The Department of Surgery offers a two-year ophthalmic oncology fellowship to fully trained ophthalmologists who desire further experience in ophthalmic oncology. This is a significant opportunity to become well trained in the field of ophthalmic oncology, as well as to become proficient in the multidisciplinary care of the cancer patient. It is the objective of the program to meet the specific needs of each fellow.
Clinical Training
The fellow will work under the supervision of ophthalmic oncologists David H. Abramson, Jasmine H. Francis and David Della Rocca. This will include participating in surgery with all physicians, seeing pediatric patients under anesthesia in the service’s unique retinoblastoma evaluation center, and examining and counseling adult patients. The fellow will also see ophthalmic consults who are inpatients at Memorial Hospital and will be given exposure to patients with ophthalmic toxic effects of their cancer treatment.
Emphasis will be placed on diagnostic and surgical skills. Since ocular malignancies are routinely treated without biopsy, the program will highlight and teach the subtleties of differential diagnosis by having the fellow perform indirect ophthalmoscopy on more than 2,500 patients with ocular tumors. The fellow will also become proficient in ophthalmic ultrasound utilizing both standardized A scan and sector B scan, which the fellow will perform more than 1,000 times during the fellowship. The fellow will also learn and perform digital imaging — including the use of the RetCam, Optos, and Topcon Fundus systems. The fellow will participate in preoperative evaluation and decision-making prior to surgery, perform surgery under the supervision of attendings, and conduct post-op management of patients.
The Ophthalmic Oncology Service interacts daily with other Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center services in clinical management, consults, and research. The fellow will be a part of all of these, including working with Radiation Oncology, Radiation Physics, Pediatric Oncology, the entire Melanoma disease management team, Pathology, Pharmacology, the Lymphoma Service, and Neurology. This interaction and coordinated care will afford the fellow a truly unique fellowship; while there are orbital fellowships and retinal fellowships throughout the United States, there is no other ophthalmic oncology fellowship in a dedicated cancer hospital. The future of ophthalmic oncology will be tied to the future of oncology, and MSK offers the ability for this fellow to receive a truly unique experience.
Education
The fellow will participate in all the academic experiences of the service. This will include internal ophthalmic oncology teaching (weekly with residents), Ophthalmology Grand Rounds at New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, and teaching at local and regional ophthalmology meetings and lectures including the Manhattan Ophthalmological Society, the New York Ophthalmological Society, and the New York Laser Club. A suggested requirement for the fellow is to attend and present a case at either the biannual New York Oculoplastic Meeting or the Manhattan Retina Club. The fellow will attend the Department of Surgery Grand Rounds and the Melanoma disease management team meetings weekly in addition to national ophthalmic meetings (Academy and ARVO). At least one national and one international presentation are required in addition to one book chapter and three co-authored papers.
Research
Research interests are discussed with each fellow at the beginning of the fellowship, and active participation in research is strongly encouraged. Fellows are urged to do background reading and make clinical observations, which can in turn be used to provide the framework for research projects. Many research projects are also available, as active programs exist within the department and the institution.
Benefits and Environment
MSK is located on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, a vibrant, safe community with many nearby activities for adults and children. Salary and benefits are provided to all fellows according to level of training (number of postgraduate years). MSK expects clinical trainees to reside in Center-owned housing in order to staff around-the-clock programs in patient care and research, unless a waiver is approved by the program director. Center-owned housing is within a short walking distance of the hospital. There are many schools and affordable childcare options nearby.
Deadline
Currently accepting applications for 2023-2024.
Length of Program
Two years, although a one-year fellow would be considered
Eligibility
By the beginning date of the fellowship, all applicants must have completed their ophthalmology residency training in an accredited general surgery program in the United States or Canada and have attained qualification to sit for the examination of the American Board of Ophthalmology.
Foreign medical graduates with equivalent qualifications are also eligible to apply and have passed USMLE examinations (Step 1, Step 2 CS, and Step 2 CK), must hold a valid ECFMG certificate, and be visa-eligible. Selected candidates must qualify for and obtain a limited permit to practice medicine from the New York State Education Department, in accordance with its requirements.
Number of Positions
1 per year
How to Apply
Applications must include the following items:
- Memorial Hospital Graduate Staff Application form
- ECFMG full certification (if applicable): Applicants must have completed USMLE Steps 1, 2CK, and 2CS prior to submitting an application to our program
- Current CV
- Copy of MD diploma (with translation, if necessary)
- Personal statement: This should include a description of the candidate’s personal qualifications and motivation for applying to the program, as well as a detailed professional plan to return to his or her home country upon completion of training
- Three letters of recommendation addressed to Dr. Jasmine H. Francis: One of these letters must be from the department chairman
If any of these requirements are not met or are incomplete upon submission, the application will not be processed.