The Neuro-Ophthalmology Fellowship at the New England Eye Center is designed to provide a broad background in clinical neuro-Ophthalmology with an emphasis on clinical research. Research is primarily oriented towards the study of optic nerve disorders, particularly with electrophysiology.
Clinical Experience
All types of neuro-ophthalmic problems are encountered in the out-patient service in which up to 20 new referrals are seen per week. There is significant interaction between the neuro-ophthalmology service and related disciplines at the Tufts Medical Center. Brain tumors are seen by direct referral and through the Neuro-Oncology Service. Close contact exists with the Stroke Service that provides exposure to patients with occipital dysfunction, as well as brain stem syndromes. Myasthenia gravis is diagnosed and managed in conjunction with the Neuromuscular Service, with a broad variety of visual pathway and ocular motor disorders. Other conditions commonly seen include blepharospasm, ischemic optic neuropathy, ocular motor nerve paresis and thyroid orbitopathy. The Ophthalmology Consultation Service is run primarily through the Neuro-Ophthalmology Service and provides access to many medical, pediatric, neurological and neurosurgical problems seen in a large tertiary referral hospital. Surgical experience includes temporal artery biopsy and optic nerve sheath decompression.
There is an option available to combine neuro-ophthalmic fellowship training with either Oculoplastics or Pediatric Ophthalmology.
Educational Services
The Fellowship in Neuro-Ophthalmology allows for active involvement in many conferences and courses throughout the year. In addition to participation in meetings at the Eye Center, opportunities for involvement in teaching activities in the neurosurgery, pediatric neurology and neuroradiology conferences are available. Fellows are encouraged to prepare presentations at national neuro-ophthalmology and ophthalmology meetings.
Research
Our main research intent is in multifocal electrophysiology. We are routinely performing multifocal electroretinography to identify occult maculopathy. We are developing multifocal visual evoked potential recording using the VERIS system in order to use this technology clinically as a means of obtaining objective visual field information for a variety of optic neuropathies and visual pathway disorders.
We continue studies of the retinal nerve fiber layer in patients with neuro-ophthalmic disorders. We are collaborating with the Optical Coherence Tomography Laboratory (create text hyperlink to OCT page) in this area. Much of our attention has been directed towards the objective assessment of optic nerve damage from papilledema in patients with pseudotumor cerebri.
Staff
Thomas R. Hedges III, M.D.
Dr. Hedges is the Director of the Neuro-Ophthalmology Service. He completed residency at the Massachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary, as well as a fellowship in Ophthalmic Pathology. He completed a fellowship in Neuro-Ophthalmology at the University of California, San Francisco.
Appointment
- Fellowship appointments generally run from July 7 to July 6 each year.
- The fellow takes emergency calls with staff support.
- One or two fellowship appointments are awarded annually.
Application
- Deadline for application completion is September 15 of the year prior to beginning of fellowship. The following must reach our files before your application will be considered:
USMLE Documentation – Parts I, II, III (For this position you must be eligible for an unrestricted Massachusetts medical license at application.) - A completed application form
To open and print this form, you are required to have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer. - Three letters of recommendation
- An updated curriculum vitae
- A self-addressed postcard and two self-addressed mailing labels
- A personal statement describing what you expect to gain from your fellowship, as well as your long-term career goals (500 words maximum)
- A recent passport-sized photograph
Please send application materials to:
Thomas R. Hedges III, MD
Director, Neuro-Ophthalmology Service
New England Eye Center
Tufts University School of Medicine
800 Washington Street, Box 450
Boston, MA 02111
Telephone: 617-636-4604
Fax: 617-636-4866
It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that all materials are received prior to the deadline.