UCSD ophthalmology faculty, fellows, and residents are engaged in a wide range of public health and community service activities. Many of our residents are passionate about service and public health, and are able to continue their involvement while engaged in residency training.
Examples Include:
The UCSD Student Run Free Clinic
The UCSD Student Run Free Clinic provides healthcare for underserved patients in San Diego while inspiring the next generation of health professionals. The clinic provides primary care services as well as subspecialty clinic services.
There are ophthalmology specialty clinics available at the Downtown, Pacific Beach, and Normal Heights locations. At these clinics, ophthalmology residents and fellows can assist in providing care to underserved patients who would otherwise not have access to medical care. This is also a medical education opportunity, given that residents and fellows are involved in teaching medical students who are learning basic ophthalmology examination skills during these clinics as well.
Faculty physicians who have volunteered with the free clinic include Jeffrey Lee, MD, Andrew Camp, MD, Derek Welsbie, MD, PhD, Jiun Do, MD, PhD, Jolene Rudell, MD, PhD, and Sally Baxter, MD.
Division of Community Ophthalmology
The UCSD Division of Community Ophthalmology conducts population health initiatives such as performing vision screenings for preschool and elementary school children across San Diego County, including in underserved areas, through the EyeMobile for Children. In continuous operation since 1999, the EyeMobile has conducted over 240,000 vision screenings and provided free glasses to over 13,000 children.
The Division is also active in conducting community-based research and clinical trials. There are opportunities for trainee involvement, and the Division of Community Ophthalmology has a strong tradition of providing engagement opportunities for a wide spectrum of trainees, from undergraduates to ophthalmology residents.
UCSD Health has a charity care program in place to facilitate care for uninsured individuals, including for ophthalmic services. Many of our faculty make substantial efforts to make advanced eye care accessible to uninsured individuals through this program.
Residents have opportunities to assist in the care of these patients and learn not only the clinical aspects of their management, but also receive firsthand experience in understanding social determinants of health and how to navigate systems to procure coverage for services in uninsured populations.
UCSD Health has a charity care program in place to facilitate care for uninsured individuals, including for ophthalmic services. Many of our faculty make substantial efforts to make advanced eye care accessible to uninsured individuals through this program.
Residents have opportunities to assist in the care of these patients and learn not only the clinical aspects of their management, but also receive firsthand experience in understanding social determinants of health and how to navigate systems to procure coverage for services in uninsured populations.
Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego has a partnership with the Fresh Start Surgical Gifts charity to provide reconstructive surgery and other medical services at the Fresh Start Clinic at Rady Children’s by a volunteer team of surgeons and medical professionals to underserved children.
Shiley faculty, including Don Kikkawa, MD, have participated in this program and have included interested housestaff in participating in these reconstructive surgeries, which address physical deformities in children caused by birth defects, accidents, abuse or disease.
The GOAL program is a structured training program that integrates preventive medicine training alongside ophthalmology residency training. Research and public health competencies are developed in community-based ophthalmology, clinical preventive medicine, global health initiatives, and working with underserved communities.
Residents will have the opportunity to complete an MPH degree as well as be board-eligible for certification in Preventive Medicine (in addition to board eligibility in Ophthalmology) upon completion of the 5-year program. More details are available here.
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