FAQs

We offer two exchange programs. Our second year residents have the opportunity to travel to Tokyo, Japan for two weeks as a part of our exchange with KEIO University. Our first year residents travel to Sao Paulo, Brazil for one week, for a similar experience with Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo (UNIFESP). Our exchange programs offer residents the opportunity to be exposed to clinical practices and academic opportunities they would not otherwise experience in Chicago. Along with the knowledge gained from this experience, they also enjoy the local customs and hospitality offered by the friendly faculty and staff.  Residents from KEIO and UNIFESP also come to UIC in the fall and spring to observe our clinical practices. See the Resident Exchange Program page for more information.

The incoming PGY-2 resident stipend is about $52,000/year, with an incremental increase of approximately $2,000 per PGY class. You can get up-to-date salary information for the fiscal year on the UIC GME website.

○    In addition to the resident salary, all of our residents receive an additional $3650 (amount for FY16) education fund for lenses, equipment, books, and travel.
○    Residents are given $800 (amount for FY16) a year to attend a conference if they are scheduled to present.
○    Our department and the GME office also offers a publication incentive. For every publication you are awarded further funds based on the impact factor of the journal and the number of authors. This money is added to your resident education fund.  There is no cap to the amount of funds that you can receive for your publications.
○    Each resident is given a set of surgical instruments for use in the wetlab.

○    First year residents will receive the complete AAO Basic and Clinical Science Series Volume in the print set or eBook version.
○    PGY2 and PGY4 residents are provided between $450-$850 for call that can be used at the hospital cafeteria and cafe.
○    Our program also offers residents onsite access to our ophthalmology library (we also have our own librarian), wet-lab, and resident lounge. The Infirmary is within walking distance to the UIC gym, medical bookstore, and restaurants.
○    Excused clinical duties to attend multiple subspecialty symposia throughout the year, as well as other ophthalmologic society meetings within Chicago.
○    Saturday lectures given by prominent faculty and experts within the various subspecialties. These lectures are  hosted at UIC and attended by all the Chicagoland residency programs.
○    Free admission and excused clinical duties to attend an intensive board review series, the Illinois Eye Review, given annually.

The department recently finished construction on a state-of-the-art surgical simulation laboratory in the eye center, featuring 10 fully equipped practice stations with Zeiss operating microscopes and phaco machines for practicing cataract and retinal surgery. There will be video recording and editing capabilities to help residents improve surgical skills. Every resident is given a personal set of surgical instruments for use in the wetlab. An EyeSi simulator is also available for practicing cataract and vitrectomy surgery.

For more on surgical experience and the Cless Lab click here.

○    All residents are given four weeks of paid vacation per year.
○    All residents are given 24 calendar days of paid sick leave per year.

○    There are plenty of research opportunities available in all subspecialities. Basic science labs are also available although not required. We are one of the few ophthalmology programs with NEI K12 Institutional Clinical Scientist Development Program grants.
○    Most residents complete several projects throughout their residency and present at ARVO and AAO.
○    Third year residents are required to complete one project during their residency. This project is presented at the Alumni-Resident Day meeting at the end of the year.

○    2016

  • Surgical Retina- University of California, San Francisco
  • Surgical Retina- California Pacific Medical Center
  • Surgical Retina- University of Michigan
  • Surgical Retina- University of Colorado
  • Medical Retina- Bascom Palmer Eye Institute
  • Cornea- New York Eye and Ear Infirmary

○    2015

  • Cornea – Washington University
  • Glaucoma – Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary at UIC
  • Glaucoma – University of North Carolina
  • Neuro-Ophthalmology – University of Minnesota
  • Surgical Retina – Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary at UIC

○    2014

  • Cornea – Bascom Palmer Eye Institute
  • Cornea – Washington University
  • Surgical Retina – California Pacific Medical Center
  • Surgical Retina – Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary at UIC/University Retina
  • Surgical Retina – University of California, Davis
  • Comprehensive – (currently practicing in Texas)

○    2013

  • Cornea – Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary at UIC
  • Cornea – New York Eye and Ear Infirmary
  • Glaucoma – University of California, Los Angeles
  • Glaucoma – Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary at UIC
  • Medical Retina – University of Southern California, Doheny Eye Institute
  • Pediatrics -University of California, Los Angeles

○    You can contact any of the leadership members of Medical Education, including the Director, Associate Director or Assistant Director on our Leadership page.