How to Thrive as a New Fellow
Early-career ophthalmologists share pearls from training.
Van Kaden Andre, MD; Cameron Clarke, MD; Shibandri Das, MD; and Ricardo Salinas, MD
Glaucoma Today 
Key Takeaways Fellowship is a time of tremendous growth, both professionally and personally. New fellows should ask questions without hesitation and actively seek feedback from their mentors. Setting aside time each day to review the peer-reviewed literature helps form a strong foundation of knowledge. Developing an understanding of business concepts while in fellowship will help shorten the learning curve for new practitioners. GT: What is your favorite or most valuable piece of advice for trainees just beginning glaucoma fellowship? Van Kaden Andre, MD: Embrace the mix of supervision and independence that you will experience as a fellow. The degree of your autonomy can vary in residency, but, in fellowship, you can expect additional medical and surgical responsibilities and new opportunities to manage them with less supervision. This is a good thing! In fellowship, I wanted to become comfortable with how I would function as an independent glaucoma specialist while also benefitting from the valuable knowledge base of my faculty. As the year progressed, I managed more cases independently, reviewed them with faculty, and asked questions in advance to ensure that I was prepared.
Eyewire headlines are now available as a weekly podcast! Listen Now
