Residency Program
Clinical Rotations
One of the greatest strengths of the residency training program at UCSF is that our residents rotate each year through four diverse sites within San Francisco. As the region’s premier academic referral center, UCSF Medical Center and UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital at Mission Bay treat a plethora of complicated cases and rare diseases in adults and children. In addition, time at the Francis I. Proctor Foundation is integrated into the rotations to gain greater training in infectious and inflammatory diseases of the eye.
The Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center (ZSFG) is a county hospital and the only Level I Trauma Center of San Francisco. The patient population here includes patients who could otherwise not afford care. This hospital provides an amazing opportunity to manage end stage disease, trauma, and infectious diseases of the eye. In addition, residents have an opportunity to achieve high surgical volumes in both cataract and subspecialty cases.
Finally, the San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center (SF VAMC) is the veterans referral center for all of Northern California. Here, the residents have the opportunity to experience a busy clinical and surgical practice in comprehensive ophthalmology in addition to more complex sub-specialty care.
As our residents return each year to each of these different sites, they gain a graded clinical and surgical experience each year, allowing for a very thorough training program that leaves residents feeling confident and independent when they graduate.
“I chose UCSF because it has the best combination of everything in the country, including strong clinical and surgical training with both high volume and high-quality teaching from attendings, unlimited research opportunities with world-renowned scientists in ophthalmology, collegial culture among trainees and attendings, and the opportunities to collaborate with industry and venture capital companies in the San Francisco Bay Area.”  |
Internship
Our residency program has partnered with the UCSF Department of Surgery to offer a joint internship tailored to the needs of our residents. Over the past 5 years, the internship has been improved based on feedback from our trainees. Currently, the internship consists of the following rotations:
- 6 months General Surgery (ENT, OMFS, Plastics, Neurosurgery, Trauma, Cardiac)
- Dermatology (4 weeks)
- Neuroradiology (4 weeks)
- 3 Months Ophthalmology
- 4 weeks of elective (done with research mentor)
Our interns participate in ophthalmology didactic sessions during their non-surgery rotations, and also have a dedicated wetlab curriculum.
First Year
After the Summer Session, the remainder of the year is divided into six 8 week rotations. First year residents perform anterior segment ophthalmic laser procedures (peripheral iridotomies, capsulotomies, selective laser trabeculoplasty) in their clinical rotations, become proficient in oculoplastic and reconstructive surgery, and phacoemulsification. In addition to this, they perform chalazion, pterygium excision, and other minor procedures. First year residents also take primary call for all sites in the form of a night float rotation, with support from senior residents, subspecialty fellows, and supervising faculty.
- Summer Session
- Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital
- San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center
- UCSF Neuro-ophthalmology
- UCSF Consult Service and Comprehensive/Refractive
- UCSF Oculoplastic Surgery
- Nightfloat
“UCSF Ophthalmology has a remarkably special training program and culture. I, and others on the faculty, specifically chose to join UCSF in large part to teach residents. This residency program combines the greatest strengths and best practices. At the same time, the program is committed to continued growth and to respond to resident input.”  |
Second Year
The second year of residency is divided into six 9 week rotations. Second year residents perform posterior segment ophthalmic laser procedures (PRP, retinopexy) and intravitreal injections in their clinical rotations, become proficient in pediatric and adult strabismus surgery, begin learning the basics of cornea surgeries and vitrectomy, and continue performing phacoemulsification.
In addition, second year residents are given a 5-week block dedicated solely to research.
- Comprehensive Ophthalmology at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital
- Comprehensive Ophthalmology / Retina at San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center
- Cornea and External Disease / Research at UCSF
- Glaucoma at UCSF / Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital
- Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus at UCSF
- Vitreoretinal Disease and Surgery at UCSF
Third Year
During their third year, each resident serves as the chief resident in each service through which they rotate. Third year residents continue to practice clinic-based procedures and lasers, become proficient in glaucoma and cornea surgeries, and hone their expertise in phacoemulsification and complex anterior segment surgery.
- Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital
- San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center
- UCSF Cornea and External Disease
- UCSF Glaucoma and Ocular Oncology
- UCSF Comprehensive Ophthalmology
- UCSF Refractive and Complex Anterior Segment Surgery
Call
During the day, first year residents cover consults and take primary call for all sites. Second year residents cover daytime consults for the pediatric ophthalmology services and share back up call along with the fellow for the retina service.
At night, a designated night float resident takes weeknight primary call for all sites from Sunday evening to Saturday AM. First year residents are supported by third year residents, subspecialty fellows, and supervising faculty. Weekend primary call is divided amongst the first year residents who are not on the night float rotation.
A designated attending is on call at all times to support all trainees.
“At UCSF, we take pride in prioritizing resident education to give our learners the highest value for the time they spend here. It takes a village – the entire department comes together to create a comprehensive curriculum including didactics, wetlab, clinical and surgical preceptorship, career mentorship and research scaffolding spanning all four years to foster confident, competent, and inspired future leaders of the field.”  |
