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Gillingham Pan-American Fellowship Program

Pan-American Association of Ophthalmology

The Gillingham Pan-American Fellowship Program provides funding to ophthalmologists from Latin America and the Caribbean who are completing a medical fellowship at an accredited institution in the United States or Canada. Two six-month fellowships of $20,000 each are awarded to qualified candidates.

The program supports general ophthalmologists who are committed to teaching in an accredited medical school in their home country and who will devote some of their time to charity clinics upon their return. This program is funded in part by the Retina Research Foundation.

Deadlines & Review

The receipt deadline for applications to the 2027 Gillingham Pan-American Fellowship Program is October 1, 2026. The Pan-American Fellowships Committee will review all applications at its business meeting in October/November. Confirmation of acceptance into an accredited training program must follow by February 1, 2027.

Scholarship Policies & Awardee Responsibilities

• The awardee is responsible for obtaining the appropriate Exchange Visitor Visa (J-1) and any other required travel documentation.

• The awardee must fulfill all duties and responsibilities of the hosting institution to the best of their ability.

• The awardee will live within the financial limitations of the grant. The awardee may not petition the hosting institution for part-time salaried positions (e.g., emergency room duty) to supplement the grant income.

• The awardee is responsible for all expenses incurred during the program, including housing, food, and medical bills. The PAAO assumes no responsibility or liability for the accidental injury or death of the awardee.

• The awardee is responsible for obtaining and paying for insurance coverage during the program. This may include, but is not limited to, personal medical insurance, malpractice insurance, auto insurance, and renter's insurance.

• The awardee is strongly discouraged from bringing their spouse and/or other family members for the duration of the fellowship. If a family member must accompany the awardee, that family member may not interfere in any way with the fellowship or the hosting institution (for example, by seeking employment or other activity connected to the hosting institution).

• The awardee understands that their name and photo may appear in PAAO/PAOF newsletters or other promotional materials to promote this program to future participants.

• The awardee is obligated to return to their country of origin and to participate in a teaching program and/or charity work for a minimum of six (6) months. The awardee must send the PAAO a letter of verification from the director of the program.

• All applicants must be an Active Member or a Member-in-Training of the PAAO at the time of application. Upon completion of the fellowship, the awardee is responsible for maintaining their PAAO membership.

• Any research conducted by the awardee during the fellowship will credit both the PAAO and the Retina Research Foundation for funding.

• The awardee assumes entire responsibility and agrees to protect, indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the Pan-American Ophthalmological Foundation (PAOF), the Pan-American Association of Ophthalmology (PAAO), and their employees and agents against all claims, losses, and damages to persons or property, governmental charges, fines, and attorney's fees arising out of or caused by the awardee's participation in any PAAO/PAOF program.

• Within 60 days of completing the fellowship, the awardee must submit a 2-3 page report (including pictures and suitable for publication in our newsletter and website) on their experience to the Administrative Office.

AI Based Application Success Predictor

1. Direct relevance to ophthalmology (highest predictor)

This is the fundamental requirement.

Competitive applicants should have a clear focus on ophthalmology, including areas such as:

Retina
Cornea
Glaucoma
Pediatric ophthalmology
Ocular oncology
Neuro-ophthalmology
Cataract and refractive surgery
Uveitis
Oculoplastics
Visual sciences

The Foundation's mission is to prevent blindness through education, research, and lifelong professional development.

2. Strong academic and clinical excellence (very high predictor)

Across fellowship and scholarship programs, reviewers look for applicants who have demonstrated excellence through:

Residency performance
Fellowship achievements
Clinical competence
Academic productivity
Leadership during training

For research awards, applicants should also demonstrate a strong scientific track record and meaningful contributions to ophthalmic research.

3. Early-career potential and commitment to academic ophthalmology (very high predictor)

Many PAAO opportunities specifically target:

Residents
Fellows
Young ophthalmologists
Early-career faculty

For example:

Gillingham Fellowship: applicants are generally within 2–3 years of completing residency.
BCC Advanced Training Scholarship: preference is given to young ophthalmologists from Latin America and the Caribbean.

Reviewers seek candidates likely to become future leaders in ophthalmology.

4. Strong motivation and clearly defined career goals (very high predictor)

Most fellowship applications require a Letter of Interest.

The strongest letters explain:

Why the applicant selected the training program
What specific skills will be acquired
How the training fills an important gap
How the experience will improve patient care
Long-term academic and clinical goals

A compelling career-development plan substantially strengthens an application.

5. High-quality host institution and training program (very high predictor)

For advanced fellowships, applicants should have acceptance into an accredited fellowship program.

Competitive host institutions provide:

Internationally recognized faculty
Advanced clinical exposure
Surgical experience
Research opportunities
Structured mentorship

For the Gillingham Fellowship, proof of acceptance into an accredited fellowship in the United States or Canada is required.

6. Strong mentorship and recommendation letters (high predictor)

Most programs require recommendation letters.

Competitive letters describe:

Clinical ability
Surgical skills
Professionalism
Research potential
Leadership
Commitment to ophthalmology

Specific, detailed recommendations are more persuasive than general endorsements.

7. Active engagement with PAAO (high predictor)

Membership is an eligibility requirement for many opportunities.

Competitive applicants often demonstrate involvement through:

Active PAAO membership
Participation in Pan-American meetings
Presentations at Pan-American Research Day
Educational activities
Committee or society engagement

PAAO membership is required for many fellowships, scholarships, and research awards.

8. Research productivity and scientific contributions (high predictor)

For research-focused awards such as the Paul Kayser Global Award and ARVO/PARD Awards, reviewers value:

Peer-reviewed publications
Abstracts
Posters
Oral presentations
Clinical or laboratory research
Innovation in visual sciences

Applicants for ARVO/PARD Awards must typically be the first author of an accepted ARVO paper or poster.

9. Commitment to improving eye care in the Americas (high and distinctive predictor)

A defining feature of PAAO programs is their emphasis on regional impact.

Competitive applicants should demonstrate commitment to:

Returning to serve their home country
Teaching future ophthalmologists
Community outreach
Blindness prevention
Knowledge dissemination
Building ophthalmology capacity in Latin America and the Caribbean

For example, recipients of the BCC Scholarship are expected to return to their home country and participate in teaching or charitable work for at least six months.

10. Leadership potential and future contribution to ophthalmology (high predictor)

PAAO invests in future leaders of ophthalmology.

Strong candidates often demonstrate:

Leadership roles
Teaching experience
Society involvement
Volunteer service
Educational initiatives
Potential to influence ophthalmic practice and education

The Foundation explicitly supports leadership development as part of its educational mission.

Specialties

Ophthalmology

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible, an applicant must:

• Be a general ophthalmologist who is within 3 years of completing their residency program;

• Be from Mexico, Central America, South America, or the Caribbean;

• Have applied to an accredited fellowship program in the United States or Canada, and include a copy of their application letter with this application; and

• Be an Active Member ($200) or a Member-in-Training ($50) of the Pan-American Association of Ophthalmology (PAAO) at the time of application.

Confirmation of acceptance into the training program must be received by the PAAO/PAOF by February 1. Failure to confirm acceptance into a training program will result in disqualification. Please note that deadlines are strictly enforced.

Individuals who have previously received scholarship or fellowship funding from the PAAO/PAOF are not eligible to apply for additional funding.

Eligible Countries:

Canada

United States

Sponsor Details

Sponsor Institute/Organizations: Pan-American Association of Ophthalmology

Sponsor Type: Corporate/Non-Profit

Address: 2504 W Park Row Drive, Suite B-5, PMB #129, Pantego, Texas 76013

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