Comprehensive Ophthal Fellowship review@ MM Joshi Eye Institute, Hubli, Karnataka

18 months duration 

2-3 fellows/ session

Selection- interview (they have a yearly MCQ exam which happens after PG results are declared and this is the only time they conduct the exam.. if you apply at any other time during the year, they will accept on just interview basis) 

Stipend 30k for first 6 months with 10k increment every 6 months.. so 40k for second 6 months, 50k for third 6 months

No admission fee but security deposit of 1 lac is taken which is refunded at end of fellowship 

You are rotated mostly between 3 depts during the fellowship- Gen Ophthal, Oculoplasty, Glaucoma.. duration of each posting is variable 1-4 months per dept

You start with SICS usually from 2nd month onwards, camp OT (in trust hospital) is usually once a week.. you start with 1 case per OT and they gradually increase numbers as you get more confident.

In addition to camp OT, you also attend private OT with the consultant you are posted with.. they may also give you steps/ whole cases to do based on yr skill.

Phaco cases are usually given after 1 year, usually steps in initial months and then whole cases later once you are proficient (phaco numbers are less than SICS numbers)

You get to do advanced cases but only for SICS

No training for complication management 

No topical phacos

OPs are hectic, not toxic

Consultants are approachable 

Work timings 9-6 pm (can go up to 7 pm)

OT on some days can also go up to 9/10 pm

MMJ also has some 7-8 peripheral centres where fellows and consultants are posted by turn.. you may be posted for 1-2 months per centre, you get multiple postings as well.. these centres have standalone OTs so you get to do SICS there also

You also get plenty of Yag caps during your fellowship

May also get lid tear repairs, excision biopsy etc when posted in Orbit and Yag PIs when posted in Glaucoma 

Duties- 1 emergency duty (8 pm- 8 am) every month, 1-2 enucleation calls every month, Sunday duties once every few months.. they also have a nearby peripheral centre where you are posted for 5pm -8pm OP duty by turn, once a week and frequency of posting decreases with time

No compensatory offs for taking night duties

No paid leaves

So if you take leave, it's deducted from your stipend plus you have to work those many extra days after fellowship is over.

Academics- DNB classes daily from 8-9 am, compulsory for fellows (x first 6-8 months) after that you attend only your dept classes (once per week)

They now require all fellows to do a short term thesis and either send for publication/ do presentation, failing which you will not get your completion certificate.

After Comprehensive, you can request them to let you do a speciality fellowship and if there is vacancy, they will accommodate you for the same.