Cornea and External Disease and Refractive Fellowship
Applications
We’re pleased to invite applications to the Cornea Fellowship at the University of Kentucky. This one-year, AUPO-compliant program provides robust clinical and surgical training, close mentorship, and the opportunity to work alongside a team deeply committed to patient care and education.
Applications are currently being accepted through SF Match, and we look forward to welcoming our 2027 fellow. Interviews will be held October 16, 2026.
If you’re seeking a program that blends strong clinical experience with a collaborative, supportive environment, we encourage you to apply or reach out with any questions.
Fellowship Overview
The University of Kentucky Cornea Fellowship offers a strong clinical and surgical experience in a busy academic setting, with opportunities for teaching and research. We are a high volume referral service focused on providing excellent patient care while helping fellows become confident, well trained surgeons.
Our 2027 - 2028 fellow will work closely with several faculty members, each bringing a different perspective to patient care and surgery. This range of experience helps fellows develop their own approach and feel comfortable managing complex corneal and anterior segment cases by the end of the year.
Clinical and surgical care takes place across our main clinic, outpatient surgery center, and hospital. Our primary ophthalmology clinic is modern and well-equipped, and we use Epic as our medical record system. We also have several satellite clinics that provide experience with both urban and rural patient populations across the Bluegrass and Appalachian regions.
Surgical volume remains consistently high, with a wide variety of cornea and anterior segment cases and refractive. Fellows gain hands on experience and continue to build their skills as new techniques and technology are introduced.
Fellows are involved in resident education, including leading a monthly case conference. Call is limited and typically involves outside consults and urgent cases. Research opportunities are available for those who are interested.
The UK College of Medicine Department of Ophthalmology is a collegial and supportive group in a great university town. We value teamwork, respect work-life balance, and aim to create an environment where fellows can do well both professionally and personally.
Compensation and Benefits
The fellow is appointed at an institutional PGY-5 level, with an approximate salary of $75,000 for the 2026–2027 academic year. Full benefits are provided for the fellow and eligible dependents throughout the duration of training.
Application requirements and timeline
July — Applications open
SF Match application available
Applications are submitted exclusively through the SF Match Fellowship Centralized Application Service.
Create an account at sfmatch.org to begin your application.Required materials
Complete your application
Including a medical school transcript, dean's letter, three letters of recommendation, including your residency program director, personal statement, current curriculum vitae, and USMLE scores
Interviews
Interview invitations
Selected applicants will be invited for an interview day with our faculty in Lexington. Virtual interviews may be offered at program discretion.
Early December — SF Match deadline
Rank order list submission
All ranking is conducted through SF Match per AUPO FCC compliance requirements. The program strictly adheres to all SF Match policies and Match Day deadlines.