Program Overview
Our residency is a three-year program (not including transitional/preliminary year) and is approved by the Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). We appoint four residents each year through the San Francisco Match program to begin residency July 1 after the required transitional year with University of Utah Health's Internal Medicine Program. We accept applications beginning in early August.
Residency Interview Dates:
- Monday, October 30, 2023
- Thursday, November 9, 2023
- Tuesday, November 14, 2023
- Tuesday, November 28, 2023
Providing an Exceptional Education
The Moran Eye Center provides vision care for the Mountain West region including Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, as well as eastern Nevada and western Colorado.
The center’s ophthalmology residents receive a tremendous amount of hands-on training and will perform more than 300 cataract extractions and about 400 other major surgical operations during their time in Utah. These numbers do not include assisting during surgery or performing parts of a surgical case with a faculty member. It is important to note that all surgeries are supervised by an attending faculty member.
During the third year, residents have two months of elective time to devote to extended studies in a sub-specialty of their choice, extra work where needed, and the opportunity to travel out of the country for humanitarian outreach, training, and education. A weekly continuity clinic is held for all levels of residency including the internship year while in ophthalmology.
Scholarship Opportunities
Research scholarships are available to one or two residents through the ARCS Foundation. Additional research funding is available to all residents in the program. Please contact Chandler Thompson for more information: chandler.thompson@hsc.utah.edu.
OPHTHALMOLOGY FELLOWSHIP TO INCREASE OPPORTUNITIES FOR UNDERREPRESENTED MINORITIES IN MEDICINE
The Moran Eye Center is committed to increasing opportunities for underrepresented minorities within the field of ophthalmology (the American Academy of Ophthalmology defines underrepresented in medicine groups as Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, and/or Native American - American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian).
Medical students frequently discover their interest in ophthalmology late in their medical school careers, which can impact their academic competitiveness when applying to ophthalmology residency.
The Moran Eye Center is offering a four-week, summer ophthalmology clinical and research rotation, with a scholarship, to rising MS2 students. The purpose of this program is to support candidates who demonstrate a commitment to increasing opportunities for those underrepresented in medicine. Each student accepted to the program will be offered a $1,000 scholarship, plus housing accommodations and a UTA public transportation pass. Two students will be accepted per summer. The experience is only offered during the month of June.
During this four-week experience, students will work with full-time faculty preceptors and research mentors. Direct patient care opportunities will be provided in clinic and surgery, covering a broad range of comprehensive and/or subspecialty ophthalmology.
All applications should be addressed to: Kellie Nelson, academic program manager, at kellie.nelson@hsc.utah.edu.
Application Required Information
- Curriculum vitae (CV)
- Letter of recommendation from a medical school instructor
- USMLE Step 1 score report if available
- Short personal statement (no more than one page, double-spaced; 400-600 words) regarding why you want to come to Moran Eye Center for this rotation and indicating your commitment to increasing opportunities for those who are underrepresented in medicine.
Application Deadlines 2024
- Opens October 1, 2023; due by March 31, 2024
Applications will be reviewed by:
- Liliana Werner, MD, PhD, Moran Vice-Chair for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
- Sravanthi Vegunta, MD, Assistant Professor, Associate Program Director (Residency)
- Nnana Amakiri, MD, Resident
Applicants will be notified during the first week of April 2024.
Residency Verification
Considering a Moran Residency?
Take a look for more information about our program and living in Utah.
Why Utah?
In Utah you can truly have it all. Salt Lake City and the surrounding areas offer new comers diverse neighborhoods, great schools, arts and entertainment, and endless possibilities for sports and recreation. A strong economy and low cost of living make Utah a perfect choice to call home.
Additional Resources
Education FOCUS Annual Reports
Past Education Focus Reports
- Education Focus 2022: Supporting and Connecting Trainees
- Education Focus 2021: The Next Chapter
- Education Focus 2020: Leading Change
- Education Focus 2019: Honing Surgical Expertise
- Education Focus 2018: One Step Ahead
- Education Focus 2016: Explore and Expand in a Top 10 Residency Program
- Education Focus 2015: The Best Kept Secret in Ophthalmology Education
Contact Us
University of Utah School of Medicine
Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences
John A. Moran Eye Center
Academic Office
65 Mario Capecchi Drive
Salt Lake City, UT 84132
Phone: 801-585-3719
Fax: 801-581-5806
Rachel G. Simpson, MD, Vice Chair of Education
Phone: 801-581-2352
rachel.simpson@hsc.utah.edu
Sravanthi Vegunta, MD, Associate Program Director
Phone: 801-581-2352
srav.vegunta@hsc.utah.edu
Meghan Johnson, Programs Manager, Academics
Phone: 801-213-4044
meghan.johnson@hsc.utah.edu
Kellie Nelson, Programs Manager, Academics
Phone: 801-585-6701
kellie.nelson@hsc.utah.edu
Chandler Thompson, Executive Assistant
Phone: 801-581-3023
chandler.thompson@hsc.utah.edu
Barbara Korous, Director, Operations
801-585-6143
barbara.korous@hsc.utah.edu