Overview

Fellowship at Wilmer is stimulating and enjoyable in a supportive atmosphere that we experienced ourselves during the most productive time in our own careers.

The Zanvyl Krieger Children’s Eye Center at the Wilmer Eye Institute is a world-renowned tertiary referral center where clinical fellows enjoy well-rounded exposure to medical, surgical and academic sides of pediatric ophthalmology and adult strabismus. Nationally, The Wilmer Eye Institute is consistently ranked in the top 3 for best eye hospitals, ophthalmic research, and ophthalmology residency training. Since 1979 we have trained over 75 clinical fellows in pediatric ophthalmology and adult strabismus who have gone on to private practice or academic positions.

The division currently has eight full-time pediatric ophthalmologists and four orthoptists.

Our division at The Wilmer Eye Institute has clinical facilities both at the main East Baltimore Campus, as well as clinics at Green Springs Station, Columbia, Belcamp and Bethesda satellite offices. The surgical facilities, pediatric consults and retinopathy of prematurity rounds are at the main East Baltimore campus.

Application Information

Curriculum

Clinical Experience

Fellow and Dr. Guyton in the Operating room

The division sees close to 16,000 patients annually. There is extensive experience with pediatric and adult strabismus, including the use of adjustable techniques in both populations. The fellow also has an opportunity to participate in pediatric anterior segment cases such as cataract and glaucoma surgery. Other surgical experience includes nasolacrimal procedures. There is potential for the fellow to perform over 400 cases as primary surgeon. There will be weekly Retinopathy of Prematurity screening and treatment.

In addition to amblyopia, strabismus, developmental eye and visual problems, there is also opportunity to gain experience with other subspecialty areas such as ophthalmic genetics, electroretinography and pediatric neuro-ophthalmologic disorders.

There is also a wet lab where our faculty also conduct surgical skills training sessions in strabismus and anterior segment surgery for both fellows and residents. We have an Eyesi surgical simulator and model strabismus eyes.

Example of Fellow Surgical Volume (2024-2025)

Strabismus:

• Primary surgeon (supervised): 274
• Assistant: 259

Non-strabismus (excluding EUA)

• Primary surgeon (supervised): 52
• Assistant: 45

Breakdown of non-strabismus:

Cataract/glaucoma/anterior segment

• Primary surgeon (supervised): 32
• Assistant: 31

Oculoplastics (NLD/chalazion/trauma)

• Primary surgeon (supervised): 10
• Assistant: 3

ROP treatment (injection/laser)

• Primary surgeon (supervised): 10
• Assistant: 9

Examination under anesthesia

• Primary surgeon (supervised): 58
• Assistant: 4

Academic

Faculty and Fellowship Alumni at AAPOS 2025

Academic pursuits are expected during the fellowship year with a recommendation to publish or speak at a national conference. We host departmental Grand Rounds four times each year and have six Pediatric Ophthalmology Journal Clubs each year. We also have a year-long pediatric ophthalmology didactic curriculum which covers a comprehensive pediatric ophthalmology textbook, landmark articles from the pediatric ophthalmology literature, and noteworthy new studies. 

The division is actively involved in clinical research. Fellows are encouraged to engage in clinical research and encouraged to publish in journals and present their research at AAPOS, ARVO, and/or AAO conferences.

On-call

The Pediatric Ophthalmology fellow is responsible for taking on-call on alternate weeks, they are not required to take any emergency room or primary trauma on-calls.

Vacation

During the 12 months, the fellow has 2 weeks of vacation plus additional time off may be agreed if presenting at a national meeting.

Stipend and Fringe Benefits

We provide a PGY-5 stipend for our fellows (including individual health insurance). An additional agreed stipend is also provided each year to be contributed to spending on expenses such as equipment, meeting expenses, professional memberships or books.

In addition, the department encourages accepted fellows to apply other sources of funding when applicable, such as the Heed Ophthalmic Foundation, which provides partial fellowship support to U.S. applicants.

Living in Baltimore

Baltimore offers a picturesque Inner Harbor, a center of restaurants, cultural opportunities, professional sports, outdoor activities and much more. Other major cities such as Washington, D.C., Philadelphia and New York are an easy drive or train ride away.

The cost of living is relatively affordable according to northeastern urban standards. There are many great neighborhoods to live in within easy commuting distance of Johns Hopkins Hospital. Many residents and fellows choose to live in downtown Baltimore with popular neighborhoods in the city including Inner Harbor, Fells Point, Federal Hill, Downtown, Canton, Mount Vernon and Mt. Washington. It is largely a young and professional population who live in these areas. The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine page provides further information on housing options in Baltimore.

To Apply

• Application deadline for 2026-2027 is September 2025.
• Fellowship start date: July 1, 2026, with a few days allowance for relocating as necessary.
• Fellowship duration: 12 months.
• Availability: 2 open spots
• Interviews: We invite promising applicants to an interview in person at Johns Hopkins and the option for virtual interviews.
• Submission process: All applications will be submitted centrally to the SF Match. Please refer to the SF Match website to register for the match and read about the process for applying to Ophthalmology Fellowship training. Once registered you can view our program listing on the SFMatch directory website for all required documents.
  • U.S.-trained residents apply for a Maryland medical license. Upon receipt, they will be appointed as junior faculty at the Wilmer Eye Institute. 
• Prerequisites for International Medical Graduates: Applications from other countries are encouraged, particularly from applicants seeking to return to an academic training program in their home country.
  • Successful completion of the ECFMG examinations and award of certificate.
  • USMLE Step 1, Step 2 and Step 3

All fellows, whether from U.S. or international residency programs, receive the same fellowship experience with the same responsibilities.

Fellowship Director

Fellow and Dr. Kuwera in the Operating room

Dr. Edward Kuwera is an Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology who specializes in complex strabismus, including the surgical management of cyclovertical diplopia, reoperations, and strabismus from thyroid eye disease. He is one of very few surgeons in the world who performs adjustable strabismus surgery for both adults and children on the same day of the procedure. He is an award-winning educator and is working on several projects, among them to improve adjustable surgery techniques, enhance retinoscopy, and Lancaster Red-Green testing. Dr. Kuwera is a member of PEDIG and is the Division Education Champion for pediatrics/strabismus and Co-Division Education Champion in ophthalmic optics, alongside Dr. Guyton. Dr. Kuwera teaches clinical skills, surgical techniques, and review of the basic sciences. He organizes weekly didactics in pediatric ophthalmology for the program. 

Associate Fellowship Director

Dr. Megan Collins is the endowed Allan and Claire Jensen Professor of Ophthalmology, Associate Professor of Ophthalmology and an Associate Faculty member at the Johns Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics. She provides comprehensive care to pediatric patients and performs surgery for adult and pediatric strabismus. Dr. Collins also sees patients with vascular anomalies and craniofacial malformations. In addition to her clinical practice, she is the course director of the residency ethics and professionalism curriculum. Her research interests include the doctor-patient relationship, public health ethics, and barriers in access to pediatric eye care. Dr. Collins is Co-Principal Investigator on Vision for Baltimore and Vision for Chicago, two public-private research partnerships to develop sustainable models of school-based vision care and to evaluate the impact of eyeglasses on academic performance. Dr. Collins also founded and co-directs the Johns Hopkins Consortium for School-Based Health Solutions.  

Faculty

Pediatric Ophthalmology Faculty

Dr. David Guyton is the Zanvyl Krieger Professor of Pediatric Ophthalmology. His primary interests are in complicated strabismus, ophthalmic optics and ophthalmic instrumentation (currently vision screening devices). Time spent with Dr. Guyton will be mostly in strabismus, with a mix of pediatric and adult cases. Adult strabismus cases, comprising approximately 75% of Dr. Guyton’s practice, provide the fellow a unique opportunity to become familiar with more advanced diagnostic and treatment modalities in strabismus. Adult strabismus is more surgically focused than pediatric strabismus because of less long-term follow-up needed. Exposure to adult strabismus cases allows the fellow to become comfortable and familiar with surgical techniques needed for re-operations, as well as crucial diagnostic techniques.

Dr. Courtney Kraus is the Knights Templar Eye Foundation Professor of Ophthalmology. Dr. Kraus specializes in pediatric ophthalmology and adult strabismus with particular interest in pediatric cataracts and corneal diseases. Surgical experience with Dr. Kraus will include pediatric cataracts with and without primary IOL implantation, secondary IOLs and IOL exchanges, and specialty lenses. In addition, she provides medical and surgical care of glaucoma, ptosis, and nasolacrimal duct disorders.

Dr. Michael Repka is the David L. Guyton, M.D., and Feduniak Family Professor of Ophthalmology. He joined the Wilmer faculty in 1985 and currently serves as the chief of the division of pediatric ophthalmology and adult strabismus and the vice chair for clinical practice at Wilmer. He is nationally and internationally known for his contributions in the fields of pediatric ophthalmology, strabismus, retinopathy of prematurity, and pediatric neuro-ophthalmology. Time spent with Dr. Repka provides exposure to all of these areas.

Dr Jefferson Doyle is an assistant professor of ophthalmology. He specializes in pediatric ophthalmology and genetic eye diseases. His main focus is pediatric and juvenile forms of cataracts, glaucoma, and anterior segment dysgenesis. His genetics interests include Marfan syndrome and related connective tissue disorders, complex inherited forms of strabismus in both children and adults, and pediatric retinal dystrophies. Surgical experience with Dr Doyle will include pediatric cataracts with and without primary IOL implantation, scleral sutured IOLs for ectopia lentis, and glaucoma angle surgery. Clinic experience will include a wide range of genetic disorders, both ocular and systemic, including use and interpretation of handheld and formal electroretinography.

Dr. Cody Richardson specializes in pediatric ophthalmology and adult strabismus with the main focus on comprehensive pediatric care. Surgical experience with him includes adult and pediatric strabismus as well as pediatric cataract surgery.

Dr. Bo Wang specializes in pediatric ophthalmology, pediatric glaucoma, adult strabismus and retinopathy of prematurity. Surgical experience with Dr. Wang will include pediatric cataracts, pediatric glaucoma surgeries (angle based, tube shunt, endoscopic/external diode laser), and strabismus. Clinic experience will include a wide range of ocular disorders, including interpretation and use of OCT.

For administrative inquires contact clinic manager Anodja Creighton ([email protected])