The ASOPRS Approved Oculoplastics International Fellowship is a two year program that exposes the fellow to oculoplastic and orbital surgery in the pediatric and adult population.  The goal of the Fellowship is to provide advanced training for fellows with the expectation of returning to their home country to establish a practice in oculoplastic and orbital surgery.  The additional emphasis in pediatrics provides the fellow with training not typically received in traditional oculoplastic fellowships.  

1. Duration: The fellowship will be 24 months in duration. In the first year, fellows are exposed to Orbital and Oculoplastic surgery with exposure to pediatric diseases. In the second year, the fellow will build upon the clinical foundation in the first year and begin a scholarly project in orbital and oculoplastic surgery.

2. Prerequisite Training/Selection Criteria: Applicants must have an M.D. and must have completed an approved Ophthalmology residency training program at an internationally recognized academic institution. Letters of recommendation are also required and applicants will be screened for suitability for the fellowship, academic potential and professional goals.

3. Goals and Objectives for Training: The fellowship provides intense training on clinical decision making, development of surgical skills, development of research skills, didactic teaching, and leadership skills. The goals of the fellowship are to train future leaders who will return to their host countries and establish clinical and teaching programs in oculoplastic and orbital surgery.  

The fellowship will train candidates in the following fields of pediatric and adult orbital and oculoplastic surgery:
A. Lacrimal surgery: The fellow will learn diagnosis and management of tearing disorders. This includes non-invasive office evaluation and management and surgical techniques for the correction of lacrimal outlet obstructions. Emphasis is given to endoscopic, scar-less surgical techniques.

B. Ptosis and eyelid surgery: The fellow will learn diagnosis and management of eyelid malpositions such as ptosis, dermatochalasis, entropion, ectropion and eyelid retraction. Fellows will develop proficiency in surgical techniques to correct eyelid malpositions with an emphasis on congenital ptosis repair with frontalis advancement flap approach.

C. Orbital surgery: The fellow will learn diagnosis and management of orbital disorders. This encompasses interpretation of imaging studies, diagnostic and therapeutic orbitotomy approaches, orbital decompression.  

D. Orbital and facial trauma: The fellow will learn diagnosis and management of orbital trauma. In addition to routine orbital trauma, the fellow will develop additional proficiency in management of acute orbital fractures in pediatric patients. Surgical repair of orbital trauma as well as repair of associated injuries in the ocular adnexa is emphasized as well as multidisciplinary care with other trauma services.

E. Orbital and Eyelid Tumors: The fellow will learn diagnosis and management of orbital tumors and peri-orbital and ocular-adnexal tumors. This will include biopsy techniques, non- surgical management with targeted therapies and surgical excision and reconstruction. Fellows will be exposed specialties outside of ophthalmology including: pathology, radiation oncology, medical oncology, hematology, neurology, neurosurgery, otolaryngology and dermatology.

G. Craniofacial disorders. The fellow will learn diagnosis and management of pediatric craniofacial disorders. This exposure will occur at the multidisciplinary craniofacial clinic as well as elective rotations with the faculty members in the plastic surgery department.

H. Conferences: The fellow will participate in several multidisciplinary conferences. These conferences include: clinical pathological conference, tumor board conference, neuro- imaging/photographic/video conference. The fellow is a central participant in these conferences as both primary presenters and reviewers of cases. These conferences have a long history at our institution and are vital for fellow education.

Upon acceptance as a clinical fellow, a California Medical Board Section 2111 appointment is made which uniquely allows the international fellow to have direct patient contact and surgical experience under the direct supervision of the fellowship preceptors. The previous fellow performed over 200 orbital surgeries, 1500 oculoplastic surgeries and 230 lacrimal surgeries. 

International fellowships at UCSD are non-funded. Fellows must bring financial support from their home institutions or other sources. Potential applicants should speak and write English well enough to communicate with patients and staff members.

Teaching and research are vital components of the fellowship.  Fellows regularly participate in medical student and resident teaching seminars.  Cadaver dissection provides the fellow with an invaluable anatomic foundation for surgical care.  Fellows are expected to participate in Divisional research programs and to present findings at scientific meetings and scholarly publications. 

Preceptors (all have UCSD and Rady Children's Hospital appointments)

Bobby S. Korn, M.D., Ph.D. is the primary preceptor and Director of the Fellowship.
Don Kikkawa, M.D. is an associate preceptor.
Catherine Liu, M.D., Ph.D. is an associate preceptor.

For more information, please email

Jasmine Herndon, [email protected]

Oculoplastics Division Administrator

Meet our current ASOPRS International Fellow

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We are delighted to welcome Dr. Nahia Dib El Jalbout as our newest International ASOPRS Fellow in Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the UC San Diego Shiley Eye Institute. Dr. El Jalbout, a distinguished graduate from the Lebanese American University School of Medicine, brings with her a remarkable academic record, decorated with honors and extensive involvement in medical, surgical, and educational initiatives throughout her residency. Her commitment to ophthalmology has been demonstrated through her active participation in research, teaching, and volunteer work aimed at providing crucial eye care services to underprivileged communities in Lebanon.

Beyond her professional achievements, Dr. El Jalbout is a talented pianist, having completed the Occidental Music Program at the National Conservatory of Music. She also enjoys tennis, swimming, running, and has a passion for cooking and baking. With her multifaceted skills and compassionate approach to patient care, Dr. El Jalbout is an exceptional addition to our fellowship program. We are excited to see the contributions she will make to our community and the field of oculoplastic surgery.

Congratulations to our most recent graduate, Dr. Eman Al Sharif who returns to Saudi Arabia as a consultant at Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University.

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UCSD Oculoplastics Team at the 2024 Japan Ophthalmological Society Meeting

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