The impact of the Department of Ophthalmology and the Proctor Foundation in the field of medical education goes far beyond the walls of UCSF, beyond the boundaries of California, and beyond the United States.

Creig S. Hoyt, MD Director & Chairman

In the U.S. and overseas, we have been training the brightest and best scientists in ophthalmology. The current group of our international fellows and our ophthalmology residents are indicative of the high level of advanced training that UCSF has offered for decades.

Medical students can choose any specialty. UCSF medical students' interest and success in pursuing ophthalmology training clearly reflects on the impact of Dr. Joan O'Brien's efforts to create a high-quality ophthalmic program for our medical students. For 2004-05, nine UCSF medical students selected ophthalmology residencies, which is an impressively large number for any medical school; these students have been accepted as residents at some of the finest programs in the U.S., including UCLA, Wilmer Eye Institute at Johns Hopkins, and UCSF.

We have seen an increased interest in Ophthalmology Grand Rounds at UCSF, and in the December Course Symposium produced by the Department. In particular, newly instituted Grand Rounds evening lectures, developed by Dr. Richard Abbott, have made Grand Rounds more accessible. These programs attest to our ongoing commitment to a first-rate post-graduate education for practicing physicians in our community.