Glaucoma Fellowship
The UC Davis Glaucoma Fellowship provides comprehensive training in the diagnosis and management of glaucoma. Fellows gain broad experience managing both routine glaucoma and complex disease referred to UC Davis as a tertiary care center. The fellowship offers extensive surgical experience across the spectrum of glaucoma procedures. Because of faculty expertise in pediatric glaucoma, the program also provides particularly strong exposure to the management of childhood glaucoma.
Our Team
James D. Brandt, M.D.
Fellowship Program Director
Daryl and Opal Geweke Endowed Chair in Glaucoma
Director of International Programs & New Technology
Professor, Glaucoma
Director, Glaucoma Service
Department of Ophthalmology & Vision Science
Michele C. Lim, M.D.
Vice Chair and Medical Director
Professor, Glaucoma
Department of Ophthalmology & Vision Science
Tessnim Ahmad, M.D.
Assistant Professor, Glaucoma Department of Ophthalmology & Vision Science
Poojitha Balakrishnan, M.D., M.P.H., Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Glaucoma
Department of Ophthalmology & Vision Science
Vashon Elmer
Fellowship Coordinator
Department of Ophthalmology & Vision Science
vrelmer@health.ucdavis.edu
Fellows work closely with glaucoma and other subspecialty faculty at the UC Davis Eye Center, primarily at the Ernest E. Tschannen Eye Institute on the Sacramento campus. They participate actively in high-volume outpatient clinics and perform a broad range of laser and incisional glaucoma procedures under direct faculty supervision.
Surgical training is a major focus of the UC Davis Glaucoma Fellowship. Fellows receive extensive hands-on experience across the full spectrum of glaucoma surgery, performing traditional incisional glaucoma procedures, including trabeculectomy, glaucoma drainage device implantation, and Xen gel stent implantation, as well as revisions and management of complex postoperative complications. Surgical experience also includes a broad range of newer techniques, such as minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS) procedures, angle-based surgery, cyclophotocoagulation, and laser procedures.
Fellows also work closely with ophthalmology residents and participate in their clinical and surgical education and supervision. This includes involvement in resident teaching, glaucoma conferences, and other departmental educational activities. Fellows additionally maintain an independent comprehensive ophthalmology clinic one half-day per week.
The UC Davis Medical Center is a major Level I Trauma Center and a tertiary referral center for complex multisystem disease throughout Northern California. Through the ophthalmology consultation service, fellows are exposed to a diverse range of complex ocular disease and ophthalmic emergencies, complementing their subspecialty glaucoma training. Fellows also gain significant exposure to complex surgical glaucoma, including eyes with prior failed glaucoma surgery, secondary glaucomas, pediatric glaucoma, and other challenging anterior segment pathology.
Candidates must be graduates of an ACGME-accredited ophthalmology residency in the United States or Canada and have a full, unrestricted license to practice in California from the Medical Board of California prior to starting the fellowship.
The glaucoma fellowship participates in the SF Match Program
Interviews are conducted in October and November.
Duration of Program:
The fellowship is a one-year program beginning July 7. The outgoing fellow is asked to remain for one additional paid week in July to help orient the incoming fellow to the Glaucoma Service and facilitate a smooth transition.
Teaching and Education
As the fellow’s knowledge and surgical experience progress throughout the year, the fellow assumes increasing responsibility for teaching ophthalmology residents and medical students on the service. The fellow is expected to attend departmental didactics on Friday mornings, participate in quarterly departmental journal clubs, and prepare presentations for Grand Rounds and other departmental CME events.
Research
Scholarly activity is an important component of the fellowship. Fellows are encouraged to pursue original research and are provided dedicated time to do so. Projects may involve clinical, translational, or basic science research depending on the fellow’s interests and experience. All fellows are required to present at least one research project at the annual UC Davis Resident/Fellow Research Symposium. Additional goals include presentation at a national meeting, such as the American Glaucoma Society Annual Meeting, the American Academy of Ophthalmology Annual Meeting, or the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology Annual Meeting, and subsequent publication in a peer-reviewed journal.
UC Davis also has strong collaborations with colleagues in veterinary ophthalmology, providing unique opportunities for translational and laboratory-based research.
Call
The glaucoma fellow serves as a resource for ophthalmology residents managing patients with severe or complex glaucoma who present to the emergency department or require care after hours. The fellow is available by phone or pager for consultation and provides backup for urgent and emergent glaucoma cases when needed.
In addition, the fellow participates in the attending call rotation for three weeks during each six-month period. During these weeks, the fellow rounds on inpatient ophthalmology consultations with the consult resident and staffs urgent surgical cases, including ruptured globe repairs, with the chief resident.
Call responsibilities are structured to provide meaningful experience in the management of ophthalmic emergencies while preserving ample time for fellows to enjoy Sacramento and the surrounding Northern California region.
Conference
The glaucoma fellow is supported to attend the American Glaucoma Society Annual Meeting, which takes place in February or March.
Fellows are paid according to the salary scale associated with the postgraduate year (PGY) training level for the fellowship program. Salary scales are approved annually by the University of California, Office of the President, and posted at UC Davis Health Resident Program.
In addition to your salary, UC Davis Health will provide you with health, dental, vision, life and disability insurance. UC Davis Health also provides comprehensive professional liability coverage.
Fellows are also allotted a generous amount of vacation time and educational days. Travel reimbursement is available for scientific presentations at professional meetings, and attendance/participation at appropriate meetings is encouraged.
