Glaucoma Fellowship

For over 40 years, we have proudly trained glaucoma sub-specialists in the University of Wisconsin–Madison Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences Glaucoma Fellowship.

Our rich history stems from our tradition of providing excellent clinical and surgical training in adult and pediatric glaucoma to ensure that every fellow develops the skills they need to offer outstanding glaucoma sub-specialty care and to advance the quality of care we provide to future generations.

We pride ourselves on our leadership and scholarship, both by striving for clinical, surgical, and academic excellence and by mentoring future leaders in our sub-specialty.

Clinical and Surgical Training
Our 1-year clinical Glaucoma Fellowship provides extensive and well-balanced training in medical and surgical aspects of glaucoma, ranging from basic evaluation of glaucoma suspects to the most challenging pediatric, uveitic, and keratoprosthesis-related glaucomas. Our fellows spend about 60 percent of their time in clinic (including a weekly, dedicated ½-day fellow clinic), about 25 percent in surgery, and about 15 percent as protected academic time.

Typical surgical volumes range from 90-100 glaucoma surgeries (e.g., trabeculectomies, Ahmed and Baerveldt tube shunts, transscleral/endoscopic/micropulse cyclophotocoagulation, XEN, GATT, iStent, and Kahook dual blade goniotomy) and 80-110 cataract surgeries as primary surgeon. Fellows also take 3 weeks of primary attending call and 3 weeks of back-up attending call.

Educational Conferences and Teaching

• Weekly departmental Grand Rounds
• Quarterly Glaucoma Journal Club
• Twice-yearly Wisconsin Glaucoma Society meeting to discuss complex cases with glaucoma sub-specialists from across the state
• Fellows are also welcome to attend the weekly on-call case review conference and the resident basic science lecture series to support their boards preparation
• Fellows have ample opportunity to participate in teaching residents and medical students

Research
There are a variety of opportunities for clinical and basic science research projects with mentorship from nationally-recognized clinical and research faculty in our department. We are ranked in the top 10 nationally for National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funding among departments of ophthalmology and have access to departmental staff biostatistical support, as well as our clinical eye research unit (CERU) and the Wisconsin Reading Center (WRC). Fellows are provided with protected academic time to pursue research and participate in professional development opportunities. Previous fellows have participated in NIH-funded multicenter clinical trials (COAST), observational studies (CAREDS2), as well as trabecular meshwork gene therapy and optic nerve regeneration studies.

Salary and Benefits
We offer a competitive salary and benefits based on the PGY-5 scale, including offering health insurance coverage for family members.

Furthermore, the Glaucoma Fellowship Fund provides $1,000 to help cover travel costs to attend a professional conference (e.g., American Glaucoma Society Annual Meeting).

Environment
We are a highly collegial department situated on the main campus of a large, world-class university in the flourishing, mid-size city of Madison, Wisconsin. Madison is consistently included as one of the top-10 places to live in the U.S. (#1 in 2022 according to Livability.com) with its immensely rich range of year-round outdoor activities (i.e., biking, kayaking, cross-country skiing, etc.), thriving culinary scene, and vibrant cultural life. We offer an affordable and family-friendly lifestyle with safe, tree-lined neighborhoods, innumerable public parks, a 1,200-acre arboretum, 12-acre botanical garden, and 5 beautiful lakes.

The UW–Madison Dept. of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences Glaucoma Fellowship is accredited by the AUPO FCC. For more information, please visit the AUPO FCC website.

Please contact Hannah Baker, our Graduate Medical Education (GME) Program Manager, to learn more about the fellowship program.

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