HCA Residency Program
About
Perich Eye Center is the surgical center to the HCA Florida Bayonet Point Hospital Ophthalmology Residency Program. The program's goal is to offer residents a rewarding, educational environment where ophthalmology residents receive individualized learning opportunities to maximize their full potential as clinicians, educators and healthcare leaders.
Our ophthalmology residency is a three-year program accredited by the ACGME for a total of six residents per academic year, with a maximum of two residents in each PGY2, PGY3 and PGY4 level.
The program combines clinical and surgical training with strong didactics to provide the highest level of training in ophthalmology.
Expectations
The residents at the main eye clinic see 12,000 patients per year with a variety of ophthalmic problems. Most clinic hours are for general ophthalmology with specific off site rotations in the fields of retina, glaucoma, neuro-ophthalmology, pediatric ophthalmology, oculoplastics and cornea/external disease. Surgery is performed two days of the week. Exposure to fluorescein angiography, electro-physiology, and ultrasonography is incorporated into general and sub-specialty rotations.
Rotations available in glaucoma, retina, pediatric ophthalmology and neuro-ophthalmology.
Exposure
Resident exposure to surgery increases during each year of the program. PGY-2 begin with extraocular procedures. After demonstration in a level of competency, they progress to perform certain intraocular procedures near the end of the first year. In the second year (PGY-3) the exposure to surgery increases. Each second year resident does about 15 to 30 cataracts. In the third year a large number of surgeries of all types are performed. By the end of the program each resident generally has performed between 150 to 200 surgical procedures.
Residents round on Trauma Call at HCA Florida Bayonet Point Hospital.
Timeline
All incoming residents are given an orientation course in July and August to provide them with a foundation and background in the principles of ophthalmology, ophthalmic examination and diagnosis. During the first 10 days of July, time is spent on examination techniques with most of the emphasis on a practical refraction course. After this introduction, the residents begin in the clinic in the middle of July. The didactic portion of the teaching program for all residents continues throughout the year with weekly lectures given by the residents and over seen by the attendings.
The residents are required to attend the USF Grand Rounds which are provided once a month with visiting professors in many different sub-specialties at the USF Morsani Center from the months of September through June. Most off site subspecialty rotations are completed during the PGY-2 year in order for residents to spend PGY-3 and PGY-4 years focusing on developing their surgical skills. Residents are allowed 2 months thoughout the course of the residency to attend two separate Basic Science Courses of their choice.
Each resident is expected to conduct independent outside reading throughout the residency program. The residents are expected to purchase the Academy's Basic and Clinical Science Series. A reading list of other recommended books to purchase is given to the residents when they start the program. Residents are required to initiate and complete a hypothesis-driven research project during their three years of training. This project will be supervised by a faculty member. Residents are required to write two scientific papers during the course of their three year ophthalmology residency.
How To Apply
Osteopathic Medical Students interested in applying to our programs should submit an application through ERAS (Electronic Residency Application Services), starting on July 1 of each year. If you would like to match with HCA Bayonet Ophthalmology, please provide your information through National Matching – for OGME-1 Applicants.
It is recommended that medical students spend a 2 week audition rotation with us during the late summer/fall of their 4th year of medical school. For more information and any further questions on the program, please contact our program coordinator Laura Moore at (727) 819-2972 or laura.moore@hcahealthcare.com
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