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Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC): the National Capital Consortium

Location: DC Metropolitan area, Bethesda, MD (WRNMMC), Fort Belvoir, VA (FBCH), and Joint Base Andrews, MD (MGMC)

Branch of service: Joint: Army, Navy

Number of residents per year in each branch: 2–3 Army, 1 Navy

Website: tricare.mil/mtf/WalterReed/About-Us/Graduate-Medical-Education/GME-Programs

Contact Info:

Highlights or unique factors:

  • Hosts the Ocular Trauma Course: annual weeklong course in managing ocular trauma with comprehensive didactics and extensive hands-on training;

  • USUHS surgical simulation lab: offering simulation training in phacoemulsification cataract surgery, MISCS (manual cataract extraction surgery), micro-invasive glaucoma surgery, strabismus, and many other ophthalmic surgical techniques.

  • Hosts Orbital Dissection Course: annual week long course in orbital anatomy training which includes cadaver dissection.

  • Hosts Expeditionary Craniofacial Trauma Course: annual week long course in craniofacial trauma that includes Ophthalmology, OMFS, ENT, and Neurosurgery.

  • Strong research and academic foundation: morning BSCS review, Friday didactic lectures, annual Walter Reed research event, attendance at various Ophthalmology meetings to present research such as the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Glaucoma Society.

  • Multiple subspecialists in every field at 3 facilities: including cornea, glaucoma, retina, neuro-ophthalmology, pediatric ophthalmology, and oculoplastic surgery.

  • National Capital Consortium offers incredible opportunities with other area institutions: George Washington University, Washington Hospital Center, National Eye Institute, and Children's National Medical Center, DC VA, Fredericksburg VA. Gives you opportunities to interact with other residents and present at a large combined grand rounds.

  • Opportunities for additional training and reviewing course including the Lancaster Course and the Columbia Course.

  • Humanitarian opportunities:

    • residents have spent time on the USNS Comfort

    • Opportunities for missions in Panama

    • Annual Ocular Trauma surgical training course, Orbital Dissection Course

  • Location: downtown Washington, DC, Alexandria, Bethesda, Georgetown, Annapolis

  • Local Info: Great Falls Park, hiking, skiing, fishing, ocean, Virginia scenic wine country all within a short drive