Message From Our Chief Resident

Thank you for your interest in the University of Pittsburgh Ophthalmology Residency at The UPMC Eye Center. Our residency program provides an outstanding environment in which to pursue your training in ophthalmology. In addition to excellent clinical opportunities, the strength of this program lies in the camaraderie and fellowship amongst the residents as well as the collegial relationship with our exceptional faculty.

This residency has all the components of an excellent training program:

  • Our faculty are from a diverse educational background covering all the major subspecialties full-time and are very dedicated to resident education.
  • The resident clinic is staffed with a full-time comprehensive ophthalmologist with participation by several community ophthalmologists as well. All surgical cases generated from the clinic are performed by the residents with faculty assistance/supervision.
  • There is an extremely busy Veterns Administration Hospital eye clinic drawing patients from Western Pennsylvania, Northern West Virginia, and Eastern Ohio, with surgical cases signed up for months in advance.
  • We have a separate, fully equipped Eye & Ear Emergency Room located in the University Hospital, and a separate Eye & Ear Resource Center (i.e., library) within the Eye & Ear Institute. As the major tertiary care center in Western Pennsylvania, the emergency room is very busy and provides a wealth of clinical and surgical exposure for the residents.
  • Third year residents may attend the annual American Academy of Ophthalmology meeting or a subspecialty meeting of choice. In addition, residents will receive a stipend to attend any conference where they are presenting their own research.
  • In the third training year, there is a rotation at the University of New Mexico and New Mexico VA Hospital. This provides a unique experience for learning different surgical techniques, and medical philosophies, as well as affords an opportunity to explore a different part of the country (traveling expenses and housing are provided by the department).

Each class is made up of six residents, making a total number of 18 residents in our program. We look to recruit future residents who work hard, get along well in a group, support one another, and like to have fun together. Teamwork is definitely a motto of our program. I feel that the unique atmosphere among the residents and faculty here at UPMC is what sets our program apart from many others.

Contact Information

Caroline Vloka, MD
Chief Ophthalmology Resident
vlokacn@upmc.edu

Dept of Ophthalmology
Eye & Ear Institute
203 Lothrop Street, 8th Floor
Pittsburgh, PA 15213