West Virginia University Program

The West Virginia University Ophthalmology Residency Program offers a three-year residency program with a joint transitional year internship. The program provides training primarily based in West Virginia's only tertiary eye care center, which treats patients with unusual and complex disorders referred from neighboring states. Residents rotate through various specialty areas including comprehensive ophthalmology, medical retina, surgical retina, glaucoma, pediatric ophthalmology, neuro-ophthalmology, oculoplastics, and cornea. Additionally, residents provide medical and surgical care at the Veterans Administration Hospital under WVU faculty supervision.

Residents participate in weekly lectures and grand rounds, as well as have opportunities for research projects with faculty mentors. Approximately half of WVU's graduating residents pursue fellowship training and have been competitive in their fellowship choices. The program emphasizes a supportive and transformative training experience.

The program also features a joint transitional year internship with opportunities for ophthalmology electives to facilitate an early introduction to the ophthalmology team and provide a seamless transition to the PGY-2 year for residents.

Residents receive various benefits including a stipend, board review courses, academic meeting attendance, paid days off, free parking, meal allowance cards, VA travel reimbursement, and educational resources. The call schedule involves covering the WVU ER and inpatient consultation services, and call duty is shared among residents with support from fellows and faculty. Training technology includes the EyeSi surgical simulator to refine surgical skills before entering the operating room.

The program participates in the Central Application Service (CAS) through the San Francisco Match. To be eligible for an interview, applicants must complete an M.D. or D.O. program in a U.S. school and demonstrate potential for success at WVU. The website provides additional details for application requirements and contact information for inquiries about the program.