How to Build Your Surgical Portfolio as a Young Ophthalmologist?

A strong surgical portfolio supports the growth of a young ophthalmologist. It reflects progress and prepares for fellowships and future roles.

You get to keep track of your learning curve and gain a more realistic view of your skills and experience. Having a clear system is a competitive advantage because most residents and young specialists lose information, forget details, or fail to track their work with structure.

Why Have a Surgical Portfolio?

Your portfolio shows the cases you performed, the skills you gained, and the problems you solved. Programs often ask for case numbers and logged experience. Recruiters look for proof of growth. A complete record helps you answer these requests fast and with confidence.

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Build Your Surgical Portfolio Step by Step

The way I track my surgical cases:

1. I use a simple notebook.

2. I write or use a sticker with the patient's name,

3. I write down the procedure, which eye was operated on, and what was done.

4. I add notes about the surgery - what was difficult, what went right, what went wrong.

5. I add information about the recording - did you record a video, where did you save it to, did you download it on your own computer, etc.

6. I spent some extra time to digitalise this in a spreadsheet.

7. I analyse and reflect on the portfolio monthly.

Step 1. Record and track every case

Record every procedure on the same day. Include diagnosis, procedure type, your role, and the supervising surgeon. Use a digital spreadsheet or a dedicated notebook for consistency. Don't rely on memory. Residents and Young Ophthalmologists who document cases daily report higher accuracy in case logs. Having the data from your case tracking also shows which areas you need to improve.

Step 2. Save and organise video recordings

Record as many surgeries as possible. Store the full procedures. Name each clip with date, procedure, and key step. Watching the videos back helps you review your technique. You can request focused feedback from your mentors as well. Many senior surgeons give stronger comments when they can watch your performance. Video review will be useful during fellowship interviews, too.

Recommended File Naming: Format: YYYY-MM-DD_Procedure_Eye_Surgeon_ShortDescription Example: 2025-03-14_Phaco_OD_Bogoev_StickyCortex-PosteriorCapsulePolish.mp4 2025-03-14_ELIOS-ALT_OS_Bogoev.mp4 2025-02-02_Blepharoplasty_OU_Bogoev.mp4 2025-01-14_Trabeculectomy_MMC_OS_Bogoev-goodcase.mp4

Step 3. Ask seniors to sign off

Collect feedback from mentors and supervisors. Ask them to rate your performance and keep written comments as notes next to your video files. Feedback is essential and becomes evidence of progress. This is the first step to finding patterns in the mistakes you make and gives you a solid basis to improve on. If two different seniors highlight the same issue, you know what to fix next.

Step 4. Document complications and lessons

Write short notes on complications and unexpected events. Describe the problem, the response, and the lesson. Honest reflection strengthens your portfolio. Interviewers respect residents who show learning and responsibility. Surgeons who keep complication notes show faster improvement over time.

Step 5. Update your portfolio weekly/monthly

Set a fixed day each week or month to review entries, depending on your free time and availability. Add missing videos. Update case numbers. Clean your folders. A monthly routine keeps your portfolio current and you'll avoid the usual end-of-year rush to gather documents when preparing presentations for meetings.

RELATED: My Pre-Surgical Routine as an Eye Surgeon

Step 6. Use your portfolio for targeted learning

Review patterns. If you notice low volume in a specific area, ask for more exposure. If your videos show a weak step, practice it in a dry lab or take a course. Your portfolio becomes a tool for active improvement.

Step 7. Prepare a short summary version

Create a one-page summary for interviews or promotions. Include the total cases, key procedures, and major lessons. Include one link to a folder with selected videos. A summary is your secret weapon for decision makers to understand your experience fast.

Every young ophthalmologist should have a surgical portfolio. I suggest you start as soon as you have your own surgical list and update it often. Keep your data clean and simple. You will grow faster and present yourself with confidence in every academic or professional setting.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Atanas Bogoev, M.D., FEBO is a consultant ophthalmologist, eye surgeon, and co-founder of Ophthalmology24. Atanas has trained internationally, attending courses at Harvard Medical School, Oftalmo University, and completing observerships such as the GAASS program in Toronto. He combines surgical experience with a passion for education, translating surgical best practices and clinical learning into accessible resources.

Maria Bogoeva is a medical writer with over 11 years of experience in copywriting and content strategy. She’s the founder of Ophthalmology24, where she leads the creation of clear, practical, and medically accurate content for ophthalmologists and patients. Her mission: make ophthalmology education more accessible and engaging worldwide.