The First UW Ophthalmology Resident International Rotation

The first UW Ophthalmology Resident International Rotation was a huge success! In February 2015, Dr. Pimkwan Jaru-Ampornpan and I, as well as attending surgeons Drs. Andrew Thliveris and Daniel Knoch, traveled to India with the goal of learning how to perform/teach extracapsular cataract surgery, a skill that is rarely performed in the United States. We spent two weeks at Dr. Shroff’s Charity Eye Hospital (SCEH) working at the hospital six days per week. We were given the opportunity to see patients in subspecialty clinics, outreach clinics and the operating room. Indian consultants (attending surgeons) and our UW attending surgeons supervised as we learned how to perform extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE) surgery. We each performed 16 of these surgeries while at SCEH and are extremely grateful for this learning opportunity! The commitment to excellence and dedication to teaching at SCEH was evident, and we are so thankful to have learned from their experts. While at SCEH, we also honed our newly learned surgical skills in their wet lab and presented at their daily Grand Rounds conference. What we gained in India, however, was much more than just surgical skills! India is a country rich in culture and diversity, and our group felt welcomed and our services appreciated throughout our stay. By Ashley Lundin, MD

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