National Retina Institute

The National Retina Institute Fellowship program is a two-year training program that trains fellows to be comprehensive medical and surgical specialists in the area of vitreoretinal diseases and surgery. The first year of fellowship emphasizes the development of the examination and diagnostic techniques required for the care of the vitreoretinal patient. During the first year the fellows are expected to review the primary source literature that provides a foundation for the evidence for treatment of retinal disease. This review is conducted independently and supplemented with tutorials with the attending physicians. The second year of fellowship emphasizes continued development of clinical skills with particular attention given to management and therapeutic decision making. The second year fellow has progressively increasing responsibility for patient care in the clinic. The National Retina Institute provides surgical training in basic and advanced surgical techniques. Hands-on surgical skills are introduced throughout the two years of training with increasing levels of fellow participation being introduced throughout the fellowship. Fellows participate in clinical research throughout the fellowship. The National Retina Institute participates in many multi-center clinical trials. The fellows are certified investigators in all active sponsor supported clinical trials. In addition the fellows design and conduct their own IRB approved research projects within the practice. An emphasis is placed on learning clinical research, methodology, and presentation skills.