Dr. Oats received his training at the College of Holy Cross and Loyola University of Chicago. He completed his internship and residency in Medicine at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center in Worcester as well as his fellowship in Clinical Pharmacology/Hypertension. Dr. Oats also completed his surgical residency in Ophthalmology at Loyola University of Chicago.

Dr. Oats is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Society of Eye Physicians and Surgeons, American Medical Association, and the New England Ophthalmological Society, Inc. He is an active staff member of the Cape Cod Eye Surgery and Laser Center in Sandwich and Falmouth Hospital. Dr. Oats is also a Consultant in Ophthalmology at Jordan Hospital in Plymouth and Tobey Hospital in Wareham.