{"id":5558,"date":"2025-04-03T13:28:49","date_gmt":"2025-04-03T17:28:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/med.virginia.edu\/ophthalmology\/?p=5558"},"modified":"2025-04-21T10:28:32","modified_gmt":"2025-04-21T14:28:32","slug":"spring25-medstudenteducation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/med.virginia.edu\/ophthalmology\/spring25-medstudenteducation\/","title":{"rendered":"Investing in the Future: Medical Student Education"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Laura

Laura D. Cook, MD<\/a>
Associate Professor
Medical Student Director<\/p><\/div>\n

When you ask Laura D. Cook, MD<\/strong><\/a> what makes the UVA Ophthalmology medical student program special, she won\u2019t list statistics or syllabi \u2014 she\u2019ll talk about people. She\u2019ll talk about the faculty, residents, staff, and alumni who make time, open doors, and pass down their knowledge to the next generation. \u201cIt\u2019s not just about teaching eye exams,\u201d she says. \u201cIt\u2019s about giving students a glimpse of what it means to care, to lead, and to love what you do.\u201d<\/p>\n

This spirit of mentorship has long been at the heart of medical student education in the department, and as the program continues to grow, so too does the community behind it.<\/p>\n

A big part of that story includes Debbie Perry<\/strong>, who recently passed the reins after years of dedicated service as the department\u2019s Medical Student Education Coordinator to focus on our ever-growing residency program. \u201cDebbie is the calm in every storm,\u201d Dr. Cook reflects. \u201cShe has held the program together with grace, and her heart is in every detail.\u201d Her transition marks the end of an era \u2014 but also the start of a new one, as Sebastian Corrales, MA<\/strong> steps into the role with energy, curiosity, and a fresh set of shoes (his words, not ours).<\/p>\n

At the core of the program is the fourth-year clerkship, where students spend a month immersed in clinical learning. They work side-by-side with residents, attendings, and staff \u2014 learning not only the technical side of ophthalmology but the human one, too. Students also train with the EYESI direct ophthalmoscopy simulator<\/strong>, study anatomy, and engage in case-based learning that helps them build confidence and skill.<\/p>\n

While curriculum changes have reduced required exposure to ophthalmology in the earlier years of medical school, the department has responded by expanding its extracurricular offerings \u2014 and the result has been exciting. A newly designed four-part lab series gives students hands-on experiences in:<\/p>\n