Eye Plastic, Orbital and Facial Cosmetic Surgery Fellowship

Program Description

The Eye Plastic, Orbital and Facial Cosmetic Surgery Service at the University of Michigan Kellogg Eye Center offers one two-year fellowship position every two years. The fellowship fulfills the requirements of, and has been approved by, the American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ASOPRS).

This fellowship provides particularly robust training in eyelid, lacrimal and orbital surgery, post-Mohs reconstructions, socket reconstruction, and pediatric oculoplastic surgery, and prepares fellows for a career encompassing all aspects of oculoplastic surgery.

Fellows will gain comprehensive training in the clinical evaluation, surgical management, and pre- and postoperative care of patients with oculoplastic disorders. The size and scope of Michigan Medicine, the University of Michigan’s academic medical center, and the Kellogg Eye Center’s status as a state, regional and national referral center, creates the opportunity to see highly diverse and even rare cases on a routine basis. Regular surgical experience at the Veterans Affairs Ann Arbor Healthcare System Hospital complements and rounds out the training experience.

Broad Training Experience

Michigan Medicine includes inpatient hospitals for adults and children and specialty centers in cardiovascular care, cancer treatment, eye care and women’s health. Our faculty members operate regularly at the University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital, providing an exceptional training experience in pediatric oculoplastic surgery. Michigan Medicine is home to one of the busiest Mohs surgery programs in the world. This provides fellows with advanced training in post-Mohs reconstructive surgery, as well as a strong understanding of the pathobiology and clinical science of cutaneous tumors, including rare Merkel and sebaceous cell carcinomas.

Ophthalmic Pathology

The ophthalmic pathology laboratory provides the backdrop for exploring the pathophysiology of orbital, eyelid and lacrimal disorders. Kellogg physicians are leading clinical trials in the field of ophthalmic and orbital oncology, and the ocular oncology program provides expertise that stretches beyond intraocular tumors to ocular surface and periocular tumors.

Thyroid Eye Disease

The Kellogg Eye Center has one of the busiest and most accomplished centers for treating thyroid eye disease, with more than 200 orbital decompressions performed yearly using the latest surgical techniques. The TED Program, which brings together oculoplastic and strabismus surgeons as well as orthoptists, holds monthly multi-disciplinary conferences that also include representation from neuro-radiology, endocrinology, nuclear medicine and endocrine surgery.

Collaboration Among Residents, Fellows, Scholars

Fellows will join a cohort of trainees in ophthalmic subspecialties including cornea, neuro-ophthalmology and pediatric ophthalmology service. Faculty on the Eye Plastic, Orbital and Facial Cosmetic Surgery Service collaborate with colleagues in otolaryngology, plastic surgery, craniofacial surgery, oral and maxillofacial surgery, neurosurgery, rheumatology, dermatology, endocrinology and infectious disease, and fellows will have ample exposure to these fields, including operating time. Interaction with visiting international scholars of the Center for International Ophthalmology also provides a rich learning experience for fellows.

The Opportunities of a World-Class Research University

The University of Michigan is a world-class research university, with the highest level of research funding of any public university (see - http://www.research.umich.edu/ ; http://www.research.umich.edu/research-u-m). The Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences has a particularly close collaborative relationship with the School of Engineering, with several faculty holding joint appointments in Engineering and Ophthalmology, resulting in research collaborations that have led to patent applications, clinical trials and clinical applications.

Fellows are required to pursue at least one major thesis project with their preceptors during their fellowship. However, opportunities are limitless for pursuing every type of research imaginable through collaborations that can form the foundations of an academic career in oculoplastics.

Clinical Training Site

University of Michigan Kellogg Eye Center
Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences
1000 Wall Street
Ann Arbor, MI 48105

For a look inside the Kellogg Eye Center, visit the Why Train at the Kellogg Eye Center page.

How to apply

To apply for the University of Michigan's ASOPRS-approved Eye Plastic, Orbital and Facial Cosmetic Surgery Fellowship, please submit your application through the San Francisco Match Program. We are not able to accept applications directly. Additional required information may be mailed to you.

Ophthalmology Fellowship Match
P.O. Box 7584
San Francisco, CA 94120-7584
Phone: 415-447-0350

Program Director

  • Christine C. Nelson, MD, FACS
    University of Michigan Kellogg Eye Center
    1000 Wall Street
    Ann Arbor, MI 48105
    Phone: 734-764-4163
    Fax: 734-936-2340
    E-mail: [email protected]

Eye Plastic, Orbital and Facial Cosmetic Surgery Service Faculty

Dr. Christine Nelson

Christine C. Nelson, MD, FACS

Bartley R. Frueh, M.D. and Frueh Family Collegiate Professor in Eye Plastics and Orbital Surgery
Professor, Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences
Professor, Surgery, Plastic Surgery Section
Co-director, Kellogg Eye Center for International Ophthalmology
Director, ASOPRS Fellowship Program
Vinay Aakalu

Vinay Aakalu, MD, MPH

Professor, Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences
Section Leader and Medical Director, Eye Plastic, Orbital and Facial Cosmetic Surgery
Director, Ocular Surface Disease Research Program
Associate Preceptor, ASOPRS Approved Oculofacial Plastic Surgery Fellowship
Dr. Hakan Demirci

Hakan Demirci, MD

Richard N. and Marilyn K. Witham Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences
Professor, Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences
Director, Ocular Oncology
Dr. Victor Elner

Victor M. Elner, MD, PhD

Ravitz Foundation Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences
Professor, Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences
Professor, Pathology
Dr. Terry Smith

Terry J. Smith, MD

Professor Emeritus, Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences
Professor Emeritus, Internal Medicine
Academic Office: 734-764-4163