As the John A. Moran Eye Center鈥檚 first ophthalmic hospitalist, Theresa Long, MD, is breaking new ground in resident education and patient care.
One of only a handful of specialists in the emerging ophthalmic hospitalist field, Long recently completed her residency and a tailor-made anterior segment and ophthalmic hospitalist fellowship at Moran.
In her new role, she conducts inpatient and emergency room consults at University of Utah hospitals and supervises Moran鈥檚 consulting residents as they make training rounds. She also provides clinical care and performs surgeries at the Moran Eye Center.
鈥淭heresa is passionate about education, and she鈥檚 an advocate for change,鈥 says Jeff Pettey, MD, MBA, Moran鈥檚 vice chair of education. 鈥淎s she runs the hospital eye service, our residents gain mentored experience with complex, vision-threatening issues from a highly trained expert. Our hospital patients are admitted with everything from eye socket fractures to strokes in the eye that require specialized care. Residents follow these patients throughout their hospital stay, armed with in-depth knowledge about their conditions. It鈥檚 a win-win for hospital patients and trainees.鈥
Long will continue to expand her educational role as a lecturer and member of Moran鈥檚 resident admissions committee and academic administration.
鈥淚鈥檓 excited to work with trainees in hospital settings. This will allow them to learn to assess and manage clinically complex patients experiencing a range of conditions,鈥 says Long. 鈥淓very moment of our time on the consult service leads to incredible teaching opportunities.鈥
Long鈥檚 own path, Pettey says, offers a perfect example of the individual approach Moran鈥檚 nationally ranked education program takes with trainees.
鈥淲e work with them to identify strengths and find ways to invest in their success,鈥 he says. 鈥淒uring Theresa鈥檚 residency, she blossomed with some unique skills and strengths, making her the ideal candidate to mentor and pioneer our hospital service.鈥
Associate Program Director of Education Rachel Simpson, MD, adds: 鈥淭heresa is highly contemplative鈥攖he type of person who devotes time to think things through and figure out how to ensure we do the best job possible. Her skill set lends itself well to this type of medicine.鈥