Innovative Resident Research

Each resident is required to complete a research project each year. The research may be of a clinical nature or may involve laboratory work. Each resident will present their project during the annual Ophthalmology Trainee Day Scientific Sessions.      

All proposed research projects involving laboratory facilities must first be cleared by the Residency Program Director. In addition, each resident should have at least one senior faculty member as co-author of the project. In the event that the study is deemed worthy of presentation at a national meeting, such as ARVO or the AAO, the abstract must be approved by the advising faculty member prior to its submission to organizers of the meeting. Likewise, if a manuscript is submitted for publication, the senior staff member must approve the manuscript before its submission.  

During a resident's third year of training at Duke Ophthalmology, they are required to participate in an eight-week elective. This unique rotation at Duke offers residents the opportunity to conduct basic science or clinical research at Duke, spend time studying ophthalmology abroad, or pursue other related activities. Previous residents have used this time to travel abroad to eye hospitals in Tanzania, East Africa, spend time working for the FDA on Capitol Hill, and collaborate with other Duke departments on biomedical engineering endeavors.