Oct. 30, 2024
Mayo Clinic's Ophthalmology Residency training program in Rochester, Minnesota, aims to educate and inspire residents within a stimulating environment to learn the science and art of ophthalmology. This year, Mayo Clinic launched a new global ophthalmology and health equities track that thoughtfully prepares residents for local and international experiences.
The program provides flexible opportunities for residents to contribute in meaningful, bidirectional ways, which helps equip them with the necessary tools and experiences for providing equitable eye care.
"It's a four-year track, and it has integrated lectures from myself and other faculty," says Ashlie A. Bernhisel, M.D., an ophthalmologist at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, and an assistant professor of ophthalmology at Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine. "There are also online courses from American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine that are specific to eye care and global ophthalmology. Furthermore, Mayo Clinic launched a six-month-long health equities curriculum, including a book club, that those participating in the track will complete during their PGY3 year."
Combining didactics, online courses, surgical experience and fieldwork, residents cover a variety of topics including social justice, advocacy, inclusion, epidemiology and social determinants of health. The track also includes volunteer requirements within the local area, and an international experience.
"In addition to the typical benefits of an international trip such as experiencing a new culture or healthcare system, one very important element of this curriculum is bidirectionality," says Dr. Bernhisel. "We want to ensure that residents are proportionately giving back to the community that they are learning from."
This track is also part of Mayo Clinic Ophthalmology efforts to broaden involvement in global ophthalmology, which includes joining the Global Ophthalmology Consortium. The consortium hosts an annual Global Ophthalmology Summit, which brings together like-minded local and international ophthalmologists, leaders from AAO, and nongovernmental organizations to ease some of the burden of global and local blindness.
Dr. Bernhisel has been inspired to think globally since the very beginning of her medical career. "I knew I wanted to do something with global health before I even knew I wanted to do ophthalmology," says Dr. Bernhisel. "I took a year off from medical school and spent a year in Ghana doing some pediatric HIV work. At that point, I was wondering whether it was presumptuous to think that I could make change in the world.
"After I got back from Ghana, there was a fundraiser for some of the outreach work that was being done at the university where I was a medical student," says Dr. Bernhisel. "Through that, I realized how life-changing minimally invasive cataract surgery can be for someone who might not typically have access. And beyond providing the individual surgery, having the understanding that you can have a much bigger impact through policy changes and capacity building can be a game changer."
"Mayo Clinic's unique patient-centered and highly integrated practice offers an ideal environment for clinical, surgical and academic training in ophthalmology," says Andrea A. Tooley, M.D., an ophthalmologist at Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, and Ophthalmology Residency director at Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine. "In addition to the international opportunities through the global track, the clinical and academic environment encourages intellectual curiosity with an abundance of cutting-edge research opportunities and institutional resources."
Whether residents aim to practice comprehensive or subspecialty ophthalmology, want to embark on a career in academic medicine, or plan to focus on global health initiatives, Mayo Clinic's dedicated faculty members mentor and encourage residents to maximize their potential and achieve individual goals.
"The global ophthalmology track helps residents understand health disparities — not only worldwide but also within the United States," says Dr. Bernhisel. "In addition to its academic benefits, it teaches important life skills and provides experiences that can contribute to a more compassionate, well-rounded resident and future ophthalmologist."
For more information
Ophthalmology Residency (Minnesota). Mayo Clinic.
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