Inherited Retinal Degenerations Fellowship
Email: Nicole_ramos@meei.harvard.edu
Overview
The fellow’s primary responsibility is to provide clinical care for adults and children who visit the Inherited Retinal Disorders Service. Individuals seen in the IRD Service include new patients referred from throughout New England and beyond for the evaluation of suspected retinal dystrophies as well as long-time patients returning for follow-up. Trainees thus develop expertise in the diagnostic evaluation of new patients as well as insight into natural history. Fellows also assist in the care of patients participating in clinical trials of investigational therapies in the IRD Service, which span first-in-human to phase 3 studies.
Graduates of the fellowship are well-equipped to provide specialized IRD-focused patient care. Previous trainees have found diverse ways to use their training including incorporating their IRD expertise into scopes of practice also including medical and/or surgical retina as well as comprehensive and pediatric ophthalmology.
Curriculum
Working under the supervision of Drs. Jason Comander, Rachel Huckfeldt, and Michalis Georgiou, the fellow typically spends 4 days per week in the IRD clinic with the remainder of time spent primarily on research activities. Trainees become experienced in using psychophysical testing, retinal electrophysiology, and retinal imaging for diagnosis and follow-up. Clinics are supported by embedded ophthalmic genetic counselors such that fellows also obtain experience with the selection, interpretation, and limitations of genetic testing. IRD Service case conferences provide an opportunity to discuss interesting cases as a group.
Depending on the fellow's interests, there may also be potential to visit pediatric IRD clinics at Boston Children’s Hospital and/or clinics in the general/medical Retina Service at Mass Eye and Ear.
The fellow also participates in the evaluation and care of patients in the Mass Eye and Ear Emergency Department for a set number of clinical sessions per fellowship year.
Research Experience
Fellows will gain experience in clinical research through participating in clinical trials as described above. The fellow is also encouraged to develop clinical research projects with potential topics including genotype-phenotype correlations and the definition of disease course in patients with genetically defined inherited retinal disorders.
Requirements
Applicants must have completed Ophthalmology residency training. All applicants must be eligible for a full medical license (or a limited license under special circumstances) per the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine.
How to Apply
The IRD Fellowship participates in the San Francisco Match Program: #4745.
Individuals with completed applications will be considered for an interview at Mass Eye and Ear in October or November.
Questions?
Please contact Nicole Ramos.