Essential Questions for DO Graduates in Ophthalmology Residency Matches

Why Your Questions Matter as a DO Graduate in Ophthalmology

As a DO graduate applying to ophthalmology, the questions you ask programs are not just about getting information—they shape how faculty see you. Thoughtful, targeted questions signal maturity, insight into the specialty, and genuine interest in their program. For a DO graduate residency candidate in a historically MD-heavy field like ophthalmology, asking strong questions can also subtly address concerns about preparation, integration, and fit.

This guide focuses on practical, high-yield questions to ask residency programs, tailored specifically to:

• The ophtho match landscape
• The unique position of a DO graduate residency applicant
• What to ask program directors, faculty, and residents
• How to use your questions to evaluate whether a program will actually support your growth as an osteopathic ophthalmologist

You’ll find ready-to-use questions, context for why they matter, and guidance on when and how to ask them.

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Core Strategy: How to Approach Questions as a DO Applicant

Before diving into specific question lists, it helps to understand the strategy behind them.

Clarify your goals first

As a DO graduate in ophthalmology, you likely care about:

• Being welcomed and respected as a DO
• Getting strong surgical and clinical volume
• Access to fellowships and career opportunities
• Support for board exams (USMLE, COMLEX, ABO)
• Culture, wellness, and resident support

Write down your top 3–5 priorities. Then use the question sets below to selectively probe those areas at each program.

Principles of strong questions

For the ophtho match, the best questions:

1. Are specific to ophthalmology

   • Instead of: “What’s your call schedule like?”
   • Ask: “How is ophthalmology call structured here, including consults from the ED and floors?”

2. Show you’ve done your homework

   • Reference faculty, tracks, or clinical sites you’ve read about.

3. Invite stories, not yes/no answers

   • “Can you tell me about a resident who…”
   • “How has the program handled…”

4. Subtly address DO-specific concerns without sounding defensive

   • Focus on outcomes, support, and integration, not on “whether you accept DOs.”

5. Are tailored to the person you’re speaking with

   • Residents: culture, schedule, real-life experience
   • Program Director: training philosophy, outcomes, selection
   • Faculty: subspecialty exposure, mentorship, clinical teaching
   • Coordinator: logistics, call rooms, housing, day-to-day details

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High-Yield Questions to Ask the Program Director (PD) and Leadership

These are questions to ask the program director or associate PD, often during your formal interview or dedicated Q&A. They map directly to program philosophy, training quality, and support for DO graduates.

1. Program philosophy & structure

Goal: Understand how the program thinks about training and resident development.

Consider asking:

• “How would you describe the overall training philosophy of this ophthalmology residency?”
• “What distinguishes your graduates in terms of skills or reputation compared to other programs?”
• “How have you adapted the curriculum to changes in technology and surgical techniques over the last few years?”
• “Can you walk me through the progression of responsibility from PGY-2 to PGY-4, especially in the OR?”

Interpretation tips:

• Look for a clear, coherent training philosophy (e.g., early surgical exposure, strong comprehensive training, subspecialty depth).
• Vague or generic answers can be a warning sign that the program is more “on autopilot” than intentional.

2. Surgical and clinical training specifics

Ophthalmology is a procedure-heavy field. For DO graduates, strong surgical numbers and hands-on autonomy are key components of a competitive profile post-residency.

Ask:

• “How do you ensure residents achieve robust surgical volume, particularly for cataract surgery and common ophthalmic procedures?”
• “How is surgical exposure balanced between faculty, fellows, and residents?”
• “At what point in training do residents typically begin performing phacoemulsification independently, and what is the average cataract case count for recent graduates?”
• “Are there any areas where you feel residents need to seek extra experience (wet lab, simulation, external rotations) to feel fully confident?”

Follow-up:
If they give numbers, ask, “How do those compare with national benchmarks for ophthalmology graduates?”

3. DO graduates and integration into the program

For a DO graduate residency candidate, this is critical. You want to know not only whether they accept DOs, but how they support and value them.

You can ask this in a professional, forward-looking way:

• “Can you share your experience training DO residents in ophthalmology, and how they’ve integrated into your program?”
• “Do your DO graduates pursue similar fellowships and jobs as your MD graduates?”
• “What qualities or experiences do you value most in DO applicants to your ophthalmology program?”
• “Have there been any structural or curricular adjustments to support residents coming from a DO background, especially if their earlier exposure to ophthalmology was limited?”

Red flags:

• Hesitation to discuss DOs
• No history of DO trainees despite many years of existence
• Vague statements like “We don’t really look at that” without data or examples

Green flags:

• Specific examples of successful DO graduates matching competitive fellowships
• Leadership mentioning respect for osteopathic training, manual skills, or holistic care
• Clear, concrete supports (mentorship, extra early exposure, board resources)

4. Board exams, fellowship placement, and career outcomes

Your future options depend heavily on training quality, mentorship, and the program’s reputation.

Ask:

• “How have your graduates performed on written and oral ophthalmology boards over the last 5–10 years?”
• “What fellowships have your recent graduates matched into, and in which subspecialties?”
• “Do you track what proportion of graduates enter comprehensive practice versus subspecialty fellowship?”
• “For DO graduates in particular, how have their fellowship and job placement outcomes been?”

If they hesitate to give numbers, ask:

• “Roughly, would you say your board pass rates are generally above, at, or below national averages?”

Look for transparency. Strong programs usually know and are proud of their outcomes.

5. Program culture, feedback, and problem-solving

How leadership responds to feedback is a direct indicator of how they will treat you.

Questions to consider:

• “Can you describe a recent change you’ve made to the residency in response to resident feedback?”
• “How do you support residents who are struggling—whether clinically, surgically, or personally?”
• “What mechanisms exist for residents to give honest feedback without fear of retaliation?”
• “If a resident has concerns about mistreatment or wellness, who can they go to, and how are those concerns handled?”

Pay attention to:

• Specific examples vs. vague reassurances
• Whether they mention psychological safety, wellness resources, and protected time

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Questions to Ask Residents: Real-Life Insight into the Program

Residents are often your best source of unfiltered information. During the ophtho match, their responses will help you differentiate programs that look good on paper from those that truly support resident growth—especially for a DO graduate residency applicant.

1. Day-to-day reality and workload

Ask current residents:

• “What does a typical day look like for you as a PGY-2/3/4 in this program?”
• “How often do you stay significantly later than scheduled, and why?”
• “How is call structured, and how manageable is it in reality?”
• “Do you feel the workload is sustainable long-term, and how does it change across the years?”

Follow-up:

• “If you could change one thing about the schedule or workload, what would it be?”

2. Surgical experience and confidence

Residents can tell you if the advertised surgical numbers truly translate into confidence.

Questions:

• “Do you feel confident in your surgical skills, especially cataract and common procedures?”
• “How early did you start doing meaningful parts of the case rather than just assisting?”
• “Do attendings generally allow autonomy in the OR, or is it more observe-heavy?”
• “Are there any gaps in surgical exposure that you’ve had to fill on your own?”

Ask seniors specifically:

• “Looking ahead to graduation, do you feel ready for comprehensive practice or fellowship?”

3. DO-specific experiences

As a DO graduate, you’ll want to know if DOs feel fully integrated and supported.

If there are DO residents, ask them directly:

• “As a DO graduate, how has your experience been here—academically, clinically, and culturally?”
• “Did you feel you needed extra support early on, and was that support actually provided?”
• “Have you encountered any bias or assumptions about being a DO, from faculty or patients?”
• “What helped you succeed as a DO in this ophthalmology residency?”

If there are no DO residents, you can still ask:

• “Have you ever worked with DO residents here or in other programs? How were they treated?”
• “Do you think this program would be a good fit for a DO graduate in terms of support and expectations?”

4. Culture, wellness, and psychological safety

Culture can be the difference between thriving and burning out.

Ask residents:

• “How would you describe the culture among residents: collaborative, competitive, or something else?”
• “How approachable are attendings for questions or help, especially when you feel unsure?”
• “Have you ever felt unsafe speaking up about concerns or mistakes?”
• “Do people here have lives outside of work—families, hobbies—and is that respected?”
• “Has anyone in your class or recent classes burned out or left, and how was that handled?”

Red flags:

• Residents look at each other nervously before answering
• They say “It’s fine” but give no examples
• High attrition or frequent mentions of “you just figure it out”

5. Practical logistics and hidden challenges

Residents can also answer the “interview questions for them” that you may hesitate to ask faculty.

Examples:

• “What’s one thing you wish you had known about this program before you matched here?”
• “Are there any clinical sites that are particularly difficult in terms of workload or environment?”
• “How is parking, food access, and call room quality on your main sites?”
• “Are there hidden costs—licensing, courses, conferences—that residents end up paying out of pocket?”
• “If you had to choose again, would you still rank this program highly? Why or why not?”

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Subspecialty, Research, and Career Development: Questions to Ask Faculty

Faculty members, especially subspecialists, can give you clarity about long-term growth and the kinds of careers the program prepares you for.

1. Subspecialty exposure and mentorship

For ophthalmology residency, subspecialty breadth (retina, cornea, glaucoma, peds, oculoplastics, neuro-ophthalmology) is critical.

Ask:

• “How is subspecialty exposure structured across the three years of ophthalmology training?”
• “Is there flexibility to tailor electives toward areas I might be interested in, like cornea or retina?”
• “Are residents able to get meaningful hands-on experience in each major subspecialty, or is some exposure mostly observational?”
• “How accessible are subspecialty faculty for mentorship and career guidance?”

If you have early interests:

• “If I were to develop a strong interest in [e.g., glaucoma], how would you recommend I use my time here to be competitive for that fellowship?”

2. Research and scholarly work

For some fellowships and academic careers, research productivity matters. As a DO, research can also help demonstrate academic engagement.

Questions:

• “What opportunities exist for residents to participate in clinical or translational research?”
• “Is research expected, encouraged, or optional here?”
• “Are there structured supports—like a research director, statistician, or protected time—for resident projects?”
• “How many residents typically present at national meetings (e.g., AAO, subspecialty meetings) each year?”
• “Have DO residents been able to lead or present research successfully, and what support did they receive?”

Consider also asking:

• “If I’m coming in without much prior ophthalmology research, how do you suggest I get started in this program?”

3. Career counseling and post-residency outcomes

Faculty often guide residents toward comprehensive practice vs. fellowship.

Ask:

• “How do you support residents in deciding between comprehensive practice and subspecialty fellowships?”
• “Are there faculty who take a lead in advising residents on fellowships and job search?”
• “How strong is your network for helping residents find positions in different regions after graduation?”

If you’re open about DO identity:

• “As a DO graduate in ophthalmology, are there any unique considerations you’ve seen when applying to fellowships or jobs, and how does the program help navigate that?”

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Practical Tips: When and How to Ask Your Questions

Match your questions to the stage of interaction

• Pre-interview / email / open houses

  • Higher-level questions about DO friendliness, interview structure, rotation opportunities.

• Interview day – faculty and program leadership

  • Training philosophy, operative volume, DO graduates, boards, fellowships, support systems.

• Interview day – resident-only sessions

  • Candid questions about culture, workload, red flags, and “real life.”

• Second looks / follow-up emails

  • Fine-tuning: clarification of surgical numbers, elective options, research specifics.

Prioritize depth over quantity

Rather than firing off many generic questions, aim for:

• 3–4 well-prepared, thoughtful questions for the PD
• 3–5 targeted questions for residents
• 2–3 focused questions for subspecialty faculty

You can always say, “I had a few questions written down; would you prefer I pick a couple now and email any remaining later?”

Avoid low-yield or easily Googleable questions

Skip questions you can answer by reading the website, such as:

• “How long is your program?”
• “Do you have a retina service?”

Instead, build on that knowledge:

• “I saw on your website that you rotate at both the main academic center and the VA. How do the case mix and autonomy differ between those sites?”

Stay professional and neutral

It’s reasonable to explore sensitive topics (e.g., DO bias, mistreatment), but frame questions neutrally:

• Instead of: “Is there bias against DOs here?”

• Try: “How do you ensure that all residents—regardless of background or degree—are supported and given equal opportunities?”

• Instead of: “Are there any toxic attendings?”

• Try: “How does the program handle situations where the learning environment feels disrespectful or unsafe?”

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Sample Question Lists You Can Bring to Interviews

Quick-reference list for program directors

Use or adapt:

1. “How would you describe your training philosophy in ophthalmology, and what do you think your program does uniquely well?”
2. “Can you share how DO graduates have performed in your program and where they’ve gone after residency?”
3. “What does the typical surgical experience look like here by PGY-4, particularly cataract numbers and autonomy?”
4. “How have your graduates performed on ophthalmology boards, and what support do you provide in preparing for them?”
5. “Can you give an example of a recent resident concern or suggestion and how the program responded?”

Quick-reference list for residents

You might ask:

1. “What surprised you most about this program after you started?”
2. “Do you feel you are getting the surgical experience you expected when you matched here?”
3. “How is the culture among residents and with faculty—are people approachable and supportive?”
4. “Have any DO residents trained here, and how was their experience?”
5. “If you were re-entering the ophtho match, would you choose this program again? Why or why not?”

Quick-reference list for subspecialty faculty

Examples:

1. “How is subspecialty exposure structured for residents in your area, and how much hands-on experience do they get?”
2. “What advice do you give residents applying for fellowships in your subspecialty?”
3. “For residents who come in with less ophthalmology experience—such as some DO graduates—what helps them catch up and thrive here?”

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FAQs: Questions to Ask Programs for DO Graduate in Ophthalmology

1. As a DO graduate, should I directly ask programs about their attitude toward DOs?

You don’t need to ask, “Do you like DOs?” Instead, ask outcome-based questions:

• “Can you tell me about DO graduates you’ve trained and where they matched for fellowship or practice?”
• “How do you support residents who come from varying medical school backgrounds?”

Their willingness to give specific, positive examples will tell you far more than a generic reassurance.

2. What are the best “questions to ask residency” programs to show I’m serious about ophthalmology?

Focus on questions that highlight your understanding of the field:

• “How do you balance clinic, OR, and subspecialty exposure to prepare residents for comprehensive ophthalmology?”
• “How early do residents begin phaco, and how do you help them progress to independence?”
• “What opportunities exist for involvement in AAO or subspecialty societies during residency?”

These signal that you are thinking like a future ophthalmologist, not just a generic applicant.

3. What should I avoid asking on interview day?

Avoid:

• Questions easily answered on the website (rotation sites, basic structure).
• Aggressive or confrontational questions about “toxic” people.
• Questions focused primarily on salary, vacation or “how to do the minimum” without context.

You can absolutely ask about wellness and workload, but frame them as concerns about sustainable, high-quality training, not just time off.

4. Can I ask programs directly what to ask the program director or residents?

You can absolutely say something like:

• “I’m trying to make sure I’m asking questions that really help me understand fit. From your perspective, what do you think applicants often don’t ask about this program that they should?”

This meta-question can produce some of the most honest, insightful answers you’ll hear during the entire ophthalmology residency interview season.

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By preparing intentional, thoughtful questions tailored to your identity as a DO graduate and your interest in ophthalmology, you’ll not only gather the information you need—you’ll also demonstrate to programs that you’re reflective, serious, and ready to contribute meaningfully to their residency.