Fellowships Program

Dear Ophthalmologist Resident,

Thank you for your interest in fellowship training at Gimbel Eye Centre. The 
following information will help you learn more about our refractive surgery and anterior segment fellowship program. If you have further interest, an application 
is available online.

Program Overview:
Gimbel Eye Centre currently offers two Refractive and Anterior Segment Surgery Fellowship positions annually. The goals of our program are to assist Cataract and Refractive Surgery Fellows in expanding their knowledge of cataract and refractive surgery and related patient care. Our program is designed to allow fellows to explore their own interests through research, self-directed study and interaction with Gimbel Eye Centre physicians.

Dr. Howard V. Gimbel is the major preceptor for the fellowship program. Fellows benefit from observing and working alongside Dr. Gimbel and other Gimbel Eye Centre ophthalmologists. Scheduled and unscheduled meetings between Dr. Gimbel and the fellows are used to discuss and plan patient care, research activities, resolve patient care concerns and learn new surgical techniques.

The Anterior Segment and Refractive Surgery Fellowship includes the following:

1. Clinical experience
2. Research and publication opportunities
3. Surgery
4. Presentation Opportunities

The Cataract and Refractive Surgery Fellowship provides many opportunities for fellows to expand their knowledge of cataract and refractive surgery and related patient care. The Cataract and Refractive Surgery Fellow participates in the clinical and surgical management of cataract and refractive patients.

The amount of refractive surgery performed by the fellow will be dependent upon the fellow's surgical skill and the fellow's ability to recruit patients who fall within a defined criteria and the completion of surgical prerequisites. Prior to performing independent refractive surgery supervised by senior surgeons, fellows observe and assist senior surgeons with refractive surgery techniques. The fellow will observe, assist in and may perform LASIK and PRK. The fellow will observe Refractive Lens Exchange, Implantable Corrective Lens (ICL) and any other new technology that may be introduced at Gimbel Eye Centre during the fellowship term.

Cataract and Refractive Surgery Fellows are expected to conduct and publish/present at least two research projects as well. The fellow will observe routine and complex cataract surgery, will be involved in cataract wet labs, but is not guaranteed actual cataract surgery due to Regional Health Authority restrictions, which are beyond Gimbel Eye Centre's control.

Qualifications

• Fellowships with a clinical component are restricted to applicants who are eligible for full registration or courtesy registration as outlined by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta.
• Cataract and Refractive Surgery Fellowship applicants must have successfully completed an ophthalmology residency at a program accredited by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada or by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (US). Foreign Medical Graduates will only be considered on a case-by-case basis.
• All applicants are strongly encouraged (but not required) to participate in the Association of Ophthalmology—Ophthalmology Match Program. Information about this program is available at www.sfmatch.org.

Application Process
You may submit your application for a fellowship position by submitting the 
Application Form and relevant information by fax, e-mail (in Microsoft Word format) 
or by post to: 

Fellowship Program Coordinator
Gimbel Eye Centre
Market Mall Executive Professional Centre
450, 4935 - 40 Avenue, N.W.
Calgary, Alberta  Canada T3A 2N1
Fax: (403) 286-2943
E-mail: medicalaffairs@gimbel.com

Relevant Information:

• A curriculum vitae, including an account of the number and types of 
  surgeries performed
• A statement of research interests
• At least three names from which professional letters of reference may be obtained (i.e., from a source familiar with your clinical and surgical ability) — NOTE: Please have these letters sent directly from the referee to 
  Gimbel Eye Centre.
• A letter from you outlining your interest in ophthalmology and Gimbel Eye 
  Centre fellowship as well as your expectations of the fellowship program

Please feel free to contact me with any questions you may have regarding the fellowship program or the application process. We look forward to exploring your fellowship interests with you.

Sincerely,

Annette Stanwick
Vice-President, Medical Affairs
Gimbel Eye Centre
E-mail: medicalaffairs@gimbel.com
Tel: (403) 202-3318 or Toll-free: 1-800-661-1138, ext. 3318
Fax: (403) 286-2943