2020 ICO — RRF HELMERICH INTERNATIONAL FELLOWSHIP RECIPIENTS

Estephania Feria Anzaldo, MD (from Mexico) will serve a training fellowship in retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and pediatric retina under supervision of Dr. Berrocal at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute in Miami, FL from August 2020 to July 2021 (start delayed due to pandemic travel restrictions).

Irmak Karaca, MD, from Turkey, will serve a training fellowship in retina and uveitis under supervision of Dr. Nguyen and Dr. Do at the Byers Eye Institute, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA from May 2020 to April 2021 (start delayed due to pandemic travel restrictions).

2019 ICO — RRF HELMERICH INTERNATIONAL FELLOWSHIP RECIPIENTS

Dhariana Acon Ramirez, MD (from Costa Rica) – for training in a ROP and pediatric retina Fellowship with Dr. Audina Berrocol at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Miami, FL.  Her fellowship was from March 1, 2019 to May 1, 2020.

Federica Solanes, MD (from Chile) – for training in Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus with with Dr. Joseph L. Demer at Stein Eye Institute at UCLA.  Her fellowship began July 1, 2019.

Front left: Dr. Acon (2019) and front right: Dr. Prakhunhungsit (2018) Helmerich Fellows whose experiences overlapped at Bascom Palmer, Miami, FL

2018 ICO — RRF HELMERICH INTERNATIONAL FELLOWSHIP RECIPIENTS

Hassan Mansoor, MD (from Pakistan) – for training in  Cornea and External Diseases
Fellowship with Prof. Chee Soon Phaik (Singapore National Eye Center), completed fellowship year began June 2019.

Supalert Prakhunhungsit, MD (from Thailand) – for training in ROP and Pediatric Retina
Fellowship with Dr. Audina Berrocal (Bascom Palmer, Miami, FL), completed fellowship year began March 2019.

2017 ICO — RRF HELMERICH INTERNATIONAL FELLOWSHIP RECIPIENTS

Linda Espinosa Cernichiaro Amejandra, MD (from Mexico) – trained in ROP and Pediatric Retina
Fellowship with Dr. Audina Berrocal (Bascom Palmer, Miami, FL)
Began in March 2017

Nilufer Yesilirmak, MD (from Turkey) – for training in Cornea and External Diseases
Fellowship with Dr. Ellen Koo (Bascom Plamer, Miami, FL)
August 2017 to July 2018

2016 ICO — RRF HELMERICH INTERNATIONAL FELLOWSHIP RECIPIENTS

Thiago George Cabral, MD (from Brazil) – for training in Retina
Fellowship with Dr. Stephen Tsang (New York, NY)

Jose Manuel Guajardo Beroiza, MD (from Chile) – for training in Glaucoma
Fellowship with Dr. Kim Sheng Lim (St. Thomas Hospital, Dept. of Ophthalmology, London, UK)
April 2016 to March 2017

Excerpt from Dr. Guajardo’s Report:

I was able to provide supervised medical and surgical care for patients with all different categories of Glaucoma. These included primary and secondary open angle glaucoma (uveitis, pseudoexfoliation syndrome, anteriour segment dysgenesis, neovascular, etc) as well as the whole angle closure spectrum. Specifically I independently performed more than 50 glaucoma drainage device and trabeculectomies, more than 100 complex and combined cataract surgery as well as over 40 endoscopic photocoagulation. I also took direct involvement in medical and laser treatment (over 45 selective laser treatment) and postoperative care including antimetabolite subconjunctival injections, suture adjustment and removal, argon laser suturelysis, yag laser iridotomies among others.

I will be presenting a poster showing our results of Phacoemulsification combined with Endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation in the World Glaucoma Congress, Helsinki, on June 29th, and I am preparing a manuscript for submission in the following weeks showing results for a particular tube surgery revision technique.

Waheed Ademola Ibraheem, MD (from Nigeria) – for training in Vitreoretina
Fellowship with Dr. Jain (Satna, India)
April 2016 to April 2017

Excerpt from Dr. Ibraheem’s Report:

My experience at Shri Sadguru Seva Sangh Postgraduate institute of Ophthalmology, Chitrakoot, India was a memorable one. I participated fully in all clinical activities including weekly seminars and case report. I contributed and share my experience in relevant situation. I also had a privilege to attend a yearly conference (Sadguru conclave) which saw in attendance many renowned Ophthalmologists.

During my training period, I practically performed all forms of surgical retina cases ranging from vitrectomy for vitreous hemorrhage, removal of nucleus/ intra ocular foreign bodies from the vitreous cavity, sclera buckle for retina detachment, macula hole surgery, scleral fixated intraocular lens and vitrectomy for retinal detachment. Honestly, my aims were achieved and I can now confidently perform all these procedures independently. Following my return to Nigeria, I have performed 2 successful retina detachment surgeries and 1 sclera fixated intra ocular lens. Many thanks to ICO.

Link to International Council of Ophthalmology List of Fellowship Alumni

2015 ICO — RRF HELMERICH INTERNATIONAL FELLOWSHIP RECIPIENTS

Yeshigeti Gelaw Birhanu, MD (from Ethiopia) – for training in Vitreoretinal Surgery
Fellowship:  Eye and Laser World Center, Cairo, Egypt
with Dr. Ihab Saad Othman

Nopasak Phasukkijwatana, MD, PhD (from Thailand) – for training in Medical Retina
Fellowship:  Jules Stein Eye Institute at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA
with Dr. Bartly Mondino and Dr. David Sarraf
July 2015 to June 2016

Excerpt from Dr. Phasukkijwatana’s Report:

I really enjoyed my training experience at the Stein Eye Institute with Dr. David Sarraf and team. I have learned through great amount of both clinical exposure and research in retinal imaging especially optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). The academic atmosphere was very active and I have up to 30 publications during the training period. Last but not least, I have made good friends who are retinal specialists from several parts of the world.

Now I have been back in Thailand bringing much knowledge back to my university. I have more confidence when seeing patients and in giving the right diagnosis and treatment than before. I have taught my own retinal fellows and residents the new knowledge that I have learnt during my fellowship. I am pioneering research about OCTA in my institute and the Thai Retinal Society. Without support form the ICO RRF Helmerich, I would not have been in such an outstanding ophthalmologist team and forefront research group at the Stein Eye.

Poster presentation at ARVO 2017 with Prof. David Sarraf (second from left), Dr. Juan Pablo Davila from Mexico (middle), Dr. Andrea Govetto from Italy (second from right) and Dr. Mayss Al-Sheikh from Switzerland (right)

With Prof. Bradley R. Straatsma, Director Emeritus of the Jules Stein Eye Institute and President Emeritus of the ICO Foundation

Qisheng You, MD, PhD (from China) – for training in Retina
Fellowship:  Jacobs Medical Center, Shiley Eye Center at UCSD, San Diego, CA
with Dr. William Freeman

Excerpt from Dr. You’s Report:

This is to report that I have completed the ICO sponsored fellowship training (2015.8.1 to 2016.8.1) in Jacobs Retina Center Shiley Eye Insitute, University of California San Diego, under the tutoring of Dr. William Freeman.

During the fellowship-training, I got large amount of clinical exposure and enormous academic research opportunities. I observed Dr. Freeman’s clinics (about 4000 out patients/year), operations (about 300 vitrectomies/year), intraocular injections (about 1000 injections/year) and ocular imaging (about 2500 outpatients/year). I was also involved in several clinical trials for neovascular age-related macular degeneration, geographic atrophy and diabetic retinopathy. I carried out several research projects, wrote 6 scientific papers as first author or co-first author. In addition, I was involved in another 8 papers as a co-author. While being trained in Jacobs Retina Center, I kept collaborating with my colleagues in my home country. I published 10 papers together with the researchers from my home country during the fellowship training.

Now I have returned to Beijing and started to work in my home institute, the Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University.

Observing operations in the OR

Dr. You learning the cutting edge ocular imaging

 

2014 ICO — RRF HELMERICH INTERNATIONAL FELLOWSHIP RECIPIENTS

Guillermo Salcedo-Villanueva, MD (from Mexico) – for training in Medical Retina
Fellowship:  University of Colorado, Denver, CO
with Dr. Hugo Quiroz-Mercado

Excerpt from Dr. Salcedo-Villanueva’s Report:

The fellowship was performed at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, Rocky Mountain Lions Eye Institute and Denver Health Medical Center, from July 2013 to June 2014. The fellowship program was Vitreoretinal Diseases and Surgery, under Dr. Naresh Mandava, Chair for the Department of Ophthalmology of the University of Colorado, and Dr. Hugo QuirozMercado, Director of Ophthalmology of Denver Health Medical Center. The fellowship allowed me to complement my training as a Retina Specialist by being exposed to different areas of our field, like Ocular Oncology and Pediatric Retina, as well as expand my knowledge and expertise on diseases that are the leading causes of blindness, like Diabetic Retinopathy and Age-related Macular Degeneration.

I was able to assist at the OR and learn different surgical techniques under Dr. Quiroz-Mercado and Dr. Scott Oliver. I also had the opportunity to be involved in important clinical trials by working in research for the Diabetic Retinopathy Clinical Research Network. I was able to investigate, experiment and “play” with different imaging tools which at the time were still not available in Mexico, like the ultra-wide field fundus camera.

Mehran Zarei-Ghanavati, MD (from Iran) – for training in Cornea and External Diseases
Fellowship:  Sussex Eye Hospital, Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS, in Brighton, UK
with Dr. Christopher Liu

 

2013 ICO — RRF HELMERICH INTERNATIONAL FELLOWSHIP RECIPIENTS

David Rivera de la Parra, MD (from Mexico City) – for training in Retina
Fellowship:    Jules Stein Eye Institute, Los Angeles, CA, USA
Steven D. Schwartz, MD

Dr. Rivera de la Parra with Dr. Gregg T. Kokame from Retina Consultants of Hawaii (left) and Dr. Brad Straatsma, President Emeritus, ICO Foundation (Interestingly the statue in the back is that of Dr. Jules Stein.)

Excerpt from Dr. Rivera de la Parra’s report:

One of the major advantages of doing this Fellowship at UCLA Jules Stein Eye Institute is the complexity of the patients, many with severe or rare diseases.  This depth of pathology makes this place unique in the amount of knowledge that you may acquire while working in here.

The Institute´s staff is incredibly good at its work and maintains very high standards.  All the staff is always willing to learn and being up to date with all issues. Discussing interesting cases always helps everyone and is something that frequently occurs in UCLA medical halls. The academic activities (surgical rounds, grand rounds, research meetings, imaging conferences) are of a very high quality and the doctors, fellows and residents are always interested in contributing and distributing new knowledge. Also I got involved in several interesting research projects that will contribute with new concepts to the medical literature. My goal will be to use this newfound knowledge to help me deliver the best care possible to my patients in México.

 

Bruna Vieira Ventura, MD  (from Brazil) – for training in Cornea
Fellowship:    Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
Douglas D. Koch, MD
Fellowship dates: May 2013 to April 2014

 

 

2012 ICO — RRF HELMERICH INTERNATIONAL FELLOWSHIP RECIPIENTS

Henry E. Nkumbe, MD (from Madagascar) – retina surgery fellowship training at Aravind Eye Hospital, Madurai, India.

A native of Cameroon, Dr. Nkumbe is a graduate of the University of Goettingen, Germany. He was assigned to Madagascar by the international disability and development organization CBM and has been instrumental in implementation of VISION 2020 and training of eye doctors and ophthalmic personnel, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health of Madagascar and the Malagasy Ophthalmological Society. He is a founding member of the Cameroonian Forum for Medical Sciences, and the General Secretary of the African Ophthalmology Forum.

Update on Dr. Nkumbe (2017)

Dr. Nkumbe is Medical Director of MICEI, the Magrabi – ICO Cameroon Eye Institute. MICEI is the first project of the newly-created Africa Eye Foundation, and has recently opened in Central Africa (situated in Yaounde, Cameroon) with the mission of providing high quality eye care services to this underserved region. The MICEI is Central Africa’s first non-profit subspecialty eye hospital and training institute.

 

 

Pukhraj Rishi, MD  (from Chennai, India) – ocular oncology fellowship training at Wills Eye Institute, Philadelphia, PA

Dr. Rishi is a graduate of B J Medical College and M & J Institute of Ophthalmology in Ahmedabad. He trains residents, fellows and ophthalmic personnel at the Sankara Nethralya Medical Research Foundation in Chennai, India, where he also conducts research and clinical trials. His areas of interest are age-related macular degeneration and ocular oncology.

His Helmerich Fellowship in ocular oncology at the Wills Eye Institute will enable Dr. Rishi to build global partnerships with leading oncology research centers.

 

2011 ICO — RRF HELMERICH INTERNATIONAL FELLOWSHIP RECIPIENTS

 

Lala Ceklic, MD, PhD (Bosnia and Herzegovina) – fellowship training at Bern University Hospital, Switzerland

 

Afsun Sahin, MD (Turkey)
Fellowship training at Mass Eye & Ear Schepens Eye Research Institute at Harvard University, Boston, MA
Subspecialty: Cornea
Training with: David A. Sullivan, PhD, Associate Professor of Ophthalmology
Fellowship dates: October 2010 – September 2011
Post-fellowship teaching position:
Associate Professor of Ophthalmology, Eskisehir Osmangazi University Medical School, Eskisehir, Turkey

 

2010 ICO — RRF HELMERICH INTERNATIONAL FELLOWSHIP RECIPIENTS (First recipients)

Mohammed El-Hanan, MD (Egypt) – Fellowship training at L. V. Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad, India

Siamak Zarei-Ghanavati, MD (Iran) – Fellowship training at the Jules Stein Eye Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, CA

Excerpt from Dr. Zarei-Ghanavati’s report following Fellowship (July 1, 2010 – June 30, 2011):

“The fellowship program offered comprehensive training in all aspects of corneal transplantation (including the newest surgical techniques such as endothelial transplantation, femtosecond laser assisted keratoplasty procedures, and keratoprosthesis), refractive surgery, and uveitis.

During the first four months of my fellowship, I focused primarily on research; I worked under Dr. Aldave’s direction, on the search for and characterization of the genes corneal dystrophies. Under supervision of Dr. Deng, I studied confocal imaging of limbus and corneal stem cells. We wrote two articles and we have submitted one. I have also submitted a paper about “Ocular response analyzer in keratoconic patients” in ARVO, under direction of Dr. Hamilton.

The clinical and surgical experiences have provided me extensive exposure to all aspects of cornea, external disease, anterior segment surgery, and new refractive surgeries.”

Doheny Eye Institute, Los Angeles, Calif. – Training in Neuro-Ophthalmology with: Peter A. Quiros, MD; Fellowship dates: July 2019 to June 2020

2020 Gillingham Fellows

Julia de Lima Farah (Brazil) Accepted for a Retina Fellowship at the Alberta Health Services, Calgary, Canada, with Dr. Amin Kherani and Dr. R. Geoff Williams

Matias Ariel Soifer (Argentina) Accepted for an Ocular Immunology International Clinical Research Fellowship at Foster Center for Ocular Immunology, Duke Eye Institute, Durham NC, USA, with Dr. Victor Perez.

2019 Gillingham Fellows

Paulina Liberman Salazar MD (from Santiago, Chile) – to Johns Hopkins University, Wilmer Eye Institute in Baltimore, Maryland – Training in ocular immunology and uveitis with:  Jennifery E. Thorne MD PhD;  Fellowship dates: July 2019 to July 2020

Alvaro Jose Mejía Vergara MD (from Bogotá, Colombia) – to UCLA in Doheny Eye Institute, Los Angeles, Calif. – Training in Neuro-Ophthalmology with: Peter A. Quiros, MD; Fellowship dates: July 2019 to June 2020

 

2018 Gillingham Fellows

Claudio Ignacio Perez Valenzuela, MD (from Santiago, Chile) – to University of California San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco CA – Training in Glaucoma with: Shan Lin, MD. Fellowship dates: October 2017 – October 2018

Jaime David Martinez Martinez, MD (from Aguascalientes, Mexico) – to Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Miami, FL – Training in Cornea with: Guillermo Amescua, MD. Fellowship dates: March 2017 to August 2018

 

2017 Gillingham Fellows

Marcela A. Lonngi, MD (from Bogotá, Colombia) – to Jules Stein Eye Institute, Los Angeles, CA – Training in Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus with: Joseph Demer, MD, PhD.  Fellowship dates: July 2016 to July 2017

Andrea Elizabeth Arriola-López, MD (from Guatemala City, Guatemala) – to Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Miami, FL – Training in Uveitis with: Thomas Albini, MD and Eduardo Alfonso, MD. Fellowship dates: March 2017 to September 2017

 

2016 Gillingham Fellows

João Rafael de Oliveira Dias, MD (from Brazil)

to Bascom Palmer Eye Institute (J-1 Research Scholar)

Miami, FL
Training in Retina with: Philip Rosenfeld, MD
March 14, 2016 – March 13, 2017

 

Excerpt from Gillingham Fellowship Report

My fellowship included clinical and imaging research in retinal diseases related to exudation, degeneration, and angiogenesis, especially exudative and non-exudative age-related macular degeneration, idiopathic macular telangiectasia, central serous retinopathy, and diabetic retinopathy. My chief research project focused on the analysis of advanced retinal imaging, including optical coherence tomography (OCT) angiography, in retinal diseases.

Throughout the past year, I had the opportunity to learn and exchange several skills. With resilience and extreme commitment to my assignments, I overcame the obstacles and accomplished all tasks in due time. By working with Dr. Rosenfeld and the research team that included engineers, medical students, fellows, PhD students, and statistician, I learned techniques and methods to facilitate research in Ophthalmology and developed a critical sense regarding research, manuscript writing, and clinical knowledge. I also had the opportunity to participate in many academic activities, including grand rounds, lectures, congresses, as well as Ophthalmology clinics and the operating room.

Felipe A. Valenzuela, MD (from Chile)

to Bascom Palmer Eye Institute
Miami, FL
Training in Cornea with: Victor L. Perez, MD
December 2015 – December 2016

 

2015 Gillingham Fellows

Sergio Groman Lupa, MD (from Mexico)

to University of Colorado, Dept. of Ophthalmology
Aurora, CO
Retina: Naresh Mandava, MD
August 1, 2014 – July 31, 2015

 

Excerpt from Gillingham Fellowship Report

During my fellowship I was involved in direct evaluation and management of patients with vitreoretinal diseases under the supervision of Dr. Hugo Quiroz-Mercado at Denver Health Medical Center, which was a very enrichment experience. I was able to participate in retinal surgeries assisting Dr. Quiroz and other Retina fellows allowing me to learn different surgical techniques. I performed clinical research using widefield OCT and as a research coordinator for the Diabetic Retinopathy Clinical Research Network. There were several academic activities that I attended at the Rocky Mountain Lions Eye Institute including grand rounds, lectures for ophthalmology residents, retina journal clubs and retina surgery meetings. In the basic research lab I participated in several projects under the excellent guidance of Jeffrey Olson, MD, Joseph Brzazinski, PhD, and Marc Petrash, PhD, that included basic science, retinal surgery lab and epidemiologic research. I learned different techniques and methods for research in ophthalmology. During this time I also had the opportunity to meet and interact with brilliant people, all from whom I learned a lot: Naresh Mandava, MD, Scott Oliver, MD, Marc Mathias, MD, Frank Siringo, MD, OD, and Richard Hwant, MD, PhD. This fellowship has been an extraordinary experience that will allow me to continue my academic endeavors and contribute to medicine and ophthalmology in Mexico.

 

Claudia Inés Osorio Moreno, MD (from Venezuela)

to Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins Hospital
Baltimore, MD
Ocular Immunology: Jennifer Thorne, MD, PhD
January 2015 – December 2015

 

2014 Gillingham Fellows

Cristhian Urzua Salinas (from Chile)

to National Institutes of Health, National Eye Institute
Bethesda, MD
Clinical Immunology: Robert B. Nussenblatt, MD

 

Natalia Camacho Espinosa (from Colombia)

to University of California San Diego, Shiley Eye Center
La Jolla, CA
Retina: William R. Freeman, MD

 

2013 Gillingham Fellows

Carlos Quesada Ruiz, MD

from Mexico

to McGill University Henry C. Witelson Ocular Pathology Lab
Montreal, Quebec
Pathology: Bruno F. Fernandez, MD

 

Johanna Matilde Gonzalez Rodriguez, MD

from Mexico

to Toronto Western Hospital
Toronto, Canada
Glaucoma: Graham Trope, MD

 

2012 Gillingham Fellows

 

Tammy Osaki, MD

from São Paulo, Brazil

to Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary
Boston, MA
Oculoplastic and Orbit: Aaron M. Fay, MD, FACS

Daniel Lavinsky, MD

from São Paulo, Brazil
to Stanford University
Stanford, CA
Retina: Daniel Palanker, PhD and Mark Blumenkranz, MD

2011 Gillingham Fellows

Caio Vinícius Saito Regatieri, MD

from São Paulo, Brazil

to Harvard Medical School, Schepens Eye Research Institute
Boston, MA
Retina (Retina Stem Cell): Michael Young, PhD
(Accepted: May 2010 – November 2011)

Arturo Ramírez-Miranda, MD

from Mexico City, Mexico
to Jules Stein Eye Institute
University of California at Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CACornea, External Disease & Refractive Surgery: Anthony Aldave, MD
(Accepted: July 1, 2010 – June 20, 2011)

 

Excerpt from report (Jules Stein Eye Institute UCLA):

Dear Dr. McPherson,

 

My fellowship included clinical, basic and didactic aspects of training. I had the opportunity to work on several projects concerning corneal pathology and epidemiology, refractive surgery screening methods, new procedures for corneal transplantation and keratoprosthesis.

 

In the Corneal Genetics and Corneal Cellular biology laboratories I did genetic sequencing of corneal inherited diseases, microarray of expressed genes on the ocular surface and immunohistochemistry of the proteins expressed in the corneal and conjunctival epithelium.

 

My chief research project was to develop an immunological marker, specific for conjunctiva epithelium, in order to establish a diagnostic tool for early stage limbal stem cell deficiency. I harvested cells from corneoscleral rims using impression cytology and stained them with specific antibodies for epithelial markers.

 

For me the most important part of my training was the guidance of my mentors and the fact that I will be able to transmit the knowledge and continue my research endeavors in my country.

 

Thank you again for your support.

 

Sincerely,

Arturo Ramirez-Miranda, MD