Clinical training

As a fellow, you participate in clinical and surgical care; educational conferences, and research activities.

Graduated responsibility and autonomy

Throughout the fellowship year, fellows assume progressively greater responsibility in patient management, surgical planning, and operative decision-making while working closely with faculty mentors.

The combination of close supervision and increasing independence prepares fellows for successful careers in academic medicine, hospital-based practice, and private practice.

Fellow Continuity Clinic

An important component of the fellowship experience is the fellow continuity clinic. Under faculty supervision, fellows evaluate and manage patients independently, develop treatment plans, coordinate longitudinal care, and gain valuable experience in clinical decision-making. This experience fosters confidence, efficiency, and autonomy while preparing fellows for independent practice following graduation.

Call frequency

During the fellowship, there is no formal general eye emergency call required. Nevertheless, for emergencies that involve pediatric patients or postoperative care, fellows are expected, when in town, to be available to assist and advise the residents.

Research training

Each fellow receives two half-days of protected research time every four weeks. Fellows are encouraged to identify a project early in training and frequently present their work at meetings such as:

• American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (AAPOS)
• American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO)
• Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO)

Faculty mentors and Mayo Clinic's research infrastructure provide extensive support for scholarly activity, with many fellows completing presentations and publications during fellowship training.

Education conference and didactics

As a fellow, you are expected to participate in a comprehensive educational curriculum designed to complement your clinical and surgical training. The multidisciplinary learning environment at Mayo Clinic provides exposure to pediatric ophthalmology, adult strabismus, and the full spectrum of ophthalmic subspecialties.

During the fellowship, you are required to attend weekly Ophthalmology Grand Rounds presentations on Mondays at 7:15 a.m. as well as weekly Pediatric Case Conferences on Mondays or Tuesdays at noon. During the one-year fellowship, you will prepare and present two 20-minute Grand Rounds presentations to residents and faculty on topics of your choosing, including ongoing research projects, case presentations, and emerging developments in the field.

You will also attend and assist in the resident lecture series (four half-days annually) and quarterly clinical conferences focused on pediatric ophthalmology and strabismus. In addition, the fellow organizes and leads the Pediatric Ophthalmology/Strabismus Journal Club every other month, attended by faculty, residents, and fellows.

Fellows also work closely with Mayo Clinic orthoptists through patient care, teaching sessions, and case-based discussions involving ocular motility and binocular vision disorders. This collaborative learning environment provides a unique and valuable component of pediatric ophthalmology training.

Teaching opportunities

You will have the opportunity to teach students from Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine, visiting students from other medical schools, ophthalmology residents, and residents from other clinical settings.

Teaching is an integral component of the fellowship experience. Fellows participate in resident education through lectures, case discussions, operating room teaching, and direct clinical supervision. These experiences help fellows develop communication, leadership, and teaching skills that are essential for future academic and clinical practice.

Evaluation

To ensure that you acquire adequate knowledge and develop the appropriate technical skills to meet program expectations, your performance is monitored carefully during the Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus Fellowship. You are formally evaluated by supervising faculty members on a quarterly basis and meet with the program director to review these evaluations. In addition, you regularly evaluate the faculty to enhance the program and confirm that your educational needs are being met.

The fellowship emphasizes continuous feedback and mentorship, allowing fellows to identify strengths, address areas for growth, and achieve their individualized professional goals throughout the training year.