A formal program for post-doctoral fellowship training in low vision rehabilitation related clinical science and research is offered at The Wilmer Eye Institute. The Accredited Subspecialty Training Program (ASTP) “Fellowship” in Vision Rehabilitation is for either a one–year clinical fellowship or a 2-year training pathway intended for those seeking a full-time academic career with strong research commitment.
Application deadline: Friday, January 30, 2009
All applications are submitted directly to the Wilmer Eye Institute. This Advanced Specialty Training Program in Vision Rehabilitation is accredited by the Graduate Medical Education Committee at the Johns Hopkins University. This fellowship is not part of the Optometry or Ophthalmology Matching Services.
Interview days:
Friday, February 13, 2009
Friday, February 20, 2009
Only applicants with completed files will be given interview consideration.
1. Introduction
This outline is intended to provide an overview of the Lions Vision Rehabilitation Advanced Specialty Training (“Fellowship”) Program at the Wilmer Eye Institute (Department of Ophthalmology) of The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. The Lions Vision Center has three Optometrists, two Occupational Therapists and one Rehabilitation Therapist providing low vision care within an eye department of 60 full time faculty. The Vision Rehabilitation Research Center has 5 full time faculty who have active research funded projects.
2. Program Description
Eligible candidates are ophthalmologists and optometrists who have a strong interest in low vision rehabilitation. The training program is under the direction of Dr. Judith E. Goldstein, Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology and Rehabilitative Medicine, and emphasizes the interdisciplinary team approach to patient care. A full range of lectures, seminars and conferences at the Wilmer Eye Institute is available to the fellow, along with low vision-specific clinical and research seminars. The fellow will be expected to participate in community awareness programs and is encouraged to complete a clinical research project during the fellowship year. The clinical fellowship program is one year, beginning July 1. However, applicants who want to commit more time to research will be considered for two-year appointments with additional direction of Dr. Robert W. Massof. The goal of the fellowship program is to train ophthalmologists and optometrists to become experts in low vision rehabilitation
3. Training Program
The training program is designed to provide the fellow with training in advanced clinical low vision rehabilitation and experience with low vision research. For the initial 3-6 weeks of the program (depending on prior clinical care experience), the fellow will only observe patient care. Emphasis will be placed on the model and patient flow of rehabilitative care, including the clinical evaluation with optometrist or ophthalmologist and subsequent assessment and treatment by an occupational or rehabilitation CLVT (certified low vision therapist). By enabling observation only, during this initial portion of the program, the fellow is provided time to externally evaluate multiple rehabilitation interventions and multi-disciplinary treatment approaches. Additionally, this protected time allows the Fellow to develop a clinical research project for the year. The overall split in effort within the one-year fellowship is 80% clinical and 20% research.
After the initial clinical observation period, the fellow will be expected to independently evaluate and diagnose new patients, present to faculty member and develop a treatment plan for conditions that range from near-normal visual impairment to total impairment with a comprehensive range of functional deficits and co-morbidities.
Over 1300 rehabilitative visits per year at JHU alone of which approximately over 70% are consultations from ophthalmologists and retinal specialists locally, nationally and internationally are currently managed. The range of rehabilitative care required is from congenital to acquired conditions and of multiple ocular and systemic etiologies. Coordination within the ophthalmology division as well as University and Hospital components of Hopkins are another key element in the role of total rehabilitation care. Inpatient and outpatient care both are represented in the patient population. The fellow will participate in follow up of treated cases to understand what outcomes to anticipate when different approaches are undertaken.
Level of independence increases throughout the training program, from observation only to direct care, from straightforward refractive cases to complex visual problems, with neurological co¬¬–morbidities. At the end of the year, we expect that each graduate will achieve the following goals: (1) Be proficient in the clinical delivery of low vision rehabilitation care in a multi-disciplinary setting, (2) Diagnose, treat, manage and direct the care of the low vision patient with consideration applied to co-morbidities, psycho-social concerns, and the key roles of each of the rehab team members.
4. Structure of Training Program
Fellows with rotate primarily between two Hopkins campus’ as well as obtain exposure and observe low vision rehabilitation care at Hoover Low Vision Services at GBMC with Dr. Janet Sunness. After the initial orientation and observation period, Fellows schedule will generally comprise 4 clinic days and 1 research day per week.
With the goal of creating clinician-scientists, a clinical research project is anticipated from the Fellow during the year. The proposed project will be presented and reviewed by the research team for approval. Various clinical research projects are ongoing in the areas of mobility, rehabilitation outcomes, and models of multidisciplinary care. The fellow can choose a project independent of the existing research projects. One published paper is expected from the one-year fellowship.
5. Clinical Program Faculty
Judith E. Goldstein, O.D., F.A.A.O.
Dr. Goldstein is Chief of Low Vision Clinical Services and directs clinical and teaching activities at the Center, provides low vision rehabilitative care to patients, and participates in clinical research. A graduate of the State University of New York at Binghamton, Dr. Goldstein earned her doctorate in Optometry at the State University of New York College of Optometry in 1993 and completed her residency at the Baltimore Veterans Administration Medical Center in conjunction with Wilmer Eye Institute at The Johns Hopkins Hospital. Specially trained in low vision care and ocular diseases, Dr. Goldstein provided low vision care to patients at her private clinical practice for over a decade while directing the Low Vision Service at University of Maryland. A Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry, Dr. Goldstein has lectured on the identification and treatment of retinal disorders at national and international conferences. Dr. Goldstein joined Wilmer Eye Institute in 2006 to lead the clinical care and teaching program, and in 2008, developed the Johns Hopkins accredited Lions Fellowship Training Program. Her current major research activities include the development and management of a 30-site research network to perform ongoing clinical trials in vision rehabilitation.
Suleiman Alibhai, O.D., F.A.A.O.
Dr. Alibhai received his training in Optometry at the University of Houston College of Optometry and completed a low vision fellowship at the Lions Low Vision Research and Rehabilitation Center at Johns Hopkins Wilmer Eye Institute in 1992. After providing low vision rehabilitation as part of a retina practice in the Washington DC area for several years, Dr. Alibhai developed a Low Vision Center as part of the INOVA health system in Northern Virginia, where he served as the Director of Low Vision Services. He has also contracted with the National Eye Institute at NIH to provide low vision consultation to patients participating in different protocols at the Institute. His particular interests are patients with macular degeneration and issues pertaining to driving with low vision.
Olga Whitman, O.D.
Dr. Whitman is a graduate of Hunter College and received her optometry training at the Pennsylvania College of Optometry, where she was awarded Highest Clinical Excellence Citations. She completed her residency at The William Feinbloom Vision Rehabilitation Center at The Eye Institute of the Pennsylvania College of Optometry where training in low vision care and the diagnosis and management of ocular diseases were the focus. Dr. Whitman joined Johns Hopkins in 2008 and concurrently directs the Rehabilitation Program at the Baltimore Veterans Administration Medical Center. An adjunct faculty member of the Pennsylvania College of Optometry, Dr. Whitman’s special areas of interest include retinal disorders, traumatic brain injury and rehabilitative medicine.
James T. Deremeik, RT, CLVT
James Deremeik is the Education/Rehabilitation Program Manager and since 1994, has been a faculty member of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, collaborating on research projects, teaching professionals low vision rehabilitation, and providing low vision rehabilitation care. With over 30 years experience in the area of low vision education and rehabilitation, Mr. Deremeik has established successful low vision programs for children at the Arkansas School for the Blind and the Maryland School for the Blind and helped create a low vision rehabilitation program for an adult population that resulted in the Richard Hoover Services for Low Vision and Blindness. Mr. Deremeik has published and lectured on a variety of subjects in the education and rehabilitation area of low vision and maintains an active interest in issues impacting the field of low vision rehabilitation.
Katherine Cleveland, OTR/L, CLVT
Katherine Cleveland is a Licensed Occupational Therapist and Certified Low Vision Therapist, specializing in low vision rehabilitation. She developed and currently manages the Occupational Therapy Low Vision Program here at the Lions Low Vision Center and performs both functional evaluations, home safety assessments and follow-up sessions in the clinic, home or community for patients with low vision. Ms. Cleveland earned her BS in Occupational Therapy from the University of New Hampshire and completed internships at Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial VA Medical Center in Bedford, MA in the Advanced Progressive Dementia Long-Term Care Clinic and at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Acute Care Neurology. Ms. Cleveland has authored a chapter on low vision and remains actively involved in research and lecturing on the subject of low vision rehabilitation.
5. Vacations
Fellows have up two non-consecutive weeks of vacation (10 working days). This vacation time includes any time away from Wilmer, including job interviews, taking board examinations, or attending (but not presenting) at a national meeting. In addition, the training program physician may take additional time off if presenting at a national meeting (up to 5 additional days). Vacations must be arranged and approved at least 3 months in advance with the faculty to ensure adequate coverage for clinical services.
6. Salary and Fringe Benefits
The salary is based on NIH PGY guidelines. The first year training program salary for 2008 was $45,000 plus fringe benefits. This may change with each year, but has always been competitive with the rest of the country. In addition, the training program physician receives individual health and malpractice insurance. The training program physician is given a stipend of $1,500 each year to be spent on business related expenses such as equipment, meeting expenses, books, subscriptions, or licensing fees incurred during the training program. In addition, the training program physician is given office space with access to computer facilities, e-mail, and lab coats (with free laundry) for the duration of the training program.
7. Education
As part of an appointment to the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, the training program physicians participate in the education of Wilmer Residents for approximately for hour every six months. The Residents are generally excellent, enthusiastic, and an asset to the training program. In addition, the fellow may participate in many of the CME courses at Wilmer and Johns Hopkins including weekly grand rounds and journal club.
7. Application Process
> Download Application (MS Word Template)
- Completed application form. Please complete all items on biographical form; do not use “see CV” for your answer.
- Most recent Curriculum Vitae
- Personal statement/letter of intent
- Three (3) letters of recommendation from clinical mentors or experienced colleagues
- Copies of optometry school transcripts and NBEO scores (if applicable)
Each recommendation letter should be submitted in a sealed envelope along with the application.
Applications can be mailed to:
Dr. Judith E. Goldstein
c/o Cathy Epstein
Lions Low Vision Research and Rehabilitation Center
Wilmer Eye Institute
Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
550 North Broadway
Sixth Floor
Baltimore, MD 21205
8. Prerequisites for International Medical Graduates:
- Completion of an Ophthalmology Residency
- Successful completion of the ECFMG examinations and award of the certificate
- USMLE step 3
- Must be eligible for J-1 ECFMG visa sponsorship for entire two-year period of fellowship
> Visit the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates Web site
> Visit the Office of International Student, Faculty, and Staff Services Web site
Thank you for your interest in the program. For further inquiries, please contact Cathy Epstein at cepstein@jhmi.edu or Dr. Judith Goldstein at jgolds28@jhmi.edu.
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