Ophthalmology Residency Program

The Georgetown University Hospital / Washington Hospital Center
Residency Program in Ophthalmology

Chairman:                    Maxwell A. Helfgott, MD
Program Director:        Jay M. Lustbader, MD

The Georgetown University Hospital/Washington Hospital Center ophthalmology residency program is a fully accredited, three-year program that combines state-of-the-art technology, expert clinicians/educators and experience in resident education, to present a challenging and rewarding training opportunity.

Established in July 2002 from the integration of two excellent and long-standing programs, this program provides trainees with access to a large teaching faculty, a broad clinical and surgical experience and a very diverse patient population. Training is scheduled at a variety of institutions, optimizing residents' exposure to a range of ocular conditions, and culminates in a unique opportunity for senior residents to assume charge of their own clinic practices.

The Washington National Eye Center (WNEC) at Washington Hospital Center is the primary training venue for the residency program. The WNEC is one of the largest and most complete ophthalmology clinics in the Washington metropolitan area, including special facilities for argon and YAG laser therapy, ultrasonography, digital fluorescein angiography, visual fields, OCT, Pentacam, auto refraction and corneal topography. Its laser and incisional refractive surgery center in Rockville, Md., is one of the most active in the country. Also, its vitreoretinal service is the busiest in the Washington, D.C., area and the third largest in the United States.

Residents complement their training at WNEC with rotations at Georgetown University Hospital, the D.C. Veterans Affairs Medical Center, INOVA Fairfax Hospital and the National Naval Medical Center. Training at these locations broadens their clinical and surgical experiences and allows them to explore areas of subspecialty training.

For a program overview, please click here (PowerPoint presentation).