Pre-Graduate training
Ophthalmology courses for medical students are structured as follows:
- One week of ex cathedra courses covering all learning objectives identified in the SLOC (Swiss Learning Objectives Catalog).
- Two weeks of training through tutorials in order to address the subject through practical cases and targeted theoretical discussions on the differential diagnosis and patient care.
- A half-day at an ophthalmologist in the city, allowing the student to get an idea of the actual daily work of an ophthalmologist in Switzerland (90% of ophthalmologists are currently self-employed)
Teaching is provided by:
- Professors and lecturers for theoretical instruction
- Associate Physicians and Senior Residents for tutorials.
Postgraduate Training
The training provided by Associate Physicians and Senior Residents is structured according to the following program:
- Theoretical courses follow the AAO (American Academy of Ophthalmology)
- Grand Rounds program: 3 hours/month - presentation by assistant physicians of clinical cases encountered in daily practice (rare, controversial diagnosis or treatment, etc.)
- Journal Club 1 hour per week
- Prof. Paridaens' Conference: 2 hours every 6 weeks
- Wet Lab 12 hours per year
- Glaucoma symposium: 10 hours per year
- Clinical presentation with the Department of Neurology: 3 hours per year
- Theoretical and practical refraction course given by an experienced optometrist: 5 hours per year
- Retina Rounds: 2 hours per month.