Sightsavers India Fellowship Program

Sightsavers India, ever since the launch of the India Fellowship Program is committed to groom the young ophthalmologists into promising and skilled professionals. The Fellowship, an innovative course of mentoring and surgical exposure, is designed in a way that gives an opportunity to master the craft as a clinician and a surgeon and expands their perspectives on rural eye health.

The context

Blindness due to cataract and refractive errors is still a major public health concern in India despite major advances in affordable technology and innovative models of eye health care delivery. High volume centers of excellence are available in a few locations to provide state of the art care to all, whereas many rural and semi-urban areas remain deprived of basic health care.  The surgical treatment is relatively safe and very effective in restoring the vision loss due to the disease, but it requires a well-equipped facility and a trained and motivated team to provide it.

Shortage of trained eye care professionals, particularly in rural areas results in delay in diagnosis and treatment, which can lead to further vision loss. Training of eye care professionals and encouraging them to work in rural areas can help to ensure equitable and impactful eye healthcare services across the most underserved parts of the country.

Fellowship goals

Sightsavers Fellowship is a promising career opportunity for ophthalmologists. It aims to take selected fellows through an exciting journey of 24 months.

The fellows experience a structured skill enhancement and mentoring process covering not only clinical and surgical ophthalmology but also managerial and holistic life skills. After a rapid four-month training on SICS, the fellows are placed in the peripheral centers of one of the 8 states – Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha. The process involves skills up-gradation components and personal interactions with eminent leaders in eye care and development sector.

Every stage of the program helps in optimizing learning to help the fellows transform into all-rounder seasoned professionals. The fellows receive an attractive appreciative stipend through the fellowship period.

Mr. RN Mohanty, CEO Sightsavers India, shares, “With passing years, the popularity of the program is increasing among the young and aspiring ophthalmologists. As a promising career opportunity, it is designed in such a way that fresh post-graduates with very little experience get transformed into well rounded surgeons. During the journey of 24 months, our Fellows get trained and are mentored by the best in the business. They get a chance to master the craft as a clinician and a surgeon and gain exposure to managing community-based hospital, participate in community-based surveys, develop skills, interests and goals while working with senior leadership. These experiences contribute to a comprehensive understanding of the entire eye-health landscape.”