Glaucoma

About the Fellowship

Thank you for your interest in the Dalhousie University Clinical Glaucoma Fellowship. Our clinical glaucoma fellowship was established in 1998. We have trained many Canadian and International ophthalmologists who have become highly qualified and well-rounded clinicians, researchers and educators.

The fellowship is a one-year AUPO (Association of University Professors of Ophthalmology) - approved program at the Eye Care Centre, which is affiliated with Dalhousie University. It begins on July 1 each year and offers an excellent and broad range of clinical and research experiences.

Our clinical population comprises of patients with the spectrum of the disease. As many of our patients have advanced and complex glaucoma, our fellows graduate with substantial experience in clinical and surgical management of complex disease. The laser and surgical experience is comprehensive and includes: SLT, LPI, cyclophotocoagulation, trabeculectomy, glaucoma drainage devices, minimally invasive glaucoma surgeries (GATT, KDB, iStent, Hydrus Microstent, PRESERFLO MicroShunt, XEN Gel Stent), and some exposure to paediatric glaucoma surgery. One highlight of our program is the hands-on surgical experience our fellows acquire, with large number of cases and supervision by four attending glaucoma sub-specialists.

• Fellowship Facts
• Patient Care
• Research
• Academic/Teaching Activities
• Application Process

Fellowship Facts

• Number of clinical glaucoma fellows accepted each year: 1
• Length of clinical fellowship: 1 year
• AUPO (Association of University Professors of Ophthalmology) approved
• Fellowship Start date: July 1
• Stipend per year: $90, 000
• Vacation per year: 2 weeks + statutory Holidays

Patient Care

The Eye Care Centre is the largest tertiary eye care facility in Atlantic Canada, with referrals from Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador. Fellows are under the supervision of four leading and experienced glaucoma sub-specialists. Our fellows gain experience in a mix of hospital and community based settings, with two faculty members having exclusively hospital practices, while the other two are community based.

Research

Research  is considered to be an integral part of our glaucoma fellowship program and we are fortunate enough to have one of the most active glaucoma research programs in the world. Fellows participate actively in our weekly glaucoma research lab meeting (Friday afternoon), where ongoing and new projects are discussed. Fellows are required to engage in research and conduct full projects, from inception to publication, including hypothesis generation, literature review with critical appraisal, REB approval, data collection/retrieval and data analysis. Fellows are expected to present their research at the annual Research Day. Fellows should also strive to present their research projects at Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, Canadian Ophthalmological Society or American Glaucoma Society meetings. Conference leave and travel expenses are provided to attend up to two of these meetings to present research findings.

Research Faculty Members who train Glaucoma fellows:

Balwantray Chauhan, PhD, Mathers Professor and Research Director
Office: 902-473-3232
bal@dal.ca 

Academic/Teaching activities

The Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences has a comprehensive academic program.

• Mondays, 7:30 am – weekly glaucoma teaching sessions for residents and fellows.
• Wednesdays, 7:45 am  - weekly Departmental Grand Rounds
• Fridays, 2 pm - weekly glaucoma research meetings
• Fall – Annual Atlantic Eye Symposium
• Fall – Biannual Form and Function meeting
• Spring - Annual Research Day
• Spring – Annual Atlantic Provinces Ophthalmological Society meeting
• Fall and Spring – Residents Mock Royal College examination

Clinical Faculty Members who train Glaucoma fellows:

Marcelo Nicolela MD, PhD, FRCSC
Office: 902-473-3622
Marcelo.nicolela@dal.ca

Devin Betsch MD, FRCSC
Office: 902-453-3937
devin.betsch@dal.ca

Lesya Shuba MD, PhD, FRCSC, Fellowship Director
Office: 902-473-3410
lshuba@dal.ca

Brennan Eadie MD, PhD, FRCSC
Office: 902-454-2540
Eadie.brennan.d@gmail.com

Application Process

Applicants need to qualify for a Full, or Defined Medical, or Academic license in Nova Scotia, Canada. Please review these Websites for the requirements:
https://cpsns.ns.ca/registration-licensing/future-practice/defined-licence/

https://cpsns.ns.ca/registration-licensing/future-practice/academic-licence/

Applications are submitted directly to Ms Tomma MacDonald, Education Coordinator at ophthed@dal.ca

Deadline for application is September 15. With your application please submit (1) a current curriculum vitae (CV), (2) three letters of reference (at least one letter must be from Head of the Department from which the candidate graduated or Residency Program Director), and (3) a cover letter. Selected applicant will be interviewed virtually this year, but if preferred, in-person interviews can be arranged.

Please specifically include the following information in your CV:

• Current address
• Citizenship
• Medical school (name, location, year graduation)
• Completion of a licensing examination (year and what examination)
• Residency education (name, location, year of graduation)
• Post-residency education (name, location, year of graduation)
• Post-residency work experience (name, location, year(s))
• Other degrees (name, location, year of graduation)
• Current position (name, location, year(s))
• Why you are interested in glaucoma
• Why are you interested in this fellowship
• Surgical experience (please complete the table)