Elective Clerkships
We are pleased to offer several excellent clerkship opportunities for medical students interested in clinical exposure to the management of ocular diseases. We hope to provide ophthalmology clerkship experiences that are equally enriching for medical students interested in primary care specialties as for those pursuing a career in ophthalmology.
Our two- and four-week clerkships are offered primarily at the University of Washington’s primary teaching institutions in Seattle. Additional clerkship experiences are offered throughout the WWAMI region. Students interested in pursuing a career in ophthalmology are strongly encouraged to enroll in a clerkship at the University of Washington Eye Institute at Harborview Medical Center (OPHTH 681) or the Seattle Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Medical Center (OPHTH 685). We also have a student-run Ophthalmology Interest Group to provide information and community service activities for students interested in the field of ophthalmology. For more information on the Ophthalmology Interest Group, please visit the website at http://www.students.washington.edu/uwoig.
Thank you for your interest in the University of Washington ophthalmology clerkship elective. If you have any additional questions, or if you need assistance with the clerkship registration process, please feel free to contact me through our Education Coordinator, Joshua Nelson at joshnel@uw.edu.
We look forward to seeing you on our clerkship.
Sincerely,
Courtney Francis, M.D.
Director of Medical Education in Ophthalmology
Assistant Professor
Department of Ophthalmology
University of Washington School of Medicine
Goals/Objectives
The Goals and Objectives of any course in the department of Ophthalmology is to enhance your knowledge of the eye in a variety of locations. The policies and procedures that are supported by our department are the UW Clerkship Policies.
Goals
The following goals are not meant to limit the goals that you may want to focus on, but are intended to clearly outline what is expected of a UW Ophthalmology rotation. Please review the goals below for some general information for our rotations:
- To assist students in developing confidence in specific examination techniques, which are commonly used by ophthalmologists to detect abnormalities of the eyes, optic nerve, lids, lacrimal apparatus, and visual pathways.
- To assist students in identifying, recalling, and categorizing information about seven clinical problem areas: visual acuity, ophthalmoscopy, glaucoma, red eye, injuries, amblyopia and strabismus, and neuro-ophthalmology.
- To assist students in describing and communicating ocular findings with other physicians and when to refer cataract and sight threatening symptoms (e.g., eye pain, vision loss, flashes, and floaters) to an ophthalmologist.
- To provide a first-time experience for students to work in an ophthalmology practice setting with adult and pediatric patients, and ophthalmic nurses and technicians. This setting provides a balance of outpatient, emergency room, inpatient, and operating room experiences and is directed toward the following:
- the application of basic science and clinical knowledge to specific eye problems
- gaining practical experience and insight into the communication skills, examination techniques, and treatments which are used in the practice of ophthalmology
- deciding whether to become an ophthalmologist
- To introduce students to controversial areas of ophthalmology to stimulate reading and investigation into these topics.
- To allow students to observe common surgical techniques, such as cataract extraction with intraocular lens implantation.
Objectives
There are several skill objectives, which are required for minimal performance in this course and these skill areas are described briefly below. At the end of the clerkship, the student should be able to:
- Read and interpret an ophthalmologic consultation which requires knowledge of specific terminology and abbreviations,
- Perform an appropriate and focused history and physical examination for a new ophthalmology patient,
- Develop a plan for the evaluation and management of his/her specific ocular problem(s),
- Perform the following procedures:
- Recording of visual acuity at near and distance,
- Examination of the extraocular muscles (including the cover test) and intraocular muscles (accommodation and pupillary reactions),
- Hand light and slit lamp examinations of the external structures of the eye, lids, and lacrimal apparatus,
- Examination of the cornea, anterior chamber, iris, lens, and anterior vitreous with a slit lamp,
- Ophthalmoscopic examinations of the media (cornea, anterior chamber, lens, and vitreous) and fundus (optic disc, macula, and vessels),
- Confrontation examination of the peripheral visual fields,
- Understand and discuss the initial management of eye emergencies.
Schedule
Scheduling is based on the location of the clerkship. In general, each student will be exposed to a variety of patients and settings. All students (non-WWAMI sites) will participate in the Department of Ophthalmology Grand Rounds, didactic lectures, conferences and case studies at UW Eye Institute on Thursday mornings.
Conferences
Grand Rounds: UW Department of Ophthalmology Grand Rounds are typically held on Thursday mornings from 7am-8am in the Ninth and Jefferson Building of Harborview Medical Center.
Didactics: All didactics are typically held on Thursday mornings from 8am to 12pm in the Ninth and Jefferson Building of Harborview Medical Center. The lectures include information about the Basic Clinical and Science Courses of Ophthalmology, research, wet labs (HMC WISH), special presentations by WAEPS guest speakers, interdepartmental conferences, specialty conferences, and case studies.
Case Studies & Case Presentations: Medical Students on any rotation in Seattle are required to attend Case Studies on the 1st Thursday of a rotation and Case Presentations on the 2nd Thursday of a rotation.
WAEPS Lecture: Special lectures are held once a month on Wednesday late afternoon/early evenings from 6:30pm-8:30pm in the Research and Training Building on the Harborview Medical Center Campus.
Clinic & OR
Clinic: UW Department of Ophthalmology main clinic is located at Harborview on the 7th floor of the Ninth and Jefferson Building at the Harborview Medical Center Campus. The clinic at Harborview is the UW Medicine Eye Institute.
OR: There are ORs that are a part of each rotation schedule, which include the OR at the Ninth and Jefferson Building as well as the OR at the Maleng Building.
EyeSi Simulator
The UW Department of Ophthalmology to owns an EyeSi simulator that was sponsored by our own Medical Student Program Director because of the belief that this would be an instrumental machine that could be used to educate medical students in order for them to learn about ophthalmology in a new and advanced technology. On most rotation schedules the EyeSi is incorporated into the rotation, so that you have the unique opportunity to use this innovative simulator.
Materials
- American Academy of Ophthalmology, Basic Ophthalmology for Medical Students and Primary Care Residents, 8th or 9th Edition, 2009 (Provided on first day to borrow for the duration of your rotation) – Basic Ophthalmology 9th Edition Book
Evaluation
By student/by faculty (Evaluation of Student Performance in the Clinical Curriculum) in E*Value. Students on a four-week rotation are eligible for an honors grade. Students seeking an honors grade are required to write two 4-page papers, one 8-page paper, or one EyeWiki submission with a resident or faculty adviser on a topic of their choosing to be submitted no later than one week following the end of a clerkship. Students will present a brief case presentation and discussion on the second Thursday morning.
Transportation
There is a free UW Health Sciences Shuttle with service from UWMC, Roosevelt Clinic, and HMC sites. Students at the Seattle Children’s Hospital (SCH) has a shuttle with service from SCCA, UWMC, and SCH sites. Kaiser Permanente locations will need to arrange for their own transportation.
Required texts:
- American Academy of Ophthalmology, Basic Ophthalmology for Medical Students and Primary Care Residents, 8th or 9th Edition, 2009 (Provided on first day)
Evaluation
By student/by faculty (Evaluation of Student Performance in the Clinical Curriculum). Students on a four-week rotation are eligible for an honors grade. Students seeking an honors grade are required to write two 4-page papers, one 8-page paper, or one eyewiki submission with a resident or faculty adviser on a topic of their choosing to be submitted no later than one week following the end of a clerkship. Students will present a brief case presentation and discussion on the second Thursday morning.
Other
Free shuttle service from UWMC, Roosevelt, and HMC sites are available. Students at the CHRMC and GHC locations will need to arrange for their own transporation.
Available Clerkships
Locations and Courses
Alaska | Montana | Idaho | Seattle Northwest WA | Spokane Eastern WA | Wyoming | WWAMI and Other |
OPHTH 688 | OPHTH 690, 692 | OPHTH 691 | OPHTH 681, 683, 685, 686, 695 | OPHTH 689 |
| OPHTH 697, 699 |
OPHTH 681 P–Ophthalmology Clerkship – HMC/Eye Institute (4/8)
Meets the surgery selective requirement.
Offered: | 2 or 4 weeks |
Prerequisite: | Third- and fourth-year medical students. By special arrangement only - please contact the department coordinator for permissions. |
Total Enrollment: | 3 students per rotation. |
Faculty Contact: | Courtney Francis, M.D. |
Clerkship Site: | Harborview Medical Center / UW Eye Institute |
OPHTH 683 P–Pediatric Ophthalmology Clerkship – Seattle Children’s (4)
Meets the surgery selective requirement.
Offered: | 2 weeks |
Prerequisite: | Completion of Human Biology Series. Fourth-year medical students only. Must have previously completed an ophthalmology clerkship. By special arrangement only - please contact the department coordinator for permissions. |
Total Enrollment: | 1 student per rotation. |
Faculty Contact: | Erin Herlihy, M.D. |
Clerkship Sites: | Seattle Children’s Hospital |
OPHTH 685 P–Ophthalmology Clerkship – VAPSHCS (4)
Meets the surgery selective requirement.
Offered: | 2 weeks |
Prerequisite: | Third- and fourth-year medical students. By special arrangement only - please contact the department coordinator for permissions. |
Total Enrollment: | 1 student per rotation. |
Faculty Contact: | Deb Lam, M.D. |
Clerkship Site: | VA Puget Sound Health Care System (VAPSHCS) |
OPHTH 686 P–Ophthalmology Clerkship – Kaiser Permanente Puget Sound (4)
Meets the surgery selective requirement.
Offered: | 2 weeks |
Prerequisite: | Third- and fourth-year medical students. By special arrangement only - please contact the department coordinator for permissions. |
Total Enrollment: | 1 student per rotation. |
Faculty Contact: | Michael R Gorman, M.D. |
Clerkship Site: | Kaiser Permanente – Puget Sound: Bellevue/Federal Way |
OPHTH 688 P- Ophthalmology Clerkship – Anchorage (8)
Meets the surgery selective requirement.
Offered: | 2 or 4 weeks |
Prerequisite: | Fourth-year medical students only. Application should be made during third year. By special arrangement only - please contact the department coordinator for permissions. |
Faculty Contact: | Robert Davis, M.D. |
Clerkship Site: | Anchorage, Alaska: Alaska Native Medical Center (ANMC) |
OPHTH 689 P–Ophthalmology Clerkship – Spokane (4)
Meets the surgery selective requirement.
Offered: | 2 weeks |
Prerequisite: | Third- and fourth-year medical students. By special arrangement only - please contact the department coordinator for permissions. |
Total Enrollment: | 1 student per rotation. |
Faculty Contact: | Rory Allar, M.D. |
Clerkship Site: | Spokane, Washington |
OPHTH 690 P–Ophthalmology Clerkship – Missoula (4)
Meets the surgery selective requirement.
Offered: | 2 weeks |
Prerequisite: | Third- and fourth-year medical students. By special arrangement only - please contact the department coordinator for permissions. |
Total Enrollment: | 1 student per rotation. |
Faculty Contact: | Todd Murdock, M.D. |
Clerkship Site: | Missoula, Montana |
OPHTH 691 P-Ophthalmology Clerkship - Nampa (4)
Meets the surgery selective requirement.
Offered: | 2 weeks |
Prerequisite: | Third- and fourth-year medical students. By special arrangement only - please contact the department coordinator for permissions. |
Total Enrollment: | 1 student per rotation |
Faculty Contact: | Johanna Jensen, M.D. |
Clerkship Sites: | Nampa, ID: Jensen Eye Associates, PLLC |
OPHTH 692 - P-Ophthalmology Clerkship - Bozeman (4)
Meets the surgery selective requirement.
| Offered: | 2 weeks |
| Prerequisite | Third- and fourth-year medical students. By special arrangement only - please contact the department coordinator for permissions. |
| Total Enrollment: | 1 student per rotation |
| Faculty Contact: | Joseph Sheehan, M.D. |
| Clerkship Site: | Bozeman, Montana |
OPHTH 695 P- Advanced Ophthalmology Clerkship - Seattle (4)
Meets the surgery selective requirement.
Offered: | 2 weeks |
Prerequisite: | Fourth-year medical students. Must have previously completed an ophthalmology clerkship. By special arrangement only - please contact the department coordinator for permissions. |
Total Enrollment: | 1 student per rotation |
Faculty Contact: | Courtney Francis, M.D. |
Clerkship Sites: | Harborview Medical Center, 4 West Clinic
|
OPHTH 697 P- Ophthalmology Special Elective (max 24)
Meets the surgery selective requirement.
Offered: | 2/4/6 weeks |
Prerequisite: | 3rd year medical student standing. By special arrangement only - please contact the department coordinator for permissions. This is a 2 month application process. |
Total Enrollment: | Unlimited. |
Clerkship site: | Various outside WWAMI |
By specific arrangement for qualified students; special clerkships or ‘away clerkships’ may be available at institutions other than the University of Washington. Interested students should submit a "Credit for Away Clerkship" form available from the UWSOM Dean's Office Registrar and complete for departmental approval at least two months before advance registration.
This elective has provided clinical and laboratory experience in ophthalmology in a variety of settings. The arrangements must be initiated by the student, but we are able to provide guidance in order to ensure that a valuable experience will be obtained.
Note: Departmental evaluations are required to be completed by faculty and student prior to receiving a grade.
OPHTH 699 P- WWAMI Ophthalmology Special Electives (max 24)
Offered: | 2/4/6 weeks | |
Total Enrollment: | Variable. | |
Prerequisite: | 3rd year medical student standing. By special arrangement only - please contact the department coordinator for permissions. This is a 2 month application process. | |
Clerkship site: | Various within WWAMI | |
By specific arrangement for qualified students, special clerkships or ‘away clerkships’ maybe available at institutions other than the University of Washington located within the WWAMI region. Interested students should obtain a “Credit for Away Clerkship in WWAMI” form available from the UWSOM Dean’s Office Registrar and complete for departmental approval at least two months before advance registration.
Note: Departmental evaluations are required to be completed by faculty and student prior to receiving a grade.
FAQ
The student on rotation usually follows the resident rather than the attending, depending on which site you are assigned to rotate. Exceptions include the Kaiser Permanente rotation where there are no residents, or in the OR where you will observe the attending who performs surgery with the assigned resident.
No, our department will only allow two weeks of surgical credit in every clerkship rotation, whether it’s a two, four, or six-week block.
No, you are not allowed to make up for missed days. We recommend that you drop or reschedule the course if you know you will have residency interviews during your rotation. No time off will be approved in two-week clerkships.
No, the $100.00 registration fee is non-refundable but you can always use it at a later date that will work for you.
Dr. Johanna Jensen would like to talk to “Track Students” before giving them permission to sign up for the course. She will also let you know if she is available to mentor you on the scheduled dates you wanted to do the rotation. Please contact me (sayuri3@uw.edu) for further information on contacting Dr. Jensen. As soon as you have registered, I will send all the paper work for you to fill out and send back to the site four weeks prior to the beginning of the rotation.
Parking at Harborview is very expensive and parking in the area around Harborview is generally 2-hour limit metered parking; I recommend not driving to the site. There are free shuttle busses running every 15 minutes from UWMC to UW Tower, Roosevelt and HMC, then back to UW Tower, Roosevelt, and UWMC. Health Sciences Shuttle Schedule
It is good to read the textbook early on to familiarize yourself with ophthalmology medical terminologies and definitions, as well as to broaden your knowledge of ophthalmology. This will allow for a better learning experience during your rotation.
Two to three weeks, and a maximum of four weeks when submitting an honors paper.
Program Info
Program Director
Courtney Francis, MD
Associate Professor
Education Coordinator
Joshua Nelson
joshnel@uw.edu
