EYE FOUNDATION of KANSAS CITY
RESIDENT RETINA FELLOWSHIP

Retina Ophthalmology Fellowship

The Vitreo-Retinal service  of the UMKC department of ophthalmology presently offers one full-time Retina Fellowship position every 2 years. The rotation begins in July and runs for 24 straight months. The Retina fellow evaluates and treats a number of medical and surgical retinal diseases and see patients both in the university and private practice setting. Fellows perform approximately 450 vitrectomies as primary surgeon and hundreds of lasers and intravitreal injections. There is time provided for research and lecture development as the fellow is expected to publish and take an active role in resident education.

The Retinal fellow will receive hands on and diadactic training for laser, cryo, intravitreal injections and vitrectomy surgery. As well as retinal detachment repair, fluorescein angiography, ultrasonography, pediatric retina, ROP, ERG, Oncology, diabetic retinopathy, macular diseases, and uveitis.

The fellow is provided an annual stipend that is dispensed bimonthly. The amount is based on the fellows PGY status and negotiated prior to July of the incoming year.

The fellow sees patients in private clinics in around Kansas City and at the University of Missouri Department of Ophthalmology Resident clinic. The fellow takes call at approximately 5 local hospitals under the supervision of the Retina Faculty on call.

The retina faculty at the University of Missouri Kansas City are:

Nelson Sabates, MD
Felix Sabates, MD
Abraham Poulose, MD
Michael Cassell, MD
Nancy Kunjukunju, MD

All Faculty members in the department are full-time members of the department of Ophthalmology.  The care of patients by the Vitreoretinal fellows and residents is completely under the supervision of these staff members.  No diagnosis is made or a surgical procedure planned or performed without their knowledge and direct supervision. The fellowship is accredited with the American University of Professors in Ophthalmology (AUPO.)

The fellowship director is Michael Cassell, MD.   The fellowship coordinator is Saundra Thompson and she can be reached at:
Saundra.Thompson@tmcmed.org