University of Arizona College of Medicine-Tucson Program

The University of Arizona College of Medicine in Tucson offers a comprehensive Ophthalmology Residency Program emphasizing clinical training, academic activities, and research opportunities. This four-year integrated program admits four PGY-1 residents annually, with a total of 16 residents across all years. The program is highly competitive, receiving over 500 applications for the available positions each year. Admission favors applicants with strong academic qualifications, interpersonal skills, and research experience.

Clinical training spans across several facilities, including Banner-University Medical Center Tucson (BUMCT), Banner-University Medical Center South (BUMCS), and the Southern Arizona Veterans Administration Health Care System (SAVAHCS), providing a broad exposure to diverse conditions and treatments. Residents engage in state-of-the-art diagnostic and therapeutic interventions, with a strong emphasis on surgical training. By the end of their residency, participants average over 200 cataract surgeries, plus experience in subspecialty areas such as glaucoma, strabismus, retina, external disease, and oculoplastic surgery.

The program's curriculum includes a robust basic science component and extensive didactic sessions, grand rounds, and journal clubs. Residents also have the opportunity to attend national ophthalmological review courses, with expenses covered by the Department. Active participation in research is encouraged and supported, with opportunities to present at national meetings. Facilities include a resident computer lounge, an on-site library with access to key ophthalmic textbooks and journals, and a 40-person conference room equipped for multimedia presentations.

The program highlights its small, resident-focused nature, fostering a collegial environment conducive to learning and professional growth. It is located in Tucson, Arizona, a medium-sized city known for its relaxed lifestyle, affordable cost of living, and outdoor activities, thanks to its desert location and pleasant climate.

For the application process, the program accepts applications exclusively through the Central Application Service (CAS) of the San Francisco Match (SF Match), with a mid-October deadline. The program requires that foreign medical graduates possess a valid ECFMG certificate at the time of application and supports only J-1 visas, not sponsoring H1 visas.

Stipends for the academic year 2023-2024 start at $61,508 for PGY-1 residents, increasing each year up to $70,183 for PGY-4 residents. Additional benefits include vacation, medical and dental insurance, professional liability insurance, maternity/paternity leave, and a retirement plan contribution match after one year of employment. Residents also enjoy access to various University of Arizona resources and facilities.

As a department deeply embedded in research, the program subsidizes resident presentations at national meetings, reflecting its commitment to integrating clinical practice with scientific inquiry. This emphasis on research alongside comprehensive clinical training positions residents for success in both general practice and further subspecialty fellowship training.