Stanford Ophthalmology Advanced Research Residency Program
For residents who would like to develop and maintain an active research program throughout residency, the department will sponsor a pre-residency research year, typically after the intern year and prior to initiating their first of three years of clinical ophthalmology training.
| Stanford Ophthalmology Advanced Research Residency Program (SOAR) | |
|---|---|
| Specialty | Ophthalmology |
Hospital affiliation(s) | Stanford Hospital and Clinics |
Academic affiliation | Stanford University School of Medicine |
| Director | Suzann Pershing, MD, MS |
Director email | pershing@stanford.edu |
Administrator | Katie Majchrzak |
Administrator email | kmajchrz@stanford.edu |
Program email | ophthalmology_education@stanford.edu |
Trainees per year | 1-2 |
| Location | Palo Alto, California, United States of America |
| Language | English |
| Website | Stanford Opthalmology |
| Telephone | 650-725-6365 |
NRMP Number | 5568 |
SOAR is a integrated research residency program that includes an extra department-supported research year (after internship and before the first year of clinical ophthalmology residency) and protected time and ancillary support to continue their research program during the clinical years of residency. The purpose of the program is to provide a strong foundation to a future academic faculty position as a clinician scientist.
Contents
Program Description
The program is intended for residents who would like to develop and maintain an active research program throughout residency. The Stanford ophthalmology department will sponsor a pre-residency research year, after the intern year and prior to initiating their first of three years of clinical ophthalmology training. Participants will establish a research program under faculty mentorship and supervision, and will be able to continue their research throughout their residency. Financial support for the extra year and for research resources throughout the subsequent clinical years will be provided by the department in collaboration with the successful applicant, at a level commensurate with research resource needs from the candidate and the mentor. It is expected that this will allow the successful SOAR resident to initiate a research program that, while still benefiting from mentorship, will lead to their independent research program as a junior faculty member following clinical training. It is further expected that this program will accelerate their readiness to compete for faculty positions and NIH and other funding. -->
Application Process
Applicants apply formally through SFMatch, on the same timeline as a regular ophthalmology residency application. Interested candidates typically express their interest in SOAR Program during fall ophthalmology residency interviews. If selected, successful candidates withdraw from the SF Match program, but continue to internship, planning their research gap year between internship and clinical residency years.
Program Information /Structure
Final year of medical school (typically) – In the late summer, submit application through SFMatch; if interested in both the standard residency and SOAR program, be sure to include both when submitting SFMatch materials. In November/December, ophthalmology residency interviews are conducted on site for selected residency and SOAR applicants. SOAR applicants may request additional meetings with potential research mentors. After interviews but before rank lists are entered, it is typical for lead SOAR candidates to further investigate potential research mentors, e.g. through video or phone meetings, and communicate potential research plans with the residency director (Suzann Pershing), vice chair for research (Vinit Mahajan), and/or chair (Jeffrey Goldberg).
- Year 1 – Internship, reenter match cycle with guaranteed match following research gap year. During this year, work to establish research and mentorship plan.
- Year 2 – Research year at Stanford.
- Year 3-5 – Ophthalmology clinical residency with elective time throughout for research continuity.
Contact Information
- Program Director: Suzann Pershing, MD, MS, pershing@stanford.edu
- Program Website: Stanford Ophthalmology Residency
