Africa Public Health & Clinical Ophthalmology Fellowships

Introduction

The Public Health & Clinical Ophthalmology Fellowships will be delivered for the first time in 2025 Africa as a collaboration between the International Centre for Eye Health (public health component) and three ophthalmology clinical institutions in Kenya (clinical component): City Eye Hospital, Lions SightFirst Eye Hospital and Kisii Eye Hospital.

In 2025, these fellowships are targeted at Kenyan ophthalmologists who have relatively recently completed their residency training. It is expected that future years will expand to include professionals from other COECSA countries.

Aims

To equip ophthalmologists with the knowledge and skills to improve the eye health of populations they serve.

 

Objectives

    • Develop an understanding of the role of public health for eye care in strengthening health systems in their country and catchment areas.
    • Equip fellows to use a structured approach to applying public health principles in developing clinical services at a population and facility level.
    • Build core research skills for evidence-based eye health – both understanding and developing research.
    • Acquire additional practical clinical skills to enable individuals to deliver more effective comprehensive clinical ophthalmology services, specifically in the areas of cataract, glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy.
    • Facilitate personal development and career progression through self-reflection and critical appraisal.

The 18-month fellowship programme has two distinct components:

Part A – public health training: e-portfolio in Public Health for Eye Care (PHEC) – It will be a fellowship requirement that the post-graduate (PG) PHEC e-portfolio is completed prior to the commencement of the comprehensive clinical training phase. These initial six months would be done while based in the fellow’s home institution. An agreement would need to be reached, before starting the fellowship, with the home institution to release the candidate one day per week to work on self-directed online learning and completion of modules along with interactive sessions with ICEH faculty.

Part B – Clinical Training in comprehensive ophthalmology, for one year. The clinical training will be focused to ensure that any clinical practice can be supported by the existing capacity and health system structure in the unit to which fellows will be returning to work. The Fellowships will concentrate on key elements of ‘comprehensive ophthalmology’ with particular focus on diagnostic and surgical and laser skills: cataract, glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy.

During Part B, the fellowship programme will build on the public health online training in Part A by providing opportunities to learn from programmes in and around the training centre they are based in. This will be delivered through mentorship by ICEH Public Health for Eye Care experts.

Selection Criteria

Before you apply please carefully check whether you meet all the following essential and any of the desirable selection criteria:

Essential (you must meet all of these):

    • Qualified medical doctor AND qualified ophthalmologist (complete residency/Mmed training), holding a licence to practise in and currently working as an ophthalmologist in Kenya
    • Ophthalmologist within 5 years after completing their residency / MMed training (excluding career breaks for maternity leave)
    • Currently employed by an institution in Kenya in which there is a demonstrable need for enhanced eye care services
    • The requested training fellowship has strong relevance to the needs of population served by their home institution and the capacity needs of their local team.
    • Letter from the candidate, providing a clear written commitment to returning to their current institution at the end of the fellowship period
    • Declaration from the applicant that they have access to a computer/ mobile device and internet and appropriate skills to undertake online learning.
    • Institutional support: a letter of support and practical commitment signed by both (1) the head of department and (2) the hospital executive director (or equivalent).

Desirable:

    • Work substantially (80%+) in a government hospital, university hospital or NGO or social enterprise ophthalmology unit
    • Have a role in training others
    • Have a clearly articulated interest in public health in eye care and how they would apply training in this area

 

How to apply – Deadline extended!

 

Download application form here – Due Saturday 31 May @ 12:00pm (BST)

 

Please complete the form clearly. All information relevant to your application must be included on this form.

Additional documents to be included in your application:

    • Your CV
    • Primary medical qualification certificate
    • MMed / Residency completion certificate
    • Letter from you, the candidate, providing a clear written commitment to returning to their home institution at the end of the fellowship period

Letter of support signed by both the head of your department and the head of the institution. The letter will need to state:

    • strong support for the candidate receiving this training
    • how this combined public health and clinical training fellowship is relevant and desirable for their context.
    • that they will release the fellow from clinical duties for a minimum of 1 day per week during the first six months, in order study for the post-graduate e-portfolio in public health for eye care.
    • what the institution will commit to ensure that the fellow will be properly resourced (with a position, facilities and equipment) to develop ophthalmology their services on completion of the fellowship.

Confirm that there are no “safeguarding” concerns in relation to the candidate

    DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS: Saturday 31 May 2025 @ 12:00pm (BST)

    If you have any questions please contact: Romulo Fabunan at romulo.fabunan@lshtm.ac.uk