The Wills Eye Neuro-Ophthalmology fellowship provides a huge and comprehensive experience in the diagnosis and management of patients with neuro-ophthalmologic disorders. The volume is enormous and includes referrals from a wide area as well as the amazing experience of patients entering through our 24/7 Eye Emergency Room. The emergency room is housed in the Jefferson Hospital for Neuroscience building which allows us to comprehensively and easily workup emergency patients with immediate access to laboratory studies, CT, MRI, Carotid ultrasound, and Orbital Color Doppler. Our fellows obtain an extensive experience in OCT and have the availability of learning visual electrophysiology if interested. By the time our fellows complete the year, there is hardly a neuro-ophthalmologic condition that they haven’t see at least a few times.
We enjoy the expertise of superb subspecialty ophthalmology consultation at Wills. Additionally, as the eye department of Jefferson Medical College and affiliation with the Jefferson Neuroscience Center, we enjoy the expertise of world-class neurosurgery. In particular, the Vascular Neurosurgery and Brain Tumor Neurosurgery divisions work with us on a regular basis. We also have excellent neuroradiology, neurology, and rheumatology services.
After completing the Wills neuro-ophthalmology fellowship, one is prepared to independently thrive in the academic or private practice of neuro-ophthalmology.
Although the fellowship is heavily clinically weighted, opportunities exist for research. Publications are encouraged, as well as presentations at NANOS, AAO, ARVO, AAN etc.
Most of the education occurs in the clinic while seeing patients with attending supervision. In addition, conferences at Wills are a highlight. There are more available than most fellows can attend. A highlight is a weekly Chiefs Rounds on Fridays at 7 am, where 2 unknown cases are presented by residents, who question the attendings about the differential diagnoses, workup, and treatment. This is followed by the answer and review of the condition diagnosed. Many of the cases are neuro-ophthalmology cases.
There is a monthly neuro-ophthalmology lunch conference presented by the fellows and a quarterly Neuro-Ophthalmology Neuroradiology conference.
Once yearly a Neuro-Ophthalmology Update is prepared by the fellows for comprehensive ophthalmologists where 10-15 cases are presented. Once yearly we have a Visiting Professor in Neuro-Ophthalmology who is always a superb educator. There are quarterly Ocular and Neuroinflammatory conferences attended by neuro-ophthalmology, neurosurgery, rheumatology, neuroradiology, neuropathology, uveitis, and occasionally others. Many other weekly and periodic conferences occur on all the ophthalmology subspecialties.
In addition to being on the receiving end of teaching, fellows play a major role in teaching neurology and ophthalmology residents and medical students in the clinic. Fellows take calls from the emergency room during the day, and as the year goes on they begin to take call in rotation with the attendings overnight, always backed up by an available attending, affording an opportunity to train the residents in the ER.
We have one position for a one year nonsurgical neuro-ophthalmology fellowship. In addition, we have two year fellowship that is a combined oculoplastic (skull base surgery) and neuro-ophthalmology fellowship. There are rotations that last 3 months for a total of one year in neuro-ophthalmology and one year in oculoplastics. The Oculoplastic rotations are under the direction of Jurij R. Bilyk, M.D., a superb oculoplastic and skull base surgeon. Surgeries performed include orbital and skull base lesions performed jointly with Otorhinolaryngology and Neurosurgery, in addition to the standard oculoplastics cases.
Application
Eligible candidates for our fellowship positions are those who have completed residency in either neurology and ophthalmology and are eligible for an unrestricted Pennsylvania state medical license.
Neuro-ophthalmology fellowships are offered through the SF Match.
For more information, contact Reginald Edwards, Neuro-Ophthalmology Fellowship Coordinator at redwards@willseye.org.