The Casey Eye Institute Cornea, and External Eye Diseases and Refractive Surgery Fellowship is a one-year comprehensive, AUPO FCC compliant medical and surgical fellowship. We aim to educate leaders in the field by providing excellent, well-rounded training in corneal and related anterior segment diseases and surgical management of refractive error in a nurturing, supportive and respectful environment. 

Because of the faculty's wide range of interests, the Casey fellowship offers a unique spectrum of educational opportunities. Fellows participate directly in the medical management of patients in clinic, and perform a wide range of external disease and corneal surgeries. Fellows will gain mastery of all major corneal and related anterior segment diseases and surgical procedures. They are expected to deliver safe, effective, efficient, timely, patient-centered and equitable care of patients with corneal and refractive conditions. They are expected to provide respectful interactions with the faculty, residents and staff of the Casey Eye Institute and to engage in teaching and research along with their clinical duties. 

Clinical opportunities

The Cornea, External Disease and Refractive Surgery Service is well equipped for the diagnosis and treatment of all anterior segment disorders. Casey has outstanding diagnostic ultrasound and photographic services adjacent to the clinic, multiple topography, tomography and OCT systems, and confocal microscopy.  

The fellow will also perform LASIK and PRK as part of his/her clinical experience at the OHSU Casey Eye Institute.  Our current laser platforms are the femtosecond Intralase laser and the Allegretto Wavelight 500 excimer laser with topography-guided ablation technology.  

The candidate who successfully completes this fellowship will be proficient in penetrating and lamellar keratoplasty, including both anterior lamellar and endothelial keratoplasty, pterygium and tumor excision, anterior segment reconstruction, secondary intraocular lenses and refractive surgery. The fellow will also be competent in the diagnosis and treatment of external diseases of the eye, including ocular surface malignancies. 

Research opportunities

Clinical research and publication is encouraged. The faculty are involved in clinical trials, retrospective and prospective clinical research and NIH research grants, exposing the fellow to a variety of research opportunities.  

For those interested in basic science research, there are opportunities to participate directly in our division’s laboratory research programs. Projects include, but are not limited to:  

• investigations of the epidemiology of corneal disease 
• corneal imaging technologies with optical coherence technology
• techniques for endothelial transplantation 

• laser applications and therapeutic intervention of dry eye in animal models.  

Lions VisionGift

Fellows also have access to our internationally renowned affiliate Lions VisionGift, which is the state- of-the-art Portland eye bank involved in basic science research, surgical training and international outreach. Cornea faculty members sit on the Medical Advisory Board at Lions VisionGift. The clinical fellowship program is one year. However, applicants with a serious commitment to research will be considered for two-year appointments. 

Education opportunities

We encourage academic pursuits during the fellowship year. As a clinical Instructor, the fellow is an integral part of teaching in the Department of Ophthalmology. The fellow actively participates in hallway discussions and curbside consults with residents and attendings, quarterly research meetings, case conferences, journal clubs and other local and regional conferences. The fellow also provides instructional lectures to the residents.  

The fellow will typically be sent to a national conference such as American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS), or Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) if they have research to present. 

Application process

All applicants must have completed an ophthalmology residency prior to entering the fellowship at a program accredited by the ACGME. Applications should be submitted through the San Francisco match at www.sfmatch.org with completed Central Application Service form.  

Applications are reviewed by the program director and the division faculty, and appropriate candidates are invited for an interview. Candidates are ranked based on their performance in residency training as evidenced by their CV, letters of recommendation and interview performance. 

Application deadline is August 31, followed by interviews in the fall. Our next fellowship opening begins in July.

Fellowship co-directors

Winston Chamberlain, M.D., Ph.D.
Afshan Nanji, M.D.

Fellowship coordinator

Jill Morris, 503-494-3941

OHSU Casey Eye Institute
515 SW Campus Dr.
Portland, OR 97239