Ophthalmology
International Medical Retina
This fellowship provides broad and extensive exposure to the management of diseases of the retina, as a basis for pursuing a subsequent career in academic medical retina or a medical retina practice. Our mission is to provide state-of-the-art clinical training and research experience in medical retina to the next generation of international leaders in the field.
Highlights
- Fellowship Director: Deeba Husain, MD
- Program length: 1 year
- Number of fellows accepted: 1
- Additional faculty: Evangelos S. Gragoudas, MD; Dean Eliott, MD; Jason Comander, MD, PhD; Mohammad Dahrouj, MD, PhD; Dan A. Gong, MD; Ivana Kim, MD; Leo Kim, MD, PhD; Joan W. Miller, MD; John B. Miller, MD; Shizuo Mukai, MD; Nimesh Patel, MD; Elizabeth J. Rossin, MD, PhD; Lucia Sobrin, MD, MPH; Demetrios Vavvas, MD, PhD; David M. Wu, MD, PhD; Frances, Wu, MD; and Lucy H. Y. Young, MD, PhD
Program Details
Objectives
Clinically, the fellow will be able to demonstrate competency in the evaluation and management of diseases of the retina, vitreous, and choroid. They will gain experience with the following techniques:
- Comprehensive examination of the retina, vitreous and choroid
- Fluorescein angiography
- ICG angiography
- Ultrasonography
- Optical coherence tomography
- Autofluorescence
- Electroretinography
Additionally, he/she will be able demonstrate competency in laser treatment of retinal and choroidal diseases. They will be exposed to the evaluation and management of retinal conditions including vascular, infectious, inflammatory, neoplastic, degenerative, and hereditary disorders.
As a researcher, the fellow will be able to critically review clinical and research articles, and successfully carry out a significant research project that can be presented at national or international meetings and published in a peer-reviewed journal.
Clinical Facilities
The Retina Service, located on the 12th floor of the Mass Eye and Ear main campus, is fully equipped with examination lanes, procedure rooms, and state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment. We routinely perform Heidelberg and Zeiss spectral domain OCT, digital fundus photography, autofluorescence, fluorescein and indocyanine green angiography, SLO videoangiography, RetCam and Optos photography and angiography, Electroretinography, B-scan and A-scan ultrasonography, and UBM.
A fully equipped Laser Center is also located on the 12th floor. The lasers include argon, diode, YAG, Pascal, and PDT systems.
Clinical Responsibilities
More than 2,500 fluorescein angiograms are performed annually in the Fluorescein Angiography Unit of the Retina Service. Indocyanine green angiography and SLO videoangiography are also performed. The fellow, working with the residents on the retina rotation, supervise the interpretation and reporting of angiograms. There is a weekly Retina Macula Conference, at which time particularly interesting cases are prepared and presented by the resident to the first year fellows. The Retina Macula Conference is a cornerstone in the teaching of fellows, and aims to create a systematic approach towards the diagnosis and treatment of retinal disease.
In addition, medical retina patients are seen in every clinic, and the fellows gain extensive experience in the diagnosis and management of macular diseases. The fellow also has an opportunity to treat patients with a variety of posterior segment inflammatory disorders and pediatric retinal diseases. Furthermore, a unique aspect to the fellowship is the extensive exposure to the diagnosis and management of intraocular tumors. The fellow will be involved in managing patients with retinal degeneration at the retinal degeneration clinics.
Eligibility
All applicants must:
- Have completed an ophthalmology residency program
- Passed parts I, II, and III of USMLE
- Preferably have a faculty position at your home institution and have funding to support your salary during the fellowship year
Application Requirements
Applications must include an updated CV and three letters of recommendation. At least one letter should be from a retina specialist in your residency program. Do not send more than three letters unless the fourth letter is from a research preceptor.
Only completed applications will be considered for an interview at Mass Eye and Ear.
Questions
Contact Liz Portante at (617) 573-6120
Teaching
The fellow will have some responsibility supervising and teaching residents and medical students in the Retina Service.
Although fellows will not be responsible for giving didactic lectures to the residents, they will be involved in helping organize retina cases.
Conferences and Lectures
Didactic sessions and teaching methods are used to ensure programs objectives are met.
There is a weekly Retina Macula Conference, where interesting cases are prepared and presented by the resident to the first-year fellows. This conference is a cornerstone in the teaching of fellows, and aims to create a systematic approach toward the diagnosis and treatment of retinal disease. In addition, fellows are expected to present at the Boston-wide medical retina/imaging conference.
Research and Scholarship
Research opportunities are currently available in many areas. The Retina Service faculty members are involved in a wide variety of projects.
Salary
Fellows need to have salary support from their home institution that meets the ECFMG criterion for fellow’s 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 Retina Service.
Professional Meetings
Attendance and participation at appropriate meetings is encouraged.
