Department of Ophthalmology
Eye Foundation of Kansas City / Truman Medical Center
University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine

www.umkc-efkc.org

The Department offers a nationally recognized three-year program with three openings each year for qualified candidates. Clinical experiences are provided at four affiliated institutions:

Fully accredited since 1971, the residency program stresses five main factors:

In addition to developing a strong knowledge base in general ophthalmology, residents have extensive exposure to subspecialty areas such as:

Board-certified ophthalmologists supervise residents in surgery and in the clinic. These staff physicians are always present to provide advice and guidance.

FIRST YEAR

During the first year, emphasis is placed on the acquisition of basic diagnostic and therapeutic skills. Beginning residents examine patients in the clinic, perform extraocular surgery and selected laser procedures under direct staff supervision and take part in clinical research. First year residents spend eleven months at TMC-H and one month at CMH. Each resident is assigned to the Eye Foundation Contact Lens Clinic for one half day per week for the duration of one four-month block. During another four-month block, each resident spends four half days per week assisting staff physicians in surgery and learning about surgical equipment and operating room devices.

Each incoming resident is assigned a faculty mentor. This individual will work with the resident throughout the training period to provide one-on-one teaching, counseling and constructive feedback and to act as a role model in professional growth and development.  The mentor system provides a proactive mechanism for the detection and rectification of problems likely to be encountered in the resident training process.

SECOND YEAR

The second year is characterized by increasing clinical responsibilities and exposure to major intraocular surgical procedures. Residents spend eight months at TMC-H and four months at SLH. Four of the eight months spent at TMC-H feature concentrated training in retinal diseases. During this block, the resident takes part in major retina/vitreous surgical cases, performs a significant number of retinal lasers and interprets fundus photographs and fluorescein angiograms. The resident assigned to SLH spends five half days per week working in the Eye Foundation Macular Center or the TMC-H Eye Clinic. Duties include examining patients referred to the Macular Center, assisting in diagnostic studies and laser procedures and participating in research activities.

THIRD YEAR

Residents attain maximum proficiency during the third year. Skills are sharpened through intensive clinical exposure and responsibility for major surgical cases. Senior residents are expected to provide leadership and guidance to junior residents and medical students on the Ophthalmology Service. Third year residents rotate for a period of four months through TMC-H, TMC-L and CMH. While assigned to TMC-L, each resident spends one half day per week in the Eye Foundation Refractive Surgery Clinic observing procedures and taking part in patient evaluation and follow-up.

DIDACTICS

The program also offers a broad array of educational conferences and didactics. Weekly conferences include the Basic/Clinical Science Lecture Series, Retinal Lecture/Case Presentations, Pathology Lecture/CPC and Glaucoma Lecture/Case Presentations. Monthly conferences include Journal Club, Neuro-ophthalmology Case Presentations, Saturday morning Surgical Case Review, Grand Rounds (nine months per year) and Pathology Lab (ten months per year). In addition, the residents meet monthly for a Study Group.

RESIDENCY COMMITTEE

APPLICATION / ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Please review the Applicant Information Page.

The Residency Program participates in the Ophthalmology Matching Program (OMP). Information about registering in the match and enrolling in the Central Application Service (CAS) may be obtained by contacting the academic advisor in the Dean's Office of your medical school. Applicants may request additional program information after July 1 by directing inquiries to:

Nelson R. Sabates, MD
Department of Ophthalmology
Eye Foundation of Kansas City
2300 Holmes St.
Kansas City, MO 64108
Phone: (816) 404-1780
Please send E-Mail to Saundra Thompson [email protected]

Residency applications are accepted between July 1 and October 15 of each year.

DEPARTMENT OF OPHTHALMOLOGY
University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine
Eye Foundation of Kansas City

Chairman: Felix Sabates, MD
Vice-Chairman / Residency Program Director: Nelson Sabates, MD
Associate Program Director: Abraham Poulose, MD

 

Department Directors

Anterior Segment Surgery:  
Contact Lenses: Lori Julian, OD
Cornea/External Disease: Larry Piebenga, MD
Clinical Research: Rohit Krishna, MD
Glaucoma: Rohit Krishna, MD  
Neuro-ophthalmology: Jerry Wurster, MD
Ocular Pathology: Mahendra Rupani, MD
Oculoplastics: David Lyon, MD
Pediatric Ophthalmology: Merrill Stass-Isern, MD
Refractive Surgery: Jean Hausheer, MD
Retina/Vitreous: Nelson Sabates, MD
Uveitis/Intraocular Inflammation: William Godfrey, MD

 

Additional Teaching Faculty

Scott Olitsky, MD Felix Sabates, Jr., MD
Timothy Walline, MD William White, MD