What makes Dartmouth’s ophthalmology residency unique?
Dartmouth offers a close-knit, resident-centered training environment within a major academic medical center in New England. Residents benefit from early clinical responsibility and surgical exposure, hands-on faculty mentorship, and resources shared across Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, the Geisel School of Medicine, and Dartmouth College.
How many residents are in each class?
The program accepts two residents per year. Coupled with no ophthalmology fellows, this small class size allows for individualized mentorship and early hands-on clinical and surgical experience.
What type of applicant is a good fit for Dartmouth?
Dartmouth is a strong fit for applicants who value close mentorship, an ethical approach to comprehensive rural community-focused ophthalmology, academic curiosity, and a balanced quality of life in New England. The program is well suited for residents who are motivated, kind, intellectually engaged, and excited to help shape a growing residency program.
What is resident life like in the Upper Valley?
The Upper Valley offers a high quality of life with short commutes, easy access to outdoor activities, and a strong sense of community. The main hospital is just minutes from multiple ski mountains, and it does not take long to find beautiful hiking, running, cycling, restaurants, arts, and cultural events, while also being within driving distance of massive metropolitan cities like Boston, New York, and Montreal, and smaller ones like Portland, North Conway, and Burlington.
How many applications do you receive and what are you looking for in an applicant?
Applicants to ophthalmology residency are some of the most deserving and talented in the country, and thus selection is always a difficulty decision. We receive more than 400 applications and carefully review each application holistically. We look for motivated, compassionate individuals who are team players and eager to learn in a small program with a unique patient population and rural setting.
Do you have a cut-off for USMLE Step 2 score?
There is no minimum USMLE score requirement. Applications are reviewed holistically.
Are residents involved in advocacy or organized medicine?
Yes. Dartmouth ophthalmology residents are encouraged to participate in advocacy and health policy efforts. Each year, a PGY-2 or PGY-3 resident attends the American Academy of Ophthalmology’s Advocacy Day in Washington, DC. Residents have also participated in regional legislative efforts in New Hampshire, Maine, and Vermont through work with the New Hampshire Eye Society.
Is there resident support for global ophthalmology?
Yes. Dartmouth has a strong interest in global ophthalmology and international experiences. An international travel grant is available to one resident every year who is interested in curating a service-oriented project. Previous residents have visited Aravind Eye Institute (Madurai, India), Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences (Prasanthigram, India), and the Micronesian island of Pingelaps as part of a service and research study for patients with achromatopsia.
What kind of mentorship do residents receive?
Residents are formally assigned a faculty mentor at the start of residency to help reach personal and professional goals. The small size of the program allows faculty to know residents well and tailor guidance to each resident.
What teaching opportunities are available for residents?
Residents have opportunities to teach medical students, outside rotating residents (namely Neurology PGY-1s), junior residents in clinic and during didactics. There are many teaching events throughout the year organized by Geisel School of Medicine and Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center's Graduate Medical Education (GME).
How does Dartmouth support resident wellness?
Dartmouth’s training environment emphasizes collegiality, mentorship, and quality of life. The Upper Valley offers easy access to outdoor recreation and a supportive community, while many formal resources exist through the institution’s GME department – access to mental health days, staff psychologists, and meditation resources are all valuable tools in a compassionate approach to training.
Do residents have access to simulation or wet lab training?
Yes. Residents have access to a well-equipped wet lab with pig eye and simulated eye models. We also maintain access to the cataract course of the EyeSi simulator, an important part of early surgical training.
What OKAP-related study resources are available to residents?
All residents are given access to the BCSC book series, the AAO online question bank, the OphthoQuestions question bank (for those interested), and formal OKAP-focused didactics given by home and visiting professors (typically in the Spring before OKAP exams).