Key opportunities that residents should take advantage of

Experienced optometrists are providing advice for residents on making the most of the residency experience. A common theme of said advice is the importance of actively engaging in research and publishing during residency.

Pam Theroit, OD, FAAO, emphasizes that learning how to thoroughly research and write peer-reviewed papers is a critical skill that will serve you well beyond residency. Residency provides the mentorship and resources to develop these research skills, which can then be applied to expand the medical knowledge base.

Erin Tomiyama, OD, PhD, FAAO, advises residents to be open to all the opportunities that arise during the one-year residency, even if they are outside your initial area of interest. Embracing these unexpected opportunities can lead you down an unanticipated but rewarding career path.

Program director for Cincinnati Eye Institute's residency program Erich Hinel, OD, MS, FAAO, Dipl ABO, stresses the importance of not being afraid to ask questions. Residents should take full advantage of having attending physicians available to teach and guide them. Looking back, the director wishes they had asked even more questions and shadowed the specialists they worked with.

Finally, Dana Shannon, OD, FAAO, shares that she wishes she kept a detailed log of the unique "zebra" cases they encountered during residency. Having a record of these rare but instructive cases, along with any relevant literature, would have been invaluable for future reference and review.

Overall, the key advice is to be proactive, curious, and open-minded during residency. Engage in research, embrace new opportunities, ask questions freely, and document your experiences – these will all pay dividends throughout your ophthalmology career.