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Overcoming hurdles: Young Greek ophthalmologists in a time of crisis
Lack of organization and a structured, uniform residency program contributes to the ongoing problem.
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In response to last month’s article regarding resident satisfaction with their surgical training across Europe, Lampros Lamprogiannis, MD, from Greece shares his personal views and some preliminary data from a nationwide survey of resident ophthalmologists from his country.
Anthony Khawaja, MB BS, MA(Cantab), MPhil, FRCOphth Chair of the SOE Young Ophthalmologists committee
Most young physicians all over the world would easily come to the agreement that a young doctor’s life can hardly be described as easy. Many years of study and training, long working hours, expectations that are steadily rising, the pursuit of specialization and lifelong learning contribute to the fatigue and disappointment every doctor faces during the early years of his or her career. However, when these difficulties are combined with a generalized societal dysfunction, their results can be significantly magnified. This is currently the case in Greece.
Since 2009, Greece has encountered the most threatening financial and social crisis since World War II. It is not difficult to understand that this crisis has a great negative impact on public health and education. Taking into account that resident training in Greece is conducted exclusively in public hospitals, resident ophthalmologists’ dissatisfaction as to certain aspects of their training is to be expected and was recorded in our survey. In previous years, a number of resident teaching hospitals were facing fewer financial problems, and lack of personnel and equipment was not that commonplace. However, lack of organization and a structured, uniform residency program is also to blame.
The 2nd Ophthalmology Clinic of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, headed by Professor Stavros Dimitrakos, MD, demonstrates a steady and genuine interest for all levels of education. The opinions of resident ophthalmologists were recorded, to the best of our knowledge, for the first time in Greece through the use of an anonymous online questionnaire, which was prepared by the anterior segment department of the clinic, headed by Assistant Professor Ioannis Tsinopoulos, MD. Almost half of 290 resident ophthalmologists in all hospitals in Greece contributed to this survey, which is currently being prepared for publication.
Surgical training lies on the epicenter of residents’ criticism, and it is viewed as inadequate by two out of three of them. That is not surprising, as the mean number of cataract operations they have performed was low (23.2 operations as primary surgeon), and 52% had not performed any cataract surgery at all. Keeping in mind that cataract, cornea and refractive surgery rank among the main fields of their interest, one can easily perceive the level of their dissatisfaction. That is why three out of four residents in Greece would pursue a surgical fellowship abroad, even if they had to pay for their training themselves.
Bureaucracy and lack of planning, two issues that greatly contribute to the Greek crisis, also receive heavy criticism. Four out of five residents believe they have to deal with excessive bureaucratic work, and seven out of 10 think residency should last more than 4 years. Almost all residents deemed post-residency training as a necessity, as 81% did not consider themselves prepared enough to conduct unassisted surgery, and two out of five did not believe they were trained enough to manage their own practice after the completion of their 4-year training.
However, every cloud has a silver lining. Greeks are known for being stubborn and ingenious, and young Greek ophthalmologists fulfill that stereotype. A great number of residents and young specialists pursue a fellowship abroad, mostly in Europe, and seek to improve their clinical and surgical skills. At the same time, they participate in a number of studies, and they conduct research, although the circumstances do not always favor them. They demonstrate a high level of self-consciousness, realize their flaws and try hard to complete their training. This generation of Greek ophthalmologists, the crisis generation, is determined to succeed.
- For more information:
- Lampros Lamprogiannis, MD, can be reached at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece; email: lamproslamprogiannis@hotmail.com.
Disclosure: No products or companies that would require financial disclosure are mentioned in this article.