Ophthalmology - General

Department: Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences
Title:

Ophthalmology

Diversification = R1 Ophthalmology

Location: Regional Eye Centre - Royal Alexandra Hospital, Alberta Retina Consultants or Ophthalmology Community Electives
Duration:

Maximum 2 weeks Ophthalmology electives are unavailable during the months of July and August, from December 25, 2023 - January 7, 2024 and March 25  - March 31, 2024.  Please see Additional Notes below for available dates.

Contact:

University of Alberta Students:  All electives are arranged through MedSIS
Visiting Canadian Medical Students:  All electives are arranged through the AFMC Student Portal https://www.afmcstudentportal.ca

Devra Samay, Medical Educational Administrator, Placement Contact

Overview:

The Department of Ophthalmology will provide electives as available either in the Regional Eye Clinic, ARC or at a community office. Elective students will receive instruction by accompanying staff ophthalmologists and/or ophthalmology residents in general ophthalmology clinics as well as subspecialty clinics. Elective students may also be able to observe staff in the operating room and on the inpatient ward. During the academic year, elective students are invited to attend Ophthalmology Grand Rounds, subspecialty morning teaching rounds and other academic symposiums that may be scheduled during their elective time. Academic Half Days are held every Friday afternoon through the calendar year and elective students are invited to attend. Electives students may have an opportunity to spend time with the resident on call over the weekends. Access to reference materials in the Department of Ophthalmology Library is available to the elective student.

Objectives:
  • Expose students to the types of eye problems for which ambulatory patients consult ophthalmologists.
  • Provide some understanding of the pathophysiology involved in ocular disorders.
  • Assist the elective student in developing and demonstrating some of the more common investigational techniques in ophthalmology such as slit-lamp examination and fundoscopy.

Additional Notes:
  • Ophthalmology electives are  not available during the months of July and August, and are not available from December 25, 2023 - January 7, 2024 and Mar 25 - March 31, 2024.
  • In order to provide electives to as many medical students as possible, we are able to provide only two weeks of ophthalmology elective to any student. This applies to your entire program (whether you are in a 3 or 4 year program) and to all medical students - no matter what University you are from. This also applies whether your elective was in the Regional Eye Clinic or in an ophthalmology community office.

  • Electives taking place at the Regional Eye Clinic will primarily take place in the on-call clinic and may include the option of joining a subspecialty depending on availability. Electives being held at Alberta Retina Consultants (ARC) will be exclusively retina-based. Please indicate if you would prefer a placement at the Regional Eye ClinicARC, or out in the community if available.  Or would be happy with either/both.

Available Dates:
Aug 28 - Sep 10/23
Sep 11 - Sep 24/23
Sep 25 - Oct 8/23
Oct 9 - Oct 22/23
Oct 23 - Nov 5/23
Nov 6 - Nov 19/23
Nov 20 - Dec 3/23
Dec 4 - Dec 17/23
Dec 18 - Dec 24/23 (1 Week)
Jan 8 - Jan 14/24 (1 Week)
Jan 15 - Jan 28/24
Jan 29 - Feb 11/24
Feb 12 - Feb 25/24
Feb 26 - Mar 10/24
Mar 11 - 24/24
Apr 1 - Apr 7/24 (1 Week) 
Apr 8 - Apr 21/24 
Apr 22 - Apr 28/24 (1 Week) 
Apr 22 - May 5/24 
May 6 - May 19/24
May 20 - Jun 2/24
Jun 3 - Jun 16/24
Jun 17 - Jun 30/24


Netcare/Connect Care are not required for ophthalmology

Last Updated: April 20, 2023