Tyler Hall, MDBeginning July 2023, the UAB Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences will be adding a Cornea Fellowship to its educational programs. This is in addition to the glaucoma, low vision, retina, and neuro-ophthalmology fellowships already offered in the department.

The cornea fellowship is a one-year clinical position within the department. The fellow will work closely with Tyler Hall, MD, and Priscilla Fowler, MD, on the cornea service at UAB Callahan Eye. The fellowship program emphasizes the development of expertise in all aspects of the diagnosis and treatment of corneal and external disease and refractive corneal and cataract surgery. The fellow will provide supervisory and teaching support for the residency program, both in the operating room and in outpatient cornea clinics at Cooper Green Hospital, Lions Clinic, and UAB Callahan Eye. Increasing responsibility for corneal and cataract surgery—including all types of keratoplasty, cross-linking, pterygium surgery, ocular surface reconstruction, standard and refractive cataract surgery—is provided throughout the year. The goal of the program is to graduate fellows who are well-trained to enter either academics or private practice.

Priscilla Fowler, MD This fellowship is supported by the Matthew W. Mosteller Endowed Fellowship in Cornea and External Disease, which was founded by Advancing Sight Network (formerly Alabama Eye Bank) and other donors to provide training and support for outstanding fellows in ophthalmology. This fund is appropriately named to honor Dr. Matthew W. Mosteller for his work in ophthalmology as a skilled surgeon and leader specializing in cornea and external disease for more than 20 years. Dr. Mosteller had significant impact on the practice of cornea and refractive surgery and was instrumental in growing the Alabama Eye Bank.

Hall and Fowler, corneal specialists in the department and with UAB Callahan Eye, were also instrumental in the founding of this fellowship. Dr. Hall said, “We believe this program will help further the department’s tripartite mission of research, education, and patient care. Specifically, it will enhance our ability to care for the large volume of patients we see on the cornea service while simultaneously augmenting the education of our residents. “Amongst a competitive applicant pool, one outstanding candidate was matched to the new fellowship.”