Ophthalmology

Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine at Geisinger Medical Center offers two- or four-week medical student elective rotations with Geisinger's Department of Ophthalmology. You’ll participate in all teaching conferences and rounds, take part in the evaluation and treatment of a variety of ocular conditions, and assist in the surgical suites. To guide your ophthalmology learning experience, you’ll receive a copy of the monthly conference schedule at orientation.

The first-year residents assume primary responsibility for teaching and evaluating medical students in the clinic. The residents are in turn supervised by the ophthalmology residency director, who has the ultimate responsibility for the quality of your educational experience as well as your evaluation, which will be sent to your home institution. While in the clinic, you’re expected to see patients, particularly those who come through the walk-in clinic, to perform complete history and physical examinations and to review your findings with the residents or attending staff.

You’re encouraged to prepare a 20- to 30-minute presentation on a topic of your choice, to be given before the end of your rotation to the residents and attending staff. This presentation is optional, but it’s expected of any student who aspires to attain a grade of honors for the rotation.

Goals and objectives

The overarching goal is to introduce you to the methods and skills used in the clinical diagnosis and therapy of patients with ophthalmologic disorders.

Specific educational goals include:

• Become confident in the use of a slit lamp and indirect ophthalmoscopy.
• Differentiate between those conditions that are easily treated in a general practice setting and those that require referral to an ophthalmologist.