Three MDs discuss how to select a subspecialty, choose a program and find a good mentor.
Applying for ophthalmology fellowship? At every Real World Ophthalmology (RWO)meeting, we bring together leaders from major subspecialty societies who offer their advice to young ophthalmologists. The following leaders spoke at the most recent RWO meeting in April 2024, “Tell Me Your Secrets.” Continue reading for tips on applying to ophthalmology fellowship!
SELECTING A SUBSPECIALTY
Dr. Carla Siegfried, 2024 president of the American Glaucoma Society, encourages trainees that “this is a time to follow your heart! Keep an open mind throughout your residency subspecialty rotations and just imagine how you would like to spend your career.”
Think about the chronicity of the conditions you would primarily treat in a subspecialty. As Dr. Siegfried points out, some subspecialties tend toward more acute surgical interventions with shorter follow-up duration, while other subspecialties involve frequent clinical monitoring throughout a patient’s lifetime.
Consider whether you would prefer to care for pediatric patients or adults. Keep in mind there is room for flexibility here. Pediatric ophthalmologists often perform adult strabismus surgery, and many other subspecialists see pediatric patients in their clinics.
The comprehensive nature of residency training allows exposure to many subspecialties. After each subspecialty rotation, reflect on what you found most rewarding and whether you could envision yourself pursuing fellowship in that field.
CHOOSING A PROGRAM
Your training experience will be primarily shaped by the attendings with whom you work. Dr. Christina Weng, vitreoretinal fellowship director at Baylor and 2024 president of Women in Ophthalmology, emphasizes that “Finding a program where you ‘click’ with the people around you will enhance your fellowship experience in every way and allow you to reach your full potential — now is the time to trust your gut more than ever before.”
Consider a program’s surgical volume and the extent to which they incorporate innovative surgical approaches. For example, with glaucoma fellowship, “It is important to be trained in both traditional procedures (trabeculectomy and tubes) but also newer, progressive procedures (MIGS),” says Dr. Siegfried.
MENTORSHIP MATTERS
“A lot of looking for a good fellowship is really looking for a good mentor. Much of your fellowship experience will depend on the mentor-mentee relationship,” advises Dr. Richard Allen, the 2023 president of the American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.
How do you find a good mentor? Dr. Allen says to consider the following:
- Does the mentor have time to devote to mentorship?
- Does the mentor have prior experience of successfully mentoring trainees?
- Can you commit to the “two-way street” of the mentor-mentee relationship in your clinical care and research?
LAST WORD
As challenging as it is to commit to a subspecialty, Dr. Weng reminds us that “the elements that most of us seek in a fulfilling career — patient care, research, teaching and positively impacting lives — can be found in every facet of ophthalmology.” Best of luck to everyone participating in the fellowship match! OM
This column is produced in partnership with Real World Ophthalmology, a free educational resource created by Dr. Nijm. RWO hosts virtual and in-person meetings discussing clinical innovations, business topics and areas of professional growth — helping over 4,000 young ophthalmologists succeed in early practice. Join RWO for our signature networking reception on Friday, Oct. 18 from 8-10 p.m. at AAO in Chicago, and stay tuned for RWO’s Season 2 podcast episode on “Choosing a Fellowship.” To join RWO and stay up to date on future programming, visit RealWorldOphthalmology.com.
