Sightsavers India Fellowship Program 2024

Sightsavers India is collaborating with various departments of the respective state governments to scale up operations for Social Inclusion, Eye Health and Inclusive Education— their three core areas of work. They work in a sustainable way to promote lasting change by strengthening existing health systems, seeking to advocate with and influence governments, and by demonstrating best practices. Sightsavers India believes in promoting technologies in eye healthcare, enabling a wider reach of health services. Using innovation in education, they try and make classrooms more inclusive for children with visual impairment.

Sightsavers India Fellowship is an opportunity for promising and passionate young ophthalmologists to get trained at some of the leading eye health institutes in India. Alongside, the fellows will get a chance to apply these skills and knowledge in a real-world scenario while being placed under Sightsavers India Eye Health Programme.

The program identifies promising young ophthalmologists from India and groom them through an innovative course to enhance their perspectives on rural eye health.

Over the period of 24 months, the fellows experience a structured skill enhancement and mentoring process covering not only clinical and surgical ophthalmology but also managerial and holistic life skills. The process involves skills upgradation components and personal interactions with eminent leaders in eye care and development sector. Every stage of the fellowship program optimizes learning that helps the fellows transform into all-rounder seasoned professionals.

Leading eye health institutes of India will impart clinical and surgical trainings to the fellows. They will also provide remote and onsite mentoring to the fellows during their placement with host hospitals in districts.

Salient Features

• 24 months journey
• Hands-on training at leading institutions
• Exciting district postings
• One-on-one clinical-surgical mentorship
• Participation in community-based survey
• Self-transformation mentoring
• Attractive stipend and residential facility

Benefits

• Fellowship Stipend:
  • 35,000 per month – Initial four months training period;
  • 65,000 per month – 1st year of field posting;
  • 75,000 per month – 2nd year of field posting;
• Additional benefits:
  • Lump-sum payment upon successful completion of year 1 and 2.
  • Mediclaim, accident, term and professional indemnity insurance.

Post Fellowship 

• Sightsavers India recommendation for other sub/super – speciality fellowship at one of the training partners based on feedback of clinical mentors.
• Continue with Sightsavers India hospital partners as their staff, if agreed mutually;
• Completely depart from the program as per their personal aspirations;
• Alumni fellows are encouraged to stay connected with the program as visiting faculty, interact with future candidates and share their achievements.

Eligibility Criteria

• Postgraduate or a diploma holder in ophthalmology (MS/DNB/DO) from any recognized institute/ university in India, having sound knowledge on clinical ophthalmology (current year pass outs are eligible to apply).
• Desired attributes: 
  • High learning orientation, adaptability, professional ethics, emotional resilience.

For more information, visit Sightsavers India.