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    Residents’ Timeline

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    2018

    July

    All: Academic year begins. Set up your OKAP (Ophthalmic Knowledge Assessment Program) reading schedule.

    PGY-2 (first-year ophthalmology): Many programs have a buddy-call phase that pairs a PGY-2 with an upper-level resident for the initial several weeks. If you’re lucky enough, use this time for maximum learning! You should also start exploring research projects for residency research day, meeting submissions, etc.

    PGY-4 (third-year ophthalmology): Fellow-ship applications: PGY-4 residents who plan to apply for fellowships should submit applications to SF Match (registration begins June 1, 2018). This does not include those applying for American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ASOPRS) fellowships.
    August PGY-4: Registration deadline for American Board of Ophthalmology written exam. Get registration information through your residency program or at www.abop.org.
    September

    PGY-4: Fellowship interviews start.

    All: Prospective residency interviews start. Be involved in the process that selects those to follow in your footsteps!
    October

    PGY-4: Fellowship interviews continue.

    All: Prospective residency interviews continue.

    PGY-3: Oculoplastic fellowship applications (ASOPRS) open.
    November

    All:

    • AAO 2018, Oct. 27-30 in Chicago. The largest single meeting on the ophthalmology calendar offers many courses and opportunities for young ophthalmologists. Subspecialty Day occurs immediately beforehand and requires additional registration and fees.
    • Prospective residency interview continues.

    PGY-4: Fellowship interviews continue.
    December

    All: Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) poster/paper submissions deadline. Submission generally requires study design information, but not final results.

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

    All: Prospective residency interviews continue.

    2019

    January

    All: OKAP studying kicks into higher gear.

    PGY-3: ASOPRS fellowship interviews start.

    All: Residency match occurs.
    February

    All: OKAPs season really heats up.

    PGY-3: ASOPRS fellowship interviews continue.
    March

    All: OKAP exam.

    PGY-3: ASOPRS fellowship interviews continue.
    April

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

    All:

    • Submit abstracts for papers/posters for AAO 2019 in San Francisco.
    • Academy’s Mid-Year Forum, April 18-21 in Washington, D.C.
    May

    PGY-3: Start preparation for SF Match fellowship applications (draft personal statement and CV, identify letters of support, etc.).

    All: ARVO 2019 annual meeting, April 28 to May 2 in Vancouver.
    June

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

    PGY-3: Continue preparation for the fellowship match (except for ASOPRS fellowships).

    * * *

    Jiaxi Ding, MDAbout the author: Jiaxi Ding, MD, is a glaucoma specialist and cataract surgeon who practices in Greensboro, N.C. She completed her glaucoma fellowship at the University of Iowa and her residency at SUNY Buffalo. She has been a member of the YO Info editorial board since 2016.