Faculty members from all subspecialties within ophthalmology participate in resident training. Specialty clinics in the following areas provide concentrated areas of study:

In total, the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences operates 7 outpatient clinic locations that service more than 58,000 outpatient visits per year. In addition to attending clinics, residents rotate through the following hospital clinics, all located within a five-block radius:

First Year (PGY-1)

The first year of ophthalmology residency has been integrated into the curriculum since academic year 2022-2023. During this year the residents will rotate through multiple specialties across the UAB system including Neurology, Neuro-Radiology, Dermatology, UAB ER, Children's ER, Anesthesia, Rheumatology, and Internal Medicine. The curriculum has been curated to aid our residents in learning relevant topics as well as building connections early in residency throughout the UAB system.

In addition, the first-year residents spend 3 months in Ophthalmology starting in July, one month throughout the year, and ending in June. This enables our residents to attend our orientation lectures, stay connected with ophthalmology throughout the year, and obtain a head start to the second year by integrating back to ophthalmology in June.

Second Year (PGY-2)

Training is focused on learning the basics of the eye examination and the diagnosis and treatment of common eye diseases (including medical and laser treatments). Exposure to subspecialty eye care is provided through regular rounds at each of the teaching clinics as well as didactics. As skills and knowledge increase over the course of the year, progressively more autonomy and responsibility is provided.

Ten rotations are divided between the Veterans Affairs Eye Clinic (three rotations), the Lions Eye Clinic (four rotations), UAB Hospital-Callahan Eye (two rotations), and oculoplastics (one rotation) for early exposure. Full-time attending staff as well as third- and fourth-year residents are present in each clinic. During the day, a first-year resident on the Lions Eye Clinic rotation covers the UAB Hospital-Callahan Eye emergency room (with appropriate backup and supervision).

Primary call is in house for second-year residents. Residents cover the UAB Hospital-Callahan Eye emergency room and provide consultation services to all UAB affiliated institutions, including the emergency rooms of UAB Hospital, Children's Hospital, Cooper Green Mercy Health Services, VA Hospital, and UAB Highlands Medical Center. The resident on call also covers inpatient consultation services at those locations. Residents create the call schedule with the assistance of the chief resident.

A major advantage of the UAB system is the close proximity of all facilities to UAB Hospital-Callahan Eye. All except UAB Highlands are located within a contiguous medical campus within a five-block radius. UAB Hospital-Highlands is located less than one mile from the UAB campus.

Third Year (PGY-3)

The third year of residency is composed of ten 5-week rotations through all ophthalmic subspecialties and an international rotation in an ophthalmology clinic just outside of Managua, Nicaragua. The international rotation is one week in either fall or spring. Subspecialty rotations include exposure to cornea, retina, glaucoma, pediatrics, uveitis, low vision, neuro-ophthalmology and the University Consult Service.

Third-year residents take backup call at home, coming in as needed for complex cases, certain surgical decisions, and if the workload demands additional help for the first-year resident. (Except for during the first month of the academic year when second-year residents take call in house with the new first-year residents for training purposes.) In the spring semester, third year-residents take over globe call as well as pick up one rotation period at Cooper Green in the spring.

All third-year residents virtually attend the Wills Eye Annual Ophthalmology Review Course during the second half of the academic year with time off from clinic to participate. Third-year residents are introduced to cataract surgery in preparation for their fourth year.

Residents also attend the American Academy of Ophthalmology annual meeting in the fall of their third or fourth year.

Fourth Year (PGY-4)

The Fourth year of residency is also divided into ten 5-week rotations—one at Cooper Green in the fall, five at the VA Hospital, and four at the Lions Eye Clinic.

Surgical experience is primarily gained during this year. The resident serves as primary surgeon for patients from the various clinics with attending staffing from the faculty and community.

Fourth-year call is in backup to the first- and second-year call and consists primarily of surgical responsibilities.

Fourth year residents attend the Alcon Course in Fort Worth, Texas. Residents also attend the American Academy of Ophthalmology annual meeting in the fall of their third or fourth year.

Conferences and Meetings

Grand rounds with alternating journal club and mortality & morbidity conference following and neuro-ophthalmology conference are held monthly. Specialty rounds are held regularly at all resident clinics. Didactic sessions are presented most mornings. An annual clinical and research symposium is held each June in lieu of grand rounds as a forum for residents to present their research project findings. Residents attend the American Academy of Ophthalmology Annual Meeting once during either the third or fourth year of training. Additional meeting attendance is based on research presentation acceptance, which is encouraged.

Research

UAB Ophthalmology is an active research department with programs in basic and clinical sciences. Residents are required to participate in research during their training. All research faculty are available to residents for mentorship and research project guidance.

Contact Us

For inquiries about residency training in the UAB Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences please contact our office.

Krupa Patel, MD
Director of Residency Program
Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences
University of Alabama at Birmingham
700 South 18th Street, Suite 601
Birmingham, Alabama 35294-0009

Rob Tauscher, MD
Interim Director of Residency Program
Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences
University of Alabama at Birmingham
700 South 18th Street
Birmingham, Alabama 35294-0009

Jordan Driscoll, M.Ed
Education Coordinator
jordanncook@uabmc.edu 
(205) 325-8507