Programs: Ophthalmic Fellowship Training

On this page:

• Ophthalmic Fellowship Training
  
  
• ICO Fellowships
  
  
• ICO Three-Stage International Fellowships
  
  
• Helmerich Fellowships

Ophthalmic Fellowship Training

The ICO Fellowship Program serves to advance the education, technical expertise and professionalism of young ophthalmologists from developing countries who apply for fellowship training at the world’s leading ophthalmology centers and are committed to return to their home countries with new knowledge and skills.

In 2009, the ICO established a new Task Force on Subspecialty Education. Led by Dr. Randal Olson (United States), this Task Force is addressing the needs and requirements of subspecialty education. Subspecialties are increasingly important in the delivery of high quality eye and vision care.

Recognizing these broad advances, the highly successful ICO Fellowship Program was augmented in 2009 by the ICO Three-Stage Sandwich Fellowship and initiation of the ICO Helmerich Ophthalmology Subspecialty Fellowships.

ICO Fellowships

The ICO International Fellowship Program inaugurated in 2001 under leadership of Dr. Balder Gloor (Switzerland) and led since 2006 by Dr. Veit-Peter Gabel (Germany) provides three months of advanced training at leading ophthalmology departments. Fellowships are awarded to young ophthalmologists from developing countries who are preferably in a teaching position, preferably hold the ICO Ophthalmic Knowledge Examination Certificate and are committed to return to their country of origin after the fellowship.

Fellowships are offered in Comprehensive Ophthalmology and in subspecialty areas. Fellows are taught the latest methods of diagnosis and therapy, and are given the opportunity to improve practical skills and broaden their ophthalmological knowledge.

ICO International Fellowships are offered at more than 120 institutions that have agreed to accept ICO Fellows and identified the characteristics of their programs on the Internet. Candidates apply to a host institution via the Internet, goals of the fellowship are established and language issues affecting communication are considered. Following evaluation of all information, ICO Fellowships are awarded. To control costs, all parts of the ICO Fellowship application, review, award process and follow-up report are conducted online (www.icoph.org/fellow; Ref 8. Gabel V-P, Steger M, Gloor B. Eight years of IFOS/ICO fellowships for ophthalmologists from developing countries. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 2008;246:939-981).

In 2009, 58 ICO International Fellowships were awarded to applicants from 28 countries, including for the first time fellowship awards to applicants from Ecuador, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Uzbekistan and Yemen. Fellows will obtain training at advanced institutions in 18 countries and return to home nations with increased abilities and professionalism.

With support from the ICO, ICOFoundation, International Ophthalmological Foundation (Germany) and other sources, 405 ICO Fellowships were awarded in 2001–2009. All together, fellows from 69 countries benefited greatly from training at institutions in 29 countries. Reports filed at the conclusion of each fellowship attest to the cordiality of international relationships and the extraordinary value of the knowledge and skills acquired during the fellowship.

To sustain relationships established during fellowships, the First ICO Fellowship Reunion for Hosts and Fellows took place during the 2010 World Ophthalmology Congress® in Berlin on June 7, 2010.

ICO Three-Stage International Fellowships

To extend the training for the most active ICO International Fellows, Dr. Gabel and the ICO Fellowship Committee introduced the ICO Three-Stage Sandwich Fellowship. This program is designed to strengthen the training of the Fellow and to maximize the training opportunities at the Fellow’s home institution.

For Stage 1, near the end of the standard three month international fellowship, the Preceptor and Fellow plan a Three-Stage Sandwich Fellowship and apply for support from the ICO International Fellowship Program (www.icoph.org/fellow).

Stage 2 provides for the Fellow to return to the country of origin and plan a one—two week visit by the Preceptor to the Fellow’s training institution. This visit is expected to include didactic sessions, patient examinations, diagnostic procedures and surgery. Stage 3 provides for the Fellow to return to the Preceptor’s institution for three months of additional training and experience. On a limited basis for outstanding Fellows, this sandwich program is scheduled in 2010.

ICO Helmerich Fellowships

The ICO Helmerich Ophthalmology Subspecialty Fellowships were initiated in 2009 with long-term sponsorship by the Retina Research Foundation in cooperation with the ICOFoundation. The ICO Helmerich Fellowships provide 12 months of support for young ophthalmologists from developing countries who are recommended by the head of a teaching or public service institution and have a commitment to return to a position at a teaching institution or public service hospital in their home country following the fellowship.

Two ICO Helmerich Fellowships were awarded for training in 2010. Dr. Mohammed El-Hanan (Egypt) will obtain fellowship training at L.V. Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad, India and Dr. Siamak Zarei- Ghanavati (Iran) will receive training at the Jules Stein Eye Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, United States.

The ICO is accepting applications up to September 1, 2010 for the 2011 ICO Helmerich Ophthalmology Subspecialty Fellowships. The requirements and online application process are described at www.icoph.org/helmerich. Additional subspecialty fellowships one year in duration are offered at the ICO/Alcon Ophthalmology Training Center at Ljubljana, Slovenia.

More information on ICOFoundation programs:

• Ophthalmic Education and Training
  
  
• Ophthalmic Knowledge Examinations
  
  
• Eye and Vision Care Guidelines
  
  
• Advocacy for Preservation and Restoration of Vision
  
  
• Research in Ophthalmology and Vision

Next: Eye and Vision Care Guidelines

Also see:

• Contribute to the ICOFoundation
  
  
• Programs Supported by the ICOFoundation