The McGill University Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences held a Virtual Open House on December 17th, 2021. It was hosted by the residents and the Program Director, Dr. Daniela Toffoli. There was a prepared presentation about the program and its many highlights, followed by ample time for questions. Here are some takeaways from the event:

• There is a lot of support for research at McGill with many faculty who are world experts in basic and clinical research. There is also a dedicated Head of Resident Research to help residents facilitate their respective projects and there is ample dedicated time during the program for research.
• The program provides excellent didactic teaching sessions in addition to formal weekly half day teachings, a summer introductory lecture series for PGY-2s (separate from TORIC), grand rounds, journal clubs and retinal imaging rounds.
• Speaking French is NOT a requirement! While it is helpful, many of the residents do not speak French fluently.
• Junior residents are always paired with a senior resident for call and provide a resource to review cases before contacting staff. Juniors do more calls than seniors, which provides great learning opportunities.
• Embracing the role of “Junior Staff” is a prominent feature of the PGY-5 year at McGill and makes the transition to practice easier. This includes opportunities to supervise more junior colleagues in the OR.
• There is a resident-led cataract clinic, unique to McGill. There is also a high volume of exposure to surgical techniques other than cataract at McGill. Additionally, there are wet labs for MIGS and other advanced subspecialty skills.
• Montreal is one of Canada’s largest cities and is known for its active nightlife, cuisine, and recreation such as numerous outdoor skating rinks.
• A bit of trivia about McGill University: it was the first Canadian University to award a medical degree, has produced 12 Nobel Laureates, and was the home of a fictional character in the Marvel comic books!
  

If you have any questions, please reach out to the Program Coordinator, Natasha Lattimore at ophrpc.med@mcgill.ca

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Authors: Anne Xuan-Lan Nguyen, Amirthan Sothivannan, Clara Long, Stuti (Misty) Tanya, Daiana Roxana Pur

(Image Source: McGill University Health Centre)