Research Fellow Glaucoma and Advanced Anterior Segment Surgery (GAASS)

Supervisors

• Dr. Iqbal Ike K. Ahmed, Fellowship Director
• Dr. Devesh Varma
• Dr. Diamond Y. Tam
• Dr. Matthew Schlenker
• Dr. Thomas B. Klein
• Dr. Irfan N. Kherani

Contact Information

Dr. Michael Yang, Director of Research
2201 Bristol Circle, Suite #100
Oakville, Ontario L6H 0J8
(Please do not contact directly – see instructions in “Application Process” section.)

Locations

Clinical activities are primarily located at three state-of-the-art tertiary level clinics in the greater Toronto area (GTA). See www.prismeyeinstitute.com and https://www.kensingtonhealth.org/eye-clinic for more information. Majority of the research will be conducted on site at Prism Oakville.

Prism Eye Institute - Mississauga/Oakville
2201 Bristol Circle, Suite 100
Oakville, Ontario, L6H 0J8

Prism Eye Institute - Brampton
7700 Hurontario Street, Unit 605
Brampton, Ontario, L6Y 4M3

Kensington Eye Institute
340 College Street
Toronto, Ontario, M5T 3A9

Toronto Western Hospital
399 Bathurst Street
Toronto, Ontario, M5T 2S8

Some research project will also involve collaboration with Institute for Better Health (IBH) at Trillium Health Partners. https://www.instituteforbetterhealth.com/

Fellowship Overview 

The GAASS Research Fellowship is a 12-month-long, full-time fellowship designed for medical students, residents, or practicing physicians to gain specialized expertise in clinical research in ophthalmology and vision sciences.  Specific areas of interest are glaucoma, cataract surgery, intraocular lenses, cornea, neuro-ophthalmology, retina and health systems research.  Fellows will gain experience in scientific reasoning, research methodology, study design, medical statistics, outcomes analysis and manuscript writing.  It is expected the fellow will publish in peer-review journal during and after their fellowship.

Research fellows participate in all education activities at Prism Eye Institute, including rounds and lectures.  Furthermore, fellows are encouraged to attend University of Toronto Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences rounds and educational events. 

The fellow is also encouraged and supported to attend national and international medical conferences to present their work. 

We take up to 3 research fellows per year.

Objectives

1. Communicator
   To develop effective patient communication in a research setting. To develop and refine skills needed to become an effective medical educator to train medical students, residents, as well as provide professional development for colleagues.
2. Collaborator
   Team work with other fellows, clinical staff, doctors and external partners.
3. Manager
   Leading and managing clinical trials. To develop expertise and to participate in the design, implementation, and publication of clinical and/or basic science research in glaucoma and anterior segment disease
4. Scholar
   Perusing greater knowledge of ocular conditions and management. To Develop a foundation in the field of ophthalmology, specifically in the areas of glaucoma, cataract and anterior segment surgery, and imaging modalities of the eye. Through self-directed learning, acquire a working knowledge of basic clinical epidemiology and statistical analysis.
5. Professional
   To advocate for patient’s health through compassion, integrity, and innovation.

Vacation

2 weeks vacation per year, upon approval by the Director of Research at Prism

Conference

Conference time may be taken if the fellow is presenting at the meeting, upon approval by the Director of Research at Prism.

Evaluation

The fellow will be evaluated and a satisfactory grade is required for completion of the fellowship. Formal interim and final evaluations will be completed. Regular assessment of the projects throughout the year will be performed and the fellow is expected to progress at a reasonable rate. Fellows are encouraged to provide feedback and express their comments on how their fellowship is progressing.

Salary

$40,000 CAD/year.

Application Process

Please apply directly to our program by completing the GAASS Application Package - Research.pdf​. Application instructions are included in the GAASS Application Package. Fellowship starts in July and run for 12 months.

GAASS research fellows are usually selected immediately after CaRMS match day, typically in March of the application year. Applications are encouraged a few weeks in advance.

Due to the high volume of applicants, once all applications are reviewed, only a selection of individuals will be contacted for an interview. As part of the interview process, these candidates may be invited to visit for an observership or to complete a sample research task less than one hour in duration.

Completed application can be sent Dr Mike Yang, Director of Research, mike.yang@prismeye.ca.  Once your completed application has been received, you will receive a confirmation email from our office. To help manage the high volume of inquiries, we ask that once you have submitted your application that you wait to be contacted by our offices.

What is it like to be a GAASS Research Fellow?

Being a GAASS research fellows means participating in cutting-edge research and innovation.  Our fellows have participated in and published on many major and impactful clinical trials.  The skills and experience from this year have proven invaluable to our past research fellows, most of whom went on to complete ophthalmology residency and practice across the world.

GAASS research fellows are typically assigned both prospective and retrospective research projects throughout the year.  Activities include patient recruitment, protocol design and writing, IRB submission, statistical and data analysis, presentation of results, manuscript preparation and publication.  Attendance at local education events are highly encouraged at Prism Eye Institute and University of Toronto.  Participation at local, national, and international conferences is also common for most research fellows.

Our research fellows are given a fair amount of independence to complete their work, with regular administrative support from Dr. Yang and academic/research guidance from Dr. Ahmed and the clinical team.  Team building and inclusiveness are promoted throughout the year.  Physical space for our research fellows are provided at the Prism – Mississauga/Oakville clinic.

Research fellows are often in clinic and the operating room, working along side our clinical fellows and preceptors in activities related to their research projects.  There is no clinical care or hands-on patient care as part of this research fellowship.

Superior communication skills are a valued asset, and our fellows are expected to have full command of the English language. We are looking for applicants that display an enthusiasm to learn and a willingness to push themselves beyond standard expectations. They need to be a team player who can produce independently when required, a fast learner, have strong problem-solving skills, and the ability to think quickly on their feet. Most importantly, we are looking for good people.