Welcome to the website of the Department of Ophthalmology at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), Medical College of Virginia Campus.  The Department’s educational mission comprises three goals:

State-of-the-art patient care
Education of medical students, residents, and fellows
Clinical and basic science research

The Department’s philosophy is that all three goals should be pursued simultaneously.  The Residency Training Program teaches Ophthalmology in a stepwise fashion over a 36-month period.   We offer a diverse patient population and an extensive surgical experience, with 100% faculty supervision in all clinics, laser suites, and operating rooms.  An independent research project, suitable for presentation at a national meeting, is required for each second-year and third-year resident.

It is the Department’s desire to produce well-trained, ethical, and compassionate physicians and surgeons.  Our recent graduates have obtained prestigious fellowship positions, full-time university academic appointments, and successful private practice opportunities.

The Chairman and Residency Program Director of the Department of Ophthalmology is William H. Benson, M.D.

The Residency Program Director of the Department of Ophthalmology is Joseph D. Iuorno, M.D.
 

FACILITIES

Medical College of Virginia Hospitals (MCVH)

The main teaching facility is the Medical College of Virginia Hospitals (MCVH) in downtown Richmond.  MCVH is a major tertiary-care referral center and provides most of the indigent care in the Commonwealth of Virginia.  The ophthalmology clinics are located on the fourth floor of the Nelson Clinic, and have been completely renovated within the past seven years.  The Nelson Clinic contains both the private practices of the full-time faculty, as well as the house staff clinics.  

While at MCVH, the residents also rotate with the Department of Neurology, Division of Neuro-Ophthalmology. The Chairman of the Division of Neuro-Ophthalmology is Warren L. Felton, III, MD.

Hunter Holmes McGuire Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC)

The bulk of the resident surgical experience comes from the Hunter Homes McGuire Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC), located a short drive from MCVH, on the South Side of Richmond.  The VAMC clinic has doubled in size and been completely renovated within the past year.  The Service Chief of the VAMC Eye Clinic is Muneera A. Mahmood, MD.

The Stony Point Surgery Center was established over 50 years ago as an independent specialty-care center in downtown Richmond, across the street from MCVH, and has grown into the largest eye hospital in the Commonwealth of Virginia. 

In June 2002, the new Stony Point Surgery Center opened a brand-new facility in the suburban Stony Point section of Richmond.  The new Stony Point Surgery Center is a joint venture between the longstanding Eye & Ear Hospital and Virginia Commonwealth University.  The new hospital contains a brand-new ambulatory surgical center, as well as office space for the full-time Department faculty, and office space for many community ophthalmologists.
 

THE APPLICATION PROCESS

Applications deadline is October 15th of each calendar year.  The Department of Ophthalmology participates in the San Francisco Matching Program (SFMatch).  To register with the San Francisco Matching Program, you may call (415) 923-3907 or visit www.sfmatch.org. 

The Department typically receives over 300 applications per year.  Of these, approximately 60 applicants will be invited for a personal interview.  Typically, they will be contacted by phone and/or e-mail, before October 30.  Those not invited for an interview will be notified by mail before November 1.