ICO annual conference May 15-17ICO/Bayer Clinical Fellowship 2020/21
The Irish College of Ophthalmologists (ICO), the training and professional body for eye doctors, is delighted to formally announce and congratulate Dr. Emily Hughes, recipient of the ICO/Bayer Clinical Fellowship in Ophthalmology 2020/21.
Dr. Emily Hughes is currently undertaking a one-year clinical fellowship in glaucoma at the Department of Ophthalmology in the School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh (UPMC), USA, involving comprehensive training in glaucoma surgery in order to prepare for a future career in this subspecialty.
Dr. Hughes was awarded her Certificate for the Completion of Specialist Training (CCST) earlier this year, having completed Higher Surgical Training in Ophthalmology with the Irish College of Ophthalmologists.
The opportunity at the Department of Ophthalmology at UPMC offers a competitive and rigorous fellowship in glaucoma. The UPMC medical school is currently ranked 13th in the USA for research output and this extends to the ophthalmology department.
Dr. Patricia Quinlan, President of the Irish College of Ophthalmologists said;
“Congratulations to Emily on her fellowship bursary and thank you to Bayer for their continued support in facilitating ICO trainees to undertake an exceptional training opportunity in an international centre of excellence in ophthalmology. This year marks the fifth consecutive year of support from Bayer for this annual clinical fellowship bursary and I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the tremendous benefit this has to our ophthalmic specialists training experience and in turn to the Irish health service.”
Commenting on the specialist fellowship training at the University of Pittsburgh and the bursary award, Dr. Emily Hughes said;
“Treatment of glaucoma has seen significant development in the last two decades and beyond. My aim for the fellowship is to become proficient in the variety of glaucoma lasers and surgeries. This includes 'MIGS' (minimally invasive glaucoma surgery), as well as the more well-established techniques of trabeculectomy and tube shunts. UPMC is the largest health care provider in Western Pennsylvania. The glaucoma department has an excellent reputation for trialing novel glaucoma treatments, and I am delighted to have the opportunity to learn these as the most effective management strategies continue to emerge. Under the guidance of the four UPMC glaucoma sub-specialists led by Dr. Ian Conner MD PhD, I am excited to build on what I have learned during my Irish training on the use of imaging and software progression analysis in the glaucoma clinic.”
Dr. Hughes added;
“Completing the UPMC glaucoma fellowship would not have been possible without the generous support of the Bayer-ICO Clinical Fellowship in Ophthalmology bursary. I am immensely grateful for the support towards the cost involved, which includes examinations for US licensure and relocation. The financial support allows me the freedom to fully immerse myself in the unique training opportunity presented.”
“Bayer wish to congratulate Dr. Hughes on her fellowship in UPMC Pittsburgh. With the Bayer-ICO Clinical Fellowship in Ophthalmology, our aim is to support the ICO to develop world-class educational opportunities for Irish trainees. The fellowship is now in its’ fifth year and we wish to thank the ICO for its partnership over this period;” said Carsten Schiller, Managing Director, Bayer.
21st December 2020