Observerships

Columbia's Department of Ophthalmology welcomes observers from outside of Columbia University Irving Medical Center each year between February and December. While observers may not have "hands-on" patient contact or take part in research activities, participants can observe and shadow our world-renowned clinical and research faculty across the different sub-specialties:

• Anterior Segment/Refractive Surgery
• Comprehensive Ophthalmology
• Genetics
• Glaucoma
• Neuro-Ophthalmology
• Oculoplastic Surgery
• Ophthalmic Oncology
• Optometry
• Pediatric Ophthalmology
• Retina

Program Requirements 

• Applicants must identify and secure a Columbia Ophthalmology faculty preceptor before applying. The department does not assign preceptors through the application form. 
• We do not accept observers in January when we host the annual month-long Basic Science and Clinical Science Course in Ophthalmology (BSCSO), which is open to all applicants.
• Applications will only be accepted within 6 months of the requested start date. Please plan accordingly as final clearance and approval may take up to 3 months.
• Submitting an application is not a guarantee of observership. You will receive a response within 4 to 6 weeks of application submission, depending on the volume and time of year.
• If you are 18 or under, a parent or guardian signature is required.
• Observers are responsible for their own housing and visa, if applicable.

Application Fee

A non-refundable application fee is due at the time of paperwork submission. The fee covers the administrative costs for onboarding and credentialing. Fee waivers are available on a case-by-case basis.

To request a fee waiver, email us at ophthalmologyhr-fa@cumc.columbia.eduwith a CV and brief justification as to why you are requesting the waiver.

How to Apply

1. Secure a preceptor and make contact

Before beginning the application process, you must have a Columbia Ophthalmology faculty preceptor who has agreed to host your observership. Once a preceptor is secured, please contact us at ophthalmologyhr-fa@cumc.columbia.edu.

Please allow 2-4 weeks to receive a response from Human Resources with next steps.   

2. Upon conditional acceptance, complete required forms

You will receive instructions to complete the forms required by the university. Submit the paperwork along with your fee payment receipt.

There may be restrictions from Paypal in processing payments from certain countries.

3. Receive confirmation

Once the university receives the required forms, it can take 6-8 weeks for final clearance to begin the observership. You will receive an email confirmation with all the details you need for your visit. We look forward to hosting you!

If you have questions about the application process or need additional information about our observership program, please email us at ophthalmologyhr-fa@cumc.columbia.edu.