Pediatric Ophthalmology Fellowship
The mission of the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Washington is simple: we seek to alleviate suffering from eye disease. We do so by practicing the state of the art in ophthalmology, extending the state through scientific research, and by sharing our knowledge with our students, our colleagues, and our community. To that end, the Department offers a one-year comprehensive, Association of University Professors of Ophthalmology Fellowship Compliance Committee (AUPO FCC) compliant Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus Fellowship. This competitive training program is designed to provide exposure to all aspects of Pediatric Ophthalmologic and Adult Strabismic disease.
Accreditation
The Fellowship is sponsored by the University of Washington Department of Ophthalmology, and approved and monitored by the Association of University Professors of Ophthalmology Fellowship Compliance Committee (AUPO FCC).
Goals
The Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus fellowship at Seattle Children's Hospital/University of Washington offers a unique opportunity to engage in the full spectrum of medical and surgical treatment of eye disorders in childhood and strabismus, at all ages.
Objectives
The overall objective of this fellowship is to offer an exceptional blend of clinical and surgical opportunities and research experience in an academic setting. We aim to teach competent and compassionate practitioners the medical judgment and surgical skills required of a superb pediatric ophthalmologist. Fellows encounter a wide range of pathology and a diverse patient population, and attending faculty members entrust trainees with increasing clinical and surgical independence and responsibility.
Application
One fellow is selected yearly for the one-year fellowship through the San Francisco Matching Program (www.sfmatch.org). Please refer to the SF Match website for dates and deadlines. Candidates who will have successfully completed their ophthalmology residency training and who are able to obtain an unrestricted license to practice medicine in the state of Washington are considered.
Benefits
Salary is paid at an approximation of Program Year level using the 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 and may attend 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, pediatric ophthalmology, and uveitis and ocular inflammatory disease, as well as our ASOPRS-certified fellowship program in oculoplastic surgery. Current residents and graduates of accredited ophthalmology residencies are eligible for consideration. Preference will be given to graduates of ACGME-accredited residencies and individuals eligible for full licensure in the State of Washington. The Department of Ophthalmology is committed to developing a diverse physician workforce and welcomes applications from individuals from historically under-represented 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 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.
Education & Training
Clinical Experience
The Fellow is granted the academic title of Acting Instructor at the University of Washington and is based primarily at Seattle Children’s Hospital (main campus and Bellevue satellite), with additional adult strabismus experience at the UW Medicine Eye Institute. The fellow will gain experience with common pediatric ophthalmologic issues and a plethora of unusual and rare disorders that present to a quaternary care institution serving the WWAMI (Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, Idaho) region with a catchment area of 11 million patients. The Ophthalmology Clinics at Seattle Children's Hospital provide standard eye examinations for children with straightforward eye problems and consultations for children with highly complex ocular and medical issues. In addition, the fellow participates in a wide range of surgical procedures that comprise pediatric ophthalmology and adult strabismus, including simple and complex strabismus, pediatric cataract and glaucoma surgery, nasolacrimal and pediatric oculoplastic procedures, surveillance and treatment of retinoblastoma and retinopathy of prematurity. The fellow also has the opportunity to interact with expert vision scientists in the Seattle Children's Hospital visual sensory and oculomotor laboratories, participating in behavioral testing, visual evoked potentials, electroretinograms, and formal eye movement studies.
Research Experience
The fellow attends and participates in weekly Ophthalmology Grand Rounds. The fellow also organizes regular pediatric ophthalmology journal clubs and is encouraged to engage in new or ongoing research projects. Some clinical and didactic teaching for residents and medical students is also part of the fellowship experience. The fellow is encouraged to submit their work to peer-reviewed journals and present it at local and national meetings.
On-Call
Residents take primary call for the Department. The fellow takes second call for emergencies requiring the services of the Pediatric Ophthalmology Service in rotation with the pediatric ophthalmology attending physicians.