Overview
Mission
The Department offers a one-year, comprehensive, Association of University Professors of Ophthalmology Fellowship Compliance Committee (AUPO FCC) compliant Cornea Fellowship. This competitive training program is designed to provide exposure to all aspects of medical and surgical care pertaining to Cornea & External Disease.
Accreditation
The fellowship is sponsored by the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Washington. The fellowship is approved by and monitored by the Association of University Professors of Ophthalmology Fellowship Compliance Committee (AUPO FCC).
Goals and Objectives
The overall objective of this fellowship is to offer an exceptional blend of clinical opportunities and research experience in an academic setting. Our goal is to teach competent and compassionate practitioners the medical judgment and special skills required of a cornea specialist. A wide range of pathology and a diverse patient population are encountered through the year as the fellow is entrusted with increasing clinical independence and responsibility.
Application
One fellow is selected annually for the one-year fellowship. Interviews are offered to candidates after a review of all application materials. This position is offered through the San Francisco Matching Program (www.sfmatch.org). Please see the dates and deadlines on the SF Match website. Candidates who will have successfully completed their ophthalmology residency training and who are able to obtain a license to practice medicine in the state of Washington are considered.
Benefits
The fellow receives life insurance and health benefits through the University of Washington. Fellows are provided with malpractice insurance for their fellowship-based activities. The fellow has traditionally attended specialty meetings and conferences as part of their advanced training.
Eligibility and Selection Policy
The University of Washington Department of Ophthalmology welcomes applicants for our AUPO-certified fellowship programs in vitreoretinal surgery, cornea, glaucoma, neuro-ophthalmology, ocular oncology, pediatric ophthalmology, and uveitis and ocular inflammatory disease, as well as our ASOPRS-certified fellowship program in oculoplastic surgery.
Applicants must have 1) satisfactorily completed a residency in ophthalmology that is accredited by either the ACGME or the American Osteopathic Association-accredited (or Canadian equivalent) or 2) already be certified in ophthalmology by the ABMS (or Canadian equivalent). Preference will be given to graduates of ACGME-accredited residencies and individuals eligible for Physician and Surgeon licensure in the State of Washington. Applicants must be US citizens or Permanent Residents.
The Department of Ophthalmology is open to all. Our program recruits applicants without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, disability, or veteran status.
Recruitment is based on applicants’ qualifications and ability to do the job. Selection criteria for our fellowships include a record of outstanding patient care; a record of scholarship in ophthalmology; enthusiasm for serving as teacher to junior fellows, residents, and students; excellent communication skills; and a record of exemplary professionalism.
Due to the structure of the program, we are unable to consider applicants requiring visa sponsorship.
Clinical Experience
The Fellow will be granted the academic title of Acting Instructor at the University of Washington and will be based at the UW Medicine Eye Institute. The 27,000-square-foot patient care center has dedicated space for imaging, examination, and treatment . The Eye Institute is based at the Harborview Medical Center/University of Washington campus at First Hill. Fellows learn to evaluate and manage conditions common to the cornea specialist's practice, along with unusual and rare disorders that present to a quaternary care institution serving the entire WWAMI (Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, Idaho) region with its catchment area of 11 million patients.
In addition to working at the UW Medicine Eye Institute, the fellow will spend approximately two half-days each week at the Harborview Medical Center 4-West ophthalmology clinic. This is a primarily trainee-run clinic with attending supervision within the county hospital.
Fellows will be trained in the medical and surgical management of complex corneal disease. They will be expected to achieve excellence in the clinical exam, master the interpretation of corneal imaging, and become proficient in a wide array of surgical techniques by the end of the fellowship year.
Fellows will have the opportunity to perform corneal transplantation (penetrating keratoplasty, DSAEK, DMEK, and keratoprosthesis), secondary intraocular lens implantation, cataract surgery, and other ocular surface procedures (ocular surface reconstruction, pterygium excision, superficial keratectomy, etc.) Well-maintained, state-of-the-art equipment is available at all sites and attending supervision is available for every case. Well-trained technicians and photographers are present in all clinics.
Research Experience
Fellows are expected to attend and participate in weekly Grand Rounds. Fellows' scholarly activities consist of clinical or basic science research as well as clinical and didactic teaching for the residents. Fellows are encouraged to submit their work to peer-reviewed journals and are encouraged to attend local and national meetings to present their work.
Call Expectations
Residents take primary call for the Department. When assigned, the fellow takes second call for emergencies requiring the services of the Cornea Division. The fellow will take primary attending trauma call for one week per 6-month period, with the option to take on additional call weeks for extra pay.