Every year the Sydney Eye Hospital Foundation funds a number of Fellowships.

Experienced and talented eye doctors from Australia and overseas can apply for these 12-month positions, each in a different specialisation. Fellowships are keenly sought after and are a key Foundation funding goal: the worldwide exchange of knowledge and skills is vital.

Foundation Fellows work with patients, help train students in their specialisation and participate in research. The Sydney Eye Hospital benefits in numerous ways from these programs, including clinical research and national and international publication. Some of our Fellows are from developing nations and return to their country with enhanced skills from their year on the floor of this fully operational Eye Hospital.

Our current Foundation Fellows are:

Dr Zoya Rabkin-Mainer
Glaucoma Fellow

Zoya trained in Israel. She has taught medical students, engaged in clinical research, and developed a special interest in glaucoma. She will take the knowledge & skills she gets here back to Israel and work as a glaucoma consultant. She’s thrilled by this once in a lifetime opportunity to work and study here.

Dr Lai Yong Tai
Oculoplastic Fellow

Oculoplastic surgeon Dr Lai Yong Tai trained in Malaysia and has held fellowships in London and Melbourne. She participates in public screening events and clinical teaching for medical students, junior residents and paramedics. Lai is keen to learn new surgical techniques from our renowned oculoplastic surgeons over the next 12 months in Sydney, here with her family.

Dr Neil Avery
Graham Lovett Vitreoretinal Fellow

Since 2009 Neil has travelled annually to St Ann’s Bay in Jamaica to help provide ophthalmic care to those who do not have access to specialised care. There, he has developed a special interest in small incision cataract surgery. He is looking forward to the opportunity to work at Sydney Eye Hospital and to learn from world class vitreoretinal surgeons. Away from work Neil and family are enjoying exploring Sydney and all it has to offer.

Dr Daniel Garcerant Congote
Mabs Melville Corneal Fellow

Daniel studied medicine in Colombia and ophthalmology in Madrid, where he is working on a PhD thesis on corneal topography. His goal is to improve his clinical and surgical skills in cornea pathology at our world renowned facility, and participate in the leading research the cornea team is performing. He hopes to pass on this knowledge when he returns to Colombia. Meantime he and his family are excited by the chance to visit Australia’s cities and beautiful landscapes.

Dr Elisa Cornish
Medical Retinal Fellow

Elisa completed her ophthalmology training at Sydney Eye Hospital. This is her second fellowship: last year she held the Professorial Uveitis Fellowship. Elisa is thrilled to join our renowned Medical Retina Unit to refine her skills. She will also continue her involvement with the macular research team, working to develop new treatments for the disease.

Dr Nino Hirnschall
Corneal Fellow

Nino started his ophthalmic research at medical school in Vienna, before becoming a research fellow in London and completing a PhD in medical physics in Vienna. He is keen to learn from the cornea team at Sydney Eye Hospital, to improve his clinical and surgical skills and spend a year in this beautiful city together with his wife Karin. After the fellowship he will return to Austria to use the knowledge he has gained as a corneal surgeon and researcher.

Dr Zaid Mammo
Dr Eddie Donaldson Vitreoretinal Fellow

Trained in Vancouver, Dr Zaid Mammo has completed a one-year vitreoretinal fellowship at Columbia University in New York. He is thrilled to have the opportunity to learn from and work alongside some of the world leaders in the field of vitreoretinal surgery. On completing his fellowship, he plans to return to Canada to work as a consultant in a tertiary care centre. Outside work, Zaid is enjoying life in Sydney and exploring Australia.

Dr Shaan Wiryasaputra
Professorial Uveitis & Medical Retinal Fellow

Shaan trained in Singapore. Drawn to ophthalmology for its marriage of clinical medicine and surgery, she has chosen to pursue subspecialty interests in medical retina and uveitis. She is grateful for the opportunity to train at Sydney Eye and is looking forward to honing her clinical and surgical skills under the tutelage of our fine team.

You can read more about our fellowships and the application process on our Fellowships page.