Ocular Oncology Fellowship
Overview
Mission
The Department offers a one-year, comprehensive, Association of University Professors of Ophthalmology Fellowship Compliance Committee (AUPO FCC) compliant Ocular Oncology Fellowship. This competitive training program is designed to provide exposure to all aspects of ocular oncology care.
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 & Objectives
The overall objective of the fellowship is to train global leaders in ocular oncology clinical care and research. We offer an exceptional blend of clinical opportunities and research experience in a robust academic setting. We aim to identify and teach competent and compassionate clinicians and clinical-scientists about the medical judgment, surgical skills, and patient-centered decision making required of an ocular oncologist. A wide range of pathology and a diverse patient population are encountered at multiple hospital sites and throughout all age ranges. Fellows will experience increasing clinical and academic independence and responsibility throughout the year.
Application
Application
In our application process, one fellow is selected yearly for the one-year fellowship. Interviews are offered to candidates after a review of all the application materials. This position is offered through the San Francisco Matching Program (www.sfmatch.org). Please see the dates and deadlines on the 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
Salary is paid at an approximation of the Program Year level using ACGME salary scale. 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 or 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, glaucoma, neuro-ophthalmology, pediatric ophthalmology, ocular oncology, 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 committed to developing a diverse physician workforce and welcomes applications from individuals from historically underrepresented backgrounds. 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 succeed in the work. Selection criteria for our fellowships include a record of outstanding patient care; a record of scholarship in ophthalmology; enthusiasm for serving as a teacher to junior fellows, residents, and students; excellent communication skills; and a record of exemplary professionalism.
Education and Training
Education & Training
Clinical Experience
The Fellow will have an opportunity to work with faculty within the UW Medicine and Seattle Children’s Hospital. The Fellow will rotate at the UW Medicine Eye Institute at Harborview Medical Center, UW Medical Center-Montlake, Seattle Children’s Hospital and the Fred Hutch Cancer Center. The adult ocular oncology service is located at the University of Washington Eye Institute on the campus of Harborview Medical Center. Fellows learn to evaluate and manage conditions common to the ocular oncologist 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.
The ocular oncology fellowship at the University of Washington will prepare the fellow for full spectrum clinical care of patients with intraocular and epibulbar tumors. The fellow will be proficient in diagnosis and treatment of uveal melanoma, retinoblastoma, choroidal metastases, vitreoretinal lymphoma, retinal vascular tumors, choroidal vascular tumors, conjunctival melanoma, ocular surface squamous neoplasia, conjunctival lymphoma, and other uncommon and rare ocular tumors.
The fellow will participate in outpatient clinical evaluations including all new ocular oncology patients. They will be present for all ocular oncology surgical procedures in both adults and children. They will cover inpatient consultations relevant to ocular oncology diagnosis. They will also play an important role in the teaching of residents and medical students during their ocular oncology rotations. Dedicated research time will be provided and the fellow will be expected to be productive in clinical research.
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 some clinical and didactic teaching for the residents. Fellows are encouraged to submit their work to a peer-reviewed journal and are encouraged to attend local and national meetings where they have the opportunity to present their research.
On-Call
Residents take primary call for the Department. The Fellow will also provide secondary call responsibilities for emergent and urgent patients with diagnoses related to ocular oncology.