The clinical glaucoma fellowship at Wills Eye has been training glaucoma specialists for almost 50 years.  During that time, the fellowship program has graduated leaders in the field of ophthalmology throughout the United States and around the world.  Members of the glaucoma service and past fellows include presidents of the American Glaucoma Society, senior members of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, as well as ophthalmology department chairs and division chiefs.  Graduates of the program become part of the International Society of Spaeth Fellows (ISSF), which connects over 200 members with ties to the Wills Eye glaucoma fellowship.  The fellowship program strives to prepare glaucoma specialists with superior clinical skills, knowledge, and judgement who will make major contributions to their community.

Wills Eye offers three clinical glaucoma fellowship positions annually.  Fellows rotate through two month blocks with groups of faculty and have an opportunity to work with each group during both the first and second half of the year.  Glaucoma fellows see patients in the attending physician's private clinic.  Call is divided equally among the fellows with attending back-up and no trauma call.  Fellows spend 1-2 days per week in the operating room.  There are no weekend clinics.  The fellowship program emphasizes education through experience and the fellows' role is hands-on.

All fellows participate in research projects at Wills Eye and are expected to present original work at a national meeting during the year. The Wills Eye glaucoma service also runs a glaucoma research fellowship program whose participants focus on glaucoma research, but do not perform clinical care.  Research fellows come to Wills from around the globe and are available to collaborate with clinical fellows on research projects.

George Spaeth, MD hosts weekly meetings with both clinical and research fellows. These meetings are designed to further the development of Wills fellows into great people as well as great doctors.  Subject matter may range from tube shunts to Motzart.  Clinical glaucoma fellows host a weekly didactic conference during which they present on glaucoma topics of their choice for residents and medical students.  Additionally, fellows are expected to attend the weekly Wills Eye chief residents' rounds where cases are presented by residents and the Wills faculty are questioned about diagnosis and management of complex ocular conditions. Wills Eye hosts an annual review course for the American Board of Ophthalmology's certification exam.  Lecturers for the review course also deliver evening courses in the months prior to the exam for Wills fellows.

Among the strengths of the Wills Eye glaucoma fellowship program is the distinguished faculty.  Fellows will work closely with:

Scott J. Fudemberg, MD
L. Jay Katz, MD, Director, Glaucoma Service
Anand V. Mantravadi, MD
Marlene R. Moster, MD
Jonathan S. Myers, MD, Director, Clinical Fellowship
Michael S. Pro, MD
Courtland M. Schmidt, MD
George L. Spaeth, MD, Director, Glaucoma Research

Please contact Robert Kump at rkump@willseye.org or call 215.928.3190 for further information.