The Southwest Combined Cornea and Glaucoma fellowship is a true anterior segment fellowship aimed at providing a solid experience in both areas of sub-specialization and preparing applicants for diverse future practice settings. The core experience will be in complex cataract surgery, medical and surgical cornea and glaucoma management; this is also coupled with a refractive experience in specialty cataract surgery with some laser vision correction.
During this fellowship you will be able to examine patients and perform surgeries in both an academic and private practice setting; being exposed to the different technologies, instruments, and techniques at both institutions. The fellow will divide time among Drs. Alexander Davis (Academic Cornea and Refractive), Rachel Davis (Academic Glaucoma), Elizabeth Cretara (Academic Glaucoma) and Kenneth Downes (Private Practice Cornea and Refractive).
During this time, you will gain hands-on experience in the pre-operative evaluation, performance and post-operative care of the full spectrum of cornea, glaucoma and anterior segment surgical procedures. These will include penetrating, lamellar and endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK, DMEK), limbal stem cell and amniotic membrane transplantation, glaucoma laser surgery, MIGS surgery (including GATT, Kahook Dual blade, ABiC, iStent inject, Hydrus, and Omni), filtering surgeries (trabeculectomy, tube shunts, and Xen), micropulse, cyclophotocoagulation, pterygium surgery, complex and specialty refractive cataract surgery as well as MSICS (manual small incision extracapsular cataract surgery), secondary intraocular lens implants (including scleral sutured lenses), anterior segment reconstructive procedures such as iris repair, repair of corneal trauma, and refractive surgery (PRK, PTK and incisional procedures).
Additionally, the fellow will manage infectious and inflammatory corneal disorders, ocular surface disorders, full spectrum of mild - severe glaucoma, secondary glaucomas as well as rare anterior segment disorders and post-traumatic eyes. In addition, the fellow will also have the opportunity to teach residents and medical students, participate in educational events such as cataract conference, grand rounds, and journal club. Opportunities to attend local wet labs as well as time off to attend off-site sponsored surgical skills courses are also available. Research is supported but is not required.
All applicants must be:
As part of the role of an attending physician, the fellow will have their own clinic as well as staff residents as appropriate and generate additional surgical volume for non-specialty related cases (eg. Cataract surgery). The fellow will also participate in grand rounds and other lectures throughout the academic year and be expected to present at least one grand round and/or journal club during their time.
Fellows will also assist with UNM hospital and private practice call, and coordinate care as necessary with other call providers.
The Southwest Combined Cornea and Glaucoma fellowship participates in the San Francisco Match Program: #7034.
Program Director: Rachel Davis, MD
Additional Faculty: Alexander Davis, MD, PhD; Elizabeth Cretara, MD; Kenneth Downes, MD
Program length: 1 year (beginning in July)
Number of positions: 1
SF Match number: 7034
Medical Student Educator
Program Director
The Southwest Combined Cornea and Glaucoma Fellowship
Alexander Davis, M.D., Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Ophthalmology University of New Mexico
Medical Director
The Southwest Combined Cornea and Glaucoma Fellowship
Rachel Davis, M.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Ophthalmology
University of New Mexico