UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA
OPHTHALMOLOGY Residency Program

The University of Arizona College of Medicine offers a three-year ophthalmology residency program combining clinical training, academic activities, and research opportunities. Two first year positions are available at the PGY-2 level.

The UA Department of Ophthalmology attending clinical staff consists of nine full-time and one part-time member. There are five full-time research faculty, two full-time optometrists, a large associate staff of volunteer faculty, and a supporting staff of technical personnel. There are one full-time and eight part-time physicians at the Southern Veterans Administration Heatlh Care System (SAVAHCS). Three affiliated hopsitals -- University of Arizona Medical Center (UAMC), UACOMSC, and SAVAHCS -- with active inpatient/outpatient services, as well as research and teaching faiclities, are involved in the residency program.

The University of Arizona Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Science is a major southwestern referral center. Residents participate in state-of-the-art diagnostic and therapeutic interventions with patients. The residents will interact with the residents of the University of Arizona College of Medicine at South Campus Program, cross-cover for their respective institutions, and share a common didactic program.

Facilities

Academic Program

The foundation of the residency didactic program is weekly rounds and lectures every Friday morning. Residents present clinical cases weekly at rounds on Wednesday mornings. The Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Science also sponsors Grand Rounds and evening lectures programs with visiting speakers, and both are venues for interaction with the community physicians. Semi-annual oral exams are given to measure resident progress. Residents take the OKAP exam annually.

The Department has a 40-person conference room with multimedia capability. There is a resident office with computers with Internet access, and an on-site library with recent ophthalmic publications and references.

Clinical Training

During their third year (PGY-4), the resident serves as Chief Resident for a portion of their year, and manages the clinics at SAVAHCS for the remainder of the time. The resident at this stage of training performs surgery under faculty supervision. Based on the problem, the resident's experience, and attending preference, there will be successive levels of autonomy. The resident will be involved with the pre-operative and post-operative care of each surgery performed. As Chief Resident, the resident will have responsibility for scheduling their clinical and surgical responsibilities. They will be given blocks of time each week for administrative responsibilities. They will also assist in supervising the junior residents. At the conclusion of the third year, the residents are expected to be able to enter practice without direct supervision.

Research

The faculty of the University of Arizona Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Science firmly believe that research experience is essential for developing an appreciation of medical literature and scientific methods. The Department subsidizes residents to present their research at national meetings.

Call

During the first and second year, call is approximately one night per eight days and one weekend per two months taken from home, covering the three affiliated hospitals. During the third year, weekday and weekend call is approximately one day/week in four for surgical backup, again taken from home.

Benefits/Stipend

There are 22 days of vacation a year, all scheduled through the Chief Resident and Residency Program Director. Residents accrue one day per month of sick leave. Educational leave to make presentations at national meetings is available, and, upon Department approval, a travel allotment is provided.

There are six holidays and four floating holidays per year. Other benefits include medical and dental insurance, professional liability insurance, maternity/paternity leave, and two lab coats.

Stipends for the current academic year are as follows: PGY-2 $51,002; PGY-3 $53,541; PGY-4 $56,114. At the University, residents hold faculty appointments and are entitled to tuition benefits and use of University facilities at discount rates.

Prerequisites

It is a requirement of the program that residents must have satisfactorily completed a PGY-1 program approved by the ACGME. The University of Arizona requires that foreign medical graduates have a valid ECFMG certificate (at time of application), as well as pass the USMLE. Only J-1 visas are sponsored. The Department does not sponsor H1 visas.

Accreditation

The University of Arizona is a fully accredited residency program.  The program was reviewed in 2006 and re-accredited through the year 2011. The program is currently under review for continued re-accreditation.

Application Procedure

We accept applications exclusively through the Central Application Service (CAS) of the Ophthalmology Matching Program. We exclusively use the Central Application Service. The address of the Central Application Service is Ophthalmology Matching Program, PO Box 7584, San Francisco, California 94120, phone (415) 447-0350. Information about the Ophthalmology Matching Program can be obtained on their website at http://www.sfmatch.org/residency/ophthalmology/index.htm.  Their application can be downloaded at http://www.sfmatch.org/residency/ophthalmology/central_application/cas_application.htm. The application deadline for our residency program beginning in July 2011 is to have the CAS application complete by mid-October.

Resident Selection

Interviews are granted to selected applicants after initial review of completed applications by the faculty. A personal, on-site interview is required. The Ophthalmology Matching Program is used to match all incoming residents.  Interviews are typically held on Friday and Saturday of the second weekend in December.  Each applicant interviews with the full-time clinical faculty, several of the research faculty, and meets all of the current residents.

Internship Opportunities in Tucson

The Tucson Hospitals Medical Education Program (THMEP) offers a transitional year. For more information, contact THMEP at 5301 E. Grant Road, Tucson, Arizona 85712, phone (520) 324-5095, or visit their website (http://www.thmep.com/).

Faculty

Residents

Third Year Residents

Sirichai Pasadhika, MD
Medical School:  MD, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand (1992-1998)
PGY-1: Oregon Health and Science University (2009-2010)

Lindsay Tavares, MD
College:   BA, Claremont McKenna College (1998-2002)
Medical School:  University of Arizona College of Medicine (2005-2009)
PGY-1: University of Arizona College of Medicine (2009-2010)

Second Year Residents

Malav Joshi, MD
College:  BS, Youngstown State University (2004-2006)
Medical School:  Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine (2006-2010)
PGY-1: Aultman Hospital (2010-2011)

Ovette Villavicencio, MD, PhD
College:  PhD, University of Arizona (1998-2005)
Medical School:  University of Arizona (2005-2009)
PGY-1: University of Arizona College of Medicine (2010-2011)

1st Year Residents

Michael Pernula, MD
College:  BS, University of Utah (1997-2001)
Medical School:  University of Nevada School of Medicine (2007-2011)
PGY-1: University of Nevada at UMC Hospital (2011-2012)

Lawrence Tafoya, MD, PhD
College:  PhD, University of New Mexico (2001-2011)
Medical School:  University of New Mexico (2001-2011)
PGY-1: University of New Mexico (2011-2012)

Residents Starting July 2013

Jane Cho, MD
College:  BS, University of Arizona (2002-2007)
Medical School:  Chicago Medical School (2008-2012)
PGY-1: Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center (2012- )

Joshua Duncan, MD
College:  BS, University of Arizona (2001-2005)
Medical School:  Midwestern University/Arizona College of Medicine(2008-2012)
PGY-1: Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center (2012- )

Residents Starting July 2014

Daniel Agarwal
College:  BS, Duke University (2005-2009)
Medical School:  Weill Cornell Medical College (2009-)

Rachel Gelman
College:  BS, University of Texas-Pan American (2005-2009)
Medical School:  Baylor College of Medicine (2009-)

The University of Arizona

Founded in 1885, The University of Arizona is ranked by the National Science Foundation as one of the top 25 academic universities in the nation. It is Arizona’s Land Grant university.

A member of the prestigious Association of American Universities, the UA annually receives more than $160 million in outside grants. Nearly one-third of this amount is generated by the College of Medicine. The University is known for its achievements in archeology, arid land studies, astronomy, biotechnology, classics, dendrochronology, material science, music, neuroscience, optical science, philosophy, planetary science, sociology, and speech and hearing sciences.

The UA’s 1,300 faculty members serve nearly 35,000 students in 134 undergraduate, 141 masters, and 99 doctoral programs. The University’s 11 colleges and 8 schools are located on a grassy 334-acre campus in the heart of Tucson, several blocks south of the Arizona Health Sciences Center.

In addition to the vast research and educational facilities, the University also offers students and the community a variety of entertainment, cultural, educational, and artistic opportunities through Centennial Hall, Arizona Center for Creative Photography, the Grace H. Flandrau Planetarium, the Arizona State Museum, the Boyce Thompson Southwestern Arboretum, the Mineral Museum, and The University of Arizona Museum of Art.

To promote physical fitness among students, faculty, and staff, the University recently built a multimillion dollar Recreation Center that offers a 7,000  sq.ft. exercise room with state-of-the-art weight equipment, squash courts, 3,000 sq.ft. of aerobics, Olympic-sized outdoor pool, 14 racquetball courts, and an indoor track.

The UA is also the home of the Wildcat basketball, football, and baseball teams. UA athletics rank among the nation’s top 10 total sports programs. The UA organizes intercollegiate teams in 8 men’s and 9 women’s sports.

College of Medicine

In 1962, the Arizona Board of Regents granted authorization to The University of Arizona to develop a College of Medicine. Ground was broken in May 1996 for the Basic Sciences Building, which was completed in September 1967 and occupied that same month by the 32 students of the first class.  In May 1971, the MD degree was granted to the members of the first graduating class; to-date more than 1,600 students have been graduated. The College of Medicine presently has an enrollment of more than 350 full-time medical students. In addition, the College of Medicine has 38 programs with 287 residents, 74 fellows, and 76 interns.  The Arizona Health Sciences Center complex consists of several interconnected buildings, on a 30-acre site just north of the main campus. These consist of the Basic Sciences Building, the Clinical Sciences Building, Outpatient Clinics, University Medical Center, the Arizona Cancer Center, Life Sciences North, the College of Nursing, and the College of Pharmacy.  A new Children's Research Center and library have recently been completed. The Arizona Health Sciences Center Library holds 165,000 volumes and 3,500 journals and is open 24 hours daily, except on Christmas and New Year's Day. The new medical library is one of the best medical libraries in the country. A new Heart Center is in the planning stages.

History of the Department

The Department is one of the youngest in the College of Medicine.  The Department of Ophthalmology was founded on July 1, 1982.  Prior to that time, it was a section within the Department of Surgery.  The first ophthalmologist to join the full-time faculty in 1973 was Harold E. Cross, MD, PhD, who served as Section Chief.  The residency program opened December 1973 with one resident, Dr. Lee Smalley, and Dr. Alan Crebo was added as the second first year resident in July 1974. Thereafter, two residents were recruited each year.

In 1979, Jonathan Herschler, MD replaced Dr. Cross as Section Chief, and in February 1982 following the Regents' approval of the Department, Dr. Herschler was made the first Administrative Head of the Department of Ophthalmology.  In 1984, Albert Potts, MD became Acting Head of the Department, and in 1985, Barton L. Hodes, MD was appointed as Department Head.  In 1989, Robert W. Snyder, MD, PhD was appointed Acting Head.  Following a national search, Dr. Snyder was appointed Head of the Department of Ophthalmology in July 1991.

In 1991, Joseph M. Miller, MD, MPH was appointed Director of the Residency Program.  His highest priority was to establish a solid educational opportunity for the residents.  In 2003, Robert I. Park, MD was appointed as Director of the Residency Program.  Since 1991 and with the addition of new faculty members, there has been a greater emphasis on excellence in clinical care within the Department.  In 2002, Dr. Noecker was named as Associate Chair for Clinical Activities, with Dr. Snyder refocusing his efforts on research and development and the creation of a University of Arizona Center of Excellence. After 15 years as Head, Dr. Snyder stepped down in 2004, and Dr. Joseph Miller was appointed Head. Lynn Polonski, MD was named Associate Chair for Clinical Activities and W. Daniel Stamer, PhD, as Vice Head for Research. In 2005, the Department was renamed the Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Science. When Dr. Park resigned in 2007, Richard Ober, MD, was appointed as Director of the Residency Program.

In 2008, the Department was approved for a residency program at UPH Hospital at Kino (now UACOMSC), and Dr. Joseph Miller was Program Director. Four residents started the program in July 2009; with two PGY-2 residents recruited each of the following years. In June 2010, the first resident graduated. In August 2010, Dr. Todd Altenbernd was appointed as the Program Director. In July 2011, the program began with a full complement of six residents.

Alumni

Tucson and Arizona

Tucson is a unique community that combines Indian, Spanish, Mexican, and pioneer influences with the cultural offers of a modern cosmopolitan center and breathtaking scenic beauty.

Located in a desert valley surrounded by mountain ranges, Tucson is part of the Sonoran Desert. Days here are warm; nights are mild year-round. With an average of 314 days of sunshine each year, Tucson is an ideal setting for bicycling, tennis, golf, swimming, and running. For those who prefer winter sports, the southern-most ski area in the United States lies just an hour’s drive away in the majestic Catalina Mountains, which rise 9,300 feet. The mountains around Tucson attract climbers, hikers, cyclists, equestrians, picnickers, skiers, and both amateur and professional plant and animal observers. Many visitors are surprised at the lushness of the Sonoran Desert, which is home to hundreds of varieties of endemic cacti, trees, and animals. In spring, the desert may be carpeted with wildflowers, and the summer rainy season brings dramatic lightning displays.

The metropolitan area, with a population of over 800,000, boasts symphony, opera and light opera companies, ballet, theater, zoo, museums of art, natural history and Arizona history, the world-famous Sonora Desert Museum, and other attractions. In the Tucson area are San Xavier Del Bac Mission, Kartchner Caverns, Biosphere, and Tubac, the oldest European settlement in Arizona. In addition, there are the year-round musical, theatrical, educational, and scientific presentations of The University of Arizona.

Nearby are two major astronomical exploration centers: Kitt Peak, which houses one of the world’s largest solar telescopes, and Mt. Hopkins, where the Smithsonian Institution has established the first of a new generation of multiple-mirror stellar telescopes. State and national parks, forests, wilderness areas, Sabino Canyon, and the Saguaro National Monuments are within easy reach of Tucson.

Tucson has excellent educational facilities. In addition to The University of Arizona, Pima Community College serves 25,000 students. Seven public school districts serve the Tucson area, as well as many private and parochial schools.

A few famous Arizona sites include the Grand Canyon; the red rocks of Sedona; Oak Creek Canyon; Tombstone, the western town "too tough to die"; and the Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument.

For further information about the proogram, contact:

          Pat Broyles
          Program Coordinator
          (520) 322-3800 ext. 202
          FAX: (520) 321-3665
          email:  pbroyles@eyes.arizona.edu