The Medical Retina Fellowship at the New England Eye Center, Tufts University School of Medicine, is a one-year clinical and research fellowship that offers comprehensive training in the medical management of vitroretinal diseases. The fellow is supervised by staff surgeons in the evaluation of patients, and actively participates in laser photocoagulation and vitreoretinal surgery. An introduction to electrophysiology and retinal degenerations is provided as well. The fellow is expected to develop independent judgement and technical skills in an environment devoted to excellence in patient care. The fellow also works closely with residents and medical students with ample opportunity for teaching.
Medical Retina
The fellow will gain an in-depth exposure to both diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to all types of medical retinal problems including retinal vascular disorders, macular degeneration, posterior uveitis, intraocular tumors, and inherited retinal degenerations. This will include the comprehensive evaluation of patients as well as the review of ancillary tests, such as angiography, ultrasonography and electrophysiology.
The fellowship provides training in the management of medical retina conditions. The fellows participate in active clinics where a full range of retinal pathology is seen including retinal degenerations, tumors, uveitis and disorders of the vitreomacular interface. Large numbers of patients are also seen with diabetic retinopathy, retinal venous occlusions and age-related macular degeneration. Exposure to surgical retina, in the office setting, is another feature of this fellowship program. Fellows also participate, as sub-investigators, in clinical trials that are being done at New England Eye Center.
Fellows will be introduced to the basics of electroretinography and related diagnostic techniques and gain experience with both adult and pediatric patients. Interested fellows will have the opportunity for a more extensive exposure to both clinical and research applications of ERG.
Research
Rich opportunities exist for research projects in a variety of basic science and clinical areas. These include exPerimental and clinical studies of new laser technology, the use of exogenous chromophores (dyes) for selective ablation of blood vessels, and exPerimental investigations of pharmacologic inhibitors of neovascularization. On-going clinical projects include studies in age related macular degeneration, endophthalmitis, HIV-related retinopathies, and nutritional aspects of eye disease.
Affiliated Hospitals
The bulk of the experience is at the New England Eye Center which is a private practice setting for subspecialty referral ophthalmologic care within the Tufts Medical Center. Additionally, the fellow is responsible for examining premature infants at the Floating Hospital for Infants and Children, which is in the Tufts Medical Center complex.
Staff
Director, Caroline Baumal, MD
Dr. Baumal completed her residency at the University of Toronto, as well as a fellowship in Vitreoretinal Surgery at Wills Eye Hospital and a fellowship in Medical Retina and Laser at the New England Eye Center.
Shilpa J. Desai, MD
Dr. Desai is a new member of New England Eye Center’s retina team. She completed her residency at the University of California in San Francisco and her surgical retina fellowship at New England Eye Center and Ophthalmic Consultants of Boston.
Jay S. Duker, MD
Dr. Duker is the Director of the New England Eye Center. He completed both his residency and fellowship training at Wills Eye Hospital.
Michelle C. Liang, MD
Dr. Liang completed her residency with New England Eye Center/Tufts Medical Center, and her fellowship at New England Eye Center/Tufts Medical Center and the Ophthalmic Consultants of Boston.
Frank McCabe, MD
Dr. McCabe completed his residency with New England Eye Center and his fellowship at Wills Eye Hospital.
Christopher Robinson, MD
Dr. Robinson completed his residency at the University of Iowa College of Medicine and fellowship training at Tufts Medical Center.
Nadia Waheed, MD
Dr. Waheed completed residency and fellowships at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary.
Andre J. Witkin, MD
Dr. Witkin completed his residency at New England Eye Center and fellowships at Wills Eye Institute and New England Eye Center.
Appointment
- Fellowship appointments run from July 7 to July 6 each year.
- The fellow takes emergency calls with staff surgeon support.
- One or two fellowship appointments are awarded annually. The New England Eye Center participates in the Ophthalmology Fellowship Matching Program for surgery fellowships and directly selects from applicants for medical retina fellowships. See details below about applying.
Application
Medical Retina Fellowship
Applications are accepted beginning each July for the position beginning the following year.
Send the following (before Sept. 1):
- Completed one-page application (PDF) – click to download
- CV
- 3 letters of reference
- Personal Statement
- Copies of USMLE
parts I, II, and III
to: Elizabeth Cook
NEEC Medical Retina Fellowship
800 Washington St. #450
Boston, MA 02111