About the Program

Thank you for your interest in the Cornea and External Disease Fellowship at the Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins Medicine. Our mission is to provide an exceptional, transformative fellowship experience that prepares the next generation of leaders in cornea, anterior segment, and external disease—across patient care, research, and academic medicine.

At Wilmer, fellows train in a collaborative, supportive environment grounded in clinical excellence, innovation, and mentorship. We are deeply committed to fostering both surgical mastery and intellectual growth, empowering fellows to graduate as confident, independent clinicians and future leaders in the field.

Clinical Training

Fellows benefit from a uniquely balanced experience that combines high surgical volume with graduated autonomy and close faculty mentorship. Our internationally recognized referral network ensures exposure to a broad spectrum of pathology—from common conditions to the most complex corneal and anterior segment diseases.

By the completion of training, fellows achieve proficiency in:

• Corneal transplantation (PKP, DSEK, DMEK, DALK)
• Cataract surgery
• Refractive surgery (LASIK, PRK, PTK, SMILE)
• Anterior segment reconstruction
• Management of intraocular lens complications, including IOL exchange
• Keratoprosthesis implantation
• Ocular surface reconstruction
• Comprehensive medical management of corneal and external diseases

Our fellows graduate with extensive surgical experience, including:

• 100+ primary corneal transplants (with an average of 40-50 DMEKs per fellow)
• 100+ primary cataract surgeries
• 25+ intraocular lens exchange procedures
• Hands-on exposure to DALK surgery and other new surgical treatments for keratoconus

This high-volume, high-complexity experience ensures fellows are exceptionally well-prepared for independent practice or academic careers.

Research Opportunities

Wilmer offers a rich and dynamic research environment for fellows interested in advancing the field. Opportunities span both clinical and basic science research, with areas of focus including:

• Epidemiology of corneal disease
• Molecular mechanisms of keratoconus
• Endothelial transplantation techniques
• Microbial keratitis
• Refractive surgery outcomes
• Applications of artificial intelligence in our field

Fellows may also participate in ongoing clinical trials and collaborate with world-renowned investigators across Johns Hopkins.

The standard fellowship is one year. Candidates with a strong commitment to research may be considered for a two-year program with dedicated research time.

Application Requirements

Applicants must be eligible for medical licensure in the state of Maryland prior to the start of fellowship. Please refer to the Maryland Board of Physicians for detailed requirements.

How to Apply

Applications are submitted through the SF Match at www.sfmatch.org. Please follow the application instructions provided on the site and include a photograph with your submission.