OPHTHALMOLOGY

Course name and number:Clinical Ophthalmology : Clinical Clerkship: OPHTH420a .

Coordinator:

Gale Abbass, Ophthalmology Education Coordinator, gabba@lsuhsc.edu

Faculty:

Jasmine R. Elison, MD (Course Director)
Marie D. Acierno, MD
Donald R. Bergsma, MD
Butler Fuller, MD
Randy Bouligny, MD
Steven Gill, OD

Duration: 4 weeks

Availability: All blocks (Best for aspiring ophthalmologists to take this early because Ophthalmology is an early match.)

Number of students: 4

Objectives:

This four-week course is designed to familiarize aspiring future ophthalmologist and non-ophthalmologists with general ophthalmic problems and skills that would be useful to all physicians. Includes exposure to all aspects of general ophthalmology with a concentration on the student's individual interests.

Means of Implementation:

The student will be assigned to work directly with one of the senior residents or faculty members at Earl K. Long and at UMC-Lafayette. Surgery observation and progressive responsibility for patient workup and treatment plan. The student is expected to attend in-patient consults and Wednesday didactic sessions with the option to attend neuroscience and subspecialty conferences and journal clubs. The course is split between Baton Rouge and Lafayette(apartment may be provided). Student will present one patient at Grand Rounds.

Evaluation Method:

Evaluation will be a short, multiple-choice test and an overall assessment of performance.

STUDENTS MAY SCHEDULE THIS ELECTIVE DIRECTLY WITH THE OFFICE OF STUDENT AFFAIRS. Also please contact the coordinator to arrange specific assignments.

Course name and number: Vision Research (LSU-MCLNO) OPHTH 431a.

Coordinator:

Gale Abbass, Ophthalmology Education Coordinator, gabba@lsuhsc.edu

Basic Vision Research

Faculty:

Haydee Bazan, PhD – Investigations of the mechanisms of corneal inflammation and wound healing. There are two main lines of research. One studies how inflammation affects the remodeling and degradation of components of the extracellular matrix (ECM) to understand the mechanisms that produce corneal scarring. The second researches cell signal transduction in corneal wound healing and focuses on cell events triggered by growth factors that affect wound closure and proliferation of corneal epithelial cells.

Nicolas Bazan, MD, PhD – Neurobiology of disease: Current research includes apoptosis in retinal degeneration, neuroprotection, the role of omega-3 fatty acids in protecting retinal cells from diseases such as age-related macular degeneration and retinitis pigmentosa, cell signaling, second messengers, and gene expression.

James M. Hill, PhD – Virology and Pharmacology Laboratory: Current studies are focusing on understanding of the molecular basis of herpes simplex virus (HSV) reactivation to determine therapeutic strategies that will not only block viral replication, but will prevent the neuronal reactivation, the primary source of the virus. Technologies utilized include DNA microarray and chromatin immunoprecipitation analyses. Drug therapies include peptides of the APOE e4 gene.

Jean Jacob, PhD – Biomedical Polymer Science Laboratory: Research focuses on the design and testing of synthetic and biopolymers for use in the eye as dry eye treatments, drug delivery systems, and implantation devices.

Bahram Khoobehi, PhD – Applied Physics Laboratory: Current research in the physiology and biochemical physics of the retina have led to the development of multispectral imaging – a noninvasive means of measuring oxygen saturation in the retina and optic nerve head. This technology is used to measure tissue oxygenation in disease models including diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and macular degeneration.

Byoung Kwon PhD – Immunology Laboratory: Key mediator of cellular and molecular interactions in the immune system are being identified, including the discovery of the structure and function of a molecule called 4-1BB is a seminal contribution to our understanding of how the immune system works. We are investigating the central importance of the 4-1BB molecule in the immune defense of the eye against viral infections, the destruction of tumors, and the prevention of autoimmune ocular diseases.

Michael Smolek, PhD – Physiological Optics Laboratory: Current research includes 1) determining the diagnostic value of optical aberrations of the cornea and the cornea + lens optical system, 2) artificial intelligence analysis of fundus photography, including the automated detection of diabetic retinopathy, and 3) interpretation of confocal microscopy images with artificial intelligence methods.

Availability: All blocks

Duration: 4 weeks

Number of students: 1 per faculty member

Objectives:
This four-week course in ophthalmic research is available for students with or without a background in clinical ophthalmology.

Means of Implementation:

Basic Vision Research – Students will participate in all phases of laboratory experimentation. The primary emphasis will be basic vision research.
Clinical Vision Research – Students will attend rounds, conferences and lectures and will participate in various aspects of clinical research in progress. The primary emphasis will be clinical vision research.

Evaluation Method:

Evaluation will be an overall assessment of performance.

*THE STUDENT MUST MEET WITH THE PRECEPTOR, AND HAVE HIS/HER APPROVAL BEFORE SCHEDULING THE RESPECTIVE ELECTIVE with student affairs.