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Ophthamology Combines Best of Surgery,
Medicine for Chief ResidentThe residency program at the Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin Eye Institute is well-known throughout the country for its excellent training. That’s why Ron Mancini, MD, wanted to come here from Boston, where he went to medical school. It’s also highly competitive — about 250 medical students apply each year for a three year residency, about 40 are interviewed and only three are selected, according to Bhavna Sheth, MD, Medical College of Wisconsin ophthalmologist and director of resident education for the Eye Institute.
Residents go all over the country when they’ve completed their training here, Dr. Sheth said. Some practice general ophthalmology, some seek further specialty training, and some join the faculty at the Medical College of Wisconsin. “Our faculty sub-specialists are renowned in the field, nationally and internationally,” she said. Even among his fellow residents, Dr. Mancini stands out. Last year, he was selected by the Eye Institute to be chief resident, a position held by a third-year resident. The chief resident has additional administrative and teaching responsibilities, and acts as a liaison between the faculty and other residents. “He’s excellent,” Dr. Sheth said. “He’s a role model for chief resident. He’s got a sound academic foundation, he’s very personable and he’s a good mediator.”
In medical school, Dr. Mancini kept an open mind before choosing ophthalmology as his specialty. “The first decision in medical school is whether you’re interested in a medical or a surgical specialty, and I liked both quite a bit,” he said. “Ophthalmology is a nice blend of being a primary care doctor for the eye, if you will, as well as the specialist who then operates if there is a problem. It’s a nice mix between medicine and surgery.
Dr. Mancini completed his three-year residency in June and headed for a fellowship at UCLA in oculoplastic surgery, which deals with the regions around the eye, rather than the eyeball itself. After his fellowship, Dr. Mancini hopes to stay in academic medicine and maintain a good mix of medical and surgical patients. “I’d be hard-pressed to come up with any other field that mixes those kinds of diverse functions — where I can really make a difference in people’s lives,” he said.
“I couldn’t have asked for a better residency,” he said of his time at the Eye Institute. “I think I am extremely well-trained. It has provided me with all of the tools I need, and a stepping stone to my next training environment.”
Source: Froedtert Today Date: September 2006 |