The Academic Global Ophthalmology Fellowship is a 1-year commitment to working with Wills Eye Hospital in its initiative to deliver and elevate the quality of eye care worldwide. The fellow spends a minimum of 6 non-contiguous months abroad (Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, Central America) and approximately 6 months at Wills Eye in Philadelphia.
While abroad, the fellows learn surgical techniques specific to developing world ophthalmology (ex. MSICS), teach ophthalmologists and trainees, develop and help to strengthen foreign ophthalmology residency programs and implement innovative Wills Eye programs aimed at the prevention of blindness. This fellowship offers the opportunity to deliver care in undeserved regions under unique circumstances, and allows the fellows a chance to create an extensive global health knowledge base and to network with international peers.
While at Wills Eye, the fellows become an integral part of our resident teaching service. They have the opportunity to refine their skills by continuing to see patients and perform surgery, they work with local charity efforts in eye care, and they spend time working on projects with our partners abroad. Clinical time will be spend in the general ophthalmology department as well as in the Wills Emergency Room. There is protected time built into the program to conduct research while abroad or at Wills.
