Interview - Dr Narmadai Deva
Read up on what the Ophthalmology training is like and get some tips and recommendations from Narme Deva who is a current trainee in the Auckland Region...
I chose to go into ophthalmology because I like a challenge.
Someone had told me that ophthalmology was quite difficult to get
into so I had to try. In saying that ophthalmology, was the first
position I worked as a house officer in my PGY1 year and I felt
more like a doctor there in the acute eye clinic than I did for the
2 years of working house officer positions after that. There is so
much that you can treat and fix in ophthalmology in comparison to
many other specialties and it has a brilliant balance of surgical
and medical components. Plus, the eye is a rather a pleasant thing
to look at.
The thing I enjoy most about working in ophthalmology in
Auckland is that the training programme here is outstanding. Both
the clinical environment, with a large number of consultants and
registrars and the structured teachings provide so much for a
trainee. There are also a number of overseas fellows completing
their fellowships here which adds to the learning environment and
speaks for the calibre of the department. The size of the DHB is a
big draw card, because of the wide range of cases it provides.
To apply for the scheme you need to have completed PGY2 and
prior ophthalmology experience is preferred. Most have done a house
officer rotation and then held at least one non-training registrar
job. The training programme itself is a total of 5 years and in the
5th year you complete the fellowship year which most of
us do overseas. Of the first 4 years, you spend at least 2 years in
Auckland and up to 2 years outside of Auckland in Hamilton, Rotorua
or Tauranga. These more peripheral centres provide a good
foundation for general ophthalmology while Auckland gives you the
sub-specialty learning. There are a number of exams- a set of basic
science exams to complete in the first 18 months, an advanced
pathology exam in the 3rd year of training and the final
exams (written and practical components) in your fourth year.
While it sounds and is full on, it does allow time for other
things. Prior to getting on the scheme, I took a year off to travel
and work in Europe. During training, I was able to carry on with my
interests- I was able to do a lot of painting, Indian classical
dancing and I enjoyed winding down by watching TV. Additionally, I
have taken a total of 1 year maternity leave (6 months at a time
for 2 babies) and the college is very supportive of this.
Naturally, you have to be organised, with regards to exams and
rotations, and there will be periods where you have to put aside a
few things to achieve your goals, but the training programme does
allow you to have a life.
Ophthalmology is also specialty where we do a lot together
outside of work. We are quite a small group of RMOs and most of us
have known each other for a long time. We all routinely have lunch
together and often go out for drinks after work. Our partners and
families know each other, and we even have had our own pub quiz
team. The conferences we attend are also great both from an
education and social perspective.
If I were to give a junior doctor wanting to move into
ophthalmology advice, I would say show your interest. There are
perceptions that Ophthalmology is hard to get in to, but it is no
more than any other surgical specialty, so don't be put off by
this. If you are passionate about it or just have an inkling
towards it, then take the time to find out more from the registrars
and talk to the SMOs for advice. The ophthalmology house officer
rotation gives you a very good start and allows you to get to know
the department and vice versa. This is a fantastic specialty and I
would recommend it 100%.