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  • Resident Edition Residents

    Resident’s Timeline and Essential To-Do List

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    2019

    July

    All:

    • Make the most of your Academy membership as a young ophthalmologist. Bookmark the young ophthalmologists and residents landing pages: aao.org org/yo and aao.org/residents.

    Here are some of the Academy benefits you receive:

    • Learn from Ophthalmology®, the no. 1 peer-reviewed journal in the profession, with your free subscription.
    • Get the latest industry news and clinical roundups with free access to EyeNet® Magazine.
    • Test your clinical knowledge — aao.org/self-assessments.
    • View surgical videos and images showing basic skills — aao.org/browse-multimedia.
    • Read the Preferred Practice Pattern Guidelines — aao.org/ppp.
      • Plan your OKAP® test preparation. Check out YO Info’s reading schedule online.

    PGY-2 (first-year ophthalmology): Start exploring research projects for residency research day, meeting submissions, etc.

    PGY-4 (third-year ophthalmology): Residents who plan to apply for fellowships should submit applications to SF Match (registration begins June 1, 2019). This does NOT include those applying for American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ASOPRS) fellowships.
    August

    All:

    • American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS) abstract submission opens.
    • Women in Ophthalmology annual meeting, August 22 to 25, in Coeur D’Alene, Idaho.
    • Check out the Academy’s physician wellness focus on mindfulness — aao.org/member-services/physician-wellness.
    September

    PGY-4: Fellowship interviews start.

    All:

    • Prospective residency interviews start. Get involved in the process that selects those who will follow in your footsteps!
    • American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (AAPOS) abstract submission opens.
    October

    All:

    • American Glaucoma Society (AGS) abstract submissions due.
    • AAO 2019, October 12 to 15, in San Francisco. The single largest meeting on the ophthalmology calendar offers many courses and opportunities for young ophthalmologists.
    • Download the YO guide to AAO 2019 — aao.org/yo.
    • Visit the YO Lounge and attend one of the daily power hours.

    PGY-3: ASOPRS fellowship applications open.
    November

    All:
    December

    All:

    • Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) poster/paper submissions open.

    PGY-4: SF Match fellowship rank lists due and SF Match fellowship results released.

    2020

    January

    All:

    PGY-3: ASOPRS fellowship interviews start.
    February

    All:

    • AGS meeting, February 27 to March 1, in Washington, D.C.
    March

    All:

    • OKAP exam.
    • ASOPRS fall meeting abstract submission opens.
    • North American Neuro-Ophthalmology Society (NANOS) annual meeting, March 7 to 12, in Amelia Island Plantation, Fla.
    • AAPOS annual meeting, March 25 to 29, in Austin, Texas.
    April

    PGY-3: ASOPRS rank lists due, and ASOPRS match occurs.

    All:

    • Submit papers/posters abstracts for AAO 2020, November 14 to 17, in Las Vegas. Be sure to enter the YO surgical video competition!
    • Women in Ophthalmology (WIO) abstract submissions due.
    • Engage with your state society
    • Attend the Academy’s Mid-Year Forum, April 22-25, in Washington, D.C.
    • Learn how to advocate for your patients and profession — aao.org/advocacy (click “Get Involved”).
    May

    PGY-3: (or PGY-2 for oculoplastics): Prepare for fellowship applications (draft personal statement and CV, identify letters of support, etc.).

    All:

    • ARVO annual meeting, May 3 to 7, in Baltimore.
    • ASCRS annual meeting, May 15 to 19, in Boston.
    June

    PGY-4: Local residency research day presentations/recognition of graduating residents.

    PGY-3: (or PGY-2 for oculoplastics): Continue preparation for fellowship applications.

    All: Congratulations on a successful year!

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    Andrea TooleyAbout the author: Andrea A. Tooley, MD, is doing an oculoplastics fellowship at Manhattan Eye and Ear Hospital/Institute of Reconstructive Plastic Surgery-New York University Medical Center in New York City.