Vitreoretinal Surgery Fellowship
The UC Davis Eye Center Vitreoretinal Surgical Fellowship was established over 30 years ago and it is an AUPO-FCC compliant clinical fellowship. Our fellowship has a long tradition of training excellent retinal specialists in practice in both academia and private practice. The culture and design of the program is meant to train fellows to become capable and experienced surgeons and clinicians. Fellow training includes all aspects of surgical and medical management of vitreoretinal disorders, including ocular trauma, uveitis, ocular oncology, and retinopathy of prematurity. Moreover, there is a wealth of basic science and clinical research opportunities available that complement each fellow’s training whether they go into private or academic practice. Currently, this is a two-year fellowship with one fellow matching in one year and two fellows matching in alterative year. Every fellow will work with our full-time retina faculty members at the Tschannen Eye Institute, located within the UC Davis Health Sacramento Campus and the Mather Veterans Administration Medical Center.
Our Team
Susanna S. Park, M.D., Ph.D.
Vitreoretinal Fellowship Program Director
Barbara A. & Alan M. Roth, M.D., Endowed Chair in Discovery, Education and Patient Care in Vision Science
Director, Vitreoretinal Fellowship and Retina Division
Professor, Retina
Department of Ophthalmology & Vision Science
K. Thiran Jayasundera, M.D., M.S., F.A.C.S.
Natalie Fosse Endowed Chair in Vision Science Research
Department Chair
Professor, Retina
Department of Ophthalmology & Vision Science
Parisa Emami, M.D., M.P.H.
Director, Ocular Inflammation and Uveitis
Associate Professor, Retina and Uveitis
Department of Ophthalmology & Vision Science
Ala Moshiri, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor, Retina and Vitreoretinal Surgery
Department of Ophthalmology & Vision Science
Kareem Moussa, M.D.
Associate Professor, Retina
Department of Ophthalmology & Vision Science
Paul A. Sieving, M.D., Ph.D.
Neil and MJ Kelly Presidential Chair in Vitreoretinal Science
Emeritus Distinguished Professor, Retina
Research Director
Center for Ocular Regenerative Therapy
Retinal and Macular Dystrophy
Department of Ophthalmology & Vision Science
Glenn Yiu, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor, Retina
Director, Tele-medicine
Department of Ophthalmology & Vision Science
Vashon Elmer
Fellowship Coordinator
Department of Ophthalmology & Vision Science
vrelmer@health.ucdavis.edu
The two-year fellowship will provide an in-depth training in a broad variety of vitreoretinal surgeries and laser techniques. Fellows will operate with vitreoretinal surgical faculty and will learn to perform surgeries for a wide variety of retinal problems. The surgical cases are representative of typical university and VA practices, emphasizing repair of primary and complex retinal detachments including anterior and posterior proliferative vitreoretinopathy, complications of proliferative diabetic retinopathy including tractional retinal detachment, primary and secondary scleral buckling procedures, macular surgery for removal of epiretinal membranes, posterior segment trauma, and diagnostic and therapeutic vitrectomies for complex uveitis and endophthalmitis. Laser photocoagulation for peripheral and macular retinopathies is performed in abundance, including photodynamic therapy and peripheral laser ablation for retinopathy of prematurity. The ocular oncology service provides training in diagnostic and management of intraocular tumors including melanoma and retinoblastoma. The fellowship training also includes exposure to uveitis, inherited retinal diseases and retinopathy of prematurity. Intravitreal injections of pharmaceutical agents are given for a variety of retinal pathologies and clinical trials.
Both medical and surgical management of vitreoretinal diseases are emphasized through direct interaction in clinical and surgical situations. A weekly fluorescein/imaging conference will also provide didactic discussions. A discussion of challenging surgical and medical cases, retina journal club and update on research activities occur at a monthly retina service conference. We have a broad mix of patients, ranging from private to medically indigent, providing a wide range of pathologies for a balanced vitreoretinal fellowship experience. Several clinical trials are also being conducted to provide insight into conducting clinical research. Fellows have opportunities to participate in these clinical trials as investigators.
Applications for fellowship beginning in July of each year are accepted through the Ophthalmology Fellowship Matching Program, SF Match. Completed applications must be received date indicated in our on-line profile at SF Match. Candidates will be notified in early September about the interview process, which will take place in Sacramento at the UC Davis Medical Center over two Saturday sessions in October and November – interviews at the annual American Academy of Ophthalmology meetings are not offered.
Requirements:
- Full California medical licensure (not a training license)
- Clinical positions cannot be offered to individuals who are International medical school graduates and do not qualify for a full California licensure
The vitreoretinal surgery fellowship participates in the SF Match Program
Duration of Program:
The program is a two-year fellowship, beginning July 7.
Teaching and Education:
As the year progresses and the fellow’s knowledge base quickly expands, the fellow will take on more direct teaching responsibility of the resident and medical students on the service. The fellows are expected to organize the weekly fluorescein/imaging conference, attend departmental didactics on Friday morning, participate in quarterly department journal clubs, and prepare presentations for the monthly Retina Service meetings, Grand Rounds and other departmental CME events.
Research:
Although this is primarily a clinical fellowship, all fellows are required to present at least one research project at the annual UC Davis Resident/Fellow Research Symposium held at the end of the year. Research projects have varied in the past, depending on the interests of the fellows, and may range from retrospective chart reviews, prospective clinical studies and preclinical laboratory research. All research projects are conducted with the intention to publish to findings.
Call:
The fellows take turns being available for residents to contact by pager or phone with questions about the management of retinal pathology seen in the emergency room or after hours. Additionally, the fellows will take attending call (about 2 weeks per 6 months) where they will round on inpatient ophthalmology consults with the consult resident and staff surgery for ruptured globes with the chief resident. Ample time is available for fellows to explore the beautiful California region despite their call responsibilities.
Funding is provided at the level of a PGY 5 and the related benefits for the first-year fellow. Funding is provided at the level of a PGY 6 and the related benefits for the second-year fellow.
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 vacation time and education days. Travel reimbursement is available for scientific presentations at professional meetings, and attendance/participation at appropriate meetings is encouraged.
