Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science Rochester Program

Program Identity & Fit

Mayo Clinic's Rochester Ophthalmology Residency is a tertiary/quaternary academic program embedded in the Mayo Clinic Model of Care, offering integrated PGY1-4 training with early and progressive surgical autonomy, a three-year longitudinal continuity clinic, and access to five subspecialty clinical fellowships (glaucoma, medical retina, oculoplastics, pediatric ophthalmology/strabismus, retina/vitreous). Its surgical infrastructure (24-hour EyeSi simulator access, wet lab with human donor eyes, LASIK certification, dedicated resident laser and oculoplastic procedure clinics) signals emphasis on procedural readiness alongside intellectual engagement through the Rochester Epidemiology Project, Clinician Investigator Training Program, and structured research resources. A named Global Ophthalmology/Health Equities Track under Dr. Bernhisel provides an explicit pathway for residents oriented toward international and underserved eye care. The program appears to value residents who can function with clinical independence early, engage meaningfully in scholarly work, and pursue either comprehensive practice or competitive subspecialty fellowship training.