Ophthalmology
Anterior Segment Fellowship
The Anterior Segment Fellowship offers comprehensive training in the surgical and medical management of diseases of the anterior segment, with an emphasis on:
- Complex and laser-assisted refractive cataract cases
- Anterior segment reconstruction and complex IOL cases
- Corneal disorders
- Refractive surgery (including laser vision correction)
- Additional training in medical glaucoma and MIGS
The mission of the fellowship is to train highly motivated aspiring ophthalmic surgeons in an academic and clinically intense setting so that they can become clinical leaders in their field. They graduate with the tools to enter private practice or academia.
Highlights
- Fellowship Director: Kathryn Hatch, MD
- Program length: 1 year (beginning in July)
- Number of positions: 1
- SF Match number: 5146
- Additional faculty: Corneal, cataract, and glaucoma surgeons on the full-time faculty at Mass Eye and Ear
Program Details
About 90% of the fellow’s time is committed to direct patient care. They gain experience in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the anterior segment, including:
- Routine cataract surgery
- Complex cataracts (small pupils, dense cataracts, PXF and zonular compromise)
- Interpreting tests (including corneal topography, tomography, and OPD III)
- Ocular surface disease and current diagnostic techniques and treatments for dry eye
- Refractive cataract surgery with an image-guided-femtosecond laser, intraoperative aberrometry, and premium IOLs
- Keratoconus treatment, with exposure to collagen crosslinking, intacs, lamellar and penetrating keratoplasty (including intralase-enabled transplantation)
- Management of complex and refractive postoperative IOL patients (including IOL exchange)
- Laser vision correction (including LASIK and PRK), as well as ICL
- Medical and surgical management of corneal and external diseases, including dystrophies
- Exposure to endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK, DMEK)
- Amniotic membrane use
- Glaucoma with MIGS, SLT, and advanced medical management
- Anterior segment reconstruction
Outpatient Clinic
Fellows participate in the medical management of refractive, corneal, and external disorders, as well as glaucoma and the preoperative evaluation and postoperative care of surgical cases. Accordingly, fellows will gain extensive exposure to the patients of the full-time staff. Fellows will perform the initial examination of most patients, forming tentative diagnoses and therapeutic plans before presenting the patients to the attending physician for discussion and final disposition.
Surgery (Operating Room)
The surgical experience is derived from the surgical volume of the faculty. Generally, fellows will operate on major and minor corneal and complicated anterior segment procedures, as well as glaucoma procedures that are regularly performed by faculty. There will be significant exposure to complex cataract surgery, as well as refractive cataract surgery with the use of an imaged-guided femtosecond laser and intraoperative aberrometry.
Refractive Surgery Service (Waltham)
Fellows will be involved in office-based procedures, including laser vision correction, intacs for keratoconus, and superficial keratectomy. Fellows are responsible for evaluating refractive candidates, and presenting their findings to the appropriate Attending. Fellows play an active role in the intraoperative and post-operative care of refractive patients. The fellow will assist with preoperative planning for cataract and refractive surgery and will review charts with the appropriate Attending.
On-Call
Fellows will help cover office call for the Mass Eye and Ear, Waltham, site through the answering service and discuss cases as needed with the covering attending. The fellow will also be a member of the Longwood ophthalmology consult team. This will include serving as primary consultant to one or more of the hospitals in the Longwood medical area that Mass. Eye and Ear covers (including Brigham and Women’s Hospital). This home call is shared with Mass. Eye and Ear residents and other Mass. Eye and Ear fellows.
Eligibility
All applicants must be:
- Board eligible in ophthalmology
- Have performed an ACGME-accredited ophthalmology residency or equivalent
- Eligible to obtain a full medical license per the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine
Requirements
The Anterior Segment fellowship participates in the San Francisco Match Program: #5146.
Applications must include an updated CV and 3 letters of reference. One letter must be from your residency Program Director and should include information about your surgical experience and skill. Do not send more than three letters, unless the fourth letter is from a research preceptor.
Interviews are generally conducted in October or November. Only completed applications will be considered for interview.
Fellows are expected to participate in clinical research projects. Participation includes becoming familiar with the various active projects and protocols and performing study assessments as needed. All fellows will need to complete the Collaborative Institution Training Initiative for human subjects.
Fellows play an integral role in the education of residents.
Each year, there is a Fellows Course at Mass. Eye and Ear. As part of this course, the fellow is expected to write a review paper that will be published as in an ophthalmic journal, undertaken with faculty mentorship.
Fellows are also expected to give one, 30-minute Grand Rounds presentation during the academic year.
Salary
Competitive annual salary.
Malpractice
Malpractice premiums are fully paid by Mass Eye and Ear.
Health Insurance
Mass Eye and Ear offers competitive benefits, including health insurance for the fellows and their families.
Vacation/Sick Leave
Each fellow is allotted vacation time. All vacation time must be planned in advance and be pre-approved by the fellowship director.
Professional Meetings
Attendance and participation at appropriate meetings is encouraged. Vacation time and travel reimbursement are available.
