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Fellowship in Vitreoretinal Diseases and Surgery
Under the direction of Allan E. Kreiger as director and
Steven D. Schwartz as co-director, the Vitreoretinal
Diseases and Surgery Fellowship in the Department
of Ophthalmology at the Jules Stein Eye Institute is a
two-year program designed to provide medical and
surgical training and clinical and vision science research
opportunities related to vitreoretinal disease. Major com-
ponents of the fellowship relate to diabetic retinopathy,
diseases of the macula and retina, hereditary retinal
degenerations, ocular trauma, ophthalmic oncology,
rhegmatogenous retinal disease, vitreoretinal surgery,
pediatric retinal disease, and diagnostic imaging. Clinical
training includes the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment
of retinal, choroidal, vitreous, and related ocular disease.
Fellows participate in retinal clinics and surgical procedures
at the Jules Stein Eye Institute and four UCLAaffiliated
hospitals. Research is encouraged, whether
clinical, laboratory, or translational. Other activities
include vitreoretinal disease teaching at the Jules Stein
Eye Institute and affiliated institutions and case presentations
at teaching sessions. The program also includes the
participation of several international fellows.
Fellowships in Vision Science
Predoctoral and postdoctoral fellowships in vision
science are offered to individuals who have an interest
in specific research areas being pursued by Institute
faculty in highly specialized laboratory environments.
These fellowships are supported either by individual
funds available to Institute professors or as part of
a special program offered under the auspices of a
National Eye Institute Vision Science Training Grant
and directed by Dr. Gabriel H. Travis.
Predoctoral fellows take a defined program of core
courses and carry out eye-related research, obtaining
doctorates in about six years. Fellows are required to
present their research at informal and formal seminars,
and are encouraged to participate in national and
international meetings and publish scientific papers.
They gain a broad background in the vision sciences by
interacting with members of adjacent laboratories and
collaborating with faculty members other than their
own preceptors. Postdoctoral research fellowships are
offered for one to three years. Each one is unique with
research programs established according to mutual
agreement between trainees and mentors. Research
areas for postdoctoral fellows include molecular biology,
genetics, biophysics, biomechanics, cell biology, eye
development, and biochemistry. Upon completion of
their fellowships, trainees usually pursue careers in
academia or industry.
International Fellowship and Exchange Program
To promote and encourage research and education
interaction with ophthalmology institutions throughout
the world, the Jules Stein Eye Institute offers an
International Ophthalmology Fellowship and Exchange
Program consisting of one-year to two-year fellowships
under the supervision of specific Institute faculty.
Candidates for these fellowships are nominated by
prestigious institutions outside the United States, and
often hold academic positions within their own countries.
Fellows participate in the clinical and research
activities of ophthalmic subspecialties according to their
training needs.
Vision Science Fellows are supervised by Institute faculty
members who are engaged in basic science research and have
active laboratories.
Programs | Training Programs 91