Program Overview

This is a one- or two-year fellowship, offered through the Ophthalmology Fellowship match to one individual per year. The training concentrates on the diagnosis and management of eye diseases of childhood and on adult strabismus. There is also the opportunity for extensive exposure to genetic diseases of the eye that includes a retinal dystrophy clinic supervised by Dr. Traboulsi.

Two-year appointments are reserved for individuals with a major interest in an academic career, and for those who want to conduct large research projects during their fellowship. Teaching of the fellows is done in the areas of general pediatric ophthalmology, childhood strabismus and binocular vision, pediatric cataract and external eye diseases, adult strabismus and in ophthalmic genetics. The fellow attends the pediatric ophthalmology and adult strabismus clinics and surgical sessions of Drs. Andreas Marcotty, Paul Rychwalski and Elias I. Traboulsi.

In addition, the fellow participates in the screening and treatment of premature infants with risk of Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) under the direction of Dr. Rychwalski and Dr. Jonathan Sears, a full-time pediatric retina specialist at the Cole Eye Institute. There are ample opportunities to expand the fellow’s clinical research interests into other areas such as pediatric glaucoma, ocular and orbital oncology, pediatric neuro-ophthalmology and pediatric oculoplastics through interactions with the respective specialists at the Cole Eye Institute.

Fellows perform a large number of varied surgical case including strabismus, cataracts, nasolacrimal duct obstruction, and eyelid disorders. One major clinical or basic science project is assigned to the fellow at the beginning of the academic year. The project is supervised by one or more members of the full-time faculty. The fellow is expected to present the results of the research at the Annual Research Day Meeting, as well as submit abstracts to national meetings. A paper summarizing the outcome of the research should be written prior to the end of the fellowship training. Additional projects may be assigned depending on the capability and interests of the fellow. A list of recommended articles and textbooks is given at the beginning of the fellowship.

The Cole Eye Institute is a world-renowned center with state-of-the-art clinical and research facilities. It is part of the Cleveland Clinic, one of the top 4 hospitals in the USA. The fellow will have ample opportunity to interact with specialists, residents and fellows from many other pediatric and adult subspecialties including Pediatric Neurology and Neurosurgery, Pediatric Endocrinology, Pediatric Rheumatology, Neonatology, and others. The fellow is also expected to participate in the teaching of residents and medical students.

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Associated Staff