The Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences offers seven clinical fellowships and participates in the Ophthalmology Fellowship Matching Program (OFMP) sponsored by the Association of University Professors of Ophthalmology (AUPO) and American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Inc. (ASOPRS) through the Centralized Application Service.
Current Fellows
Eligibility
To be eligible to apply for a clinical fellowship at the University of Wisconsin, applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Medical School: All applicants must have graduated from an allopathic or osteopathic medical school.
- Internship: All applicants entering ophthalmology training programs must complete 1 year of postgraduate training (PGY1) in a program in the US accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME-MDs) or AOA (DO’s) or a program in Canada approved by the appropriate accrediting body in Canada. The PGY1 year must be comprised of training in which the resident is primarily responsible for patient care in fields such as emergency medicine, family medicine, internal medicine, neurology, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, surgery or transitional year. As a minimum, six months of this year must consist of a broad experience in direct patient care.
- Three to four years in a Residency Program: In addition to a PGY-1, all applicants must satisfactorily complete an entire formal graduated residency training program in ophthalmology of at least 36 months duration (PGY4 or higher) in either the United States accredited by the ACGME or in Canada accredited by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.
- Eligible for the American Board of Ophthalmology qualifying examination, or currently be board certified
- Taken and passed the USMLE steps 1, 2 (CK) and (CS), and 3 Exams; COMLEX for DOs. (Required for medical licensure)
- Must be able to obtain an unrestricted medical license from the State of Wisconsin
International ophthalmologists who have equivalent training and have passed the ECFMG examination are welcome to apply. International fellowship candidates should also verify their medical license eligibility with the State of Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) prior to submitting an SF Match application.
COMPENSATION
- The Department compensates clinical fellows based on the PGY scale.
- The University of Wisconsin (UW) System offers a comprehensive benefits package to meet the diverse needs of our clinical fellows. The University contributes towards the cost of several benefit plans. This is a valuable piece of employees total rewards package.
APPLY ONLINE
Cornea, External Disease and Refractive Surgery
About the fellowship.
Cornea, External Disease and Refractive Surgery Fellowship is one year in length and led by Dr. Sarah Nehls. The Fellow assists the preceptors in surgery at University Hospital, American Family Children’s Hospital, the Madison Surgery Center, and the Novamed Laser Center. Pre- and post-operative patient evaluation occurs largely during sessions at the University Station External/Cornea Clinics. External/Cornea (refractive) clinic responsibilities involve evaluation of patients, surgical alternatives, pre- and post-operative care and complications, as well as their management. The fellowship additionally offers training in all aspects of immunologic eye diseases to include the medical and surgical treatment of uveitis, scleritis and use of immodulatory therapy.
- Director: Sarah Nehls, MD
- Preceptors: Sarah Nehls, MD; Evan J. Warner, MD
- Length of Fellowship: 1 year
- Number of Fellowships per year: 1
- Start date: July 1
- Application deadline: September 1
- Actively Involved in Resident Education: Yes
- Research Required: Yes, clinical
- Block Time Assigned to Research: Yes
- Questions? Contact GME Program Manager: Hannah Baker at 608-263-4157 or hannah.baker@wisc.edu.
Glaucoma Fellowship
About the fellowship.
- Director: Yao Liu, MD, MS
- Preceptors: Gregg A. Heatley, MD; Yao Liu, MD, MS; Anna Momont, MD
- Length of Fellowship: 1 year
- Number of Fellowships per year: 1
- Start date: July 1
- Application deadline: September 1
- Actively Involved in Resident Education: Yes
- Research Required: Yes
- Block Time Assigned to Research: No
- Questions? Contact GME Program Manager: Hannah Baker at 608-263-4157 or hannah.baker@wisc.edu.
Our Glaucoma Fellowship program provides a balanced and extensive education experience in both the medical and surgical aspects of glaucoma. You will spend about 60 percent of your time seeing glaucoma outpatients, and about 25 percent in surgery. Typical surgical volumes range from 50-70 glaucoma cases as primary surgeon. Teaching activities with residents at the VA, reading and study, and seeing unscheduled acute glaucoma patients referred to the glaucoma service occupy the remaining time. There are opportunities for a variety of clinical and basic science research projects in which you will be expected to participate.
Medical Retina and Uveitis Fellowship
About the fellowship.
NEW PROGRAM ANNOUNCED:
The University of Wisconsin-Madison Department of Ophthalmology is pleased to announce its newest fellowship program specializing in Medical Retina, Inherited Retinal Diseases (IRD) and Uveitis.
The Medical Retina and Uveitis Fellowship is one-year in length and co-directed by medical retina specialist, Dr. Kimberly Stepien and uveitis specialist, Dr. Laura Kopplin. The one-year dual training program offers the fellow the opportunity to contribute to the growth of medical retina and uveitis subspecialty care via involvement in a unique combination of medical retina clinics, IRD clinics and uveitis clinics, participate in innovative clinical research, and expand teaching of residents and medical students in medical retina and uveitis. Training will focus on the diagnosis and management of medical retinal pathology, inflammatory ocular conditions, and retinal dystrophies with exposure multimodal retinal imaging and clinical trials.
- Co-Directors: Laura J. Kopplin, MD, PhD and Kimberly E. Stepien, MD
- Retina Preceptors: Michael M. Altaweel, MD; Barbara A. Blodi, MD; Roomasa Channa, MD; Jonathan Chang, MD; Justin L. Gottlieb, MD; Mihai Mititelu, MD, MPH; T. Michael Nork, MD, MS; Kathleen Schildroth, MD; Kimberly Stepien, MD
- Uveitis Preceptors: Laura J. Kopplin, MD, PhD
- Length of Fellowship: 1 year
- Number of Fellowships per year: 1
- Start date: July 1
- Application deadline: September 1
- Actively Involved in Resident Education: Yes
- Research Required: Yes, clinical
- Block Time Assigned to Research: Yes
- Questions? Contact GME Program Manager: Hannah Baker at 608-263-4157 or hannah.baker@wisc.edu.
Pediatric Ophthalmology and Adult Strabismus Fellowship
About the fellowship.
2023 Program Announcement: We are offering a hybrid combined pediatric ophthalmology/adult strabismus and comprehensive fellowship at the University of Wisconsin starting in July 2023! A fellow that matches with us will have two half days per month to perform adult cataract surgery with one of our comprehensive ophthalmology faculty members. This opportunity is not required but is available. We have had several prior pediatric ophthalmology/adult strabismus fellows join practices where they perform adult cataract surgery in addition to practicing pediatric ophthalmology/adult strabismus. For more information about this opportunity, contact Hannah Baker, GME Program Manager.
We offer a one-year fellowship with comprehensive training in pediatric ophthalmology and pediatric and adult strabismus. Fellows will work closely with five pediatric ophthalmologists in the Pediatric Eye Clinic of the University of Wisconsin and the American Family Children’s Hospital (AFCH), which has a volume of more than 7,000 sub-specialty outpatient visits per year. Referrals and consultations from our large Pediatric Department (which includes all relevant sub-specialties) provides for a wide variety of pediatric eye problems seen in our clinic. In addition, our clinic has a wide national and international referral base for treating complex strabismus in children and adults.
- Director: Yasmin S. Bradfield, MD
- Preceptors: Yasmin S. Bradfield, MD; David M. Gamm, MD, PhD; Alexander R. Miranda, MD; Melanie A. Schmitt, MD; Terri L. Young, MD, MBA
- Orthoptists: Kristin Anderson, CO; Leslie France, CO; Nora Haji-Jama, CO, Michelle Harn, CO, Kali Loberger, CO, Anthony Klauer, CO; Rachel Sundaram, CO
- Length of Fellowship: 1 year
- Number of Fellowships per year: 1
- Start date: July 1
- Application deadline: September 1
- Actively Involved in Resident Education: Yes
- Research Required: Yes, clinical
- Block Time Assigned to Research: No
- Questions? Contact GME Program Manager: Hannah Baker at 608-263-4157 or hannah.baker@wisc.edu.
Vitreoretinal Surgery Fellowship
About this fellowship.
- Director: Michael M. Altaweel, MD
- Associate Director: Jonathan Chang, MD
- Preceptors: Michael M. Altaweel, MD; Barbara A. Blodi, MD; Roomasa Channa, MD; Jonathan Chang, MD; Justin L. Gottlieb, MD; Mihai Mititelu, MD, MPH; T. Michael Nork, MD, MS; Kathleen Schildroth, MD; Kimberly Stepien, MD
- Emeritus Faculty: Suresh Chandra, MD; Thomas Stevens, MD
- Length of Fellowship: 2 years
- Number of Fellowships per year: 1/year for a two year term
- Start date: July 1
- Application deadline: September 1
- Actively Involved in Resident Education: Yes
- Research Required: Yes
- Block Time Assigned to Research: Yes
- Questions? Contact GME Program Manager: Hannah Baker at 608-263-4157 or hannah.baker@wisc.edu.
This two year Vitreoretinal Surgery Fellowship program provides a balanced and extensive educational experience in both the medical and surgical aspects of retinal disease. We have an equal blend of primary and tertiary referral retinal disease. The following areas are included in the surgical training program: vitreoretinal surgery, primary and complex retinal detachment repair, scleral buckling, management of complications of anterior segment surgery, trauma management.
Oculofacial Plastic Surgery Fellowship
About this fellowship.
This Fellowship fulfills the requirements of and has been approved by the American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Inc. (ASOPRS).
Office responsibilities involve all aspects of functional and cosmetic oculoplastic pre-operative and post-operative care. The Fellow assists the preceptors in surgery at several hospitals and clinics. Pre- and post-operative patient evaluation occurs largely during office sessions at the University Station Clinic, UW Transformations, the Davis Duehr Dean Clinic, and occasionally at Lemke Facial Surgery. An ophthalmic plastic surgery clinic at the Madison Veterans Administration Hospital is staffed monthly by the Fellow.
The Fellowship begins with an intense exposure to ophthalmic facial plastic surgery. After this core experience, exposure is possible in plastic surgery, craniofacial surgery, ENT/facial plastic surgery, dermatology, Mohs surgery and neuro-imaging. Experience in orbital pathology and prosthetics is also available. Time is allowed for orbital dissection (cadavers) and for work on the Fellow’s ASOPRS thesis and other academic projects. Away rotations are possible on a limited basis during the second year of the fellowship. Extra funding for away rotations cannot be provided at the present time.
The Fellow is actively involved in resident teaching, both in the clinic and in the operating room in preparation for academic endeavors following completion of the Fellowship. The Fellow gives a number of lectures to the residents and staff. The Fellow helps organize annual skills transfer courses in the basic principles in oculofacial plastic surgery for resident ophthalmologists and other surgeons in practice. Surgical oculoplastics teaching at the Veterans Hospital is part of the Fellow’s responsibility. The Fellow should develop expertise with the oculofacial literature and is asked occasionally to discuss articles at department journal club meetings.
In further preparation for teaching responsibilities following the Fellowship, the past Fellows have built large clinical photography collections. The Program Director and faculty emphasize photography in their practices. Principles of effective clinical photography are stressed.
University of Wisconsin Ophthalmic Facial Plastic Surgery Fellows share in a rich tradition of clinical excellence, scholarship and academic productivity. High surgical volume and a scholarly approach to patient care provide excellent opportunities for clinical studies. Numerous important advances in orbital, adnexal and facial anatomy have resulted from Fellows’ research, often in collaboration with other investigators. Many of these studies have been recognized by ASOPRS and AACS with various national awards. UW Ophthalmic Facial Plastics Fellows are energetic and actively generate publications and chapters during Fellowship. Most Fellows go on to active participation in part-time or full-time academic positions.
The Program Director and faculty are fully committed to the Fellow’s training and strive to produce the finest fellowship experience available in ophthalmic facial plastic surgery. Very high expectations for performance are balanced by a supportive and collegial environment. Prior UW Ophthalmic Facial Plastics Fellows enjoy ongoing friendships and collaboration. This includes a yearly Fellowship gathering (White Coat Society Dinner) during the AAO meeting.
All previous fellows and other honorary associates become members of the “White Coat Society.” Upon completion of the fellowship, the fellow receives the official symbol of graduation – the White Coat. This is a long-standing, and time-honored, tradition of the University of Wisconsin Ophthalmic Facial Plastic Surgery Fellowship, in which a unique white coat is bestowed upon the graduating fellow. Each fellow wears this hard-earned symbol with pride!
At the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) Annual Meeting each year, we lead a practical anatomy and surgical techniques skills transfer course, one of the longest-running courses at the AAO meeting. We also look forward to the annual White Coat Society dinner, a wonderful time to visit with each other and reconnect. We have also been fortunate to have had many international fellows and visitors associated with our fellowship program, and we continue to be proud of our expanding family all over the world.
- Director: Mark J. Lucarelli, MD, FACS
- Preceptors: Cat Burkat, MD, FACS; Richard K. Dortzbach, MD (Emeritus); Suzanne van Landingham, MD; Mark Lucarelli, MD, FACS; John Rose Jr., MD, MBA; Bradley Lemke, MD, FACS;
- Length of Fellowship: 2 years
- Number of Fellowships per year: 1/year for a two year term
- Start date: July 1
- Application deadline: June 1
- Actively Involved in Resident Education: Yes
- Research Required: Yes
- Block Time Assigned to Research: Yes
- Clinical Training Sites: University Station Clinic (Primary); UWHC OR; William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital; SSM Health Dean Clinic and St. Mary’s Ambulatory Surgery Center; SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital
- Questions? Contact Oculofacial Administrative Coordinator: Amanda Lacy at 608-263-4823 or allacy@wisc.edu
Ophthalmic Pathology Fellowship
About this fellowship.
- Director: Heather Potter, MD
- Preceptors: Heather Potter, MD
- Length of Fellowship: 1 year
- Number of Fellowships per year: 1
- Start date: July 1
- Application deadline: December 1
- Actively Involved in Resident Education: Yes
- Research Required: Yes, basic research
- Block Time Assigned to Research: No
- Clinical Training Sites: UW Clinical Sciences Center (CSC) F4/349 (Primary); University Station Clinic; UWHC Security Clinic; UWHC Free Clinic; William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital
- Questions? Contact GME Program Manager: Hannah Baker at 608-263-4157 or hannah.baker@wisc.edu or Pre-Residency Imaging/Pathology Fellowship Coordinator Michele Kempfer at 608-262-9092
Application Details Forthcoming
We offer a post-residency fellowship with comprehensive training in ophthalmic pathology with emphasis on intraocular tumors. Laboratory research includes exploration of molecular biology of uveal melanoma and retinoblastoma. Fellows will participate in read-out sessions with pathologists, resident and medical student teaching, and basic science research under the direction of the preceptors. A pre-residency fellowship in experimental eye pathology is also available.