Ophthalmology residents at UCSD enjoy an array of benefits and resources provided by the UCSD Office of Graduate Medical Education (GME) as well as from the Viterbi Family Department of Ophthalmology and Shiley Eye Institute. These include the following:
The salary scale for AY 2023-2024 (July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024) is listed below:
UCSD offers generous insurance coverage for housestaff and dependents. For full details, please see the latest information on the UC Resident Benefits page.
As a resident, you can start contributing to retirement savings via multiple tax-favorable vehicles offered by the University of California, including the mandatory Defined Contribution Plan (DCP) and the voluntary 403(b) and 457(b) plans. These plans are operated through Fidelity Investments. Learn more about retirement benefits.
UCSD GME offers financial support for your California medical license, so residents do not need to pay for this directly out of pocket. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) application fees are waived for residents at UCSD. In addition, residents are eligible for reimbursement of costs associated with USMLE Step III exams.
All housestaff at UCSD receive $10,000 in housing stipend (as of Academic Year 2023-2024) to help offset costs of living in San Diego. UCSD GME and the San Diego House Staff Association Union determine how funds are disbursed (e.g., as monthly installments vs. lump sum payments).
UCSD housestaff receive meal funding on their ID cards to be able to buy food from eligible dining venues at the health system, both in La Jolla and Hillcrest. As of 2023-2024, the meal support consists of $200 per month.
The department provides support for catered lunches for the residents every Monday with the didactic lecture series. These lunches are typically catered from leading area establishments with a wide range of cuisines based on residents’ preferences.
The department purchases the AAO Basic and Clinical Science Course along with the AAO’s Practical Ophthalmology: A Manual for Beginning Residents. These are sent to our residents during their PGY1 year to help them get started on their ophthalmology course material. These textbooks are valued at over $1500.
The department provides approximately $500 per year from PGY2 to PGY4 for residents to use on educational supplies such as textbooks or online educational materials.
An additional $300 is provided for residents to use at any time during their residency for the purchase of equipment such as loupes or lenses.
The department supports each resident in obtaining 3 embroidered items, which includes white coats, scrubs, and/or jacket.
Airfare and lodging are supported by the Ophthalmology department for residents presenting as first author at national meetings, up to $800 per resident per conference.
Residents get four weeks of vacation per year, as well as state and federal holidays. Time off is scheduled into rotations early in the year in either one- or two-week blocks. Additional time is allotted for residents presenting at national meetings or attending fellowship or practice interviews.
Other assorted benefits provided by the department for residents include the following:
Dear Dr. Nudleman and the Shiley Team:
Several weeks ago I became a patient of yours when I experienced a torn retina while on vacation. Interestingly, I was alone at the time and after navigating the downtown ER came to you for emergency surgery. Having no one to assist me during a stressful time, I was thankful to have you all there to provide care and world-class medical advice. I am a banker and our company mission statement is “every day we will make a positive difference in the financial lives of everyone we touch” so I am constantly evaluating customer service through this lens. Without question, the Shiley team made a positive difference in my life. Thank you!
Warm regards,
Brigham L. Tubbs
I have been a patient there for more than 25yrs.
I have had so many complications with my vision, and have seen various specialists at Shiley. The doctors there are top notch, and have saved my eyesight on several occasions with emergency situations. Thank goodness We have Shiley here in San Diego.
May 2022
Dr. Eric Nuddleman - I had detached retina and saw Dr N. He was the most caring and competent Dr. I could have ever chosen.
I had detached retina and saw Dr N. He was the most caring and competent Dr. I could have ever chosen. I had no idea how bad the detachment was until Dr. N said we must do it now. Waiting would have caused much more damage & he scheduled it for the next AM. The surgery went well & he saved my vision.! I would highly recommend Dr. N to everyone. As far as I am concerned, his skills as a surgeon are top-notch. I thank God daily for Dr. N! Shiley Eye Institute is world class.
Mar 2021
but it's most important to find a doctor who sticks by you to make things right when unexpected complications arise
I normally don't write reviews, but my niece who is a highly trained physician herself (at Northwestern University and Stanford) advised me that this is an important review to write. She said that it's easy to write a review for a doctor when everything goes smoothly and turns out great the first time, but it's most important to find a doctor who sticks by you to make things right when unexpected complications arise. Dr. Korn is like that and I have a great deal of respect for him..
Close to a year and a half ago, I had cosmetic eyelid surgery done by Dr. Korn on both my upper and lower eyelids. After the surgery it was very noticeable to me that one eye looked bigger than the other eye. Dr. Korn said that when my eyes were sufficiently healed, he would open the corner of the smaller eye to enlarge it.
Three months after the surgery I developed an eye condition in both eyes called Chemosis. Dr. Korn did not think that the Chemosis was caused by the surgery and he gave me the reasons why. He said that we had to deal with my medical condition before we could do corrective cosmetic surgery. To his credit, he tried to determine the underlying cause of the Chemosis by having me take various tests (MRI and blood tests) and try certain eye drops, etc. in an effort to make a differential diagnosis. He even talked about my case to other physicians at a medical conference he went to China.
Finally a few months ago, Dr. Korn started to see improvements in the Chemosis, and earlier this month, he said that it looked much better. Last week he was able to open the corner of my smaller eye to enlarge the appearance and he had to do some cauterization so that my eye would drain properly. I still have a small amount of Chemosis and my eye is still healing from the surgery, but I can tell that it looks better already.
The bottom line is that for the last year and a half Dr. Korn has been very kind, patient, available, and medically diligent. Those are the characteristics of a fine doctor and one whom I appreciate.
Jun 2019
I was lost suffering from thyroid eye disease until I found the most amazing staff and the Dr's. From the time I called and made my first appointment there was a kind person on the other side of the phone to easy my fear. It has been one year since my last surgery and recently went in for a follow up walking into the office I didn't realize I was going to be so emotional but it was so full circle.
I was so broken when i first arrived not ever thinking I would be me ever again and Dr. Kikkawa, Dr. Ko, Dr. Lila, Denise and all of the amazing staff have given me my life back. I want others who are going threw this disease to feel the same joy. I know people mentioned having to wait to be seen but just know they give each patient so much time and attention.
Jan 2019