Advanced Ophthalmology subspecialty fellowship training is available in the following sections:

Cornea

The cornea fellowship is a one year clinical position in the University of Alabama at Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences. The fellow works closely with two faculty members on the cornea service at the UAB Callahan Eye Hospital. The program is AUPO FCC compliant. The fellowship program emphasizes the development of expertise in all aspects of the diagnosis and treatment of corneal and external disease and refractive corneal and cataract surgery. The fellow provides supervisory and teaching support for the residency program, both in the operating room and in outpatient cornea clinics at Cooper Green Hospital, Lions Clinic and the UAB Callahan Eye Hospital. Increasing responsibility for corneal and cataract surgery—including all types of keratoplasty, cross-linking, pterygium surgery, ocular surface reconstruction, standard and refractive cataract surgery—is provided throughout the year. Graduating fellows will be well trained to enter either academics or private practice.

Cornea Fellowship Application Information: The deadline for applications is September 1st of the year prior to the July 1st starting date for a fellowship. The fellow will receive a faculty appointment at the rank of Clinical Instructor in the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at the University of Alabama Heersink School of Medicine. All applications for the UAB Glaucoma Fellowship can be submitted using the C.A.S. Application Form. If you have additional questions or concerns, please contact our departmental Personnel Generalist:

Jennifer Spears, MBA
Email: jenniferspears@uabmc.edu
Phone: (205) 996-8660

Glaucoma

The glaucoma fellowship is a one year clinical position in the University of Alabama at Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences. The fellow works closely with six faculty members on the glaucoma service at the UAB Callahan Eye Hospital. The program is AUPO FCC compliant.

The fellowship program emphasizes the development of expertise in all phases of the diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma. The fellow provides supervisory and teaching support for the residency program, both in the operating room and in outpatient glaucoma clinics at Cooper Green Hospital, Lions Clinic and the UAB Callahan Eye Hospital. Increasing responsibility for glaucoma surgery—including filters, shunts and cataracts—is provided throughout the year.

Prior fellows perform several hundred surgical procedures as primary surgeon including exposure to pediatric glaucoma procedures (goniotomy, 360° trabeculotomy) and all surgical procedures for glaucoma.

Glaucoma Fellowship Application Information: The deadline for applications is September 1st of the year prior to the July 1st starting date for a fellowship. The fellow will receive a faculty appointment at the rank of Clinical Instructor in the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at the University of Alabama Heersink School of Medicine. All applications for the UAB Glaucoma Fellowship can be submitted using the C.A.S. Application Form. If you have additional questions or concerns, please contact our departmental Personnel Generalist:

Jennifer Spears, MBA
Email: jenniferspears@uabmc.edu
Phone: (205) 996-8660

Low Vision

This optometric fellowship is designed to provide broad exposure to the many subspecialties in eye care.  The fellow will see patients in the specialty clinics for glaucoma, retina, pediatric ophthalmology and strabismus, neuro-ophthalmology, oculoplastics, contact lenses as well as in the Center for Low Vision Rehabilitation.  The division of time between these clinical services will be determined based on the fellow’s areas of interest, with a minimum of 2 days per week in vision rehabilitation.  Fellows will attend the ophthalmology resident’s morning lecture series daily as well as monthly grand rounds presentations. There is also an opportunity for interested fellows to participate in clinical research and/or teaching in the Optometry Low Vision course and lab.  Upon completion of this fellowship, optometrists will be well trained to work in collaborative multi-specialty settings, private practice or academia.

 Low Vision Application Information: The fellowship lasts 52 weeks. Interested applicants should send their curriculum vitae, optometry school transcript, NBEO Scores (unofficial copies are acceptable for application, but official copies will be needed if the position is offered to you) and names and contact information for at least 2 references to Judy Longfellow in the Chair’s Office, Department of Ophthalmology (jlongfel@uabmc.edu). The deadline for application is January 21, 2022, with interviews following shortly thereafter.  Applicants will be informed of the Fellowship committee’s decision no later than February 15, 2022.

Potential applicants may contact Dr. DeCarlo via email at ddecarlo@uabmc.edu or via phone at 205-325-8114 if they have questions about the program.  Information about the UAB Department of Ophthalmology can be found on our website at: http://www.uab.edu/medicine/ophthalmology/

Retina

This fellowship consists of training in the surgical and medical management of diseases of the retina and vitreous. The training is provided by the Director of Vitreoretinal Diseases in the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Alabama Heersink School of Medicine in Birmingham, Alabama.

The program provides an intensive, broadly based clinical experience in retinal and vitreous disease, with the goal of training the physician to pursue a career in a clinical or academic environment.

Training is provided in all major diagnostic and therapeutic techniques in retinal and vitreous disease. Particular emphasis is placed on indirect ophthalmoscopy, fundus biomicroscopy, fluorescein and indocyanine green angiography, ocular coherence tomography and ultrasonography.

Extensive experience is provided at the UAB Callahan Eye Hospital, Birmingham Veterans Administration Hospital, Children’s Hospital of Birmingham, and Cooper Green Hospital. Increasing responsibility for scleral buckling and vitrectomy surgery is provided throughout both years.

The fellow also acts as an attending physician, providing supervisory and teaching support for the residency program, both in the operating room and in resident outpatient clinics devoted to treating a wide range of retinal and vitreous diseases.

Retina Fellowship Application Information: Vitreoretinal Disease and Surgery Fellowship Program

If you have additional questions or concerns, please contact our departmental Program Manager: