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Medical Retina Fellowship

Program Director & Selection Chair: Steffen Schmitz-Valckenberg, MD, Professor
Department ChairmanRandall J Olson, MD, Distinguished Professor, CEO, John A. Moran Eye Center
Vice Chair of Education: Rachel G. Simpson, MD, Assistant Professor  
Academic Programs Manager: Kellie Nelson

About Our Fellowship

We offer a one-year Medical Retinal Fellowship, offering extensive and diverse exposure with hands-on training in all areas of medical retina, including macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, retinal vascular diseases, inherited retinal degenerations, uveitis, and ocular tumors.

The Medical Retina Fellowship at the John A. Moran Eye Center joins existing and well-established surgical retina and uveitis fellowship programs, addressing the increasing need for well-trained specialists in the medical management of patients with vitreous, retina, and choroidal diseases.

Interview Dates

We will hold in-person interviews on the following date:

  • 2024 TBA

Please apply through SF Match #8089.

Learn More About Our Fellowship Program

What Makes Our Fellowship Unique

The John A. Moran Eye Center is the largest vision research and treatment center in the Mountain West, with more than 60 faculty members, 10 satellite clinics, and 20 research laboratories and centers. Physicians provide comprehensive care in all ophthalmic subspecialties, making the Moran Eye Center a major referral center for complex cases with nearly 175,000 patient visits and about 9,000 surgeries annually.

Moran invests in the full spectrum of research, supporting basic research that adds to our foundation of knowledge and then providing the tools to translate discoveries into new therapies and treatments. Research initiatives include the Utah Retinal Reading Center (UREAD), which seeks to contribute to the characterization of manifestation and progression of ophthalmic diseases, focusing on the evaluation of treatment response to innovative therapeutic strategies. 

Faculty

Opportunities

We offer ample opportunities in clinics at different locations to intensively interact with the faculty, residents, and medical students.

The fellowship also includes opportunities to participate in conferences, journal clubs and rounds, innovative research projects and clinical trials (including protective research time), imaging analysis at the Utah Retinal Reading Center (uread.org), and global outreach service (up to 4 weeks/year paid).

Active participation in at least one national or international scientific meeting is expected.

As with most ophthalmology fellowship programs, ours is not an approved PGY–5 ACGME position. It is, however, affiliated with an ACGME accredited Ophthalmology Residency Program and AUPO compliant. The University provides malpractice insurance as well as medical, dental, and other benefits.

Requirements

If selected for this position:

  • You must attend a scheduled orientation where we will explain in detail all benefits of the program, departmental policies, procedures, and requirements.
  • You will be required to obtain a Utah physician license, a Utah Controlled Substance License, and a DEA license.
  • You will also be required to obtain privileges with the University Hospital, Primary Children's Medical Center, and Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
  • Fees for the DEA license will be reimbursed by the Department of Ophthalmology. University policy requires original receipts for reimbursement. We will work closely with you to meet these requirements.

Questions

Any questions can be directed to Kellie.Nelson@hsc.utah.edu. Thank you for your interest in the Medical Retina Fellowship program at the John A. Moran Eye Center.

Considering a Moran Fellowship?

Take a look for more information about our program and living in Utah.

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Moran Minute: Meet the Techs

Education Program Resources

Contact Us

University of Utah School of Medicine

Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences

John A. Moran Eye Center
Academic Office
65 Mario Capecchi Drive
Salt Lake City, UT 84132

Phone: 801-585-3719
Fax: 801-581-5806

Rachel G. Simpson, MD, Vice Chair of Education
Phone: 801-581-2352
rachel.simpson@hsc.utah.edu

Sravanthi Vegunta, MD, Associate Program Director
Phone: 801-581-2352
srav.vegunta@hsc.utah.edu

Meghan Johnson, Programs Manager, Academics
Phone: 801-213-4044
meghan.johnson@hsc.utah.edu

Kellie Nelson, Programs Manager, Academics
Phone: 801-585-6701
kellie.nelson@hsc.utah.edu

Chandler Thompson, Executive Assistant
Phone: 801-581-3023
chandler.thompson@hsc.utah.edu

Barbara Korous, Director, Operations
801-585-6143
barbara.korous@hsc.utah.edu