Methods and characteristics used in resident selection within the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists

A survey of Diplomates from the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists, which trains residents, confirms that subjective criteria are most commonly used in selecting new residents. The ophthalmologist(s) who oversee(s) the training was/were primarily responsible for resident selection. In general, Diplomates seemed to be searching for a resident who was intelligent, could communicate well, was hard working, and had good interpersonal skills. The most important part of an application was the letters of recommendation, with the most important consideration being how well the person doing the selecting knew the author of a letter. The current process of resident selection does result in a majority of residents' completing their programs and ultimately becoming Diplomates of the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists.