........................ I am a PRHO (pre-registration house officer) who wants to do ophthalmology. Does anybody know any eye units who will accept people straight from house job? Should I do a MSc in neurosciences/etc first? Will that help? or Casualty? (or neurosurgery?) Is anatomy demonstration useful to do( esp if you do head/neck demonstration or neuroanatomy)? Do I have to do both casualty and neurosurgery? 

- ng July 27, 2004 at 15:34:54 
A+E and neuro are really traditional back door entries into ophthalmology rather than relevant. It is true that they can buy time to tidy up a tatty cv, but at the end of the day there is no better preparation for ophthalmology than ophthalmology itself. 
Myself and many others have got ophthalmic posts straight from house jobs without part one, followed by very good teaching hospital rotations. I am convinced that in ten years time our burr holes will be as good as yours despite us never having done any. There are also plenty of consultants who went into ophthalmology straight off. 
It is a little bit unfair to good candidates out there who probably have excellent cvs that you and your mate 
wont shortlist them without A+E and neuro. Just because you and your mate had to do them doesn't mean the world should. 
You should let us all know what hospital you work in so that everyone knows not to apply there without doing A+E and neuro despite having fantastic cvs, much experience and probably more publications and research experience than you.
-seb
 

I would certainly consider doing one or two other SHO posts, preferably in A&E/neuro, as it will give you the time you need to sit your Part 1, which is almost like an entrance exam for ophth these days. Also it is nice to get this exam out of the way, as otherwise it can eat into your Ophth SHO training if you do not get it first time, which can affect things in the long run. 
I think also, doing other specialities first opens you up as a clinician in general, which is important too. 
It's nice to get that A&E thing out of the system also. It is a nice feeling to know that whatever walks through that door you can handle it. Instils one with a certain confidence as a clinician, which I am not sure one would find so easy to gain as a virgin SHO to Ophthalmology. 
I wouldn't jump into doing an MSc though at this stage, unless you are doing it alongside your regular SHO post.
-Kate
 

Yes anatomy demonstrating jobs are very useful. It will certainly help with your part 1, and it is very highly regarded on your cv. Go for that if you can. You might be interested to know that there are 2 SHO posts in Sheffield Royal Hallamshire, which combine anatomy demonstrating with some clinical in Ophth. It is perfect for people like yourself who want to sit their Part 1, and it leads on nicely to that teaching hosp eyejob, without having to jump through too many hoops to get there. Look out for the advertisements for the next vacancy. 
No, you don't have to do both A&E and neuro, you don't have to do either, but it does help if you do atleast one of these specialities or other allied specialities. It is fairly easy to pick up an A&E post, so you shouldn't have much trouble filling this criteria. 
-Kate
 

I agree with kate, anatomy is very hard to come by, if you want the best cv not just to get you an sho post but also in the longer run for an spr post then go for harold ellis, he is the last living legend across all specialties, he is based at guys, write to him and beg him to take you on. i did it before a+E. kates comments on A+E are useful. as for neuro, i did it in a different era, so i did more things than you probably will, but nethertheless, it will make you a better eye surgeon. remember your goal is not to become an eye specialist with a big private practice as soon as you can, but more it is to be a good eye specialist. only the best do everything....casualty, neuro and demonstration.
-wai
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