EXTRA EFFORT

When I was at university I found the eye to be the most perfect creation of nature and the phenomenon of sight itself amazed me. I realised that my preferred goal would be to focus on a specialised field of medicine and to become expert and skilful in that field, instead of trying to cover a broad area. I always wished surgery would be a part of my profession. To qualify as an ophthalmologist in Slovenia requires six years of university, half-a-year of internship and four-and-ahalf years of residency. I started my PhD this year. If you want to work in the University clinic you are more or less expected to work on a PhD.

In Slovenia it is not obligatory to do surgery as part of your residency. In fact, to receive training as a surgeon you have to be willing to put in the extra effort, and a resident has to gain some microsurgical skills prior to performing surgery on a live patient at our clinic. To that end we have a wet-lab where we can practise anytime. We also organise guided wet labs once or twice a year, and some attend guided wet labs abroad.

THE RIGHT APPROACH
I was offered training in cataract surgery on live patients at our clinic in my second year as a resident. I do have to find my own patients, ask them if they are prepared to be operated by a beginner, letting them know that it will be under a specialist's supervision. I also have to organise the time and place to do it, insuring that both my mentor and the operating room is available and also insuring that someone is available to take over my duties at the ward where I would otherwise be assigned. I have the most wonderful and patient mentor, to whom I will be eternally grateful, because she is willing to take her time to supervise me and guide me. I would like to add that all of our cataract surgeons are willing to offer their mentorship as long as the resident shows the right approach.

When I complete my training as an ophthalmologist I would like to stay in Slovenia. It is my home country and I love it. Of course, the number of positions available in ophthalmology is limited in Slovenia and if I do not get a job here and a centre in some other country offers me a position I'm not sure what I will do. But I would like to stay here.

Neža Čokl MD is chief resident at the Dept of Ophthalmology, Ljubljana Hospital, Ljubljana, Slovenia. Email: neza@cokl.net

* Dr Cokl was interviewed by Roibeard O h'Eineachain

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