First Year (PGY-2)
 

Orientation
The first year begins with a 2 week orientation which includes lecture and hands-on instruction in examination techniques.  Each ophthalmic subspecialty provides the new residents with a basic overview.  During orientation, residents also participate in a microsurgical wet lab.  The orientation concludes with a teambuilding day for all of the residents.  Activities in past years have included white water rafting, hiking, and horseback riding on the Oregon coast.

Teambuilding during orientation:  White water rafting

During the comprehensive eye care rotation, the resident sees general ophthalmology patients, contact lens patients, and performs minor surgery. Other first year rotations include neuro-ophthalmology, oculoplastics, ophthalmic pathology, and low vision.  The VA rotation includes general clinic, surgery, and more oculoplastics experience. During the research rotation, the resident works on a research project with a preceptor in the resident’s area of interest.

Second Year (PGY-3)

The second year of training includes rotations in glaucoma, retina, uveitis, pediatric ophthalmology, and cornea, refractive, and external disease.  During the second-year VA rotation, the resident performs laser treatment for glaucoma and retina patients. The second-year resident also begins to perform cataract surgery as the primary surgeon during this rotation.

Third Year (PGY-4)

During the resident’s third year, patient management becomes more complex both medically and surgically. At this point, the senior resident performs a variety of intra- and extraocular surgery, including complex oculoplastic procedures and advanced intraocular surgery.  The resident has general and subspecialty clinics at Casey Eye Institute and at the VA.  Ten weeks are spent at Devers Memorial Eye Clinic, a general clinic at the affiliated Devers Eye Institute.

 
As residents mature, developing surgical skills and increased judgment, they perform more complex procedures. During the first year, minor outpatient extraocular and plastic surgeries are performed. Second-year residents perform various laser procedures, as well as surgeries in the areas of strabismus, cataract, glaucoma, cornea, and retina/vitreous. In the third year, more complex oculoplastic procedures are performed. The majority of cataract surgeries are performed in the last year of residency. The surgical volume at our program is high, with recent graduates having performed an average of 179 cataracts surgeries as primary surgeon by completion of the residency program.

In addition to patient care duties, residents are also required to review assigned articles and/or texts for specialty clinics. Depending on the rotation, they may also present cases at conferences.

Residents are also required to maintain a current surgical log using the ACGME web-based case log system and current duty hour timekeeping.

Teaching Conferences and Educational Resources

Formal Teaching Exercises

Protected time is set aside every Friday morning for teaching. No resident clinics are scheduled on Friday mornings.  A formal course for residents provides instruction in areas of ophthalmology and practice management. Faculty members lead the lectures, which are structured around the core information provided in the basic and clinical science course from the American Academy of Ophthalmology. A sample of the current schedule may be found at http://www.ohsucasey.com/education/cme.asp

Topics

• Fundamentals and Principles of Ophthalmology, Ethics
• Optics, Refraction, Contact Lenses, Low Vision Rehabilitation
• Ophthalmic Pathology
• Neuro-Ophthalmology
• Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus
• Orbit, Eyelids, and Lacrimal System
• External Disease and Cornea
• Retina/Vitreous, Uveitis, and Ocular tumors
• Glaucoma
• Lens, Cataract Surgery, Anterior Segment Trauma
• Socioeconomics of Health Care, Cost-Effective Medical Practice, Ophthalmology Advocacy
   

The lecture series is given on a recurrent basis, cycling approximately every two years. Residents are given assignments in specific textbooks and/or papers which are of particular benefit. Prior to the lectures, information is provided regarding the topics to be covered and residents are expected to review the material prior to lecture.
 
In addition to formal teaching exercises, the following conferences are held:

• Casey Eye Institute–Devers Eye Institute (DEI) Collaborative Grand Rounds (twice a month): Subspecialty topics presented by Casey and Devers faculty members, and renowned visiting guest speakers. Attended by residents, faculty, and ophthalmologists in the community.
• Glaucoma conference (monthly): Attended by CEI & DEI glaucoma faculty Residents present cases for discussion.
• Photography conference / Inpatient consultation conference (every 2 months): Residents and faculty present photographic cases of patients.
• Posterior Segment / Fluorescein conference (twice a month): A case based conference presented by retina fellows and retina faculty.
• Neuro-Ophthalmology Conference (monthly): attended by residents, CEI & DEI neuro faculty & fellow.
• Uveitis Conference (monthly): attended by residents, CEI uveitis faculty & fellows.
• Neuroradiology conference (1-2 times per month): Presented by an OHSU neuro-radiologist, this case-based conference emphasizes radiographic features of ophthalmic pathology.
• Pathology conference (Monthly): A case based conference presented by our ocular pathologist/oncologist and chair, David Wilson, MD.  Attended by residents.
• Cataract surgery and case management conference (every 2 months): Senior resident presentations of difficult to manage medical and surgical cases.
• Journal Club (Monthly): Hosted monthly by a faculty member, this is a popular forum for residents to review recent literature.
• Named lectureship series in which lectures are given by renowned visiting guest speakers:  the Kenneth C. Swan lecture in Glaucoma, The Leonard Christensen Lecture in Ophthalmic Pathology, the Robert C. Watzke Lecture in Retina, the Fredrick T Fraunfelder Lecture in Corneal and External Diseases, the William T Shults Lecture in Neuro-ophthalmology, the John L. Wobig lecture in Oculoplastics, the James T. Rosenbaum Lecture in Uveitis, the James W. Damon Lecture in Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus.

Throughout the year, residents also have protected time to attend local meetings including the Oregon Ophthalmological Alumni Association, Oregon Academy of Ophthalmology, Thorny Issues in Ophthalmology, and Casey-Devers Research Day.

The Kenneth Swan Library provides up to date resources for residents in the form of journals, textbooks, and video-library.

Resident Evaluations

Resident evaluations are constructed to reflect performance in the six core competencies as outlined by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education Outcomes Project. Each resident will be evaluated in the following six core competencies:

• Patient care
• Medical knowledge
• Professionalism
• Interpersonal and communication skills
• Practice-based learning and improvement
• System-based practice

At the conclusion of each rotation, faculty members who have supervised the resident will evaluate their performance. In order to obtain more comprehensive assessment of resident performance, evaluations are also obtained from patients and staff. The evaluations are written and become part of the resident’s permanent record. In an effort to identify strengths and weaknesses in the residency as early as possible, the program director meets formally and individually with each resident every 6 months. The program director also meets with residents as a group at least quarterly. Residents’ input is routinely sought and has always been integral to program development.


Research Opportunities

Scholarly Activities

Research is valued and supported at the Casey Eye Institute.  One strength of our program is our commitment to resident research.  Protected time is set aside for research activities.  Faculty members serve as mentors to the residents on projects.  Residents are required to begin a research project in their first year of residency. Research may be either clinical or in the basic sciences. The residents’ research efforts are presented each spring at the Casey-Devers Research Day. All residents are required to submit their work in manuscript form to a peer-reviewed journal.

Residents are also encouraged and supported to attend national meetings where they have the opportunity to present their research. Residents commonly present their research at national meetings such as the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus, the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, the American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the North American Neuro-Ophthalmology Society.

Surgical Education

Resident surgical volume is high, with residents typically far-exceeding the AAMC guidelines.  The average number of cataract surgeries performed by the 2006 graduating residents in which the resident was the primary surgeon was 179.

Microsurgical Experience

Residents have ready access to operating microscopes and surgical equipment intended for practice surgery. Formal surgical group wet labs are scheduled annually. Individual wet lab experience also occurs for residents beginning their second year rotation at the VA hospital. Additional microsurgical wetlab activity may occur on the resident’s own time as often as the resident would like.

Living in Portland

Portland is one of America’s most livable cities.  Miles of running and hiking trails crisscross 5,000-acre Forest Park which is located within the city. Portland frequently ranks among the most bicycle-friendly cities in the U.S.  The MAX light rail, Portland Streetcar, and Tri-Met bus system are great ways to explore the metropolitan area.  Explore Portland’s arts and culture in the downtown Cultural District, art galleries in the Pearl District, and boutiques and dining along NW 23^rd Avenue.  Oregon abounds in opportunities for incredible day trips. The unrivaled beauty of the Oregon Coast, Mount Hood, and Columbia River Gorge are less than two hours away and add to the high quality of life of northwest living.

Contact Information

Contact Information
Andreas Lauer, M.D., Program Director

Rebecca Armour, M.D., Associate Program Director

Devin Gattey, M.D., Associate Program Director

Thomas Hwang, M.D., Associate Program Director

Program Coordinator: Susan Bony

Casey Eye Institute-OHSU
Residency Program
3375 SW Terwilliger Blvd
Portland OR 97239

For further information, call 503.494.3394.

Fellowships:

Cornea Fellowship

Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Fellowship

Retinal Fellowship

Pediatric Fellowship

Uveitis Fellowship

Neuro-Ophthalmology Fellowship

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