Rotations at local VA provide WVU ophthalmology residents with unique learning experiences and opportunities to give back to veterans
Through regular rotations at the Louis A. Johnson VA Medical Center in Clarksburg, ophthalmology residents at the West Virginia University School of Medicine get the opportunity to grow as physicians while simultaneously delivering highly specialized eye care services to veteran patients in need.
Residents are accompanied by different Eye Institute faculty physicians each day and provide either specialty or comprehensive eye care services to patients, depending on the currently rotating faculty member’s subspecialty.
Omar Sadat, M.D., a third-year resident in the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences Residency Program, said that while the faculty members rotating alongside them at the VA are there to provide support and guidance, these rotations are specifically designed to provide opportunities for residents to become more independent and confident physicians.
“Unlike the clinical rotations at the Eye Institute that are run by attending faculty, the clinic at the VA is primarily resident-run,” he explained. “This means that ultimately, the clinical decision-making comes down to us. We form the treatment plan, decide on follow-up windows and see the patient all the way through the treatment process.”
Dr. Sadat said this system allows residents to experience what it will be like to run their own clinic as attending physicians later in their careers, as the program also allows residents to connect with one another for support, guidance and mentorship.
“During my first year rotating at the VA, I was able to learn so much from my senior residents by working alongside them. My senior residents were and still are my role models. They inspire me to do my best to fill that role and try to be the best mentor I can to our junior residents,” he said.
WVU ophthalmology residents spend 12 weeks rotating at the VA each year during their three years of specialized ophthalmology training, with one fourth-year, one third-year and one second-year resident present at the VA each day.
Patients benefit from a variety of specialty services, including glaucoma, retina, cornea and oculoplastic care, with a full complement of surgical procedures that are performed on-site at the VA.
“Many patients at the VA wouldn’t be able to regularly travel to Morgantown for specialized services, which often require multiple follow-up appointments. This initiative allows us to circumvent those barriers to care and provide them with direct access to all of our ophthalmic services.
“We are very honored to have the opportunity to give back to the local veterans who have sacrificed so much for us,” he continued. “They are incredibly humble and appreciative of the care we provide. As a native West Virginian, with the goal of ultimately practicing ophthalmology in this region and providing care for underserved community members, I am very proud to have been given this opportunity at the VA.”
The WVU Eye Institute has partnered with the Louis A. Johnson VA Medical Center for more than 20 years, playing a crucial role in the delivery of critical healthcare services to thousands of local veterans. In 2025 alone, Eye Institute physicians provided care to more than 4,000 local veterans and performed nearly 500 ocular surgeries at the VA.
To learn more about the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences Residency Program, visit medicine.hsc.wvu.edu/eye/residents
To learn more about the Louis A. Johnson VA Medical Center and the services provided to local veterans, visit the official hospital website.