Ophthalmology Residency Program

The TEAM Ophthalmology Residency Program is an active, ACGME-accredited program built to train the next generation of physician leaders while expanding access to advanced eye care throughout South Texas. TEAM states the program is already accredited, welcomed its first PGY-1 resident in July 2025, and is advancing PGY-2 training beginning July 2026.

As the cornerstone of TEAM Foundation’s broader nonprofit mission, this residency is more than a future vision. It is a fully executed commitment to building sustainable medical education infrastructure, clinical excellence, and long-term specialty care access in underserved communities across the region. Through physician training, clinical partnerships, and academic leadership, TEAM is creating a pipeline of ophthalmologists equipped to serve South Texas with skill, compassion, and innovation.

TEAM Foundation – Medical Residency & Fellowship Opportunities
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TEAM Foundation – South Texas Medical Residencies

TEAM’s mission is to deliver exceptional ophthalmic education through rigorous clinical training, research, and community outreach while addressing the urgent shortage of vision specialists in South Texas. By training physicians locally, TEAM is working to improve healthcare outcomes, reduce preventable blindness, and create lasting change for generations to come.

Mission & Vision

Why This Program Matters

South Texas continues to face significant barriers to specialty eye care, including provider shortages, delayed treatment, and limited access to advanced procedures. TEAM’s residency program directly addresses this need by establishing a sustainable physician workforce trained within the communities that need them most.

By training the next generation of ophthalmologists right here in South Texas, TEAM is building a future where every patient—no matter their ZIP code—has access to the advanced eye care they deserve.

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Training Sites

Primary program headquarters are based at the TEAM Mein Eye Institute at Brooks City Base in San Antonio, developed as a central hub for education, innovation, and patient care. Additional rotations across South Texas provide broad exposure to diverse patient populations and subspecialty expertise.

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Program Overview

  •  ACGME-accredited Ophthalmology Residency Program

  • Sponsoring Institution: Texas Institute of Graduate Medical Education and Research (TIGMER)

  • Teaching Institution: Texas Educational Academic Medical Foundation (TEAM)

  • Program Structure: PGY-2 through PGY-4 following PGY-1 internship

  • First Resident Began PGY-1 in July 2025

  • PGY-2 Cohort Launches July 2026

Residents receive comprehensive training across all major ophthalmology subspecialties, including retina, glaucoma, cornea, pediatric ophthalmology, oculoplastics, neuro-ophthalmology, refractive surgery, uveitis, and comprehensive ophthalmology.

TEAM Foundation – Medical Residency & Fellowship Opportunities

Clinical Partners

TEAM’s residency program includes partnerships with respected regional institutions and specialists.

  • Sponsel Eye Experts

  • Retina Consultants of Texas

  • Retina and Uveitis Consultants of Texas

  • South Texas Eye Institute

  • Eye Associates of South Texas

  • Children's Eye Center of South Texas

  • Eyeplastx

  • Lenza Surgical Center

  • Stuart Terry Eye Associates

  • TLC San Antonio

  • Ocular Surgery Center

  • Neuro Ophthalmology of South Texas

  • Guadalupe Regional Medical Center

Distinguished Faculty

Residents will learn from an exceptional team of educators and researchers, led by:

  • Dr. William E. Sponsel – Department Chair & Professor of Glaucoma and Comprehensive Ophthalmology

  • Dr. Sharron Acosta – Program Director & Associate Professor of Comprehensive Ophthalmology

They are joined by a distinguished group of subspecialists in retina, cornea, pediatric ophthalmology, oculoplastics, and uveitis, each bringing decades of experience and groundbreaking research to the program.

They are joined by a distinguished group of subspecialists in retina, cornea, pediatric ophthalmology, oculoplastics, and uveitis, each bringing decades of experience and groundbreaking research to the program.

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TEAM Foundation – Medical Residency & Fellowship Opportunities

Ophthalmology Faculty

TEAM’s faculty represents a multidisciplinary team of experienced physicians and educators across major ophthalmic specialties.

  • William E. Sponsel, MD

    Department Chair and Professor
    Glaucoma

  • Sharon Acosta, MD

    Program Director/Associate Professor
    Comprehensive Ophthalmology

  • Joseph Kavanagh, MD

    Associate Professor
    Comprehensive Ophthalmology

  • Calvin Mein, MD

    Professor
    Retina

  • David Holck, MD

    Professor
    Oculoplastics

  • Lisa Marten, MD

    Associate Professor
    Cornea

  • Oday Alsheikh, MD

    Associate Professor
    Comprehensive Opthalmology

  • Rosa Tang, MD

    Professor
    Neuro-Ophthalmology

  • Charles McCash, MD

    Professor
    Pediatric Ophthalmology

  • Michael Mines, MD

    Professor
    Ophthalmic Pathology

  • David Scales, MD

    Professor
    Uveitis

  • Rachel Cooley, MD

    Associate Professor
    Pediatric Ophthalmology

  • Saoul Mancha, OD

    Assistant Professor
    Imaging/Physiol Optics

  • Francisco Sanchez, MD

    Clinical Instructor/Ancillary Faculty
    Neuro-Ophthalmolgy

Commitment to Community Impact

Beyond academic excellence, TEAM’s residency program is rooted in outreach, prevention, and long-term public health impact. Residents participate in initiatives that support underserved communities through patient education, screenings, and expanded access to sight-saving care. TEAM’s broader Sight for South Texas initiative reinforces this mission by integrating education, surgery, and outreach into one sustainable model.

Interested in Learning More?

TEAM welcomes inquiries from medical students, prospective applicants, educators, and healthcare professionals interested in learning more about the Ophthalmology Residency Program.

Whether you are exploring future application opportunities, seeking partnership information, or want to better understand the program structure, we encourage you to connect with TEAM directly through a dedicated inquiry form or contact section.