Applicant Information - Ophthalmology

The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) requires that applicants for GME programs be informed of the terms, conditions and benefits of employment.  The information below is intended as a general overview. The Resident Employment Contract and Statement of Benefits should be consulted for complete details.

Resident Eligibility

Applicants are selected on the basis of their preparedness, ability, aptitude, academic credentials, communication skills and personal qualities such as motivation and integrity. This program does not discriminate with regard to sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, disability or veteran status. Any of the following individuals are eligible to apply to this residency program:

• Graduates of medical schools in the United States and Canada accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME).
• Graduates of colleges of osteopathic medicine in the United States accredited by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA).
• Graduates of medical schools outside the United States and Canada who meet one of the following qualifications:
  • Have received a currently valid certificate from the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) or,
  • Have a full and unrestricted license to practice medicine in a U.S. licensing jurisdiction.
• Graduates of medical schools outside the United States who have completed a Fifth Pathway program provided by an LCME-accredited medical school

Program Prerequisites

All residents entering this program must have taken a post-graduate clinical year (PGY-1) in a program accredited by the ACGME or the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. The PGY-1 year must be comprised of training in which the resident has primary responsibility for patient care in fields such as internal medicine, neurology, pediatrics, surgery, family practice or emergency medicine. A minimum of six months of this year must be a broad experience in direct patient care.

Licensure

As a condition of employment, each resident must obtain a valid Missouri medical license prior to starting the residency program. This license must be maintained for the duration of the training period.

Employment Contract

Resident employment contracts are issued annually by the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine (UMKC) at the direction of the Program Director.

Appointment Periods & Compensation

The Ophthalmology Residency Program is three years long. Each academic year runs from July 1st through June 30th. Compensation is provided as per the terms of the employment contract at the following levels:

First year resident:	PGY-2
Second year resident:	PGY-3
Third year resident:	PGY-4

Vacation

Each resident receives twenty-one (21) calendar days (including weekends) of paid vacation per year. Vacation does not accumulate from year to year.

Leave of Absence

Leave is granted as per policies of the Department of Ophthalmology and the Hospital Hill Health Services Corporation. These policies address leave for the following reasons:

• Academic Development - Typically three working days in the second or third year.
• Interviews for Medical Practice or Fellowship - Five working days.
• Sick Leave - Accrues at the rate of one day for each consecutive month of employment and is cumulative to a maximum of seventy-two (72) days.

Leave of absence is also covered under the Family Medical Leave Act. The following reasons are covered:

• Personal Medical - This includes maternity leaves and covers the time an employee is certified as medically unable to work by a doctor. Personal medical leaves for childbirth normally end six weeks after a normal delivery and eight weeks after C-section. Available sick days are used first. Additional time is derived from the short-term salary continuance benefit. Vacation time is not used. The Leaves of Absence Policy and Salary Continuance Policy should be consulted for complete details.
• Birth/Placement of a Child - Residents who have been employed at least 12 months are eligible for unpaid leave for the birth of a child or for placement of a child for adoption/foster care. Residents have the option to use available vacation time. The Ophthalmology Department provides three days of paid leave for paternity or child adoption.
• Family Medical - Residents who have been employed at least 12 months are eligible for unpaid leave to care for a spouse, son, daughter or parent if that person has a serious health condition. Children are included up to the age of 18. Children 18 and over are included if they are "incapable of self care" due to physical or mental disabilities. Residents have the option to use available vacation time.

Professional Liability Insurance

Liability insurance is provided on an occurrence-made basis with limits of $1,000,000 per claim and $3,000,000 annual aggregate.

Health and Dental Insurance

Provided for the resident and the resident's immediate family.

Life and Disability Insurance

Group life insurance is provided to each resident. Disability coverage is provided in two forms:

• Salary Continuance (Short-term Disability) - Up to six months subsequent to the initial date of disability.
• Long-term Disability Insurance - After six months from the initial date of disability.

Living Quarters

Residents are required to find, maintain and pay for their own living quarters. The medical center does not provide on-campus housing.

Food Services

Food services are available at each of the participating institutions. Because in-house call is not required, meal tickets are not provided to residents on call.

Uniforms

UMKC provides a uniform allowance of fifty ($50.00) dollars for the first year and twenty-five ($25.00) dollars for each year thereafter. Laundering costs are the resident's responsibility.