Fellowships

Introduction | Overview | Requirements | Programs

Introduction

It is a pleasure to offer an outline of the various Fellowship programmes that are available through the University of British Columbia, Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences in Vancouver.

The Department is broadly based in the clinical disciplines and has representation from virtually all of the major areas of Ophthalmology within the context of a universal health care system. The staff in all of our areas are highly experienced individuals who are devoted both to quality clinical care and teaching programmes. In addition, the UBC Department has an active group of 30 basic scientists who provide a very strong underpinning for research activities in all of the clinical fellowship programmes.

All of our fellowships have an active hands-on role in teaching, health care delivery and research.

The facilities of the Faculty of Medicine and the science available through the University allow for a broad range of academic involvement of all fellows.

Frederick Mikelberg, MD
Professor and Head,
Department of Ophthalmology
Faculty of Medicine
University of British Columbia

Overview

A Fellow is a post-medical doctor trainee who is pursuing further clinical or research training in their own specialty which will not be evaluated by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. The candidate will, upon successful completion of the fellowship, be presented with a certificate or letter of recognition of their achievement.

The Fellowship should be able to meet the educational goals of both the applicant and of the faculty members offering the fellowship.

Generally, fellowships run from July 1 st through June 30 th , and are nonfunded. Occasionally, research or other grants, may help supplement funds. Shorter periods of study occasionally can be arranged.

Requirements

General Requirements for application

All applicants must be licensed medical practitioners.

Applicants who are graduates of Canadian Residency Programmes must complete five years of a core training programme PGY (Postgraduate year)1 PGY 5.

Graduates of US ophthalmology programmes must be certified or eligible for certification by the American Board of Ophthalmology.

Graduates of other foreign ophthalmology training programmes must show proof of completion of an approved programme.

For further information on fellowship eligibility, please contact the individual fellowship directors as listed in the individual sections.

A current curriculum vitae (C.V.) which must include the following: education background including postgraduate experience, all related work experience including research, academic and non-academic honours and awards, presentations, and publications.
Three letters of reference one of which should be from the Head of Residency or Head of the Department/Faculty from which the candidate graduated.
A covering letter in which the candidate would provide an autobiography, personal reasons for applying for the fellowship, and future plans.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT FOR REGISTRATION

The College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia require any candidate applying for licensure in British Columbia to have the ability to speak, read, and write English. If the language of primary medical instruction was not in English or French, or the language of patient care is not English or French, a TOEFL-IBT with a total score of 95, and on the spoken component, 25 is required. This requirement is effective July 01, 2010.

FUNDING

Two retinal fellowship positions are funded. The John- Pratt Johnson Endowment fund is awarded annually to support the paediatric fellow or finding an appropriate candidate, a fellow from a developing nation. There are resources available but they are competitive and require advance application. Applicants must provide proof of adequate funding prior to successful selection.

DEADLINES

Most fellowships are 1 year duration beginning July 1, although a six month fellowship may be offered in oculoplastics. Some flexibility is possible in other divisions. Please refer to the individual divisions for specific deadlines and cataract information.

NOTIFICATION

Successful and unsuccessful candidates will be notified as soon as possible by mail.

SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATES

Letters of acceptance will be sent as well as notification of required documentation. A visa is required as well as a medical examination. This process should be initiated as soon as possible as delays in processing are common. In general, all required information must be submitted by a successful candidate to the Fellowship Program Assistant a minimum of six months prior to the fellowship start date.