Ophthalmology Fellowship Programs


The Sue Anschutz-Rodgers Eye Center offers a broad range of sub-specialty fellowship programs, allowing for active involvement in patient care, surgical training, and research experiences across our five affiliated locations.

As one of the largest eye centers in the country, and the only academic eye center in the Rocky Mountain region, the University of Colorado is an attractive choice because of our leading faculty, diverse pathology, high surgical volume, and cutting-edge research programs.

All fellowship programs are funded by the CU Department of Ophthalmology and include a competitive salary with health care benefits. An academic appointment is provided at the "Instructor/Fellow" level in the CU School of Medicine. An educational allowance is provided for books and travel to present at scientific conferences related to each fellow’s specialty.

Learn more about each fellowship track below.


Fellowship Programs

Click to learn more about a specialty


Cornea, External Disease, and Refractive Surgery

Glaucoma

Neuro-Ophthalmology

Oculofacial Plastic and Orbital Surgery

Pediatric Ophthalmology and Adult Strabismus

Uveitis

Vitreoretinal Diseases and Surgery

Cornea, External Disease and Refractive Surgery Fellowship


Cornea, External Disease and Refractive Surgery Fellowship



This 12-month fellowship is based at the University of Colorado Hospital (UCH) with activities at the Veterans Administration Medical Center (VAMC), Denver Health Medical Center (DHMC), Children's Hospital Colorado (CHC) and outlying private clinics. The fellow will rotate through the corneal service of each of the major affiliated hospitals. Primary supervision of the corneal fellow is by Dr. Michael Taravella and Dr. Richard Davidson; other attending physicians from other ophthalmology specialties may be involved. Dr. Taravella and Dr. Davidson are members of the full-time faculty at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. 

The primary purpose of the fellowship is to gain educational experience in the area of corneal transplantation and laser vision correction. The goals of training is to develop the appropriate clinical judgment in patient selection for corneal transplantation and refractive surgery as well as obtaining the surgical skills to perform these procedures effectively. An additional goal will be to obtain expertise in the area of cornea and external disease and management of common disorders relating to this specialty. Therefore, there is a cognitive as well as a technical skill level of expertise to be attained during this year of training.


Glaucoma Fellowship


Glaucoma Fellowship



The principal goal of the fellowship is to prepare trainees to become outstanding glaucoma specialists and anterior segment surgeons in either an academic or community setting. Graduates will gain the ability to not only assess and diagnose the various glaucomatous diseases, but to develop appropriate and effective medical and surgical treatment plans as well. 

The fellowship is designed to be primarily clinical with a strong emphasis on surgical training, both in traditional glaucoma surgery as well as several new micro-invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS) techniques and devices. The fellow will also perform a large number of routine and complex cataract surgeries, with use of monofocal, toric and multifocal intraocular lenses as well as femtosecond laser assisted cataract surgery (FLACS). As primary surgeon, fellows can expect to perform between 150-300 cataract procedures, over 80-120 glaucoma filtering surgeries (trabeculectomy/EX-PRESS/tube shunts), and 100-150 MIGS procedures. In addition, fellows will perform numerous clinic-based procedures and various glaucoma laser treatments. Most importantly, trainees will receive extensive training in the preoperative decision making and planning process as well as the post-operative management in routine and complicated surgical cases.


Neuro-Ophthalmology Fellowship


Neuro-Ophthalmology Fellowship Program



The University of Colorado offers a one-year AUPO FCC compliant neuro-ophthalmology fellowship for qualified physicians who have completed residency training in neurology or ophthalmology.

 

The fellowship is jointly offered by the Department of Neurology and Department of Ophthalmology. Core program faculty include: Prem Subramanian, MD, PhD (Ophthalmology Chief); Victoria Pelak, MD (fellowship director); Jeffrey Bennett, MD, PhD; and Mary Labowsky, MD. Fellows in the neuro-ophthalmology fellowship will be appointed as clinical instructors in neurology and ophthalmology. Clinical activity takes place in the UCHealth Sue Anschutz-Rodgers Eye Center on the Anschutz Medical Campus, which is headquartered in the 135,000-square-foot Rocky Mountain Lions Eye Institute building. A graduate of the neuro-ophthalmology fellowship program will be exceptionally well-prepared to diagnose and manage all aspects of neuro-ophthalmic conditions. The presence of ophthalmology-trained and neurology-trained core faculty allows fellows the opportunity to pursue their specific interests.


Oculofacial Plastic and Orbital Surgery - ASOPRS Fellowship


Oculofacial Plastic and Orbital Surgery - ASOPRS Fellowship



This 24-month American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ASOPRS) fellowship is based at the University of Colorado Hospital (UCH) with activities at The Veterans Administration Medical Center (VAMC), Denver Health Medical Center (DHMC), Children's Hospital Colorado (CHC) and outlying preceptor practices. 

Primary preceptor is Eric Hink, MD; Associate preceptors are Sophie Liao, MD; Robert Fante, MD; Michael Hawes, MD, FACS;  Michael McCracken, MD; Daniel Ozello, MD; and Brian Willoughby, MD.

The objectives and goals of the ASOPRS fellowship at the University of Colorado School of Medicine are to train a professional, ethical, and outstanding academic oculoplastic and orbital surgeon. During the course of the fellowship, the fellow is expected to gain comprehensive experience in both medical and surgical aspects of functional and cosmetic oculofacial plastic surgery. Additionally, training will include ample opportunity for research and education. The ASOPRS fellowship will also provide the fellow the opportunity to participate in patient care in the fields of otolaryngology, general plastic and reconstructive surgery, neuro-ophthalmology, MOHS dermatologic surgery, cosmetic dermatology, neurosurgery, head and neck surgery, and ophthalmic pathology.



Pediatric Ophthalmology and Adult Strabismus Fellowship


Pediatric Ophthalmology and Adult Strabismus Fellowship



The University of Colorado Pediatric Ophthalmology and Adult Strabismus Fellowship is a 12-month program designed to provide advanced training in the diagnosis and management of medical and surgical ophthalmic conditions of children and adults with strabismus.

This fellowship is available to graduates of an ACGME accredited ophthalmology residency program who are eligible for licensure to practice medicine in the state of Colorado by the start of fellowship in July of each academic year.

The fellowship is primarily based at Children’s Hospital Colorado. Additional clinical and surgical experience is also provided at the University of Colorado Hospital, Denver Health Medical Center, and two Children’s Hospital Colorado satellite campuses. Weekly ROP rounds are performed at the main campus of Children’s Hospital Colorado and the University of Colorado Hospital NICU. Some exposure to tele-ROP is also provided during fellowship. Primary supervision of the pediatric fellow is by our Fellowship Director, Emily McCourt, MD; Assistant Fellowship Director, Lauren Mehner, MD; Robert Enzenauer, MD; Rebecca Braverman, MD; Jennifer Jung, MD; Mariam Ahmad, MD; Michael Puente, MD; Casey Smith, MD; and Mary Labowsky, MD. 

The Pediatric Ophthalmology and Adult Strabismus Fellowship provides trainees with the knowledge and surgical skill to care for patients with both common and rare disorders within the realm of the specialty. In addition to exposure in pediatric and adult strabismus, fellows gain experience in complex anterior segment, glaucoma, uveitis, oculoplastics, retinoblastoma, retinal dystrophies, ROP, and pediatric eye trauma. The fellow also has exposure to complex and often rare diseases on the inpatient consult service at Children’s Hospital Colorado. The fellow has a weekly fellow’s clinic, where you will cultivate your decision-making skills with access to one of the staff physicians.
Various subspecialty clinics take place at the hospital and are available to the fellow, including:

Contact Lens Clinic: Pediatric Optometry 

Pediatric Cornea: Drs. Ronald Wise and Emily McCourt

Pediatric Glaucoma: Drs. Monica Ertel and Michael Puente

Pediatric Oculoplastics: Dr. Eric Hink

Pediatric Uveitis and Rheumatology/Uveitis: Dr. Jennifer Jung and Dr. Clara Lin

Retinal Dystrophy Clinic: Dr. Marc Mathias and genetic counselors

The fellow has full access to multiple educational opportunities provided by the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine including morning reports, grand rounds, and journal clubs. Topics specifically relevant to the fellowship will be provided by the above-named faculty through informal teaching sessions, journal clubs, and small group didactic lessons. We have several monthly conferences within the department, including: complex strabismus, orbital imaging, and genetics, all of which are an integral part of fellow education. The fellow will have access to medical journals through the University of Colorado Denison Library, and research support through the University of Colorado.


Uveitis Fellowship


Uveitis Fellowship


 

The University of Colorado Uveitis Fellowship is a 12-month, AUPO compliant program designed to provide advanced training in the diagnosis and management of uveitis and ocular inflammation. This fellowship is available to graduates of an ACGME-accredited ophthalmology residency program who are eligible for licensure to practice medicine in the state of Colorado by the start of fellowship in July of each academic year.

Fellows in this program will learn to diagnose all types of inflammatory eye conditions, including infectious and non-infectious uveitis (anterior, intermediate, posterior, and panuveitis), scleritis, keratitis, and ocular pemphigoid. This will involve becoming proficient in a variety of ocular imaging modalities – particularly OCT, OCT-angiography, fluorescein angiography, indocyanine green angiography, and ultrasonography. Fellows will become comfortable in prescribing and managing systemic immunomodulatory therapies and the use of local corticosteroid injections. Based on the fellows’ interests, opportunities will be made available to participate in uveitic cataract surgeries and/or surgical glaucoma management.

The fellow will have dedicated time available for research and there will be regular didactic time with attendings.

The fellowship is based at the University of Colorado Eye Center at the Anschutz Medical Campus. Here, the fellow will participate in uveitis clinics with attendings and also the joint rheumatology-uveitis clinic. The fellow will also rotate in the pediatric rheumatology-uveitis clinic at Children’s Hospital Colorado and uveitis clinic at Denver Health Medical Center. 

All institutions offer excellent clinical and surgical facilities during the fellowship. The fellow will have full access to all the facilities of the UCHealth Eye Center. This will include access to the Denison Library Web Site, access to major medical journals online, as well as access to a library of ophthalmic reference materials ranging from textbooks to atlases.


Vitreoretinal Diseases and Surgery Fellowship


Vitreoretinal Diseases and Surgery Fellowship



This two-year fellowship is designed for advanced training in vitreoretinal diseases and surgery following an ophthalmology residency. The training focuses on both medical and surgical retinal diseases in adults and children. This is a fellowship available to graduates of ophthalmology residency programs and is available only to applicants with licensure to practice in the state of Colorado by the start of fellowship. 

The fellowship is organized as a comprehensive training period in both medical and surgical retinal disease. Standard best vitreoretinal fellowship programs require two years of rigorous vitreoretinal training in order to meet the high standards set by the academic vitreoretinal community. This two-year fellowship at the University of Colorado will meet or exceed academic expectations because of the breadth and depth of experience that our multiple institutions have to offer. Training takes place at the University of Colorado Hospital (UCH), the Denver Health Medical Center (DHMC), the VA Medical Center (VAMC), and Children’s Hospital Colorado (CHC).

Program Directors: Naresh Mandava, MD, and Scott Oliver, MD. Full-time University of Colorado School of Medicine Faculty: Talisa Forest (de Carlo), MD; Naresh Mandava, MD; Jeffrey Olson, MD; Scott Oliver, MD; Marc Mathias MD; Niranjan Manoharan, MD; and Jesse Smith, MD.

The facilities for clinical care are excellent in all four institutions. The fellow will have access to the ophthalmology library and will have a computer available to him or her at the Eye Institute. Outside of work the fellow will be expected to have access to a computer for research and for the preparation of didactic lectures. The patient populations are diverse in all four institutions UCH, DHMC, VA, CHC making this an exceptional fellowship experience. 

The principal goal of the fellowship is to train comprehensive vitreoretinal specialists who are second to none in the field. Graduates will have the ability to diagnose complex vitreoretinal disorders and interpret fluorescein angiograms (standard and ultra-widefield), ultrasonography of the eye, as well as newer retinal imaging modalities including spectral domain optical coherence tomography and Autofluorescence imaging. In addition, the ability to carefully select and perform both traditional as well as cutting edge laser and surgical techniques will be routine for the graduate. Management of ocular oncology as well as uveitic disease of the posterior segment is expected in our clinics. The retina faculty has expertise in all these areas.

First year fellows will have a busy clinical experience involving rotations with the faculty at UCH and DHMC. The fellow will often assist in surgeries generated from the clinics at VAMC, DHMC, UCH, and CHC. For the first 6 months, all operative procedures will be performed with an attending present. Following this 6-month period, the program director, with consultation from retina faculty, will decide if the fellow will have full privileges to operate without supervision. From the beginning of the fellowship, the fellow will have the privilege to function as an attending at all 4 institutions in the clinics, to perform office procedures and take emergency call. 

The objective of the first year is to develop the skills to diagnose and develop a treatment plan for all retinal conditions. Laser procedures will be mastered in the first year and most surgical procedures can be performed by the end of the first year. 

The second year fellow will perform on the attending level at UCH, DHMC, CHC, and VAMC. The second year allows opportunity for the fellow to staff retina clinics and attend surgical cases at all the institutions. Hands-on experience with more complicated cases such as proliferative vitreoretinopathy and combined tractional and rhegmatogenous detachments will be plentiful. The second year fellow will also have the opportunity to operate on patients from the attending clinics with attending supervision and will have ample opportunity to fine-tune surgical skills in preparation for a comprehensive vitreoretinal practice. 


Fellowship Coordinators

McCloskey, Laurie

Laurie McCloskey

Fellowship Program Coordinator, Department of Ophthalmology

Lauren.McCloskey@CUAnschutz.edu


Seelye, Lauren

Lauren Seelye

Pediatric Fellowship Program Coordinator, Department of Ophthalmology

Lauren.Seelye@CUAnschutz.edu