Ophthalmology Offerings for Medical Students

The Department of Ophthalmology offers the following for-credit electives for fourth-year medical students:

• Clinical Ophthalmology – Course objectives include gaining knowledge and developing skill in the use of ophthalmic equipment; becoming proficient with the diagnosis and treatment of common ophthalmologic problems and management of eye diseases; and becoming familiar with which eye disorders can be treated in a primary care setting, and which problems require referral to an ophthalmologist. 

• Exploratory Elective in Ophthalmology - A two-week elective available to all medical students who have begun their clinical rotations, which provides a broad exposure to clinical and surgical activities in ophthalmology as part of an exploratory elective.  For those interested in applying for an ophthalmology residency, this exploratory elective should not take the place of the four-week elective.  

• Summer Research Projects – Medical students interested in an Ophthalmology summer research project placement should visit UT Southwestern Medical School's centralized Medical Student Research Office. More information about Ophthalmology research projects is available on research faculty members' laboratory websites.

• Visiting medical students at LCME-accredited medical schools can apply for the four-week Clinical Ophthalmology elective (OPH 2101) via the AAMC's Visiting Student Learning Opportunities (VSLO) site. More information about VSLO opportunties at UT Southwestern is available here.

• UT Southwestern Ophthalmology offers two $2,000 scholarships each year for visiting students taking OPH 2101 with record of excellent academic achievement, who need financial support. The scholarship application is available here.