Ophthalmology Residency Program

Ophthalmology Residency Program

Program overview

Our ophthalmology residency is a three-year program accredited by the ACGME for a total of six residents per academic year, with a maximum of two residents in each PGY2, PGY3 and PGY4 level.

The program combines clinical and surgical training with strong didactics to provide the highest level of training in ophthalmology.

• Bayonet Point Hospital with Abita Eye Group is the program's surgical center
• Rotations available in glaucoma, retina, pediatric ophthalmology and neuro-ophthalmology
• Residents round on Trauma Call at HCA Florida Bayonet Point Hospital
• 20 days of vacation

Mission statement

The HCA Florida Bayonet Point Hospital Ophthalmology Residency Program’s mission is to develop the next generation of physicians and physician leaders.

As a part of HCA Healthcare, we are driven by a single mission: Above all else, we are committed to the care and improvement of human life.

This program is designed to offer residents a rewarding, educational environment where residents are provided individualized learning opportunities by faculty and staff who support and sustain one another throughout quality care delivery. Our faculty are committed to ensuring the residents' clinical experience and educational needs are fulfilled while expanding residents’ perspectives to be inclusive of cultures, values and ideals.

Program Requirements

Purpose: To define criteria and process for eligibility and selection of residents and fellows.

Residents and fellows in accredited programs at HCA Florida Healthcare hospitals must be selected based on qualifications that meet or exceed the standards below:

1. Graduate of a medical school in the U.S. or Canada accredited by the Liaison Committee for Medical Education (LCME)
   OR
2. Graduate of a medical school outside the U.S. or Canada that has received a currently valid certificate from the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG)
   OR
3. Graduate of medical schools outside the U.S. who have completed a Fifth Pathway program provided by an LCME-accredited medical school
4. Applicants must be recent (two or fewer years) graduates from medical school to be considered. Special exceptions may be considered for:
   • Candidates with an MD or DO with a MPH/MS/PhD and extensive prior research experience after completion of an LCME or COCA-accredited medical or osteopathic medical school in the U.S. or Canada
   • Candidates who have served a prolonged period as a general medical officer in the U.S. military
5. All requisite prior training must be successfully completed prior to beginning any residency or fellowship program.
6. Applicants must have passed United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step 1 and have taken both components of Step 2 or the Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination (COMLEX) Level 1 and have taken both components of Level 2 USMLE COMLEX Step 3 for Fellowship Applicants.

Programs will select candidates to interview only from among the pool of eligible applicants, evaluating each applicant on the basis of their preparedness, ability, aptitude and academic background (to include clerkship grades, standardized test scores, communication skills and humanistic qualities such as motivation, honesty and integrity).

All GME training programs are required to use the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) to receive and accept applications to the program. Exceptions may be made for fellowship programs not going through ERAS. All programs at HCA Florida Healthcare facilities will participate in the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP). The NRMP is our primary method of recruiting trainees. All applicants that are granted interviews must interview prior to the initial match process.

For residents or fellows attempting to transfer from other educational programs, the residency program must receive verification of each applicant’s level of competency in the required clinical field using ACGME or CanMEDS Milestones assessments from the prior training program.

A physician who has completed a residency program that was not accredited by ACGME, RCPSC or CFPC may enter an ACGME-accredited residency program in the same specialty at the PGY-1 level and, at the discretion of the program director of the ACGME-accredited program, may be advanced to the PGY-2 level based on ACGME Milestones assessments of the ACGME-accredited program. This provision applies only to entry into residency in those specialties for which an initial clinical year is not required for entry.

Applicants invited to interview for a resident/fellow position must be informed in writing or by electronic means, of the terms, conditions and benefits of their appointment to the ACGME accredited program, as well as all institutional and program policies regarding eligibility and selection for appointment, either in effect at the time of the interview or that will be in effect at the time of their eventual appointment. This includes financial support; vacations; parental, sick and other leaves of absence; and professional liability, hospitalization, health, disability and other insurance accessible to residents/fellows and their eligible dependents. All terms, conditions and benefits of the potential appointment are described in the GME resident contract.

In compliance with applicable federal and state law, we do not discriminate against individuals on the basis of their race, sex, religion, sexual orientation, color, national or ethnic origin, age, disability, military service or genetic information in administration of educational policies, programs or employment.

Our training program does not sponsor visas. The Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) is the sole sponsor of J-1 physicians in clinical training programs. For more information, please visit www.ecfmg.org.