Fellowships

Fellowship Programs

The International Ophthalmological Fellowship Foundation team has a distinguished record of providing impactful fellowships to young ophthalmologists around the world:

1200+

3 Month Fellowships

30

1 Year Fellowships

40

Host Centers

20

Subspecialties

In partnership with the International Ophthalmological Fellowship Foundation (IOFF e.V.), the Ophthalmology Foundation supports 2 major fellowship programs: the 1 year IOFF-Retina Research Foundation (RRF) Helmerich International Fellowship, and the 3 month IOFF-Subspecialty Fellowship program.

1 Year IOFF-RRF Helmerich International Fellowship

IOFF-RRF Helmerich International Fellowships are awarded to 2 young ophthalmologists each year from low-resource and underserved countries who are dedicated to deepening the quality of ophthalmic education and patient care in their home countries. IOFF-RRF Helmerich Fellows are required to commit to returning to their home country after their fellowship and taking a position at a teaching institution or public service hospital to share their knowledge. The application deadline for the IOFF-RRF Helmerich International Fellowship is 30 September. For more details on requirements for this fellowship and how to apply, contact IOFF e.V. Executive for Fellowships Cordula Gabel-Obermaier.

Learn How to Apply
Contact Cordula Gabel-Obermaier

3 Month IOFF-Subspecialty Fellowship

The IOFF-Subspeciality Fellowships Program invites young ophthalmologists from low-resource or underserved countries to apply for an IOFF-Subspecialty Fellowship award. Fellows are expected to bring their acquired knowledge and skills back to their native countries and participate in programs to preserve vision and prevent blindness.

Currently, the IOFF e.V. offers 3 month subspecialty fellowships in:

  • Cataract Surgery 
  • Cornea and External Diseases
  • Glaucoma
  • Low Vision and Rehabilitation
  • Medical Retina 
  • Microbiology/Ocular Pathology/Ocular Oncology
  • Neuro-Ophthalmology
  • Ocular Oncology
  • Oculoplastic 
  • Ophthalmo-Genetic
  • Pediatric Ophthalmology
  • Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus
  • Retinoblastoma
  • ROP and Pediatric Retina 
  • Strabismus 
  • Uveitis, and
  • Vitreoretina

The IOFF-Subspecialty Fellowships do not  support training in refractive surgery or aesthetic surgery.

Detailed information–including how to apply–for the IOFF-Subspecialty Fellowships and the IOFF-RRF Helmerich Fellowship is available on www.ioff.org and through IOFF e.V. Executive for Fellowships Cordula Gabel-Obermaier.

Learn About IOFF Fellowships
Contact Cordula Gabel-Obermaier
98%

Fellows said their fellowship
helped them in their
daily practice.*

92%

Fellows said they learned
techniques in
diagnosis, treatment, or
surgery that were
new to them.*

85%

Fellows began regular
teaching events in their
department after returning from their fellowship.*

*Torres-Netto EA, Gabel-Obermaier C, Gabel P, et al Twenty years of International Council of Ophthalmology fellowships: description of the programme and the impact on more than 1100 awardees British Journal of Ophthalmology Published Online First: 29 August 2020. doi: 10.1136/bjophthalmol-2020-316484

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