The University of Missouri (MU) Comparative Ophthalmology Residency is a three-year residency program conforming to the guidelines of the American Board of Veterinary Ophthalmologists (ABVO). The objectives of this program are to successfully train academic or private practice veterinary ophthalmologists and to prepare them for board certification by the ABVO. The MU ophthalmology residency program emphasizes clinical training, clinical and didactic teaching, and research experience with scientific publications while working with a well-established, well-funded, supportive team of ACVO diplomates and vision scientists. The residency training program facilitates the development of rational diagnostic and therapeutic strategies and surgical skills through extensive mentorship.
Training will be provided in the medical and surgical aspects of veterinary ophthalmology, including large and small domestic species, laboratory, and exotic animal species. Collaboration with the MU Raptor Rehabilitation Project provides high numbers of avian cases. Advanced surgical training is facilitated using cadaver eyes and clinical patients, and mastery of microsurgical technique occurs with direct mentorship and state-of-the-art surgical equipment and operating microscopes. Preparation for the ABVO board examination is facilitated by weekly rounds for formal review of veterinary and physician ophthalmic literature, interpretation of clinical extraocular, fundus, and surgical photographs, and monthly reviews of ocular pathology cases with ophthalmology faculty and board-certified pathologists. Our program provides opportunities for active interaction with the department of Ophthalmology at the University of Missouri Hospital and Mason Eye Institute. The successful applicant to the MU Veterinary Comparative Ophthalmology Program will join a collegial, enthusiastic, productive service committed to providing state-of-the art ophthalmic care to our veterinary patients coupled with excellent communication skills, actively engage in student, house office, and referral veterinarian education, and advance knowledge in comparative ophthalmology.
The resident will be an active participant in vision-science research. Completion of a Master’s degree is strongly encouraged and requirements may be completed concurrent with the three year residency program. Our Ruth M. Kraeuchi Endowed Professorship in Veterinary Ophthalmology provides our residents ample exposure to a large, multidisciplinary, NIH-funded vision science laboratory. A wide variety of clinical research possibilities are also available to MU’s ophthalmology residents. Presentations at rounds and seminars at the MU-VHC and at the ACVO annual meeting are required, as is attendance at the ACVO Basic Science Course.
The majority of the program is devoted to the clinical ophthalmology service providing patient care, emergency services, and teaching third and fourth year veterinary medical students as a member of the clinical ophthalmology service. Remaining time is dedicated to research, scholarly pursuits, and ABVO credentialing preparation. Residents are required to complete research projects and submit at least three written manuscripts for publication prior to completion of the residency. At least two of the manuscripts must be based upon hypothesis driven research. The third manuscript may be a case report or review article. At least two of these publications must be published or “in press” prior to the end date of the residency program. Ophthalmology residents have lecturing opportunities in the third year veterinary ophthalmology didactic course and teach ophthalmology diagnostic and surgery laboratories for third and fourth year veterinary medical students. Rotating ophthalmology emergency duty is shared with a second complementary ophthalmology resident.
For more information contact:
Elizabeth A. Giuliano, DVM, MS, Diplomate ACVO
MU-VHC Ophthalmology Section Leader
College of Veterinary Medicine
University of Missouri
Email: GiulianoE@missouri.edu
The University of Missouri is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer and members of underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply. To request ADA accommodations, please contact our ADA Coordinator at (573) 884-7278 or visit http://ada.missouri.edu/.