Getting Involved

Numerous ways to get involved in the field of Ophthalmology

Shadow

Contact one of us and we will help set up an experience for you!

(Photo courtesy of http://elmedico.metropoliglobal.com/retina.jpg)

Available Rotations in 3rd and 4th year

During 3rd year, you will have the opportunity to choose two 2-week surgical selectives. General ophthalmology will be available. In this rotation, you will be assigned to one of the resident physicians who will let you shadow him/her during clinic. You will also be able to go to the OR on your own to observe the surgeries you choose. 

During 4th year, two rotations are available through OASIS-- general ophthalmology and neuro-ophthalmology. General ophthalmology is very much like the 3rd year selectives and is four weeks long. This rotation is good for students going into fields like pediatrics, internal medicine, or neurology, who wish to gain a better understanding of general ophthalmologic disorders. The neuro-ophthalmology rotation is a 4-week long rotation exclusively with Dr. Newman. This rotation is more rigorous and is recommended for all students who wish to pursue ophthalmology as a career choice. This rotation will expose you to the vast world of neuro-ophthalmology, surgeries such as muscle alignment, orbital tumors, thyroid orbitopathy, etc. 

Other rotations are also available during 4th year that may be specially-arranged. They typically involve speaking directly to the attenting you wish to work with and setting up a rotation during a time that works for both of you. See your course handbook for more information. 

Volunteer

Remote Area Medical (RAM)/Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity(VOSH-Virginia)

Annually in August, medical professionals, nursing and medical students, and other volunteers provide three days of medical care in southwest Virginia in the Appalachian Mountains.
The mission is to deliver eye, medical and dental care. Last year the clinic examined 1,225 eye patients. 1,029 glasses were dispensed. In July 2005 the total patient encounters was 6,397. The total number of vision patients was 1,109 . Please see the New York Times Magazine Photo Essay of the 2007 event.

Please contact Bingjie Ling (bl4r@virginia.edu) or Dr. Victoria Molnar Weiss, OPTOMETRIST (dvcclear@aol.com) for details. The annual registration deadline is always around beginning of July.

UVA Vision Task Force Glaucoma Screenings

The UVA Vision Task Force strives to help patients in the community by screening for glaucoma, a slowly progressive and potentially blinding disease. Currently, the screenings take place weekly at UMA (University Medical Associates) on Jefferson Park Avenue. We take a basic medical and family history, check vision, screening visual fields, and intraocular pressure. Based on the screenings, we refer patients potentially at risk of developing glaucoma. 

Please contact Ankur Gupta (ag3dt@virginia.edu) if you wish to participate.

Research

Please contact Bingjie Ling (bl4r@virginia.edu)