Ophthalmic Genetics Fellowship
The NEI Ophthalmic Genetics and Visual Function Branch (OGVFB) offers a clinical fellowship for a 1-year period, with the possibility of further extension. The successful candidate will train in a rich multidisciplinary clinical and basic-science research environment. He/she will participate in the care and investigation of a substantial number of patients—both children and adults—with a broad array of inherited eye disorders including inherited retinal and macula degenerations, congenital ocular malformations, genetic syndromes, and metabolic diseases that affect the eye. The candidate will learn the approach to patients and families and individuals with genetic diseases, methods of clinical molecular diagnosis, genetic counseling, visual electrophysiology, and psychophysics. Fellows also have the opportunity to conduct clinical and/or basic-science research projects related to vision in the laboratories within the NEI. He/she will also be exposed to clinical and genetic findings associated with The National Ophthalmic Disease Genotyping Network (eyeGENETM).
Referrals to the Ophthalmic Genetics service come from all over the world, with about 800 patient visits per year. Clinics are held daily. The clinical faculty members for the program include:
| Brian P. Brooks, M.D., Ph.D. | Director, Ophthalmic Genetics Fellowship Program |
| Catherine A. Cukras, M.D., Ph.D. | Staff Clinician |
| Paul A. Sieving, M.D., Ph.D. | Director, National Eye Institute |
| Wadih M. Zein, M.D. | Staff Clinician |
| Delphine Blain, Sc.M., M.B.A. | Genetic Counselor |
| Amy Turriff, M.S. | Genetic Counselor |
| Xinjing Wang, M.D., Ph.D. | Staff Scientist |
The NIH offers clinical fellows a competitive salary and benefits package. Candidates must hold an M.D. or equivalent degree, have completed at least 3 years of training in ophthalmology, and have successfully completed USMLE Steps I through III. The deadline to submit applications is October 31. Interviews will be conducted in October and November. Fellowships begin in July of the following year. Please refer to the San Francisco Matching Program (www.sfmatch.org) website to register for the match and apply to the program.
If you have any questions regarding the fellowship program you may contact:
Brian P. Brooks, M.D., Ph.D.
Director, Ophthalmic Genetics Fellowship Program
Ophthalmic Genetics and Visual Function Branch
National Eye Institute
National Institutes of Health
10 Center Drive, Bldg. 10, Rm. 10N226
Bethesda, MD 20892
Tel: 301-496-3577
Fax: 301-402-1214
E-mail: brooksb@mail.nih.gov
The NIH is dedicated to building a diverse community in its training and employment programs. DHHS, NIH and NEI are Equal Opportunity Employers.
Last Update: April 2011
