The Duke Global Ophthalmology Cornea Fellowship is a one-year fellowship that combines comprehensive cornea training with immersive global ophthalmology experiences. Designed to support each fellow's independent career goals, the program offers extensive surgical experience, hands-on eye banking training, and opportunities to work alongside international leaders dedicated to blindness prevention and corneal care.
A Cornea Fellowship with a Customized Global Experience
- Learn Manual Small-Incision Cataract Surgery (MSICS)
- Gain advanced cornea transplant training, including DMEK, DSAEK, and PK
- Receive refractive surgery training
- Perform more than 400 surgical procedures
- Complete approximately half of surgical experiences in international settings
- Gain hands-on eye banking training, from establishment through implementation
- Collaborate with global leaders in blindness prevention and corneal care
- Tailor your experience to support your individual professional goals
A Cornea Fellowship with Global Impact
The Duke Global Ophthalmology Cornea Fellowship is designed for future leaders seeking exceptional cornea training and to make a meaningful impact on global eye health. Fellows receive the same high-level clinical and surgical training expected from a leading cornea fellowship while gaining unique experience addressing preventable blindness in underserved communities around the world.
Unlike traditional fellowships, the Duke GO Fellowship integrates global ophthalmology throughout the training experience. Fellows learn techniques critical to addressing worldwide blindness, including Manual Small-Incision Cataract Surgery (MSICS), while developing a deeper understanding of international eye care systems, disparities in access, and sustainable approaches to improving vision care.
The program is intentionally flexible and designed to support each fellow's independent interests, whether focused on clinical care, education, research, public health, eye banking, or international program development.
Duke GO fellows work directly with internationally recognized experts in corneal disease, blindness prevention, eye banking, cataract surgery, and global ophthalmology. Through clinical training, international outreach, and collaborative projects, fellows gain mentorship from leaders who are advancing sustainable solutions to prevent blindness worldwide.
These experiences prepare graduates to become not only outstanding cornea specialists, but also leaders capable of improving access to vision-saving care around the globe.
Duke GO Fellowship graduate Sheena Song, DO, during a rotation in Myanmar with Bidya Pant, MD, one of the leading eye surgeons working to eradicate blindness in South Asia.
Eye bank training will be critical for the fellow to develop an especially thorough understanding of eye banking. Working with our partner, Precision Ocular Network, the fellow will learn an eye bank’s inner workings and how to build and manage an eye bank in a foreign country.
Spencer Harris, MD, former Duke cornea fellow standing outside the Connaught Hospital in Freetown, Sierra Leone while on a trip with Dr. Williams.
Duke GO Fellows Blog
We are proud to offer a Global Ophthalmology fellowship beginning fall 2025. Follow along with us as Sheena Song, DO, our inaugural fellow shares her experience throughout the year.
