With the undergraduate elective experience, in third and fourth years of medical school, we hope to provide a hands-on experience in the fascinating specialty of ophthalmology. It is also an opportunity for students to familiarize themselves with our Department particularly for those prospective future ophthalmology residents (CaRMS Candidates).

We organize electives in our Department for both Queen's students, as well as students from other universities wishing to explore our Program. These electives consist of exposure to the various subspecialty and general clinics.

Through this experience the student will have the opportunity to meet the teaching staff, support staff, and residents, as well as learn more about the different areas within ophthalmology. We feel this experience gives the student a very good sense of what it is like to be a resident in our Program.

SPECIAL NOTES TO ALL STUDENTS: 
We accept up to 2 students per week to do an elective with us. We recommend a maximum of 2 weeks per elective. Electives are allocated on a first-come-first-served basis. Applications will not be accepted more than 6 months in advance.  Applications must be submitted a minimum of 4 months in advance to allow for the necessary credentialing.

Black-out period
During the last 2 weeks of June, as well as the entire months of July and August, in preparation for COS, residents being away on courses, new residents beginning in ophthalmology, as well as many staff vacations make this period less than optimal for a great elective experience in our department. Thus, we will not accept students on CaRMS electives during this period.  

To arrange an elective with our Department please follow the following steps:

QUEEN'S STUDENTS

1. Decide what dates you are interested in doing an elective with us. 

2. Contact the Ophthalmology Undergraduate Assistant, Ms. Erin Twiddy, by email twiddye@hdh.kari.net to inquire about the availability of the dates you are interested in. We can not accept requests greater than 6 months in advance. Once the availability of your dates has been confirmed, she will hold the dates you have requested for a maximum of 6 weeks, to allow time for you to register with the Undergraduate office. Should we not receive confirmation of your registration from their office within 6 weeks, we will re-open those dates.

3. Register your elective with the Queen's Undergraduate Medical Education Office.

4. You will be contacted by email just prior to your elective by the Undergraduate Assistant, Ms. Erin Twiddy, on behalf of Dr. Stephanie Baxter, to assist us in preparing you for your elective.

VISITING STUDENTS

1. Decide what dates you are interested in doing an elective with us. 

2. Contact the Ophthalmology Undergraduate Assistant, Ms. Erin Twiddy, by email twiddye@hdh.kari.net to inquire about the availability of the dates you are interested in. We can not accept requests greater than 6 months in advance. Once the availability of your dates has been confirmed, she will hold the dates you have requested for a maximum of 6 weeks, to allow time for you to register with the Undergraduate office. Should we not receive confirmation of your registration from their office within 6 weeks, we will re-open those dates.

3. Register your elective with the Queen's Undergraduate Medical Education Office.  All undergraduate electives must register with the Undergraduate Medical Education Office. Visiting students from another university should complete the Forms for Visiting medical elective students. There is a fee of $100. The Undergraduate Office will then forward your request to our Department for final approval.

4. You will be contacted by email just prior to your elective by the Undergraduate Assistant, Ms. Erin Twiddy, on behalf of  Dr. Stephanie Baxter, to assist us in preparing you for your elective.

 
2. Ophthalmic Clinical Skills Elective

We offer undergraduate medical students, who will not be CaRMS Ophthalmology candidates, seeking further exposure to ophthalmology through a unique Ophthalmic Clinical Skills Elective.

This elective experience is designed for Queen's medical students who are interested in spending time in our Department to further their ophthalmic clinical skills, but who expect to go on to do training in another field (Family Medicine, Emergency Medicine, etc).

We immerse the student in the Emergency Eye Clinic where, on any given day, a variety of ophthalmic emergencies and problems are encountered, in a 'just behind' the front-lines fashion (first to see the patients after the Emergency Room Physician, Family doctor, or the Optometrist). This will allow you to become proficient in ocular history taking and examination techniques.

SPECIAL NOTES TO ALL STUDENTS: 
We accept up to 1 student per week for an ophthalmology ER elective with us. We recommend 1 week per elective, but will accept a maximum of 2 weeks. Electives are allocated on a first-come-first-served basis. Applications will not be accepted more than 6 months in advance.

Black-out period
During the last 2 weeks of June, as well as the entire months of July and August, preparations for COS (the Canadian Ophthalmological Society meeting), residents being away on courses, new residents beginning in ophthalmology, as well as many staff vacations make this period less than optimal for a great elective experience in our department. Thus, we will not accept students on Clinical Skills Electives during this period.

To obtain a Clinical Skills Elective with us:

1. Decide what dates you are interested in doing an elective with us.

2. Contact the Ophthalmology Undergraduate Assistant, Ms. Erin Twiddy, by email twiddye@hdh.kari.net to inquire about the availability of the dates you are interested in. She will hold the dates you have requested for a maximum of 6 weeks, to allow time for you to register with the Undergraduate office. Should we not receive confirmation of your registration from their office within 6 weeks, we will re-open those dates.

3. Register your elective with the Queen's Undergraduate Medical Education Office. 

4. You will be contacted by email just prior to your elective by the Undergraduate Assistant, Ms. Erin Twiddy, on behalf of  Dr. Stephanie Baxter, to assist us in  preparing you for your elective.

UPDATED 12 FEB 2010