Message From Our Chief Resident

Thank you for your interest in the University of Pittsburgh Ophthalmology Residency at The UPMC Vision Institute. Our residency program provides an outstanding environment in which to pursue your training in ophthalmology. In addition to excellent clinical and surgical opportunities, the strength of this program lies in the camaraderie and fellowship amongst the residents as well as the collegial relationship with our exceptional faculty.

This residency has all the components of an excellent training program:

  • Our faculty are from a diverse educational background covering all the major subspecialties full-time and are very dedicated to resident education.
  • Residents work side by side with faculty both in clinic and the operating room, learning and performing diagnostic and surgical techniques from a wide range of experienced clinicians.
  • Residents help staff an exciting Veteran’s Administration Hospital eye clinic drawing patients from Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Ohio, with surgical cases signed up for months in advance.
  • We are headquartered at the UPMC Vision Institute, a brand-new building dedicated to ophthalmology practice and research.  It houses clinics, operating rooms, research space, as well as a dedicated Eye Emergency Room/Urgent Care, all stocked with brand-new cutting-edge equipment. As the major tertiary care center in Western Pennsylvania, the emergency room provides a wealth of clinical and surgical exposure for the residents.
  • Third year residents may attend the annual American Academy of Ophthalmology meeting or a subspecialty meeting of choice. In addition, residents will receive a stipend to attend any conference where they are presenting their own research.
  • In the third training year, there is a rotation at the University of New Mexico and New Mexico VA Hospital. This provides a unique experience for learning different surgical techniques, and medical philosophies, as well as affords an opportunity to explore a different part of the country (traveling expenses and housing are provided by the department).

Each class is made up of six residents, making a total number of 18 residents in our program. We look to recruit future residents who work hard, get along well in a group, support one another, and like to have fun together. Teamwork is the definitive motto of our program. The unique atmosphere among the residents and faculty here at UPMC is what sets our program apart.

Contact Information

Jonathan Peterson, MD
Chief Ophthalmology Resident
petersonjm2@upmc.edu 

UPMC Vision Institute
UPMC Mercy Pavilion
1622 Locust Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15219