International Council of Ophthalmology (ICO) Fellowships

About the ICO:

 The International Council of Ophthalmology (ICO) represents and serves our members which include national, regional and subspecialty ophthalmology societies throughout the world and is the only ophthalmology organization in official relations with the World Health Organization.

 Our mission is to work with the world’s ophthalmology societies and other stakeholders to enhance ophthalmic education, improve access to the highest quality people-centred eye care, and to preserve and restore vision for the people of the world. We bring ophthalmologists and their teams together to learn, share, inspire and engage in excellence and innovation. In particular, we aim to strengthen eye care capacity in low- and middle-income settings to address inequities and pressing public eye health needs to secure eye health for all.

ICO Fellowships:

As part of the Eligibility Check, you will be required to upload the following documents:

• Scanned copy of the photo page of your Passport. 
• Scanned copy of your Ophthalmology Specialization Examination Certificate certifying a successful completion of your residency in ophthalmology. If the certificate is not issued in English, please include a certified translation into English to the original certificate and upload this into your online application file together with the original version as one document. 
• Copy of your ICO Examination Certificate(s). The ICO recommends that fellowship candidate pass one or more of the ICO Examinations. 
• Department of Ophthalmology Chair’s Recommendation  
• Reference letter (of your current or former supervisor or tutor in ophthalmology)
  

Available ICO Fellowships:

ICO-Three Month Fellowship:

The ICO Three-Month Fellowships help promising young ophthalmologists from low-resources countries to enhance their practical skills and broaden their perspectives of ophthalmology.  Fellows are expected to bring the acquired knowledge and skills back to their home countries and take part in programs to preserve eye health and prevent vision impairment. Award: US$ 6,000 to help cover living expenses and return travel.

Application Deadlines:

• For applications submitted by the 31 March deadline, the fellowships are awarded and notices are sent out in July. The earliest start date is 1 October of the same year. 
• For applications submitted by the 30 September deadline, the fellowships are awarded and notices sent out in January. The earliest start date is 1 April of the same year.
  

ICO-World Glaucoma Association (WGA) Three-Month Fellowships:

The International Council of Ophthalmology (ICO) and World Glaucoma Association (WGA) Three-Month Fellowship opportunity is open to qualified candidates from Sub-Saharan Africa who specialize in glaucoma. This fellowship is part of the ICO Three-Month Fellowship Program.

Requirements:

• Residency training must be completed before applying for the fellowship. 
• Specialist exam in ophthalmology must be successfully passed. 
• Applicants are permanently based and work in one of the ICO fellowship eligible countries. Additionally, in the country there needs to be documented limited opportunities to gain advanced knowledge in retinoblastoma diagnosis and treatment and there is a recognized need for expanding services in this area of ophthalmology care
• Applicant must return to home country after the training, resume previous positions, and apply the knowledge gained during the fellowship. 
• Applicant must be reasonably fluent in the language of the fellowship training center. 
• The ICO recommends that candidates pass one or more ICO Examinations. This is considered in the assessment of applications. 
• Applicants from countries with ophthalmology societies that are an ICO Member Society will receive special consideration.
  

The ICO-National Eye Institute (NEI) One-Year Fellowship in Ocular Genetics:

The International Council of Ophthalmology (ICO) and National Eye Institute (NEI) One-Year Fellowship in Ocular Genetics is offered in collaboration of the ICO with the National Eye Institute of the National Institute of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, USA. Eligible candidates are invited to apply for a twelve-month training in ocular genetics which will be served at NEI/NIH. Award: US$ 25,000 to help cover living expenses and return travel. The next application deadline will be announced in due time.

 

Requirements:

• Applicant must be a graduate of an ophthalmology residency training program. 
• Specialist exam in ophthalmology must be successfully passed. 
• Applicants are permanently based and work in one of the eligible countries. 
• Applicant must be recommended by the ophthalmology head of a teaching institution or public service hospital in the home country.
•  Applicant must be committed to return to a position at a teaching institution or public service hospital in the fellow’s home country. 
• Applicant must be reasonably fluent in English. 
• The ICO recommends that candidates pass one or more ICO Examinations. This is considered in the assessment of applications. 
• Applicants from countries with ophthalmology societies that are an ICO Member Society will receive special consideration.
  

ICO-Allergan Advanced Research Fellowship:

The International Council of Ophthalmology (ICO) and Allergan Advanced Research Fellowship allows a young ophthalmologist to continue basic or clinical research at a chosen university, preferably in a foreign country to where they live. The fellowship is open to candidates from all countries. Applications will be accepted for research work in the following subspecialties: Glaucoma, Neuro-Ophthalmology, Pediatric Ophthalmology, Retina, Tumours, Uveitis, Dry Eye, and Cornea. There is one fellowship awarded per year, with US$ 50,000 stipend. The application deadline 31 March each year. The ICO-Allergan Advanced Research fellow will be chosen and notified in July of the same year.

How to apply: https://icoph.org/ico-fellowship/how-to-apply-for-ico-fellowship/

Moreinfo: https://icoph.org/ico-fellowship/