It is my distinct pleasure to welcome you to the ophthalmology residency program at the Harvey & Bernice Jones Eye Institute, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. I am very honored and privileged to be the director of such a distinct and innovative program. We are committed to the highest quality of training for our residents and to ensure they graduate not only as competent clinicians, but also as world class surgeons.
Ophthalmology residents are truly an essential part of the Jones Eye Institute family. Our dedicated faculty and staff are committed to your personal and professional growth. Through partnerships with Arkansas Children Hospital and the Central Arkansas Veteran Healthcare System, our program provides a vast array of opportunities for clinical and surgical training. As the only academic institution in the state, our residents are exposed to a wide variety of complex cases across all subspecialties. For surgery, our residents’ numbers are at or above the 90th percentile, compared to other programs in the nation. However, surgical training is not only about surgery numbers. It is as important to think of the case mix you are exposed to during training. In your final year of residency at JEI, as your skills mature, you will have the opportunity to operate on complex cases that would be considered fellowship level at other institutions. As a result, our residents graduate with a full skill set as well as the confidence to enter either comprehensive practice or to undertake subspecialty fellowship training.
Thanks to the philanthropic contributions of our Jones Eye Institute alumni and donors, our residents are able to train at the highest level, in the clinic and in the operating room. From the state-of-the-art OCT and OCTA machines to 3D surgery and high-end microscopes, you name it we have it! In addition to medical and surgical training, we put strong emphasis on research. There is a catalog of mentored opportunities for basic and clinical research in the program. Our residents regularly present at regional and national meetings and publish in high impact peer-reviewed ophthalmology journals.
Lastly, I want to mention the elective surgical rotations that are offered. As a chief resident you may attend a four-day refractive surgery rotation at Ft. Campbell, Kentucky, a five-day international surgical experience in either Guatemala or Honduras, and a three-day ocular oncology rotation at University of Tennessee Medical Center and St. Jude’s Hospital. All of which are completely funded through JEI donor support.
In short, we have everything you are looking for in a program, in a cohesive, nurturing environment. Please feel free to reach out to me should you have additional questions. Stay SAFE!
Ahmed Sallam, M.D., Ph.D., FRCOphth
Residency Program Director
Director, Uveitis Service
Professor, Department of Ophthalmology
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
John Nutt Chair in Ophthalmology