ESASO Fellowships - advance postgraduate educational forum

An ESASO Fellowship is arguably the most attractive opportunity for young talented and ambitious ophthalmologists in ESASO’s advanced postgraduate educational programme. Fellows receive financial, organizational and advisory support for one full year, to develop their skills to highly advanced levels as a guest at affiliated first-rate eye hospitals and research institutions all over the world. In a stringent competitive procedure, an international jury selected Firuzeh Rajabian (France) and Spyridoula Souki (Greece) as ESASO Fellows 2016-2017. Sixty-three candidates applied to the ESASO Fellowship Programme, eight candidates were selected and invited for personal interview to Lugano on 6 June 2016. The Fellowship provides hands-on training from globally renowned professionals and researchers in an individually chosen ophthalmological sub-speciality. Possible topics include cataract surgery, cornea and refractive surgery, glaucoma, as well as medical and surgical retina, among others. An individual Tutor and their team will support the Fellow. Depending on the institution, the Fellow will spend approximately 20% of the time with his principal tutor, while members of the team are virtually always available. PROFESSIONAL PROFILES The ESASO Fellowship Committee thoroughly interviewed the candidates in order to evaluate their professional profiles and motivations. After a detailed discussion, the committee awarded ESASO Fellowships to two outstanding applicants: Firuzeh Rajabian (France) will follow an individually tailored programme for Medical Retina and Research at the Manchester Royal Eye Hospital and the Manchester Vision Regeneration (MVR) Lab at the NIHR/Wellcome Trust Manchester CRF, in the UK. Principal Tutor is Prof Paulo E. Stanga. Dr Rajabian will participate in one or more translational research projects funded by industry within novel vitreoretinal and choroidal imaging techniques, gene therapy, laser tissue interaction and experimental vitreoretinal surgery as well as perform clinical duties within dedicated medical retina, diabetic, paediatric retinal and laser outpatient clinics. Spyridoula Souki (Greece) will expand and advance her skills in Anterior Segment Surgery at the Instituto de Microcirurgia Ocular (IMO) in Barcelona, Spain. Principal Tutor is Prof José L. Güell. Dr Souki will broaden her expertise mainly in the assessment and contemporary management of (adult) cataract and disorders of cornea and develop an understanding of the principles of refractive surgery. BENEFITS FOR FELLOWS: • For each ESASO Fellow, an individually tailored, specific and demanding research programme will be discussed and developed with the candidate. • Taken together, the Fellowship programme is well suited to help the Fellow to develop their clinical and scientific skills to a highly advanced level and start an international career.