Teaching

Ophthalmology has a considerable investment in teaching ophthalmology to undergraduate and postgraduate medical students, candidates undertaking the Postgraduate Diploma in Ophthalmic Basic Sciences and registrars sitting the RANZCO Advanced Clinical Examination. In addition staff assist in teaching ophthalmic basic sciences to other disciplines such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy, physiology and nursing at the University of Otago and Otago Polytechnic.

Ophthalmology has an ongoing interest in the development of medical education through research and development of teaching programme content and delivery eg the undergraduate ophthalmology education survey published in Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology in 2001, Slit Lamp Explorer, the web based Diploma in Ophthalmic Basic Sciences. Clinical teaching is supported by the patient base of Dunedin Hospital. (www.southerndhb.govt.nz).

Medical Undergraduate Teaching

The section conducts an extensive programme for teaching ophthalmology to both preclinical and clinical undergraduate medical students.

Postgraduate Training

• Postgraduate Diploma in Ophthalmic Basic Sciences
• Master of Ophthalmology
• Registrar/FRANZCO Training Programme
• Ophthalmology Clinical Course for candidates sitting the RANZCO Advanced Clinical Examination
• Research Degrees
• Teaching Fellow
• John Parr Prize in Ophthalmology
• Electives

Postgraduate Diploma in Ophthalmic Basic Sciences

Ophthalmology taught a 4 week residential course in ophthalmic basic sciences annually from 1982 to 1999 for the former Part 1 FRANZCO exam. In 2002 the inaugural Postgraduate Diploma in Ophthalmic Basic Sciences (PGDipOphthBS) for New Zealand and Australian medical graduates commenced. The purpose of the course is to provide a postgraduate diploma in ophthalmic basic sciences for medical graduates who are seeking a position on the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists (FRANZCO) Fellowship approved Training Programme or who are currently engaged in such a programme. Diploma teaching staff are mostly practising ophthalmologists with a particular interest in basic sciences. A number have recently qualified FRANZCO and are familiar with specific requirements of the RANZCO.

Master of Ophthalmology

Candidates who achieve a good pass in the PGDipOphthBS are eligible to complete a full year of research towards a Master of Ophthalmology (MOphth). This degree is one of the first of its kind in the world, although a similar degree is now being offered by the University of Adelaide.

The first graduates of the MOphth were Anmar Abdul-Rahman and Gus Clarke in 2008. Their theses were titled “Fourier Analysis of Digital Retinal Images in Objective Estimation of Cataract Severity” and “The Presence of Human Herpes Viruses in Infective Keratitis” respectively.

For further information about the PGDipOphthBS and the MOphth contact Gordon Sanderson.

The following link takes you to information about University of Otago Master's Scholarships.

Registrar/FRANZCO Training Programme

Two registrars are on a RANZCO approved training scheme which is run in conjunction with Dunedin Hospital. In addition two non vocational registrars are also appointed.

For further information about the Training Programme contact Professor Anthony C B Molteno.

Dunedin Ophthalmology Clinical Course

Ophthalmology runs an intensive interactive 2 week residential course in Dunedin in November each year. The course is for New Zealand and Australian medical graduates in their second year of the RANZCO training programme to prepare for the Fellowship of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologist (FRANZCO).

The Course offers full-time instruction as defined by the FRANZCO syllabus. Practice OSCE's are also provided. The staff are mostly practising ophthalmologists who are familiar with the basic requirements of the RANZCO.

The Course is popular and as places are limited the applications usually close early in the year in which it is held.

For information about the Dunedin Clinical Course contact Georgi Bond.

Research Degrees

The following research degrees offered through the University of Otago are available in ophthalmology: BMedSci (Hons), MMedSci, MOphth and PhD.

For further information about research degrees contact Gordon Sanderson.

Teaching Fellow

The Teaching Fellow is appointed annually and has teaching responsibilities with third, fourth, fifth and sixth year medical students. The Fellowship provides a small income to candidates wishing to pursue higher training in ophthalmology or conduct research. Teaching Fellows are encouraged to participate in all departmental registrar training sessions.

Appointments are made in September each year for the following year commencing in November. For further information contact Georgi Bond.

John Parr Prize in Ophthalmology

The John Parr Prize is awarded annually to the top 5th year student in ophthalmology. The prize is currently donated by Ebos Group Limited.

John Parr MBChB, DOMS, FRCS(Ophth)
1922-2009

John Parr was born at Roxburgh in Central Otago and studied medicine at the University of Otago. He was awarded the University of New Zealand Medical Travelling Scholarship which enabled study at the newly established Institute of Ophthalmology in London. He was one of the first to obtain the newly introduced Fellowship in Ophthalmology.

Upon returning to New Zealand in 1952 he combined private practice with work at Dunedin Hospital and the University of Otago Medical School. In 1961 he became a full time senior lecturer in ophthalmology and in 1977 was awarded a personal chair in ophthalmology. His goal was to raise the standard of ophthalmic practice to the highest practicable possible in New Zealand - and typically approached this on all fronts from changing the undergraduate training in ophthalmology and writing a suitable textbook, to laying the foundations for a postgraduate training programme.

His major research interests have been the problems of vascular disease as it affects the eye and was one of the first to recognise the importance of fluorescein angiography in understanding these disorders and psychophysical tests. In addition to his own research he inspired and guided the work of many others.

Following his retirement in 1987 he was appointed Emeritus Professor and his “Introduction to Ophthalmology" from the University of Otago Press remains a classic text for undergraduate medical students. In 2008 he was given a Distinguished Service Award by the Royal New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists” for his services to ophthalmology.

Winners of the John Parr Prize in Ophthalmology:

Electives

We welcome final year medical, optometry and orthoptics students from other institutions within or outside New Zealand to join us for an elective attachment of up to 3 months. Depending on staff commitments, there may be place for two students concurrently. For example in recent years students from the Optometry Department, Hogeschool van Utrech, in the Netherlands have been attached to the Section for 8 week periods during which time they may have placements in local optometry practices for two days a week.

For further information about the Visiting Elective Programme visit the Dunedin School of Medicine website or contact Jillian Tourelle.

Contacts: