Creating Personalized Learning Paths with ChatGPT: A Guide for Ophthalmology Residents and Ophthalmologists
Why Use ChatGPT for Personalized Learning?
ChatGPT can:
Tailor content to your level and interests.
Simulate clinical scenarios and test your decision-making.
Summarize literature or guidelines.
Help plan study schedules and track progress.
Provide instant feedback and explanations.
Step 1: Define Your Learning Goals
Examples:
Short-Term Goals:
Understand the classification and treatment of uveitis.
Review all optic nerve pathologies in 2 weeks.
Practice answering 5 MCQs daily for the FRCOphth exam.
Long-Term Goals:
Prepare for a subspecialty fellowship.
Improve teaching skills using AI.
Build diagnostic accuracy in neuro-ophthalmology.
Prompt:
“Help me create a study plan to learn all about posterior uveitis over the next 2 weeks, tailored for a senior ophthalmology resident.”
Step 2: Set Up Your Personalized Study Plan
You can ask ChatGPT to:
Break topics into manageable chunks.
Recommend weekly/daily goals.
Suggest study methods (flashcards, spaced repetition, clinical cases).
Prompt:
“Create a weekly study plan to review optic neuropathies, including anatomy, diagnosis, and management, using articles, cases, and quizzes.”
Step 3: Learn Actively Through Scenarios and Cases
Simulated patient cases are one of ChatGPT’s most potent educational tools.
Prompt:
“Simulate a clinical case of a patient presenting with sudden visual loss. I want to work through the differential diagnosis step-by-step.”
You can also ask for:
Branching scenarios with consequences.
Roleplay (you as the doctor, ChatGPT as the patient).
Interactive problem-solving.
Step 4: Practice with Custom Quizzes
You can request:
Multiple-choice questions (MCQs).
Flashcards.
“Explain this like I’m a junior” breakdowns.
Prompt:
“Create 10 MCQs on retinal vein occlusion with explanations and references.”
Or:
“Test me on the features of papilledema vs. optic neuritis. Don’t tell me the answers right away.”
Step 5: Review and Summarize Literature
Save time by using ChatGPT to:
Summarize papers or guidelines.
Translate complex info into more manageable terms.
Compare protocols across regions.
Prompt:
“Summarize the latest AAO guidelines on management of diabetic retinopathy in bullet points.”
Or:
“Compare the AAO and RANZCO guidelines for treating neovascular AMD.”
Step 6: Track Your Progress and Reflect
At the end of each week, ask ChatGPT to help you reflect:
What did you cover?
What’s still unclear?
What’s next?
Prompt:
“Summarize what I’ve studied this week: we covered papilledema, optic neuritis, and pseudopapilledema. What should I review or reinforce next week?”
Step 7: Customize Further Based on Your Role
If You’re a Resident:
Focus on exams, clinical cases, and developing diagnostic reasoning.
Ask ChatGPT to simulate OSCEs or viva questions.
If You’re a Practicing Ophthalmologist:
Use it to explore advanced or emerging topics.
Learn teaching strategies or use it to prep for lectures.
Get summaries of new research and trends.
Bonus: Teach With ChatGPT
Use it to:
Create presentations or handouts.
Build simulated patients for resident training.
Generate discussion questions for journal clubs.
Prompt:
“Create a slide outline to teach junior residents about birdshot chorioretinopathy, including clinical signs, workup, and treatment.”
Tips to Get the Most from ChatGPT
Be specific with prompts (mention your level and goals).
Save useful prompts and responses.
Ask for references if needed.
Use voice-to-text or integrate with Notion/Obsidian to keep track of learning.
