Fellowship Overview

The Retina Clinical and Molecular Research Fellowship is a 12-month-long, full-time fellowship designed for vitreoretinal fellowship-trained physicians to gain specialized expertise in 1) clinical diagnosis and treatment of inherited retinal diseases, 2) laboratory based skills related to the molecular genetic diagnosis and pathophysiology of inherited retinal diseases, and 3) research skills necessary for advancing to an academic career.

This fellowship is under the direction of Elliott H. Sohn, MD and is designed as an option additional year to the Medical Retina or the Vitreoretinal Diseases and Surgery Fellowship.

Objectives

  • Clinical care of patients with inherited retinal disorders
    • Become proficient in the work-up and diagnosis of patients with these diseases
    • Understand how psychophysical and electrodiagnostic tests aid in assessment and progression
    • Increase ability to discuss genetic testing results and prognosis with patients and the implications for families
  • Medical knowledge
    • Attend didactic sessions on genetic eye disorders (e.g. Stone Rounds)
    • Be facile with core knowledge on inherited retinal disorders in Ryan Retina textbook as well as current literature
    • Develop a more precise understanding of genotype-phenotype correlations for inherited retinal diseases
  • Laboratory expertise
    • Learn how clinical diagnostic tests are performed and interpreted at the Carver Nonprofit Genetic Testing Laboratory
  • Research skills and writing
    • Become immersed in research related to inherited retinal diseases taking place at the UI Institute for Vision Research (topics include imaging, tumor genetics, psychophysical testing, animal surgery, genotype-phenotype correlations, clinical trials)
    • Write at least 1 peer-reviewed manuscript
    • Submit application for at least 1 research award/grant (if full external funding not already procured before starting fellowship)

Curriculum and rotations

The two primary components of this fellowship are based in the clinic seeing adult patients with inherited retinal diseases and laboratory performing research. The curriculum, rotation and rotation sites will consist of

  • 4 half-days a week (40%) in the inherited retinal disease clinics (UI Hospitals & Clinics) of Ian Han, MD, Elliott Sohn, MD, and Edwin Stone, MD, PhD
  • 4 half-days a week (40%) in the laboratory at the UI Institute for Vision Research (UIIVR at MERF) doing molecular genetics experimental research, writing papers and grants
  • 2 half-days a week (20%) spent in one of the following areas (that will be mutually agreed upon by the fellow and fellowship director)
    • Echography (Ophthalmology/UI Hospitals & Clinics)
    • Electrophysiology (Ophthalmology/UI Hospitals & Clinics)
    • Retinal imaging (UI Hospitals & Clinics/UIIVR)
    • Retinal tumor genetics (UI Hospitals & Clinics/UIIVR)
    • Rodent experiments of inherited retinal conditions (UIIVR)
    • Phase I-III clinical trials in retinal gene therapy
    • Preclinical (pig) surgery for retinal gene therapy and stem cell transplantation (UIIVR)
  • Further clinical opportunities that may be available (with discretion of the fellowship director) include:
    • Maximum of 12 days for independent clinics that will be in place of fellow or faculty retina physicians.
    • Maximum of 12 days of retinal surgery that will be supervised by a faculty physician. If this option is exercised, we will mitigate impact on the 2 year vitreoretinal surgery fellowship by having the research fellow take an proportional number of days of vitreoretinal surgery fellow call

Formal evaluation

Due to the nature of research, there will be frequent one-on-one contact between faculty and fellow thus evaluations will on-going. Formal evaluation will carried out semi-annually.

Benefits

Stipend, fringe, and benefits will be commensurate with level of training, for example, a fellow having completed a fellowship at the PGY-6 rate would be eligible for PGY-7 compensation.

Unlike the Vitreoretinal Surgery fellowship, the Retina clinical and molecular research fellowship is non-accredited.

Contact Us

Vitreoretinal Fellowship Director

Elaine Binkley, MD

University of Iowa Health Care
Department of Ophthalmology
200 Hawkins Drive
Iowa City, Iowa 52242-1091

Administrative Support: Kristina Huffman, kristina-huffman@uiowa.edu
Phone: 1-319-356-3185

Medical Retina Fellowship Coordinator

Kristina Huffman

University of Iowa Health Care
Department of Ophthalmology
200 Hawkins Drive
Iowa City, Iowa 52242-1091

E-mail: kristina-huffman@uiowa.edu
Phone: 1-319-356-3185

How to Apply

Thank you for your interest in our Fellowship Program. Applications for the 2025 Fellowship cycle will be processed through SF Match. Applicant registration opens Friday, June 28, 2024 and our application deadline is Sunday, September 1, 2024. Please reach out to Kristina Huffman if you have any questions.

Kristina Huffman, Retina Fellowship Coordinator
Department of Ophthalmology
University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics
Iowa City, IA 52242
1-319-356-3185
kristina-huffman@uiowa.edu

Only Central Application Service (CAS) applications will be accepted.

We take into consideration performance on the U.S. Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE), Central Application Services (CAS) applications, and CV, before extending an interview offer. Additional letters of recommendation are welcome, but not required. Ability to obtain an H1B visa and permanent Iowa license are required.

Required Application Materials:

  • CAS application

Our fellowship interviews are in person and will be held on Monday, September 30, Saturday, October 5, and Friday, November 8 for the 2025 match cycle. 

Orientation for new fellows begins July 1, so you must be available for that start date and be licensed in Iowa by June 30.

The Interview

InterviewQualifying applications will be invited to interview at our location in Iowa City.

  • Interiew dates: TBD

During that time you will be given a tour of the facilities, meet with our Retina faculty, and be given the opportunity to attend morning rounds and observe our clinic in action.

The Department of Ophthalmology is located on the first floor of the Pomerantz Family Pavilion at The University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics.

Listed below are some websites to give you more information

How to get to Iowa City

Where to Stay

General information about the Iowa City area

The University of Iowa campus

Maps, Parking, and Transportation

Publications

Fellows are encouraged to work on at least one project that will lead to a publication and/or presentation of new material at a national meeting such as the American Academy of Ophthalmology, ARVO, ASRS, Retina Society, or the Macula Society.

Articles recently published by our retina and vitreoretinal fellows include:

Almeida, D.R., Chin, E.K., Shah, S.S., Bakall, B., Gehrs, K.M., Boldt, H.C., Russell, S.R., Folk, J.C. and Mahajan, V.B. Comparison of microbiology and visual outcomes of patients undergoing small-gauge and 20-gauge vitrectomy for endophthalmitis. Clin Ophthalmol. 2016. 10, 167-172.

Chin, E.K., Almeida, D.R. and Mahajan, V.B. Chronic Recurrent Pseudophakic Endophthalmitis. JAMA Ophthalmol. 2016. 134 (4), 455-456. PubMed PMID: 26868359.

Huckfeldt, R.M., East, J.S., Stone, E.M. and Sohn, E.H. Phenotypic Variation in a Family With Pseudodominant Stargardt Disease. JAMA Ophthalmol. 2016. IN PRESS. PubMed PMID: 27030965.

Mammo, Z., Almeida, D.R., Cunningham, M.A., Chin, E.K. and Mahajan, V.B. Acanthamoeba Endophthalmitis after Recurrent Keratitis and Nodular Scleritis. Retin Cases Brief Rep. 2016. IN PRESS. PubMed PMID: 27152698.

Roybal, C.N., Kucukevcilioglu, M., Huckfeldt, R., Elshatory, Y., Thurtell, M.J. and Folk, J.C. Treatment of Retinopathy and Macular Edema Secondary to a Carotid-Cavernous Fistula. Retin Cases Brief Rep. 2016. 10 (3), 225-228. PubMed PMID: 26536012.

Velez, G., Roybal, C.N., Colgan, D., Tsang, S.H., Bassuk, A.G. and Mahajan, V.B. Precision Medicine: Personalized Proteomics for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Idiopathic Inflammatory Disease. JAMA Ophthalmol. 2016. 134 (4), 444-448. PubMed PMID: 26848019. PMCID: PMC4833518.

Zheng, A., Chin, E.K., Almeida, D.R., Tsang, S.H. and Mahajan, V.B. Combined Vitrectomy and Intravitreal Dexamethasone (Ozurdex) Sustained-Release Implant. Retina. 2016. IN PRESS. PubMed PMID: 27148836.

Almeida, D.R., Zhang, L., Chin, E.K., Mullins, R.F., Kucukevcilioglu, M., Critser, D.B., Sonka, M., Stone, E.M., Folk, J.C., Abramoff, M.D. and Russell, S.R. Comparison of retinal and choriocapillaris thicknesses following sitting to supine transition in healthy individuals and patients with age-related macular degeneration. JAMA Ophthalmol. 2015. 133 (3), 297-303. PubMed PMID: 25521616.

Almeida, D.R., Chin, E.K., Tarantola, R.M., Folk, J.C., Boldt, H.C., Skeie, J.M., Mullins, R.F., Russell, S.R. and Mahajan, V.B. Effect of internal limiting membrane abrasion on retinal tissues in macular holes. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2015. 56 (5), 2783-2789. PubMed PMID: 26024069. PMCID: PMC4416746.

Almeida, D.R., Chin, E.K., Rahim, K., Folk, J.C. and Russell, S.R. Factors associated with spontaneous release of vitreomacular traction. Retina. 2015. 35 (3), 492-497. PubMed PMID: 25207947.

Almeida, D.R., Chin, E.K., Tarantola, R.M., Tegins, E.O., Lopez, C.A., Boldt, H.C., Gehrs, K.M., Sohn, E.H., Russell, S.R., Folk, J.C. and Mahajan, V.B. Long-term outcomes in patients undergoing vitrectomy for retinal detachment due to viral retinitis. Clin Ophthalmol. 2015. 9, 1307-1314. PubMed PMID: 26229423. PMCID: PMC4514312.

Almeida, D.R., Chin, E.K., Roybal, C.N., Elshatory, Y. and Gehrs, K.M. Multiplane peripheral vitreous dissection with perfluoro-n-octane and triamcinolone acetonide. Retina. 2015. 35 (4), 827-828. PubMed PMID: 25768254.

Almeida, D.R., Chin, E.K., Boldt, H.C. and Mahajan, V.B. Scleral buckle hemorrhagic cyst masquerading as an orbital tumor. Clin Ophthalmol. 2015. 9, 343-345. PubMed PMID: 25709397. PMCID: PMC4335608.

Almeida, D.R., Chin, E.K., Mears, K., Russell, S.R. and Mahajan, V.B. Spontaneous dislocation of a fluocinolone acetonide implant (Retisert) into the anterior chamber and its successful extraction in sympathetic ophthalmia. Retin Cases Brief Rep. 2015. 9 (2), 142-144. PubMed PMID: 25411930.

Almeida, D.R., Mammo, Z., Chin, E.K. and Mahajan, V.B. Surgical Embolectomy for Fovea-Threatening Acute Retinal Artery Occlusion. Retin Cases Brief Rep. 2015. IN PRESS. PubMed PMID: 26674278.

Chin, E.K., Almeida, D.R. and Boldt, H.C. Combined Hamartoma of the Retina and Retinal Pigment Epithelium Leading to the Diagnosis of Neurofibromatosis Type 2 [online only]. JAMA Ophthalmol. 2015. 133 (9), e151289. PubMed PMID: 26356002.

Chin, E.K., Almeida, D.R., Strohbehn, A.L., Mahajan, V.B., Russell, S.R. and Folk, J.C. Elevated Intraocular Pressure Following Pars Plana Vitrectomy Due to Trapped Gas in the Posterior Chamber. Retin Cases Brief Rep. 2015. IN PRESS. PubMed PMID: 26630244.

Chin, E.K., Almeida, D.R., Grant, L.W., Niles, P.I. and Folk, J.C. Letter to the Editor: Outer Retinal Tubulations and Age-Related Macular Degeneration. Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina. 2015. 46 (6), 604-605. PubMed PMID: 26172060.

Chin, E.K., Almeida, D.R. and Folk, J.C. Letter to the editor: posterior hyaloid removal. Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina. 2015. 46 (4), 404. PubMed PMID: 25970859.

Chin, E.K., Almeida, D.R. and Mahajan, V.B. Management of Choroidal Granulomas Involving the Macula in Corticosteroid-Intolerant Patients. JAMA Ophthalmol. 2015. 133 (11), 1351-1352. PubMed PMID: 26356326.

Chin, E.K., Almeida, D.R., Roybal, C.N., Niles, P.I., Gehrs, K.M., Sohn, E.H., Boldt, H.C., Russell, S.R. and Folk, J.C. Oral mineralocorticoid antagonists for recalcitrant central serous chorioretinopathy. Clin Ophthalmol. 2015. 9, 1449-1456. PubMed PMID: 26316684.

Chin, E.K., Almeida, D.R., Sacher, B.A. and Boldt, H.C. Rapid involution of choroidal metastasis secondary to renal cell carcinoma with oral sunitinib. JAMA Ophthalmol. 2015. 133 (1), 109-110. PubMed PMID: 25321845.

Chin, E.K., Almeida, D.R. and Sohn, E.H. Sustained and expedited resolution of diabetic papillopathy with combined PRP and bevacizumab. Can J Ophthalmol. 2015. 50 (5), e88-91. PubMed PMID: 26455990.

Kirkpatrick, C.A., Almeida, D.R., Hornick, A.L., Chin, E.K. and Boldt, H.C. Erlotinib-associated bilateral anterior uveitis: resolution with posterior sub-Tenon's triamcinolone without erlotinib cessation. Can J Ophthalmol. 2015. 50 (5), e66-67. PubMed PMID: 26455982.

Lenci, L.T., Chin, E.K., Carter, C., Russell, S.R. and Almeida, D.R. Ischemic Retinal Vasculitis Associated with Cataract Surgery and Intracameral Vancomycin. Case Rep Ophthalmol Med. 2015. 2015, 4 pages, article ID 683194. PubMed PMID: 26618015.

Mahajan, V.B., Chin, E.K., Tarantola, R.M., Almeida, D.R., Somani, R., Boldt, H.C., Folk, J.C., Gehrs, K.M. and Russell, S.R. Macular Hole Closure With Internal Limiting Membrane Abrasion Technique. JAMA Ophthalmol. 2015. 133 (6), 635-641. PubMed PMID: 25764352.

Mears, K., Bakall, B., Harney, L.A., Penticoff, J.A. and Stone, E.M. Autosomal Dominant Microcephaly Associated With Congenital Lymphedema and Chorioretinopathy Due to a Novel Mutation in KIF11. JAMA Ophthalmol. 2015. 133 (6), 720-721. PubMed PMID: 25764055.

Skeie, J.M., Roybal, C.N. and Mahajan, V.B. Proteomic insight into the molecular function of the vitreous. PLoS One. 2015. 10 (5), e0127567. PubMed PMID: 26020955. PMCID: PMC4447289.

Almeida, D.R. and Chin, E.K. Spontaneous resolution of vitreomacular traction in two patients with diabetic macular edema. Case Rep Ophthalmol. 2014. 5 (1), 66-71. PubMed PMID: 24707275. PMCID: PMC3975209.

Almeida, D.R., Chin, E.K., Niles, P., Kardon, R. and Sohn, E.H. Unilateral manifestation of autoimmune retinopathy. Can J Ophthalmol. 2014. 49 (4), e85-87. PubMed PMID: 25103665.

Chin, E.K., Almeida, D.R., Sohn, E.H., Boldt, H.C., Mahajan, V.B., Gehrs, K.M., Russell, S.R. and Folk, J.C. Incomplete vitreomacular traction release using intravitreal ocriplasmin. Case Rep Ophthalmol. 2014. 5 (3), 455-462. PubMed PMID: 25606039. PMCID: PMC4296250.

Chin, E.K., Almeida, D.R. and Sohn, E.H. Structural and functional changes after macular hole surgery: a review. Int Ophthalmol Clin. 2014. 54 (2), 17-27. PubMed PMID: 24613881.

Mears, K.A., Sobel, R.K., Shriver, E.M. and Sohn, E.H. Endophthalmitis secondary to globe penetration from hydrogel scleral buckle. Int J Ophthalmol. 2014. 7 (3), 585-586. PubMed PMID: 24967213. PMCID: PMC4067681.

Zhou, Y., Davis, A.S., Spitze, A. and Lee, A.G. Maintenance of pupillary response in a glaucoma patient with no light perception due to persistence of melanopsin ganglion cells. Can J Ophthalmol. 2014. 49 (1), e20-21. PubMed PMID: 24513375.

Bakall, B., Folk, J.C., Boldt, H.C., Sohn, E.H., Stone, E.M., Russell, S.R. and Mahajan, V.B. Aflibercept therapy for exudative age-related macular degeneration resistant to bevacizumab and ranibizumab. Am J Ophthalmol. 2013. 156 (1), 15-22 e11. PubMed PMID: 23706500.

Braun, T.A., Mullins, R.F., Wagner, A.H., Andorf, J.L., Johnston, R.M., Bakall, B.B., Deluca, A.P., Fishman, G.A., Lam, B.L., Weleber, R.G., Cideciyan, A.V., Jacobson, S.G., Sheffield, V.C., Tucker, B.A. and Stone, E.M. Non-exomic and synonymous variants in ABCA4 are an important cause of Stargardt disease. Hum Mol Genet. 2013. 22 (25), 5136-5145. PubMed PMID: 23918662. PMCID: PMC3842174.

Cunningham, M.A., Tarantola, R.M., Folk, J.C., Sohn, E.H., Boldt, H.C., Graff, J.A., Elkins, K., Russell, S.R. and Mahajan, V.B. Proliferative vitreoretinopathy may be a risk factor in combined macular hole retinal detachment cases. Retina. 2013. 33 (3), 579-585. PubMed PMID: 23222494.

Cunningham, M.A., Boldt, H.C. and Stone, E.M. Retinal detachment in a patient with leber congenital amaurosis. Retin Cases Brief Rep. 2013. 7 (1), 102-104. PubMed PMID: 25390536.

Cunningham, M.A., Tlucek, P., Folk, J.C., Boldt, H.C. and Russell, S.R. Sequential, acute noninfectious uveitis associated with separate intravitreal injections of bevacizumab and ranibizumab. Retin Cases Brief Rep. 2013. 7 (4), 355-358. PubMed PMID: 25383816.

Tlucek, P.S., Folk, J.C., Sobol, W.M. and Mahajan, V.B. Surgical management of fibrotic encapsulation of the fluocinolone acetonide implant in CAPN5-associated proliferative vitreoretinopathy. Clin Ophthalmol. 2013. 7, 1093-1098. PubMed PMID: 23785231. PMCID: PMC3682853.

Tozer, K., Roller, A.B., Chong, L.P., Sadda, S., Folk, J.C., Mahajan, V.B., Russell, S.R., Boldt, H.C. and Sohn, E.H. Combination therapy for neovascular age-related macular degeneration refractory to anti-vascular endothelial growth factor agents. Ophthalmology. 2013. 120 (10), 2029-2034. PubMed PMID: 23714319.

Davis, A.S., Folk, J.C., Russell, S.R., Sohn, E.H., Boldt, H.C., Stone, E.M. and Mahajan, V.B. Intravitreal bevacizumab for peripapillary choroidal neovascular membranes. Arch Ophthalmol. 2012. 130 (8), 1073-1075. PubMed PMID: 22893085.

Tlucek, P.S., Folk, J.C., Orien, J.A., Stone, E.M. and Mahajan, V.B. Inhibition of neovascularization but not fibrosis with the fluocinolone acetonide implant in autosomal dominant neovascular inflammatory vitreoretinopathy. Arch Ophthalmol. 2012. 130 (11), 1395-1401. PubMed PMID: 22777573. PMCID: 3885610.

Xu, X., Reinhardt, J.M., Hu, Q., Bakall, B., Tlucek, P.S., Bertelsen, G. and Abramoff, M.D. Retinal vessel width measurement at branchings using an improved electric field theory-based graph approach. PLoS One. 2012. 7 (11), e49668. PubMed PMID: 23209588. PMCID: PMC3507841.

Roller, A.B., Folk, J.C., Patel, N.M., Boldt, H.C., Russell, S.R., Abramoff, M.D. and Mahajan, V.B. Intravitreal Bevacizumab for Treatment of Proliferative and Nonproliferative Type 2 Idiopathic Macular Telangiectasia. Retina. 2011. 31 (9), 1848-1855. PubMed PMID: 21610563.

EyeRounds contributions

Myers, L., Almeida, D. and Abràmoff, M.D. Intravitreal Injection Technique: A Primer for Ophthalmology Residents and Fellows. EyeRounds.org. January 6, 2015; Available from:http://www.EyeRounds.org/tutorials/intravitreal-injection/. 2015.

Treloar, M., Roybal, C.N., Niles, P.I. and Russell, S.R. Progression of Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy During Pregnancy. EyeRounds.org. Posted September 1, 2015; Available from:http://EyeRounds.org/cases/219-Gestational-Diabetic-Retinopathy.htm. 2015.

Chin, E. and Venckus, T. Allen Dots. EyeRounds.org.  Posted Jan 21, 2014. Available from:http://eyerounds.org/atlas/pages/Allen-dot.htm.  2014.

Folchert, M., Chin, E.K. and Folk, J.C. Polypoidal Choroidal Vasculopathy (PCV). EyeRounds.org. May 4, 2014; available from http://EyeRounds.org/cases/186-PCV.htm. 2014.

Gauger, E.H., Chin, E.K. and Sohn, E.H. Vitreous Syneresis: An Impending Posterior Vitreous Detachment (PVD). Oct 16, 2014; Available from: http://EyeRounds.org/cases/196-PVD.htm. 2014.

Chin, E. and Warner, L. Acquired Peripheral Retinoschisis. EyeRounds.org.  Posted Dec 9, 2013. Available from: http://eyerounds.org/atlas/pages/acquired-peripheral-retinoschisis.htm.  2013.

Chin, E. and Montague, C. Angioid Streaks and Optic Disc Drusen in Pseudoxanthoma Elasticum. EyeRounds.org.  Posted Aug 15, 2013, Available fromhttp://eyerounds.org/atlas/pages/angioid-streaks-optic-disc-drusen-pseudoxanthoma-elasticum.htm.  2013.

Chin, E. and Critser, B. Combined Hamartoma of the Retina and Retina Pigment Epithelium (CHRRPE). EyeRounds.org.  Posted Aug 21, 2013. Available from:http://eyerounds.org/atlas/pages/CHRRPE.htm.  2013.

Grant, L., Walsh, M. and Feng, M. Familial Exudative Vitreoretinopathy (FEVR). EyeRounds.org.  Posted Aug 15, 2013. Available fromhttp://eyerounds.org/atlas/pages/FEVR.htm.  2013.

Davis, A.S. and Syed, N.A. Granular Corneal Dystrophy Discovered Following LASIK: A Clinicopathologic Correlation of Granular Corneal Dystrophy Type II and LASIK. EyeRounds.org. September 16, 2011. Available from: http://EyeRounds.org/cases/140-post-LASIK-Granular-Corneal-Dystrophy.htm. 2011.