EyeCare Partners Introduces Advanced Comprehensive Ophthalmology Fellowship (ACOF) as Pathway to Accelerate Skill Development and Address the Need for More Trained Ophthalmologists

ACOF Exemplifies ECP’s Commitment to Advancing Care and Improving Access

EyeCare Partners (ECP), the nation’s leading provider of clinically integrated eye care, is proud to announce the launch of its new Advanced Comprehensive Ophthalmology Fellowship (ACOF), aimed at enhancing the training and expertise of aspiring ophthalmologists, while also increasing access to quality eye care for patients. ACOF is a one-year program that will provide comprehensive training to residency graduates in the latest advancements in ophthalmology, including diagnostic and therapeutic techniques, surgical procedures and clinical research.

ACOF was developed by the EyeCare Partners Innovation Center, which was launched last fall to advance eye care quality, research and education.

“As a doctor-led eye care network with a focus on elevating eye care and improving patient access, ECP is committed to developing the next generation of ophthalmic leaders,” said Robert Folberg, M.D., Vice President of Education at EyeCare Partners. “Traditional fellowships focus on subspecialities like glaucoma, cornea, anterior segment, retina, neuro-ophthalmology and oculoplastics. We anticipate this one-year fellowship will provide new ophthalmologists with a breadth of experience beyond any one specialty and exceeds what physicians who go directly from residencies into private practice might gain in three to five years.”

The fellowship program starts in the fall of 2024 and will be sponsored by three industry leading ophthalmologists, who will provide hands-on training and mentorship to fellows in a supportive and collaborative environment. Fellows will also have access to state-of-the-art facilities and equipment to enhance their learning experience. Sponsors of ECP’s 2024 ACOF are:

• John Sheppard, M.D., founder of Virginia Eye Consultants in Norfolk, and Professor of Ophthalmology, Microbiology, and Molecular Biology at Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS). He is the Research Director of the Residency Program and Clinical Director of the Thomas R. Lee for Ocular Pharmacology at EVMS.
• Edward Meier, M.D., Cincinnati Eye Institute and director of Apex Eye Clinical Research in Cincinnati, Ohio with more than 20 years of experience in cataract surgery, glaucoma, diabetic eye disease, dry eye and eye care emergencies.
• Timothy Page, M.D., Oakland Ophthalmic Surgery in Birmingham, Michigan. An accomplished scientific author and inventor, Dr. Page holds several patents and has pioneered numerous surgical concepts in ophthalmic surgery. He has also led hundreds of volunteer doctors and nurses in remote regions of East Africa.

“We will train ACOF physicians in a wide range of specialties including advanced cornea, retina and glaucoma care, as well as in the latest cataract surgery techniques and use of the newest eye care technology,” said Dr. Sheppard, President at Virginia Eye Consultants. “We expect the additional time our fellows will spend honing their surgical skills will enable them to hit the ground running once they join a practice.”

Successful fellows will be offered opportunities to join ECP practices and participate in a career-long mentorship program.

By offering this fellowship program, ECP hopes to contribute to the development of a highly skilled and competent workforce in ophthalmology, and ultimately improve the quality of eye care provided to patients in the communities we serve.

“The need for highly trained ophthalmologists is growing. These fellowships offer an exciting opportunity for early-career physicians to gain critical skills and positions our fellows to accelerate their careers,” said Dr. Meier, comprehensive ophthalmologist at Cincinnati Eye Institute. “ACOF will help us meet the growing eye care needs and exemplifies EyeCare Partners’ strong commitment to continuously advancing eye care and improving access.”

“The chance to gain deep experience across a broad range of subspecialties sets ACOF apart from other fellowships and provides an unprecedented opportunity for young physicians to jump-start their career in comprehensive ophthalmology,” said Dr. Page, comprehensive ophthalmologist at Oakland Ophthalmic Surgery.

Applications for ACOF are now open, and interested and qualified candidates are encouraged to apply at https://www.eyecare-partners.com/acof/. The deadline for applications for 2024 fellowships is August 31, 2023.

About EyeCare Partners

EyeCare Partners is the nation’s leading provider of clinically integrated eye care. Our national network of over 300 ophthalmologists and 700 optometrists provides a lifetime of care to our patients with a mission to enhance vision, advance eye care and improve lives. Based in St. Louis, Missouri, over 700 ECP-affiliated practice locations provide services that span the eye care continuum in 18 states and 30 markets. For more information, visit www.eyecare-partners.com and follow us on LinkedIn.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230627298839/en/