The following section covers ideas for potential ophthalmology interest group events, methods for publicizing events, and examples of how select events are conducted. This list of events is by no means comprehensive but can serve as an initial list of ideas for groups looking to conduct new events. While the event tutorials provide instructions for how events may be conducted, individual events can be modified to fit the specific needs of the group.
- List of Potential Events:
- Introduction to Ophthalmology talk with faculty
- Blindness Etiquette Workshop, featuring a patient with retinal dystrophy
- Subspecialty Panel
- Patient Interview
- M4 Match Panel
- Meet & Greet with Ophthalmology faculty
- Slit lamp workshop
- Volunteering with community clinics or university free medical clinics
- MS1/MS2 and MS3/MS4 mentorship
- Publicizing Events:
- Class Discord, GroupMe, or Facebook groups
- OIG Email ListServ
- Announce upcoming events at introductory event and student activities fair
- Extend invitation to residents, fellows, and other faculty through faculty advisor
- Sample Event Tutorials
- M4 Match Panel
- Email M4’s who matched into Ophthalmology about available dates and preferences (Match list is typically posted on the CCOM website)
- Create Google survey to collect questions from OIG members ahead of the match panel
- The match panel can be hosted in person or electronically via a meeting software like Zoom
- Brainstorm list of questions
- Sample questions include:
- What are some ways to get involved that you would recommend for preclinical students?
- Do you have any tips on how to do well on advanced clerkships? What advanced rotations would you recommend?
- Did you do any away rotations? Would you recommend away rotations for ophthalmology?
- What was your interview experience like? What would be helpful to consider when preparing for interviews?
- Do you have any advice for writing personal statements?
- One of the OIG Co-Presidents will moderate the panel, posing pre-prepared questions to the panelist as well as eliciting questions from the audience
- It can be helpful to either record the meeting or provide notes on panelist responses to individuals who are interested but unable to attend
- Slit Lamp Workshop
- Send email to resident physicians on available dates
- Once a date has been selected, interested mentors and participants will meet in the ophthalmology clinic
- It is helpful to divide the cohort into smaller groups of 4-5 with each group paired with a resident or faculty facilitator
- The facilitator can go over the basics of how to operate the slit lamp and a systematic approach for using the slit lamp to perform the ophthalmic exam
- Students can then take turns practicing using the slit lamp on each other with resident/faculty guidance
- If there is enough time and interest, other aspects of the ophthalmic exam can be covered. These may include administering eye drops, checking visual acuity, and examining pupils and extraocular motility
- EyeRounds tutorial on the basic eye exam: https://eyerounds.org/atlas-video/basic-eye-exam.htm
- Ophthalmology Micro-Olympics
- Ophthalmology micro-Olympics gives students the opportunity to practice skills commonly used by Ophthalmologists. Students learn to simulate cataract surgery (using grapes), practice suturing and engage in other hands-on activities such as origami and beading. Residents and physicians are also in attendance to participate in activities and answer student questions about Ophthalmology.
- Preparing for the event:
- Reach out to the physicians/residents about availability and timing
- Acquire suture kits, surgical instruments, grapes, beads, and other materials that could simulate microsurgery
- Order food
- Recruit 30-40 medical students
- Conducting the event:
- Eat!
- Split students up into 6 stations with one physician/resident per station.
- Give introductions and show students a video of an Ophthalmology procedure (we showed a video of cataract surgery)
- Give students a demonstration of each station
- Allow students to spend 15 minutes at each station with the opportunity to ask questions to residents and physicians.