OVS Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences Residency Program

Introduction

The Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences Department at UTMB Health in Galveston is one of the oldest in the Southwest and has a rich tradition of service and education excellence. Our vision is to train each of our residents to assume positions of leadership in their career and to do so in a challenging, yet nurturing environment. To that end, we have carefully designed a unique curriculum that provides graduated training in ophthalmic research and clinical and surgical skills.

Residency Mission Statement

The Ophthalmology Residency Program believes in the unlimited potential of each of our residents and will provide all possible tools to create the highest quality educational experience, in order to develop the next generation of dedicated physician-leaders and visionaries in Ophthalmology.

UTMB University Eye Center (UEC) - Galveston

The UEC is where residents spend most of their time. Between faculty clinics, minor procedures rooms, a conference room, surgical practice space (Eyesi simulator and a wet lab stocked year-round with pig-eyes), and a resident lounge with areas for work and relaxation, it becomes a second home for many residents over the course of 3 years.

The UTMB University Eye Center is a multi-specialty ophthalmology treatment center with the largest team of eye care physicians in the area. Our physicians have leading-edge expertise in a full range of treatments and services. The Eye Center has a team of caring professionals who are:

• Highly qualified ophthalmologists using the most advanced treatments and leading technology
• Backed by the full staff and expertise of the UTMB Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences
• Knowledgeable, customer-focused staff

Jennie Sealy Hospital - Galveston

Jennie Sealy is UTMB’s newest hospital building on the main campus. For ophthalmology residents the key feature is a state-of-the-art operating room with the latest equipment including recording capabilities for surgical cases. You’ll learn on the same microscopes and phaco machines that you will encounter in private practice. During the consult rotation residents will also have access to a fully-stocked ophthalmology exam lane and, occasionally, have a chance to enjoy spectacular views of the bay and the gulf from the upper floors. UTMB GME Recruitment Video

John Sealy Hospital - Galveston

As a level 1 trauma center, the ED serves a wide catchment area including Galveston itself, several nearby counties, and much of the southern and eastern portions of the Houston metroplex. During consults and while on call residents have access to a dedicated ophthalmology exam lane in the ED itself.

TDCJ Hospital - Galveston

The primary resident clinic for UTMB OVS is housed within Texas Department of Criminal Justice’s Hospital Galveston, the only prison hospital located on a major academic campus in the United States. This has turned out to be an excellent opportunity for ophthalmology residents, providing a population with a broad scope of pathology across all subspecialties and a chance to master both medical and surgical approaches to treatment. Extensive security measures and the constant presence of highly-trained officers illustrates one of the safest and most secure clinics, and residents come to appreciate this unique arrangement as one of the most valuable portions of their education.

UTMB Primary and Specialty Care Clinic- Texas City,
UTMB Eye Center - Friendswood, & UTMB Multispecialty Center - League City

These are our satellite clinics which offer patient care in all of our sub-specialties and resident participation in cases under faculty supervision.

UTMB Victory Lakes Surgical Center - League City

This newly-constructed facility provides the other major operating room suite frequented by UTMB OVS. Residents will again further surgical experience on various sub-specialty rotations. This facility will be gradually expanded over time to keep up with the high rate of growth and patient demand in the southeastern portion of the Houston metroplex, so its value to residents will only increase with time.

St. Vincent's Clinic - Galveston

St. Vincent's is a non-profit social service mission of the Episcopal Diocese of Texas that began in 1954 as a small outreach ministry to youth.For more than 60 years, they have provided programs and services for the disadvantaged and under-served population in the community. Their services include meeting the real and immediate healthcare needs of their clients.St. Vincent's has expanded medical services to this under-served population, where residents participate in their care as part of an elective rotation.

Rotations

The UTMB/HMH Ophthalmology residency program is greatly enriched by its strong ties to several notable institutions, through which residents obtain strong training in a variety of unique subspecialty environments. Where many residency programs center around a few facilities, such as a faculty clinic and a residency clinic at a county hospital or VA, our residents receive high-quality exposure to several major academic institutions, a unique resident clinic environment with a very broad array of pathologies, and strong hands-on training at several additional clinical and surgical sites.

Our away rotations are designed to enhance clinical and surgical skills in unique environments, and our residents leave each away rotation greatly enriched by their time with nationally-renowned members of their respective fields and exposure to very diverse patient populations spread out across several very distinct clinical environments. With combined NIH funding grants in excess of $200 million, residents also have multiple opportunities to engage in meaningful, high-impact research. The program provides fully funded housing at each away rotation, and our residents express great excitement regarding the unique experiences and opportunities they received at each location.

Application Process

Applications must be submitted two years prior to the beginning of the residency. We participate in the Central Application Service (CAS) of the Ophthalmology Matching Program (OMP). We suggest that you contact the OMP regarding application forms and procedures. We do not require a supplemental application. Write or call:

SF Match
655 Beach Street
San Francisco, CA 94109

415-447-0350
San Francisco Matching Program

Invitations for interviews will be sent to selected candidates in September, October and November. Interviewing will usually be completed by the middle of December with the match in January. *

Applicants are selected on the basis of their preparedness, ability, aptitude, academic credentials, communication skills and personal qualities. There is no discrimination with regard to sex, race, age, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or veteran status. UTMB HR website

If you use AI to generate any portion of your application please note it as a resource.* Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the timing for the application and interviewing process as well as the Match has been adjusted for all Ophthalmology programs. Please see the SF Match website, sfmatch.org, for more details.