Medical Students

Third and fourth year medical students are offered an opportunity to pursue a two-week or month-long elective on the ophthalmology service. This elective rotation consists of a schedule including primarily ambulatory ophthalmology, didactic lectures, surgery and inpatient consults. Students are given the opportunity to work closely with individual residents. Unique to this setting is that students may also have some autonomy in patient work-ups that is graduated according to the ability of each student. Basic skills such as direct ophthalmoscopy, slit-lamp exam, tonometry and indirect ophthalmoloscopy are taught. All students are given a written examination at the end of the rotation. In addition, students are expected to give an oral presentation to receive an honors grade. Student response to this rotation has been overwhelmingly positive. 

The medical student rotation is open to students from outside the Chicago area based on availability. Rotations are available throughout the year except for the month of July due to new resident Orientation. Please directly contact Dr. Surendar Dwarakanathan, Director of Medical Students, to set up a rotation.

Research opportunities for medical students are also available in the division. An elective rotation combining clinical and research work must be at least one month long. Medical student participation in research projects is at the discretion of the supervising attending of the particular research project. Please contact the Division Chairman Dr. Philip Dray or the Director of Research Dr. Richard Ahuja for information regarding on-going research projects.