MD
Hershey, Pennsylvania
On your residency experience . . .
Enjoy your residency yearsyou will remember them fondly when theyre over.
Value your relationships with fellow residentsthey will be your friends for life.
Get to know your facultymany are in academic ophthalmology because of you.
You are your programs greatest assetfind ways to make it better.
Be thankful for the opportunity to learn and practice ophthalmologynot everyone who wants to can.
Strive for excellence in everything you do.
On patient care . . .
Always put the patients interests first.
Remember that the eyes are connected to a person.
Patients will value what you tell themthink before you speak.
Educate your patients about their eye problemseven if you cannot treat, you can enlighten.
If you are debating about whether or not to see a patient, see him.
Dont leave the last patient for someone else.
Mistakes and complications will occurlearn from them and commit to improve.
Do sweat the small stufflittle things can become big.
On learning . . .
Assume responsibility for your own learning be active in your quest for knowledge.
Be enthusiasticyour eagerness to learn will influence your resident and faculty colleagues.
Common things occur commonlymaster the fundamentals.
Link learning to patient careyoure more likely to retain what you learn.
Seize the learning momentyou really can learn something from every patient you see.
Read extensivelycommit to reading ophthalmology every night.
Be open to new ideas and think outside the boxthere are many unanswered questions.
On resident behavior . . .
Remember the Golden Rule: treat others as you would like to be treated.
Respect and value all members of the health care teameveryone contributes.
Develop your talents and share them with othersin giving you will receive.
Listen to and learn from othersyou dont have all the answers.
Reflect on your own performancerecognize your deficiencies and improve.
Refrain from gossipif you have a problem, address it directly.
Criticism alone is not the answerbe a problem solver.
Be on timefirst impressions are important.
On leadership . . .
Lead by exampleyou really can make a difference.
Emphasize teamworkthe whole is better than the individual parts.
And remember, true leaders make the others around them better.
Commentary
Words of Wisdom for the New Ophthalmology Resident
DAVID A. QUILLEN, MD
Hershey, Pennsylvania
On your residency experience . . .
Enjoy your residency yearsyou will remember them fondly when theyre over.
Value your relationships with fellow residentsthey will be your friends for life.
Get to know your facultymany are in academic ophthalmology because of you.
You are your programs greatest assetfind ways to make it better.
Be thankful for the opportunity to learn and practice ophthalmologynot everyone who wants to can.
Strive for excellence in everything you do.
On patient care . . .
Always put the patients interests first.
Remember that the eyes are connected to a person.
Patients will value what you tell themthink before you speak.
Educate your patients about their eye problemseven if you cannot treat, you can enlighten.
If you are debating about whether or not to see a patient, see him.
Dont leave the last patient for someone else.
Mistakes and complications will occurlearn from them and commit to improve.
Do sweat the small stufflittle things can become big.
On learning . . .
Assume responsibility for your own learning be active in your quest for knowledge.
Be enthusiasticyour eagerness to learn will influence your resident and faculty colleagues.
Common things occur commonlymaster the fundamentals.
Link learning to patient careyoure more likely to retain what you learn.
Seize the learning momentyou really can learn something from every patient you see.
Read extensivelycommit to reading ophthalmology every night.
Be open to new ideas and think outside the boxthere are many unanswered questions.
On resident behavior . . .
Remember the Golden Rule: treat others as you would like to be treated.
Respect and value all members of the health care teameveryone contributes.
Develop your talents and share them with othersin giving you will receive.
Listen to and learn from othersyou dont have all the answers.
Reflect on your own performancerecognize your deficiencies and improve.
Refrain from gossipif you have a problem, address it directly.
Criticism alone is not the answerbe a problem solver.
Be on timefirst impressions are important.
On leadership . . .
Lead by exampleyou really can make a difference.
Emphasize teamworkthe whole is better than the individual parts.
And remember, true leaders make the others around them better.
