The "Pupils" curriculum was established to enhance the JeffMD curriculum and provide students with exposure to ophthalmology early in their medical careers. This curriculum will equip interested students with mentorship, basic ophthalmological knowledge, and hands-on skills in an organized, sequential, increasingly complex manner. We hope that upon completion of our curriculum, students feel confident, passionate, and prepared for a competitive residency application process and, ultimately, a successful career in the field of ophthalmology.
We invite all students to participate! Those with both surgical and/or medical interests are welcome.
1. To provide a longitudinal, comprehensive, hands-on ophthalmology curriculum to enhance the JeffMD curriculum.
2. To cultivate skills, knowledge, experience, and passion for the field of ophthalmology
Fundamentals
Lectures and journal clubs geared to introduce students to the field of ophthalmology and its various subspecialties
Clinical Sills Sessions
Teaches students important components to the ophthalmic exam, including history-taking, visual acuity, tonometry, and assessment of extraocular movements, visual fields, and pupil exam.
Introduces students to the basic slit lamp exam
Mentorship
Each student will be paired with upperclassmen for guidance and advice throughout medical school.
Volunteer Experience
Working in the Wills Eye Hospital Wyss Ophthalmology Access Clinic
Residency Preparation
Pre-residency panel with Wills Eye residents on survival tips for intern year and ophthalmology residency
Mentorship
Each student will be paired with underclassmen to give guidance and advice to throughout medical school.
Fourth-year medical students who match can participate in a post-match panel targeted at third-year medical students to provide advice about the ophthalmology residency application process
Advanced Clinical Skills Sessions
Wet labs focused on suturing and cataract extraction
Introduction to the dilated fundus exam
(For the 2024-2025 school year)
Across all Phases
Obtain 9 points total
5 of these points must be from TDOS events
Phase 2 (M3, M4)
Involvement in mentorship program
Link to points form: https://forms.office.com/r/b2e09q6kBT
(For the 2024-2025 school year)
Across all Phases
Obtain 18 points total
8 of these points must be from TDOS events
Phase 2 (M3, M4)
Involvement in mentorship program
Link to points form: https://forms.office.com/r/b2e09q6kBT
(For the 2024-2025 school year)
Across all Phases
Obtain 27 points total
8 of these points must be from TDOS events
Phase 2 (M3, M4)
Involvement in mentorship program
Link to points form: https://forms.office.com/r/b2e09q6kBT
(For the 2024-2025 school year)
For those who discover their interest in ophthalmology later in medical school
Previously, only the completion award was available for students beginning after Phase 1
Students beginning after Phase 1 are now eligible for any award tier, but the same points requirements apply as for other participants
One Point
Attending TDOS journal club*
Shadowing (Wills Eye ED & OR, Wills Eye ophthalmologists) - excluding formal rotations
Attending Pupils curriculum wet lab/interactive teaching sessions*
Attending Grand Rounds at Wills Eye (can be done virtually)
Volunteering at the Wills Eye Access Clinic (up to 4 points)
Presenting at a conference on non-ophthalmology research
Presenting at a journal club*
Two Points
Presenting at an ophthalmology conference or TDOS Research Symposium*
Volunteering at Give Kids Sight Day or Diabetes Day
Publication on ophthalmology research
Writing an article for inSight (TDOS student journal)*
Three Points
Ophthalmology externship, summer research, or extended summer clinic experience (>4 weeks/case-by-case)
*TDOS events
(For the 2024-2025 school year)
Those who complete any level of PUPILs will receive a signed certificate from Dr. Markovitz prior to residency applications, with your completion level listed.
This award can be listed in the Honors and Awards section of the ophthalmology residency application.
Director of Undergraduate Education
Cataracts, Primary Eye Care
If you have any questions about the Pupils curriculum or would like to join, please email: tdos@students.jefferson.edu