The Jones Fellowship at Lions Vision Center, Wilmer Eye Institute

The Jones Fellowship at Lions Vision Center, Wilmer Eye Institute is a one-year, postdoctoral clinical fellowship beginning July 1. The program aims to train ophthalmologists and optometrists to become experts in clinical vision rehabilitation, related clinical science and research.

We emphasize an interdisciplinary team approach to patient care, as demonstrated within the Lions Low Vision Center which has optometrists, an occupational therapist and a rehabilitation therapist providing low vision care within an eye department of 240 full-time faculty. The Lions Vision Research and Rehabilitation Center has full-time research faculty.

Eligible candidates are ophthalmologists and optometrists who have a strong interest in vision rehabilitation and have a solid foundation in basic clinical skills, including diagnosis and management of primary eye care disorders.

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For the first three to six 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 clinical evaluation with the optometrist or ophthalmologist, and subsequent assessment and treatment by an occupational or rehabilitation certified low vision therapist (CLVT).

By enabling observation only, the fellow is provided time to externally evaluate multiple rehabilitation interventions and multi-disciplinary treatment approaches. After the initial clinical observation period, the fellow will be expected to independently evaluate and diagnose new patients, present to faculty members 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. The fellow's weekly schedule will also generally be comprised of four clinic days and one research day.

At the end of the year, we expect that each graduate will achieve the following goals:
- Attain proficiency in the clinical delivery of low vision rehabilitation care in a multi-disciplinary setting.
- Diagnose, treat, manage and direct the care of the low vision patients with consideration applied to co-morbidities, psycho-social concerns, and the key roles of each of the rehabilitation team member.
- Complete a research project and publish in peer-reviewed journal.

To Apply

Application deadline: Tuesday, January 16, 2024

This fellowship is not part of the optometry or ophthalmology matching services. This Advanced Specialty Training Program in Vision Rehabilitation is accredited by the Graduate Medical Education Committee at the Johns Hopkins University. All applications are submitted directly to the Johns Hopkins Wilmer Eye Institute. The following constitutes a complete file:

Application form - Please complete all items on biographical form; do not use “see CV” for your answer.
Most recent CV
Personal statement or letter of intent
Three (3) letters of recommendation - Letters should be from clinical mentors or experienced colleagues. Each letter should be emailed directly to the fellowship director.
Copies of optometry/medical school transcripts and NBEO scores (if applicable).