--- title: "Clinical Experience at CPMC Ophthalmology Residency at Sutter Health" description: "A defining feature of the CPMC ophthalmology training program is our commitment to caring for the underserved people of the San Francisco Bay Area and Northern California." url: "https://www.sutterhealth.org/education/gme/residencies/cpmc-ophthalmology/curriculum" --- 1. [Home](https://www.sutterhealth.org/) / 2. [Education](https://www.sutterhealth.org/education) / 3. [Graduate Medical Education](https://www.sutterhealth.org/education/gme) / 4. [Residencies](https://www.sutterhealth.org/education/gme/residencies) / 5. [Ophthalmology, San Francisco](https://www.sutterhealth.org/education/gme/residencies/cpmc-ophthalmology) / 6. Curriculum # Clinical Experience **Section menu** - [Ophthalmology, San Francisco](https://www.sutterhealth.org/education/gme/residencies/cpmc-ophthalmology "Ophthalmology, San Francisco") - [About the Program](https://www.sutterhealth.org/education/gme/residencies/cpmc-ophthalmology/about "About the Program") - [History](https://www.sutterhealth.org/education/gme/residencies/cpmc-ophthalmology/about/history "History") - [Ophthalmology residency alumni](https://www.sutterhealth.org/education/gme/residencies/cpmc-ophthalmology/Alumni "Ophthalmology residency alumni") - [Curriculum](https://www.sutterhealth.org/education/gme/residencies/cpmc-ophthalmology/curriculum "Curriculum") - [Faculty](https://www.sutterhealth.org/education/gme/residencies/cpmc-ophthalmology/faculty "Faculty") - [FAQs](https://www.sutterhealth.org/education/gme/residencies/cpmc-ophthalmology/faqs "FAQs") - [How to Apply](https://www.sutterhealth.org/education/gme/residencies/cpmc-ophthalmology/apply "How to Apply") - [Message From the Program Director](https://www.sutterhealth.org/education/gme/residencies/cpmc-ophthalmology/message-from-program-director "Message From the Program Director") - [Research](https://www.sutterhealth.org/education/gme/residencies/cpmc-ophthalmology/research "Research") - [Residents](https://www.sutterhealth.org/education/gme/residencies/cpmc-ophthalmology/residents "Residents") - [Ophthalmology, San Francisco](https://www.sutterhealth.org/education/gme/residencies/cpmc-ophthalmology "Ophthalmology, San Francisco") - [About the Program](https://www.sutterhealth.org/education/gme/residencies/cpmc-ophthalmology/about "About the Program") - [History](https://www.sutterhealth.org/education/gme/residencies/cpmc-ophthalmology/about/history "History") - [Ophthalmology residency alumni](https://www.sutterhealth.org/education/gme/residencies/cpmc-ophthalmology/Alumni "Ophthalmology residency alumni") - [Curriculum](https://www.sutterhealth.org/education/gme/residencies/cpmc-ophthalmology/curriculum "Curriculum") - [Faculty](https://www.sutterhealth.org/education/gme/residencies/cpmc-ophthalmology/faculty "Faculty") - [FAQs](https://www.sutterhealth.org/education/gme/residencies/cpmc-ophthalmology/faqs "FAQs") - [How to Apply](https://www.sutterhealth.org/education/gme/residencies/cpmc-ophthalmology/apply "How to Apply") - [Message From the Program Director](https://www.sutterhealth.org/education/gme/residencies/cpmc-ophthalmology/message-from-program-director "Message From the Program Director") - [Research](https://www.sutterhealth.org/education/gme/residencies/cpmc-ophthalmology/research "Research") - [Residents](https://www.sutterhealth.org/education/gme/residencies/cpmc-ophthalmology/residents "Residents") A defining feature of the CPMC ophthalmology training program is our commitment to caring for the underserved people of the San Francisco Bay Area and Northern California. The home base of our residency program is the Lions Eye Clinic of San Francisco, a resident-run clinic that serves a broad population of low-income and uninsured patients. The **Lions Eye Clinic** is housed at the **Pacific Vision Eye Institute** and funded with generous support from the [Lions Eye Foundation](http://www.lionseyeca-nv.org/ "Lions Eye Foundation"). With supervision by CPMC faculty, residents in Lions Eye Clinic treat patients with a wide variety of ocular pathologies and have the opportunity to deeply impact the lives of the most vulnerable people in our community. CPMC residents rotate at **Highland Hospital** in Oakland throughout the entire course of their training. Highland is a county hospital, the only Level 1 trauma center in the East Bay, and is especially vital for low-income and uninsured people, immigrants, and refugees. The Highland ophthalmology clinic is staffed by full-time attendings, as well as subspecialists that practice throughout the Bay Area and are part of the CPMC faculty. The resident experience at Highland is a defining one, consisting of high operative volume, complex decision-making, and gradual and appropriate autonomy. **CPMC Ophthalmology Residency Virtual Tour** Ophthalmology tour of three clinics where residents will do their training In the final year of residency, our residents spend four months at **Kaiser Hospital** in San Francisco. On the Kaiser rotation, residents run an acute care clinic, hone advanced techniques in cataract surgery, and deepen their exposure to ocular oncology. Our faculty include nationally respected ophthalmologists who practice throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. Residents learn the intricacies of each ophthalmologic discipline during subspecialty rotations with faculty in a variety of practice settings. An international elective is available to CPMC residents who wish to expand their training further afield. Many residents choose to travel to Hospital de la Familia in Guatemala, where they participate in clinical and surgical training alongside Guatemalan ophthalmologists and have the opportunity to learn manual small incision cataract surgery (MSICS). ## Rotations ### PGY1 The PGY-1 interns spend 3 months rotating in ophthalmology, with substantial time at Highland Hospital. During those 3 months they learn basic exam skills, and become familiar with the diagnosis and management of ophthalmic diseases. Interns complete 9 months of training with the CPMC Department of Internal Medicine including core rotations as well as elective time to gain experience in subspecialities such as rheumatology, neurology, and endocrinology. ### PGY2 The year is spent roughly on 2-month blocks divided between Lions Eye Clinic, Highland Hospital, and subspecialty rotations in various orders. At Lions Eye Clinic they serve as the junior resident where they perform minor procedures, learn the basics of corneal surgery, perform intravitreal injections, perform ophthalmic laser procedures, and perform primary pterygium surgery along with some steps of cataract surgery. Rotating with subspecialty faculty they learn the fundamentals of cornea, glaucoma, retina, uveitis, neuro-ophthalmology, oculoplastics, pediatric ophthalmology, ocular oncology, ophthalmic pathology, contact lens, low-vision, and refractive surgery. Many of our subspecialty faculty have been with the CPMC Department of Ophthalmology for decades and all are dedicated to resident education. ### PGY3 The PGY-3 residents begin their year with a deep dive into the fundamentals of ophthalmology by spending the entire month of July at the Stanford Ophthalmology Basic Science Course. The PGY-3 residents spend part of the year rotating through Highland Hospital as the junior resident (5 months) where they begin performing phacoemulsification as primary surgeon. The PGY-3 year includes additional 2-month subspecialty rotations including a mixed subspeciality rotation at Kaiser Oakland. ### PGY4 The PGY-4 residents rotate through three locations: Lions Eye Clinic, Kaiser San Francisco, and Highland Hospital. The PGY-4 residents serve as the chief resident at Lions Eye Clinic. In this capacity, they perform a variety of surgical procedures as primary surgeon, including cataract surgery and subspecialty procedures. As the sole resident at Kaiser SF, our PGY-4 residents run their own acute care clinic with supervision by Kaiser faculty and gain experience with advanced cataract surgery techniques. At Highland Hospital they are the chief resident in charge of managing a busy service with complex patient needs involving all subspecialties. During the PGY-4 year, there is an elective month during which residents can choose to do research, international work, or arrange for a tailored clinical experience. ## Curriculum Block Diagram #### PGY2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Lion JR | Lion JR | Lion JR | Lion JR | Lion JR | Glc | | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Glc | Ret | Ret | Ped | Ped | Neu | Neu | #### PGY3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | HH JR | HH JR | HH JR | HH JR | HH JR | Plas | | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Plas | Cor | Cor | Stan | KP Oak | KP Oak | Elec | #### PGY4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Lion SR | Lion SR | Lion SR | Lion SR | HH SR | HH SR | | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | HH SR | HH SR | KP SF | KP SF | KP SF | KP SF | Elec | **Key:**  Glc – Glaucoma Ret – Retina Ped – Pediatric Ophthalmology Neu – Neuro-Ophthalmology Plas – Oculoplastics Cor – Cornea Stan – Stanford Bay Area Ophthalmology Course HH JR – Highland Hospital Junior ## CPMC Resident Call Schedule - Call resident covers 5pm to 8am (day teams cover 8am-5pm) - Cumulatively each resident covers 18 primary call weeks throughout residency (PGY2 10 weeks, PGY3 7 weeks, PGY4 1 week) - Call weeks are divided into three blocks per week: Sun-Tues, Weds-Thurs, Fri-Sat ## Didactic Activities - Monday mornings dedicated academic half-day each week - 7:00 am - 8:00 am: 3M (Morbidity, Mortality, and Microsurgery Conference) - 8:00 am - 9:00 am: Grand Rounds - 9:00 am - 12:00 pm: Resident lectures - Additional didactic slots - Fridays 7:00 - 8:00 am (weekly): lectures, PGY2 microsurgery course - Wednesday 6:45 pm - 7:45 pm (twice per month): journal club, wet lab or lecture - Each resident also attends 1-month Bay Area Ophthalmology Course at Stanford University early in PGY-3 year   ### Living in San Francisco  Live and work in one of the most culturally diverse cities in the world. From outdoor adventures in protected national landscapes to world-class museums and dining, San Francisco is a city like no other.  [Get to Know the Area](https://www.visitcalifornia.com/places-to-visit/san-francisco/) ### Contact Us Program Administrator Fernarem "Deedee" Solis [415-600-3930](tel:+4156003930) [SolisF@sutterhealth.org](mailto:SolisF@sutterhealth.org) Program Director Kristina Austin, M.D. [Get In Touch](mailto:SolisF@sutterhealth.org) ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"MedicalOrganization","name":"Sutter Health","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/#medicalorganization","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org","logo":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/static/images/sutter-health-logo.svg","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","streetAddress":"2200 River Plaza 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Tour","thumbnailUrl":"https://cf-images.us-east-1.prod.boltdns.net/v1/static/817826402001/a456e7f7-7ae0-4288-9d66-fbf73edca89d/d162330e-a8b1-465f-b055-05087384f36f/1280x720/match/image.jpg","uploadDate":"2025-06-11T21:30:20.833Z","embedUrl":"https://players.brightcove.net/817826402001/79bcaa57-54d7-453c-9f1f-8ab3ef7b15de/index.html?videoId=6374147791112","description":"CPMC Ophthalmology Residency Virtual Tour","duration":"PT6M15S","transcript":"[MUSIC PLAYING]\n\nJIN CHOI: Hi, my name is Jin.\nI'm one of the PGY2s here at CPMC.\nWelcome to the Lions Eye Clinic, where we spend\na big chunk of our PGY2 year.\nSAMANTHA BUTTERFIELD: I'm Sam.\nI'm a PGY4 here at CPMC.\nThis is the home of our CPMC Department of Ophthalmology.\nIt is also the home of the Lions Eye Foundation, California\nand Nevada clinic, where we're able to provide\ncare for uninsured patients from California and Nevada.\nSo we're going to show you around our clinic.\nWe have four exam rooms and one workup room here.\nEach exam room has a slit lamp exam that\nis in really good condition.\nIt's really wonderful to have these tools\nto examine our patients.\nWe also have indirect ophthalmoscope,\na computer in each room, and all of the tools\nthat we might need to perform any sort of ophthalmic exam.\nWe have interpreter services here.\nA lot of our patients speak Spanish or other languages.\nAnd even though a lot of our providers here are multilingual,\nwe always have interpreter services available.\nAnd it's really nice to be able to have\nsuch wonderful ophthalmic techs here at our clinic\nto do the workup for us and make sure\nthat the patients are ready to go for us.\nJIN CHOI: And so this way, we have our conference room.\n\nHere we have a lot of our lectures.\nWe have a lot of other microscopes and simulators\nthat we use pretty frequently in order\nto be prepared for cataract surgery, corneal suturing,\nand all of the other things that we might need to do in the OR.\nHere we have our IC.\nWe each have our own profile.\nAnd so we work with our program director\nto make sure we're on track and prepared for our first cataract\nsurgery.\nAs a PGY2, we spend a lot of time\nhere in our micro surgical course, where one of the faculty\nwill be able to guide us through all the principles\nof corneal suturing.\nSAMANTHA BUTTERFIELD: So as Jin said,\nthe surgical skills are really important in ophthalmology\nand take a lot of practice.\nBut we also have to do a lot of reading.\nAnd here in the same room, we have a comprehensive library\nwith various texts from every ophthalmic subspecialty\nyou could imagine.\nReally awesome material here on these shelves.\nAnd we as residents have full access to it.\nWe can borrow books to take home.\nI have referenced some of these books\nin the clinic in preparation for a patient I'm going to see\nor a new surgery that I've never done before.\nWelcome to the laser room.\nJIN CHOI: Here in the laser room,\nwe have our argon laser over here\nand the LIO over on the counter.\nAnd we have our YAG laser here.\nAs early as PGY1, our retina attendings and retina fellows\nget us involved getting started on PRPs,\nalso being able to get started on some YAG lasers.\nOver here in the corner, we have our surgical scope.\nEven as early as post-op day one on pterygium surgeries,\nwe can have small detachments of the graft.\nWe're able to fix that with the suture right here in clinic\nand have happy patients.\nSAMANTHA BUTTERFIELD: Let's move on.\n\nJIN CHOI: Here in the workroom, we\nhave multiple workstations that the senior and the junior\nwill be sitting at.\nOftentimes, we'll also have visiting\nmedical students who come here for their away rotations.\nWe also have internal medicine interns\nwho come in for an ophthalmology elective.\nOur attendings will also come here often\nto review images with us and review patient cases.\nAnd we'll be able to take care of all of the patients\nright here in this little space right here.\nWe also are lucky to have the corner\nspace here with this wonderful\nSAMANTHA BUTTERFIELD: View of the street outside.\nIt's nice to get some sunshine in here\non those long clinic days.\nJIN CHOI: Welcome now to the ophthalmic diagnostic services\nsuite.\nHere we have exceptional diagnostic imaging staff\nand equipment to be able to provide high quality\nimages for all of our patients.\nIt's really important to have all of these high quality\ndiagnostic imaging to be able to make accurate diagnoses.\nEven when we have patients with far peripheral lesions,\nwe're always able to get OCT cuts through them\nand fundus photos as well, which are\nextremely helpful in providing patients with high caliber care.\nSAMANTHA BUTTERFIELD: We are always\nlooking at how can we improve our imaging services here.\nOphthalmology relies so much on our imaging,\nand the technology is always advancing.\nWe have newer technologies like OCT angiography,\nand we are even in the process right now\nof validating a virtual reality visual field\nheadset that our patients love and is\nhaving really good results.\nSo I feel very lucky to be learning ophthalmology here\nwhere I have access to such wonderful imaging technology.\nJIN CHOI: One of the other things in the Bay Area\nis that this ophthalmic diagnostic services\nsuite is well known for the high caliber of images\nthat they're able to produce.\nAnd so we get referrals specifically for the imaging\nthat we're able to provide here within the Bay Area.\nSAMANTHA BUTTERFIELD: All right.\nAnd now we're back in our lobby of our clinic.\nJust across the hall, we have a conference room\nwhere we meet every Monday for our grand rounds presentations\nas well as didactic lectures.\nSo the last stop on our tour is the Pacific Vision Surgery\nCenter.\nAs you can see, it's just a short walk\naway from our resident clinic, which is really convenient.\nI'm able to do cases here on days when I also\nsee patients in clinic.\nThis surgery center is dedicated for eye surgery.\nSo everyone there really knows how\nto take care of our patients.\nThey have a great experience, and it's also a really great\nexperience to operate there.\nAs senior resident at our clinic,\nyou will be doing most of your operating\nhere at this surgery center.\nSo that's all we have for you guys today.\nIt's been a pleasure to show you around,\nand we really look forward to meeting you.\n[MUSIC PLAYING]"} ```