Retinal and Vitreous Surgery Fellowship
The University of Arizona is approved by the Association of University Professors of Ophthalmology Fellowship Compliance Committee (AUPO FCC) for a 2-year Retinal and Vitreous Surgery Fellowship. The fellowship will provide broad exposure to medical and surgical diseases of the retina, as well as ample opportunities for academic education and research. The fellowship will primarily be based at the Banner University Medical Center - Tucson, the tertiary care center, but will provide experience at several community retinal practices.
The fellowship includes extensive training in diagnosis and both medical and surgical treatments of various vitreoretinal conditions and posterior uveitis. The fellow will be exposed to ROP screening and participate in pediatric vitreoretinal procedures. The trainee spends 1.5 days/week in surgery and is expected to have one own clinic session/week. The fellow participates in imaging conferences, grand rounds and assumes some of the roles of a junior Faculty member. Each fellow is expected to participate in clinical research project(s) with presentation at ARVO/AAO conference. The aim of the fellowship is to achieve full clinical and surgical independence at the conclusion of the program - the process facilitated by all supervising Faculty and the Department.
Fellowship Director
Dr. Igor Kozak is a clinical Professor of Ophthalmology and Director of Research at the University of Arizona College of Medicine in Tucson. He is a board-certified ophthalmologist with expertise in vitreoretinal diseases, uveitis, and retinal imaging.
Dr. Kozak earned his medical degree from P.J. Šafárik University School of Medicine in Košice, Slovak Republic, and completed his ophthalmology residency at the same institution. He then completed fellowships in Vitreoretinal Surgery and Uveitis at the University of California, San Diego, under the direction of renowned retinal surgeon William R. Freeman, MD.
Throughout his career, Dr. Kozak has held academic positions at leading institutions, including the University of California-San Diego, King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital in Saudi Arabia, and Moorfields Eye Hospital in the United Arab Emirates. His clinical interests encompass surgical and medical retina and infectious and non-infectious uveitis.
Dr. Kozak is a surgeon-scientist and a prolific researcher with over 200 peer-reviewed publications. His research focuses on retinal lasers, drug delivery, clinical trials and patient related outcomes, telemedicine and teleophthalmology and novel retinal imaging. He has contributed chapters to major ophthalmology textbooks and serves on the editorial boards of numerous journals.
Contact Information
For questions about the fellowship program, please contact:
Pat Broyles
Program Coordinator
pbroyles@eyes.arizona.edu
Phone/FAX: (520) 626-0044