Ophthalmology Fellowship Training Programs
The Stein Eye Institute offers fellowship training to enable particularly well-qualified persons to receive and contribute to training in specific areas of ophthalmology. Clinical fellowship training combines outpatient, inpatient and surgical experience in an ophthalmic subspecialty. The fellow assumes increasing responsibility for patient care, under the supervision of faculty members responsible for the program. In addition to receiving instruction from faculty, the fellow instructs medical students and residents. Research is considered an important aspect of specialty training and a major prerequisite for assimilating future developments in ophthalmology. Fellows are expected to undertake independent investigation or to participate in one of the ongoing research projects in a basic or clinical field related to their specialty. Time is allotted appropriately for this experience, and its value is enhanced by careful supervision, availability of laboratory facilities, and access to technical assistance.
Subspecialty Training Fellowship Areas
Clinical ophthalmology fellowships are offered by the Stein Eye Institute and Doheny Eye Institute in the following subspecialty areas:
- Contact Lens Practice - Currently unavailable
- Corneal and External Ocular Diseases & Refractive Surgery - UCLA Stein Eye Institute
- Corneal and External Ocular Diseases - Doheny Eye Center UCLA
- Glaucoma
- Medical Retina
- Neuro-Ophthalmology
- Ophthalmic Pathology
- Orbital and Ophthalmic Plastic Surgery
- Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus
- Uveitis and Inflammatory Eye Disease
- Vitreoretinal Diseases and Surgery
Fellowship Application Information
Application deadlines are:
| Date | Application |
|---|---|
| August 8: | Medical Retina |
| Vitreoretinal Diseases and Surgery | |
| September 1: | Corneal and External Ocular Diseases and Refractive Surgery |
| Glaucoma | |
| Neuro-Ophthalmology | |
| Uveitis and Inflammatory Eye Disease | |
| October 30: | Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus |
| January 15: | Orbital and Ophthalmic Plastic Surgery |
| February 1: | Ophthalmic Pathology |
Applicants for fellowship training in Corneal and External Ocular Diseases and Refractive Surgery, Glaucoma, Orbital and Ophthalmic Plastic Surgery, Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus, Uveitis and Inflammatory Eye Disease, and Vitreoretinal Diseases and Surgery, must register for the Ophthalmology Fellowship Match online and submit the additional information required by the Match. Medical Retina applicants accepted through Fellowship Match online.
Applicants for fellowship training in Neuro-Ophthalmology and Ophthalmic Pathology do not apply through the Ophthalmology Fellowship Match and should download the ophthalmology fellowship application below.
Corneal and External Ocular Diseases and Refractive Surgery - UCLA Stein Eye Institute
Directors: Anthony J. Aldave, MD and Kevin M. Miller, MD
Fellowship Coordinator: TBD
Phone: (310) 825-5501
Under the direction of its faculty members, the Cornea-External Ocular Diseases, Refractive Surgery and Comprehensive Ophthalmology Divisions offer one-year fellowships in the study of diseases of the cornea, external eye, anterior segment and refractive surgery. Each faculty member has an area of specialization, creating a broad clinical and laboratory training experience for applicants who are preparing for a career as an anterior segment specialist.
Research: Each fellow is expected to undertake several clinical research projects during the year. A microsurgery laboratory is available for surgical experiments. Collaboration with members of the Vision Science faculty can be arranged for projects of mutual interest. Research findings are submitted for presentation at national meetings and significant findings are submitted for publication. The fellow is required to present the results of one study at the Stein Eye Institute's Research and Alumni Day.
- Research Facilities
- Education Facilities
Clinical Experience: Clinical experience consists of participation in the faculty practices of members of the Cornea, Refractive and Comprehensive Divisions, and independent patient care provided in the University Ophthalmology Associates practice. Surgical experience is gained by assisting faculty preceptors, performing independent and supervised surgery, and supervising resident surgical cases. Under the direction of faculty, they also perform refractive procedures in the Laser Refractive Center. In addition to in-depth training at the Stein Eye Institute, fellows perform surgery and supervise patient care in the cornea clinic of the Department of Veteran Affairs West Los Angeles Healthcare Center. Fellows work in the microsurgical laboratory at the Institute, developing their microsurgical skills, and assist in teaching these skills to ophthalmology residents. Experience and knowledge concerning contact lens fitting and management and related aspects of corneal physiology are also obtained.
- Patient Care Facilities
- Cornea-External Ocular Disease & Uveitis Division
- Comprehensive Ophthalmology Division
Teaching: Teaching is an integral part of the fellowship experience. The fellows are expected to be instructors in an annual anterior segment surgery course, to present at quarterly Cornea Journal Clubs, and to present cases twice yearly at Grand Rounds.
- Continuing Education Courses
- Grand Rounds
Application Deadline: Applicants for fellowship training in Corneal and External Ocular Diseases and Refractive Surgery must register for the Ophthalmology Fellowship Match online and submit the additional information required by the Match. The deadline for completing this process is September 1 of the year prior to the start of fellowship training.
Corneal and External Disease Fellowship - Doheny Eye Center UCLA
Director: John A. Irvine, MD
Fellowship Coordinator:
Phone: (626) 817-4701
The Doheny Eye Institute, now affiliated with UCLA is pleased to offer a one year clinical fellowship in cornea and external diseases. The clinical training will take place at the Doheny Eye Center, a tertiary care multi-specialty academic practice located primarily in Pasadena, California.
Research: Participation in research is highly encouraged, as the fellow will be provided the time, guidance and resources to complete and present a research project at a major meeting. According to his/her interests, the fellow may choose to undertake a clinical, translational or retrospective chart review project during the year. The fellow has access to collaboration with research fellows and investigations at the Doheny Image Reading Center. The fellow’s research findings may be submitted for presentation at national meetings as well as for publication.
Clinical Experience: The fellow will spend time with four full time faculty members: Drs. John Irvine, Hugo Hsu, and Dr. Benjamin Bert. The fellowship includes well-rounded exposure to medical, surgical and scholarly aspects of a cornea practice in an academic setting. The fellow will gain experience in the medical management of infectious and inflammatory anterior segment disease such as infectious keratitis, graft versus host disease, mucous membrane pemphigoid, etc. According to the fellow’s interest, there will be opportunity to assist and perform anterior segment surgery such as penetrating, endothelial, and lamellar keratoplasty, keratoprosthesis and ocular surface reconstruction. Please note that experience in cataract and refractive surgery is not the emphasis of this training program. Independent, autonomous patient care experience is provided in the form of the fellow’s own comprehensive clinic.
Teaching: The fellow will participate in the teaching of rotating medical students and non-clinical research fellows. To a limited degree, the fellow will interact with ophthalmology residents without any formal teaching requirements. The fellow will present at divisional journal clubs meetings to be held 6 times per year. He/she may also participate in presentations at Ophthalmology Grand Rounds and Continuing Medical Education courses.
Application Deadline: Applicants for fellowship in Corneal and External Ocular Diseases at Doheny Eye Center UCLA must register for the Ophthalmology Fellowship Match online and submit the additional information required by the Match.
Glaucoma
Director: Kouros-Nouri-Mahdavi, MD
Fellowship Coordinator:
Phone: (310) 825-0146
The Glaucoma Fellowship provides clinical and laboratory experience in glaucoma diagnosis and management for applicants who are preparing for an academic career in ophthalmology.
Research: Fellows are expected to undertake at least one research project that can be accomplished during the fellowship period. This project, which may be a clinical study or an applied research project in the laboratory, is performed in cooperation with the faculty advisor. Use of the excellent facilities in eye pathology is encouraged. Vision scientists, including biochemists, physiologists, pathologists, anatomists and clinical ophthalmologists, are amenable to collaborating on worthwhile projects.
Clinical Experience: Clinical experience is gained by working with the faculty advisor in the consultation suite examining patients and participating in clinical and surgical management. Fellows assist in glaucoma surgical cases and perform surgery under the guidance of the program director. They work in the glaucoma microsurgical laboratory, participate in microsurgery courses for resident and practicing physicians, assist in the Glaucoma Clinic, and develop expertise in the various diagnostic techniques used in glaucoma treatment through preceptor-type relationships with faculty.
Teaching: Fellows participate in the glaucoma teaching performed at Stein Eye Institute and affiliated institutions, present cases at teaching rounds, and prepare presentations for regularly scheduled glaucoma conferences. They participate in teaching of staff, students, and residents through practical and didactic presentations, and improve their techniques of examination and interpretation of ancillary tests.
Application Deadline: Applicants for fellowship training in Glaucoma must register for the Ophthalmology Fellowship Match online and submit the additional information required by the Match. The deadline for completing this process is September 30th of the year prior to the start of fellowship training.
Medical Retina
UCLA/Stein Eye and Doheny Eye Institutes Fellowship in Medical Retina
Directors: Michael B. Gorin, MD, PhD and SriniVas R. Sadda, M.D.
Fellowship Coordinator:
Phone: (310) 794-4500
The Fellowship in Medical Retina is a one year fellowship designed to provide clinical knowledge pertaining to the diagnosis and management of a broad array of retinal disorders including age related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, retinal vascular disease, inflammatory retinopathies, drug-related toxic retinopathies, posterior uveitis and hereditary retinal and macular degenerations and dystrophies, retinal imaging technologies, retinal functional and Electrophysiologic diagnostics.
Research: Fellows are strongly encouraged to engage in translational clinical research and/or clinical trials and descriptive retrospective studies and develop an in depth working knowledge of the current scientific literature of medical and genetic retina. They are expected to participate in genetic and imaging conferences as well as other relevant meetings within the Department of Ophthalmology, UCLA and those hosted by community, national or international retinal societies.
- Research Facilities
- Education Facilities
Clinical Experience: The two fellows will divide their time at the clinical practice sites for the Stein Eye Institute and Doheny Eye Institute. Faculty include those from the Division of Retinal Disorders and Ophthalmic Genetics (Gorin, Sarraf and C. McCannel), the Doheny Medical Retina Unit (Sadda), the Uveitis Division (Holland and Tsui), and the Visual Physiology Laboratory (Nusinowitz) where they are instructed in the proper use and interpretation of noninvasive diagnostic tools such as optical coherence tomography, autofluorescence imaging, fluorescein angiography, indocyanine green angiography, adaptive optics scanning laser ophthalmoscopic imaging, psychophysical testing and electrophysiology for the diagnosis and management of retinal disorders. Training also includes genetic counseling, the proper use of molecular genetic diagnostics, advanced retinal imaging technologies, retinal functional and electrophysiologic diagnostics, uveitis and exposure to surgical retinal decision-making and management issues. Fellows will gain experience with a diverse set of interventional skills including a wide spectrum of retinal laser procedures and periocular and intravitreal injection of various classes of drugs (including antiVEGF agents, steroids, antibiotics, antivirals, and immunomodulatory agents) and provide care and teach residents in retinal subspecialty clinics at several UCLA-affiliated hospitals.
- Patient Care Facilities
- Retinal Disorders and Ophthalmic Genetics Division
Application Deadline: Applicants for fellowship training in Medical Retina must register for the Ophthalmology Fellowship Match online and submit the additional information required by the Match and the Division.
- Fellowship Application Requirements
Neuro-Ophthalmology
Director: Peter A. Quiros, MD
Phone: (626) 817-4701
Fellowship Coordinator:
Phone: (626) 817-4703
The Joint Stein/Doheny Neuro-ophthalmology fellowship is a funded one-year fellowship engaging in a close preceptor-preceptee relationship, participation in teaching rounds, and work in the private consultation suite. The fellow is encouraged to develop rapport with members of the neurology and neurosurgery services at UCLA and to become aware of neuro-ophthalmologic problems elsewhere in the hospital. The UCLA Center for the Health Sciences maintains major clinical and research programs in neurology, neurosurgery and neuroradiology. Research: Participation in clinical research, e.g., studies of eye movement disorders and disturbances of visual pathways, is expected. Time is allotted for scientific reading and for research activities.
Clinical Experience: The fellow attends the weekly Neurology-Neurosurgery Grand Rounds, takes an active part in seeing relevant inpatient consultations throughout the Medical Center, and assists in selected surgical procedures of interest to neuro-ophthalmologists. Attendance at the weekly neuroradiology teaching conferences is encouraged.
Application Deadline: All application materials must be mailed to the Neuro-Ophthalmology Fellowship Coordinator and postmarked by October 1 of the year prior to the start of fellowship training.
Ophthalmic Pathology
Director: Ben J. Glasgow, MD
Fellowship Coordinator: Ben J. Glasgow, MD
The Ophthalmic Pathology Fellowship provides preparation for an academic career in ophthalmic pathology. One, two, and three-year training programs are available depending on the background of the applicant. Training encompasses many aspects of ophthalmic pathology-surgical pathology; autopsy pathology; cytology, including fine-needle aspiration; electron microscopy; immunohistochemistry; DNA in situ hybridization; Southern blot analysis; and polymerase chain reaction techniques for diagnostic work. The programs are individualized according to the credentials and capabilities of each fellow. Ophthalmic Pathology Division Research: Adequate time is allowed for fellows to develop a strong research background. Endeavors in basic research are strongly encouraged.
- Research Facilities
- Education Facilities
Teaching: Fellows are actively involved in teaching residents, medical students, and other fellows.
- Continuing Education Courses
- Grand Rounds
Application Deadline: All application materials must be mailed to the Pathology Fellowship Coordinator and postmarked by February 1 of the same year of the start of fellowship training.
Download Ophthalmology Fellowship Application
Orbital and Ophthalmic Plastic Surgery
Director: Robert A. Goldberg, MD
Fellowship Coordinator: Dia Cervantes
Fellowships in Orbital and Ophthalmic Plastic Surgery provide special training to physicians who have completed Ophthalmology residency training and are interested in specializing in orbital and adnexal disorders and surgery. The Orbital and Ophthalmic Plastic Surgery Service conjoins efforts of the neuro-ophthalmology, neuroradiology, neurosurgery and ocular pathology units in diagnosis and treatment of disorders affecting the optic nerve, orbit and adjacent tissues (paranasal sinuses and intracranial tissues) that affect vision and ocular motility. The fellowships are approved by the American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. Research: Fellows participate extensively in the research activities of the Orbital and Ophthalmic Plastic Surgery Division, including investigations into the anatomy of the orbit and orbital apex, the use of new instrumentation, and clinical evaluations pertinent to the field. In addition to publishing results of original research in peer-reviewed scientific journals, fellows complete a formal thesis that partially satisfies the membership requirements of the American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.
- Research Facilities
- Education Facilities
Clinical Experience: The fellowship program includes ophthalmic plastic surgery outpatient consultation, inpatient activities and surgical procedures at the Stein Eye Institute and affiliated hospitals.
- Patient Care Facilities
- Orbital and Ophthalmic Plastic Surgery Division
Teaching: As part of the Orbital and Ophthalmic Plastic Surgery Continuing Education Program, several surgical and dissection workshops, including a seminar on eyelid and orbit surgery, are held each year. The highlight of these workshops is the one-on-one teaching between faculty members and participants. Fellows are an integral part of these courses.
- Continuing Education Courses
- Grand Rounds
Application Deadline: Applicants for fellowship training in Orbital and Ophthalmic Plastic Surgery must register for the Ophthalmology Fellowship Match online and submit the additional information required by the Match. The deadline for completing this process is January 15 of the year prior to the start of fellowship training.
Ophthalmology Fellowship Match
Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus
Directors: Joseph L. Demer, MD, PhD
Fellowship Coordinator:
Phone: 310-825-5391
Fellowships in Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus provide in-depth clinical and laboratory experience for individuals preparing for academic careers in ophthalmology. The Division offers one-year fellowships for U.S. licensed physicians as well as ophthalmologists from abroad. Research: Fellows may collaborate with vision scientists, including biochemists, physiologists, pathologists and anatomists, on research projects of mutual interest.
- Research Facilities
- Education Facilities
Clinical Experience: Clinical experience for each fellowship consists of supervised participation in the ophthalmic care of pediatric patients seen at the Stein Eye Institute, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, and Olive View-UCLA Medical Center. Specific activities include participation in University Ophthalmology Associates, the nursery and neonatal intensive care units, ophthalmic plastic and reconstructive surgery, and the pediatric retinal service. Other areas of interest in pediatric ophthalmology encompass experience in the private consultation suites and participation in pediatric cases that are receiving care through other services.
- Patient Care Facilities
- Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus Division
Application Deadline: Applicants for fellowship training in Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus must register for the Ophthalmology Fellowship Match online and submit the additional information required by the Match. The deadline for completing this process is October 30 of the year prior to the start of fellowship training.
Uveitis and Inflammatory Eye Disease
Director: Edmund Tsui, MD
Preceptors: Gary N. Holland, MD; Judy L. Chen, MD
Coordinator:
Phone: (310) 825-5440
Overview
Under the direction of its faculty members, the Uveitis Service offers a 1-year fellowship in the management of uveitis and other ocular inflammatory diseases. The fellowship provides training in all aspects of clinical care, including immunomodulatory therapy and perioperative control of inflammation. The fellowship benefits from an affiliation between the Stein Eye Institute and the Doheny Eye Institute. At Doheny, there is an expanded patient base for clinical training and new resources for clinical research, including the Image Reading Center. Depending on a fellow’s interests and goals, up to half of a fellow’s time can be protected for research or other academic activities. This fellowship was one of the first to be approved by the Association of University Professors of Ophthalmology Fellowship Compliance Committee (FCC). It fulfills all FCC training guidelines, yet retains sufficient flexibility to meet the specific needs of individual fellows, who may have particular areas of interest within uveitis, or who may have interests in other ophthalmic subspecialties and plans for a second fellowship in areas such as retina, cornea-external ocular disease, or glaucoma.
Research
The fellowship emphasizes clinical research. Through participation in the research programs of faculty members, fellows identify independent projects of their own. They are required to complete at least one major clinical research study during the year but are encouraged to engage in other scholarly activities as well. Examples include preparation of review articles or book chapters, which can serve as important background preparation for their research projects. In conducting projects, fellows learn research skills they can apply in future academic careers. Uveitis fellows have access to the services of the Clinical Research Center (CRC), including its Statistical Unit. The CRC provides core services for faculty members, clinical fellows, and residents who are involved in patient-based research.
Clinical Experience
Fellows work with full-time faculty members whose clinical practices are devoted exclusively to inflammatory eye diseases. They also work with community-based volunteer teaching faculty on a regular basis at the affiliated Los Angeles County Harbor-UCLA Medical Center.
Education
The fellowship has a strong didactic teaching component. Fellows attend the Department of Ophthalmology weekly Grand Rounds, at which they present at least one interesting case of inflammatory eye disease from their experience during the year. In addition to numerous other clinical conferences, fellows have weekly working rounds with members of the Uveitis Service and meet at least twice monthly with the UCLA Pediatric Rheumatology Service to discuss mutual patients. They also participate in a once-monthly combined teaching conference with the Medical Retina Division and a once-monthly teaching conference with the Cornea and Uveitis Division on inflammatory disease topics of mutual interest. There is a regional Uveitis Journal Club that meets each quarter, comprised of uveitis specialists from the Los Angeles and Orange Counties.
General Support
With support from the Uveitis Service, fellows attend all meetings of the American Uveitis Society and annual meetings of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology. Fellows are also provided support to present their research projects at these and other major national and international meetings.
Teaching
Teaching is an integral aspect of the fellowship experience. Fellows instruct medical students and ophthalmology residents who rotate through the Uveitis Consultation Suite and a county hospital clinic. They also serve as clinical instructors in a series of afternoon workshops for 2nd-year medical students, during which the students learn eye examination skills and discuss eye disorders that might present to a non-ophthalmologist.
Training Sites
The fellowship has 2 training sites. They include the UCLA main campus and the Los Angeles County Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. Fellows receive in-depth training in faculty practices at UCLA’s Stein Eye Institute. They assist members of other divisions in the management of uveitic complications. They also work with members of the UCLA Pediatric and Adult Rheumatology Services and the UCLA Infectious Disease Service. While at the Los Angeles County Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, each fellow performs surgery and supervises the care of patients with uveitis.
Application Deadline: Applicants for fellowship training in Uveitis and Inflammatory Eye Disease must register for the Ophthalmology Fellowship Match online and submit the additional information required by the Match. The deadline for completing this process is September 1 of the year prior to the start of fellowship training.
Vitreoretinal Diseases and Surgery
Director: Pradeep Prasad, MD
Fellowship Coordinator:
Phone: (310) 206-7474
Fellowship Coordinator:
Phone: (310) 206-7474
The Fellowship in Vitreoretinal Diseases and Surgery is designed to provide an opportunity for appropriate clinical training and for clinical or vision science research related to retinal disease, over a two-year period. Special training includes the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of retinal, choroidal, vitreous and related ocular diseases. Research: Fellows are expected to undertake at least one research project that can be accomplished during the fellowship period. This project, which may be a clinical study or an applied research project in the laboratory, is performed in cooperation with the faculty advisor. Vision scientists, including biochemists, physiologists, pathologists, anatomists and clinical ophthalmologists, are amenable to collaborating on worthwhile projects.
- Research Facilities
- Education Facilities
Clinical Experience: The fellowship program includes experience in diabetic retinopathy, diseases of the macula and retina, fluorescein angiography, retinal photography, hereditary retinal degenerations, ocular trauma, ophthalmic oncology, rhegmatogenous retinal disease, vitreoretinal surgery and ultrasonography.
- Patient Care Facilities
- Retina Division
Application Deadline: Applicants for fellowship training in Vitreoretinal Diseases and Surgery must register for the Ophthalmology Fellowship Match online and submit the additional information required by the Match. The deadline for completing this process is August 15 of the year prior to the start of fellowship training.
- Vitreoretinal Disease Fellowship Description
- Fellowship Application Requirements
The University of California is self-insured for medical malpractice liability.
Policy Name: UC Regents
Policy Number: N/A
Coverage Levels: $1 Million per occurrence/$5 Million aggregate
Address for Verification Purposes: UCLA Medical Center Quality Management Services, c/o Risk Management, 10920 Wilshire Blvd., Ste. 430, Los Angeles, CA 90024
Verification Phone: 310-794-3500
NOTE: The University provides occurrence-type coverage, not claims-made coverage.
Occurrence-type: Coverage will respond to incidents arising from the coverage period - regardless of when those claims are reported. No “tail coverage” is needed because incidents that occurred during the policy period are covered no matter how much later they are reported.
Claims-Made: Coverage will respond to incidents arising on or after the policy retroactive date and which are reported during the term of the policy. Tail coverage responds to cover incidents that have not been reported to the company during the policy term.