Our introductory surgical curriculum, which begins early in the PGY2 year, was revamped a few years ago after careful research, solicitation of resident feedback, discussion with surgical training faculty, and evaluation of resident cataract surgery outcomes. The primary goal of the curriculum is to prepare our residents to excel in the arena of intraocular surgery, particularly as it pertains to cataract surgery.
The formalized curriculum provides our residents with training to expand their knowledge base, refine their cognitive processes, and facilitate their acquisition of surgical skills. These efforts have resulted in demonstrable improvements in patient outcomes, as well as surgeon comfort, confidence, and access to feedback for reflection/self-assessment. The program includes essential reading assignments, a surgical video library, didactic lectures, EyeSi surgical simulation, and dedicated wet lab time.
The curriculum encompasses preoperative evaluation, patient preparation/draping, microscope operation, phacoemulsification instruments/equipment, the surgical steps of phacoemulsification, intraocular lens folding/insertion, suture placement, and intraoperative/postoperative complication identification/management. PGY2 residents may begin performing the different steps of cataract surgery as early as their second month of residency and typically complete at least 5 primary cataract surgeries in their first year of residency.
The surgical experience at Baylor College of Medicine is among the best in the nation and one of our program’s greatest strengths. We rank in the 90th percentile in overall case volume and consistently range between the 80th and 90th percentiles in cataract surgery per ACGME surgical case log data.
In addition to our high cataract surgery numbers, we also provide an outstanding experience in the other surgical subspecialties, such as glaucoma, where our resident experience may exceed some fellowship programs. Our residents operate in a variety of settings, including a county hospital with its advanced pathology, a VA outpatient center with its unique patient population, and a private faculty practice where the most advanced techniques are applied.
The Milton and Laurie Boniuk Surgical Education Center
In June 2025, we opened the state-of-the-art Milton and Laurie Boniuk Ophthalmology Surgical Education Center. This facility, located inside the Alkek Eye Center, provides our residents with the latest in simulation technology to practice their surgical skills. The surgical education center houses seven Haag-Streit workstations with Smart Lab technology. This allows our residents to record and edit their wet lab videos directly on the monitor at their workstation. The center includes a 98 inch OLED TV that can be streamed to from any workstation, allowing ease of viewing for teaching surgical concepts. Adjacent to the surgical education center is the brand new resident lounge, which will be outfit with sofas, computer workstations, a fridge, microwave, coffee machine and another 65 inch OLED TV. This will serve as the dedicated touchdown space for our residents with card access only.
This new facility was made possible due to the generous donation from Dr. Milton Boniuk and Mrs. Laurie Boniuk. Dr. Boniuk was responsible for educating hundreds of residents and fellows and his dream was to provide a facility which would allow Baylor to continue leading the way in this field.