The Oculofacial Plastic Surgery Fellowship draws trainees from across the U.S. and around the world. While all our trainees have a love of learning and a compassionate approach to patient care, they come from diverse backgrounds, family status, and professional and personal interests.

Nishanth Iyengar, M.D., 2025-2027

Medical school: New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY
Residency: Stony Brook University Hospital, Stony Brook, NY

What drew you to Mayo Clinic for fellowship training? I knew immediately after my interview day at Mayo Clinic that this was the institution where I wanted to pursue fellowship training. Drs. Bradley, Griepentrog, and Wagner are expert clinicians, talented surgeons, and—perhaps most importantly—incredibly kind people who are deeply invested in my professional and personal growth. They are patient teachers in both the clinic and the operating room. I learn so much from them every day. Each of them has trained in different ASOPRS "lineages," so I have the distinct privilege of incorporating a broad array of approaches and techniques into my clinical and surgical toolkits. I operate often, which is a critical element of strong fellowship training. A single day of oculoplastic surgery at Mayo Clinic can include everything from the most straightforward ptosis repair to the most challenging orbital tumor resection.  On that note, a particular strength of Mayo Clinic is the institution's embodiment of interdisciplinary patient care at its finest. I collaborate frequently with colleagues in otolaryngology, plastic surgery, endocrinology, neurosurgery, and dermatology and have built fruitful professional relationships with residents and consultants across these departments. Finally, Rochester is a wonderful place to live—truly "Minnesota nice!"

Caroline Yu, M.D., 2023-2025

Medical school: Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA
Residency: University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics

What drew you to Mayo Clinic for fellowship training? Mayo is the ideal mix of clinical and surgical volume, strong and diverse preceptors, multidisciplinary collaboration, and a balance between routine and highly complex cases. There is also a dedicated aesthetic rotation that allows fellows to become well-rounded surgeons. The most important part of any training program is the faculty. The preceptors at Mayo have a passion for teaching and advancing the field of oculoplastics and offer thoughtful advice during this formative period of training. Lastly, training at a top institution like Mayo means that one is surrounded by brilliant minds from other fields, and the plentiful opportunities to collaborate both in clinical care and research are what make this fellowship truly remarkable.

Alumni

The most important indicator of the success of a training program is found in the outcomes of the graduates upon completion of their training. Upon completion of the fellowship, all of our graduates have become American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ASOPRS) members. 

Our fellows have gone on to work in both academic and private practice settings all over the United States. Our large alumni network is a tremendous resource for fellows for advice on job searches, practice management, academic advancement, and other topics.

Words from past alumni

Recent graduates reflect on their training experience in the Oculofacial Plastic Surgery Fellowship at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.