There is currently an inadequate supply of pediatric ophthalmologists to serve the pediatric population in many areas of the United States; only 50% of the positions in the country for training fellows are currently being filled. There are fewer than 10 pediatric ophthalmologists in Atlanta, each of whom sees thousands of patients yearly. Through its post-doctorla fellowship, The James H. Hall Eye Center continues to train pediatric ophthalmologists to meet the growing need.
The James H. Hall Fellowship has earned a commendable reputation and prestige within the ophthalmologic community. Our program is accredited by the American Association of Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (AAPOS). Our fellows must have a Georgia medical license and be a graduate of an accredited American medical school. Last year's president of AAPOS was George Ellis Jr. MD, a former fellow of the Hall Eye Center.
Since 1979, Dr. Zane F. Pollard, our Pediatric Ophthalmology Director has trained more than 30 fellows. Today, former fellows practice in New York, Pennsylvania, Florida, Iowa, California, Tennessee, Louisiana, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Arizona. Three former fellows are teachers at university hospitals.
The program deals with a high volume of patients, complicated pathology and extensive surgical management. In addition to the extensive clinical and surgical experience, the fellow receives a series of forty lectures covering all aspects of strabismus, glaucoma, ptosis, retinopathy of prematurity, tumors, and infectious diseases of the eye.
The training fellow performs full dilated eye exams in children (ages 0-18), provides medical and surgical management of pediatric eye disease, and emergency eye care on a daily basis at the Fulton County Health Department Clinic and the Scottish Rite Children’s Hospital.
This is the only specialized pediatric eye clinic in downtown Atlanta and it was pioneered by Dr. Zane Pollard, the Center’s Pediatric Director in 1975. The Hall Eye Center furnishes the only ophthalmologist on staff who provides dilated eye exams, amblyopia and strabismus treatment. The Center also provides medical equipment and instruments to improve the quality of care. The physicians of the James Hall Eye Center are available for consultation at anytime and they also assist in the surgical management of these patients.
Emergency room care was provided biweekly.
The training fellow gained experience in the evaluation and management of a broad range of complex pathology in pediatric ocular and visual disorders, including: refractive errors, amblyopia, strabismus, orbital and adnexal abnormalities, cataract, glaucoma, intraocular tumors, retinopathy of prematurity, neurologic disease, trauma, functional visual loss, nystagmus, cranial nerve palsy, tear duct obstruction, chalazion, hemangioma, blepharospasm, dermoid cyst, orbital cellulitis, conjunctivitis, scleritis, corneal abrasion and ulcer, corneal foreign body, keratitis, traumatic hyphema, iritis, ruptured globe, vitreous hemorrhage, persistent hyperplastic primary vitreous, coloboma, optic nerve hypoplasia and atrophy, optic nerve tumors, optic neuritis, retinal detachment, retinoblastoma, retinal hemorrhage/shaken baby syndrome, retinal dystrophies, traumatic brain injury, and cortical visual impairment.
Free surgical care was provided for 15 indigent patients (1.5 hours per case at an estimated cost of $2,000-$2,500 per case).
The total number of surgical cases in 2006 was 1,504. The training fellow performed 496 procedures and participated in 1,008, devoting over 1,000 hours in 2006 to surgical procedures.
In addition to clinical work, further participation in Continuing Medical Education Lectures and Conferences (approximately 40) sponsored by the Pediatric Director, are an integral component of the fellowship.
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