ATul Jain, MD
Contributing Editor
Being one of the most respected medical schools and medical centers, it is not surprising that the retina fellowship at Columbia is one of the top programs around. The Columbia fellowship is divided into essentially 2 parts, one year of medical retina at the VRMNY (Vitreous Retinal Macula Consultants of New York) which is perhaps one of the most beautiful medical offices in the country (in a high rise on Park Ave.!) under the tutelage of Dr. Lawrence Yannuzzi and one year of surgical training under the guidance of Dr. Stanley Chang at Columbia University. Drs. Chang and Yannuzzi are regarded as the foremost leaders in the fields of surgical and medical retina, respectively. While some time is spent with the colleagues and associates of Drs. Chang and Yannuzzi, they are the primary teachers of this fellowship and the ones who make it outstanding due to their legendary skills and knowledge.
There are about 20 applicants interviewed for the single fellowship position (there are 2 interview days). The night of the first interview there is a dinner for all applicants in which most of the attendings from both institutions try to make it. The interview day is divided into two parts, ½ the day is at Columbia where the interview is a single 15 minute experience with a panel interview led by Dr. Chang that is over before you know it. There is a casual lunch and tour of Columbia and then applicants are taken to VRMNY where most pinch themselves upon entering the facilities to ensure it’s not a dream…yes, the facilities are that nice. The VRMNY interview consists of 2 panel interviews of about 3-4 attendings each in which they do ask you some knowledge based questions and might even show you some pictures and ask you for a diagnosis.
This is a small fellowship with only one fellow per year. On the medical retina months the fellow staffs a ½ day a week NYU resident retina clinic from which the fellow generates surgical cases and teaches residents. On the surgical rotation the fellow participates in the care of attending cases. The surgical numbers of this fellowship are in the range of about 125 – 200 primary cases over the two year fellowship. There is definitely a push to publish and most fellows publish multiple papers each year.
The fellowship provides subsidized housing in the Upper East Side which is a 10 minute walk to VRMNY and a 45 subway commute to Columbia. Overall, this is a fellowship in which the fellow works hand in hand with two of the most respected figures in retina today. The surgical numbers are on the lower end, but most are with a legendary surgeon who has much to teach. This fellowship is essentially the Drs. Chang and Yannuzzi show, and as long as they are involved in fellow education, it will remain one of the most coveted fellowships around.
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