Alumni Profiles
Bassam Mahfoodh Al-Abache
Home Country: Iraq
Fellowship Location: Nagpur, India
Subspecialty: Cataract
Host and Supervisor: Mahatme Eye Bank and Eye Hospital and Dr. Vikas Mahatme
About my fellowship experience:
During my training at the Mahatme Eye Bank & Eye Hospital, I gained a lot of experience in cataract surgery. I was able to do 11 cases of extracapsular cataract extraction. I also learned a type of small incision operation that was completely new to me, called manual cataract surgery. I was able to do 11 cases of this surgery during my fellowship. Lastly, I learned the PHACO operation for cataracts, in which I was able to do 39 cases.
This fellowship will certainly reflect positively on my surgical experience once I reach my country. I will start doing these new operations on my patients, aiming to prevent blindness by 2020.
Guha Sujata
Home Country: India
Fellowship Location: Baltimore, U.S.A.
Subspecialty:
Host and Supervisor: Prof. Michael X. Repka
About my fellowship experience:
I found the training useful in not only technical aspects but also in adopting the overall working patterns, e.g. case discussions at the end of the day. My aims were met nicely because I went specifically for Pediatric Neuro-Ophthalmology.
I went specifically to learn about Pediatric neuro-ophthalmology, and my aims were met very nicely. I would like to have had a longer fellowship so I could participate in research.
Haiyan Wang
Home Country: China
Fellowship Location: New York, U.S.A.
Subspecialty: Vitreoretinal Diseases
Host and Supervisor: Robert Ritch, MD and Thomas O. Muldoon, MD
About my fellowship experience:
It has been a precious life experience to have studied at the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary (NYEE). I was able to follow my supervisor and other excellent professors, as well as attend outpatient appointments with ophthalmologists.
I studied many new treatment methods. I took part in grand rounds, resident conferences, and researched daily activities. I did some clinical research about macular pucker operations. I was able to observe almost all types of ophthalmologic surgeries. I learned many surgery skills that I could have used to treat some problems I encountered in the past. I also learned about many new instruments. I even took part in the World Glaucoma Congress in Boston. And my English has improved quickly. I really met my aims!
I will use the knowledge that I learned at NYEE to improve doctor education and the medical system in my training center. I highly appreciated the ICO, Dr. Spivey, the NYEE, my host, and my supervisor, for giving me this great opportunity. I will now do my best to eliminate avoidable blindness in my home country.
Ieva Sliesoraityte
Home Country: Lithuania
Fellowship Location: Regensburg, Germany
Subspecialty: Vitreoretinal Diseases
Host and Supervisor: University Hospital REGENSBURG Department of Ophthalmology and Prof. Dr. Horst Helbig
About my fellowship experience:
The ICO grant is a unique possibility for young scientists and clinicians to improve their knowledge in the world’s leading centers in a particular ophthalmology sub-specialty.
While working in the surgical and outpatients department, as well as in the wet-lab, I improved surgical and medical retina knowledge. Every day I assisted in 3 or 4 operations. I worked a minimum of eight hours a day, and I dealt with approximately 15 to 20 patients per day. Every case involved ocular observation, diagnosis assessment, disease severity or grade evaluation, treatment plans, and scheduling future visits.
In collaboration with the clinical staff, we prepared the abstract for SOE-09. I also prepared presentation for WGC-09 and ARVO-09, and later I was awarded with a travel grant! The ICO fellowship is truly a unique opportunity to receive an excellent education and expertise guidance.
Lilian Karina Juliàn
Home Country: Argentina
Fellowship Location: Paris, France
Subspecialty: Uveitis and Ocular Immunology
Host and Supervisor: Prof. Phuc Le Hoang and Prof. Bahram Bodaghi
About my fellowship experience:
I was totally integrated to the hospital team since my first day. Despite some language barriers, I was still able to communicate well with the hospital team. By the last week, I was able to speak in French, presenting my personal work over the 3 months, during the department weekly round! Thanks to the ICO, I have not only learned more about ophthalmology, but also a new language!
My host allowed me to directly examine patients, make complementary studies, and assist him during surgeries. I began working on two clinical retrospective research activities. I was involved in social events and even got to attend the Annual Meeting of the French Ophthalmology Society.
This was a very nice experience and now I feel more confident while working at home. There are many things to improve there, such as our publications, and it’s necessary for us to improve the way we work in order to make our results comparable with other centers. This is the first step, so we can go further and communicate our experience with the international ophthalmology community!
Manoj Vasudevan
Home Country: India
Fellowship Location: Salt Lake City, U.S.A.
Subspecialty: Cataract
Host and Supervisor: John A. Moran Eye Center and Prof. Geoffrey Tabin, M.D.
About my fellowship experience:
I attended outpatient clinics of cornea and refractive surgery and was able to examine patients (sometimes individually). I observed surgeries and was able to watch research lab activities. I accompanied consultants to the Utah University hospital, the veterans hospital, and even their burns units for rounds and discussions weekly.
I attended many events, where I was able to hear speakers share their experiences. I was also able to present my experiences by speaking about my time at the Aravind Eye Hospital and answering questions. I was also able to attend many social events in Utah!
I reached my aims by taking home newer techniques of corneal transplantation. I hope to try these new techniques on my patients for their benefit. The corneal surgeons here were really fantastic and I am very happy that I visited this center for my ICO fellowship. I thank the ICO fellowship board and my sponsor for giving me this wonderful opportunity.
Oana Mihalcea
Home Country: Romania
Fellowship Location: Los Angeles, U.S.A.
Subspecialty:
Host and Supervisor: Anthony C. Arnold, MD
About my fellowship experience:
During these 3 months I have experienced direct clinical activity and patient interaction, followed by discussions about further management. I have also been involved in two research projects as the principal investigator. I was able to take part in courses and seminars about neuro-ophthalmology. I learned how to do a complete neuro-ophthalmologic exam, as well as how to conduct a successful clinical research project.
I met my aims completely and the knowledge I have received will allow me to continue my career in my country, where there is a deficit of specialists in this field. After I go home, I will continue an active collaboration with my mentor, Dr. Anthony Arnold. The entire experience was very beneficial for my individual progress.
Quasim Chaudhry
Home Country: Pakistan
Fellowship Location: Suita, Osaka, Japan
Subspecialty: Vitreoretinal Diseases
Host and Supervisor: Professor Yasuo Tano, MD and Professor Motohiro Kamei, MD
About my fellowship experience:
As an ICO fellow at one of the most advanced centers of Ophthalmology, the Osaka University Medical School, I had the privilege of witnessing and learning the latest trends in the field of Vitreo Retina. My training involved two outpatient clinics and operation theater sessions per week. During the outpatient clinics, I was fully involved in discussing the patient’s signs and symptoms, investigations, and management with my supervisor.
The real rewarding experience was in the surgical sessions where I could easily interact and converse in English with the surgeons during and after surgery. This transfer of knowledge will surely benefit our patients with decreased surgery times and more rapid recovery with less surgical trauma. I was also able to review literature in the department library and attend many social events.
After this fellowship, I now feel confident that whenever I have a troubling or difficult case, I know where I can turn to get good advice and suggestions. I am looking forward to returning back to this excellent department in the future.
Samin Hong
Home Country: Korea
Fellowship Location: New York, NY, U.S.A.
Subspecialty:
Host and Supervisor: Robert Ritch, MD
About my fellowship experience:
Even though 3 months is not a very long time, I have learned so much from Dr. Ritch. In his clinic, I learned about the various ocular findings, associated systemic signs of exfoliation syndrome, and glaucoma. I also learned about antioxidant supplements, glaucoma filtering surgery in patients who received DSAEK, and new ophthalmic devices. I also had the opportunity to observe several new therapeutic approaches. I was able to focus on unique cases and review literature about them.
The most impressive aspect of this fellowship program was seeing Dr. Ritch’s passion for his patients and research. He remains concerned for his patients and offers his utmost undivided attention. I am definitely sure that my experience here will be very helpful in my future practice and research. In light of this experience, I too would like to be a compassionate physician like Dr. Ritch.
Zia Chaudhuri
Home Country: India
Fellowship Location: Leicester, UK
Subspecialty:
Host and Supervisor: Professor Irene Gottlob
About my fellowship experience:
Under the supervision of Professor Irene Gottlob and Mr. Geoffrey Woodruff, I was exposed to a wide variety of patients presented with strabismus, neuro-ophthalmological problems, and nystagmus. I observed cases with children and adults. I was involved in a short-term research project on the evaluation of ocular movement recordings in patients with nystagmus.
I have been able to significantly enhance my skills and knowledge in strabismus and neuro-ophthalmology after my training here, which will help me work to the greater benefit of students and patients in my home institution. It would have been very difficult for me to have received this training without the help of the ICO. This opportunity has been a massive step forward for me. I thank the ICO for having provided me with this training under some of the most eminent consultants in the world.
