Application Process
All applications must be submitted through the SFMatch Residency Match Service. Paper applications are not accepted. The application deadline is Sept. 15.
Review Process
Ophthalmology is fortunate to attract extremely bright and successful applicants. We take a holistic approach to application review and the offering of interview invitations. The factors we consider include:
- Medical school grades
- Medical School Performance Evaluation (MSPE 鈥 aka the 鈥淒ean鈥檚 Letter鈥)
- USMLE Step 2 score
- Undergraduate/graduate school experience
Two Letters from ophthalmologists are recommended. (It is not required that all three be from ophthalmology-related mentors.)
- Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society membership (if offered at the applicant鈥檚 medical school)
- Gold Humanism Honor Society membership
- Other awards and honors
- Research experience, including publications and presentations
- Personal statement
- Service experience (e.g., volunteer work, advocacy, etc.)
- Work experience and employment history
- Outside interests
- Preference signaling - we consider this as part of the holistic application review process. A preference signal does not guarantee an interview.
We welcome and encourage all who are interested to apply to our program. Our recruitment team carefully evaluates all completed applications for consideration of interview offers.
Interviews
All residency interviews will continue to be virtual this year per SF Match and AUPO policy.
Benefits and Stipends
黑料社区 and the Department of Ophthalmology provide competitive stipends and benefits that compare well to programs in other large cities, especially given the affordable cost-of-living seen in Houston, Texas. The following is a sampling of benefits provided to trainees at our institution.
View stipends and benefit information on the 黑料社区鈥檚 graduate medical education website. Stipend levels are at the national average, but Houston's cost of living ranks among the lowest of metropolitan areas in the United States.
Maintaining your physical and emotional wellness is a prerequisite to professional success. Our residents have access to a number of programs to support their well-being. View wellness resources.
Information about vacations and leave of absence is available on the graduate medical education website.
BCM Benefits
- Medical and dental insurance
- Life insurance (1.5x annual salary)
- Professional liability insurance
- Short- and long-term disability
- Vacation (21 days annually)
- Sick time (14 days annually 鈥 no rollover)
- Holidays and personal time off (9 days annually)
Ophthalmology Program Perks
- AAO Basic and Clinical Science Course (13 volumes)
- Practical Ophthalmology textbook
- Annual subscription to online question bank of board review questions
- Lenses (20D, 90D, and Gonioscopy)
- Personal minor procedure instrument set
- Personal wet lab instrument set
- Wills Eye Manual
- White coats
- Registration and travel expenses to the AAO Annual Meeting (during PGY-3 or PGY-4 year)
- Funding for travel to present research at national/international conferences
- Breakfast at Friday morning conferences and dinner at Tuesday evening conferences
Life in Houston
Houston, the nation's fourth-largest and most diverse city, offers all the benefits of a big city at a significantly lower cost of living than other major cities.