You’ve reached the light at the end of the tunnel known as training. Hats off!
Be it residency or fellowship, you’ve finally made it to the moment you’ve worked the majority of your adult life to achieve.
In so many ways, it is a different world once you pass through the doors of your training institution for the last time as a resident or fellow, and for many, it’s a world without a lot of the traditional support we relied on during training. The sudden loss of that community of peers and mentors who were always available for questions, advice or moral support is an unexpected shock, especially at a time in your career where having those connections is absolutely critical.
The practice of ophthalmology can be strangely isolating. We are one of the smallest surgical subspecialties and are often isolated in our eye centers, away from the camaraderie of a big hospital. Even those who are part of large clinics are often seeing patients alone, as the only physician at a specific location on a certain day. For those who opt to set up shop solo, that isolation is compounded further.
Once you finally make it to practice and the ties of training are finished, how do you stay connected?
1. Maintain personal connections and seek out new ones.
The easiest connections to develop are the ones you already have. Although everyone graduates residency with the intention of staying in touch, the demands of practice and family often take a toll on connections with former residents and attendings.
“One thing I regret about my first few years in practice is not staying in closer touch with my friends from training” said one YO. “I struggled through a lot of challenges during my first year out and didn’t realize until we connected at [the Academy] that most of my coresidents were experiencing the same struggles.”
In the age of COVID-19, staying connected is easier than ever. Several YOs have highlighted Zoom reunions with former classmates as a highlight of the recent shutdown.
2. Build a virtual community.
We are fortunate to live at a time where a virtual community is literally a keyboard click away. There are a number of online ophthalmology groups formed in recent years that all act as an online forum for discussions on difficult cases, best business practices, research developments and work life balance
One such group, SoloEyeDocs, was formed to provide support specifically for those ophthalmologists currently in or in the process of opening their own solo practice. In addition to providing a wealth of knowledge already vetted by peers, the group has been able to leverage their collective purchasing power to secure a number of industry discounts on critical practice purchases. Membership in this community is free, though access to certain benefits is contingent on a donation to the Surgical Scope Fund.
Another group, Ophthalmology Moms Group (OMG), is a Facebook group of women ophthalmologists that allows for professional discussion, but it’s more important role may be the virtual community that it has developed. According to one member, “Being a member of OMG makes me feel like chatting with my coresidents again. It’s a place of support and community.”
3. Join your state society.
One of the best things about completing training is finally able to build permanent connections in a community. One of the best ways to do this professionally is to join your state ophthalmology society. You can find a list of state societies on the Academy website.
Participation in your state society has numerous benefits, but one that is rarely discussed is the sense of community that can be found in a group of your peers all working to protect the practice of ophthalmology locally. Participation in your state society is also a great avenue to become more involved in both local and national advocacy, a path that leads to numerous opportunities to build connections throughout ophthalmology.
4. Explore professional organizations.
Many professional organizations have outlets for connecting with peers. The most well-known is the Academy’s YO (young ophthalmologist) programming, which features specific meeting content, opportunities for networking and socialization and numerous support publications for residents, fellows and ophthalmologists in their first five years after training.
Most subspecialty organizations also have programming and opportunities for younger ophthalmologists, including the American Society for Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ASCRS) Young Eye Surgeons program, and the American Society of Retina Specialists (ASRS) Early Career Section. Many are actively looking for members to participate in committees.
The first few years in practice present a new set of challenges and rewards. Having a strong network of peers to help mitigate the challenges and celebrate the successes can make all the difference.
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About the author: Rachel Simpson, MD, is a glaucoma specialist in Salt Lake City and joined the
YO Info editorial board in 2020.