Congratulations to Dr. Chigozie Ifeoma Echieh for completing her ECF Fellowship!
July 12, 2023: Dr. Chigozie Ifeoma Echieh of Nigeria just completed her ECF Fellowship under Drs. Vicktoria Dai and Didi Fabian of Israel. The department of Ophthalmology, Goldschleger Eye Institute, is located at the Sheba Medical Center in Israel. Sheba Medical Center is a multi-specialty hospital ranging in the care they provide their patients. The subspecialties in the department of ophthalmology are ocular oncology, cornea and anterior segment, glaucoma, pediatric, retina and uveitis.
To learn more about the department's treatments and capabilities, visit the Goldschleger Eye Institute website!
Highlights of the fellowship
Plans as a Trained Fellow
Data shows that children with retinoblastoma present late to the hospitals in developing countries. This situation is worsened by poor knowledge of the disease and the presence of few ophthalmologists in specialized centers who can effectively manage the disease.
Dr. Chigozie's strategies to change the paradigm include:
To learn more about the department's treatments and capabilities, visit the Goldschleger Eye Institute website!
Highlights of the fellowship
- Improved knowledge and clinical acumen in medical and surgical management of different ocular tumors; ocular surface neoplasia; uveal melanomas, retinoblastoma and vaso-proliferative tumors.
- Improved surgical skills of Transpupillary thermal therapy and cryotherapy deliveries for retinoblastoma.
- Training on use of the Ret-Cam for imaging of retinoblastoma.
- Visitation to the ocularist for training sessions.
Plans as a Trained Fellow
Data shows that children with retinoblastoma present late to the hospitals in developing countries. This situation is worsened by poor knowledge of the disease and the presence of few ophthalmologists in specialized centers who can effectively manage the disease.
Dr. Chigozie's strategies to change the paradigm include:
- Increase awareness creation through community education and media campaigns; creation of educational leaflets in local languages.
- Train primary health workers to recognize and refer children with leukocoria and other presentations for retinoblastoma seen in the community.
- Mentorship and guidance of young ophthalmologists in the field of ocular oncology in Sub-Saharan Africa.
- Institutional collaboration with Dr. Vicktoria Dai, the ocular oncology team and the ocularist to visit Nigeria for training of health workers.
Conclusion
Dr. Chigozie Ifeoma Echieh says: "Special thanks Dr. Vicktoria Dai and Prof. Didi Fabian, my supervisors and trainers. The skills and training I received during your tutorship are invaluable. Another special thanks to Dr. Paul Finger who has been a great mentor and ensured I took up this fellowship despite the challenges and uncertainties posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Thank you to all the doctors and staff at the Goldschledger Eye Institute, Sheba, Israel."
Dr. Chigozie looks forward to transferring skills learned during her fellowship to her colleagues back in Nigeria, and aims to improve the ophthalmic care for children with retinoblastoma in her region.
Dr. Chigozie Ifeoma Echieh says: "Special thanks Dr. Vicktoria Dai and Prof. Didi Fabian, my supervisors and trainers. The skills and training I received during your tutorship are invaluable. Another special thanks to Dr. Paul Finger who has been a great mentor and ensured I took up this fellowship despite the challenges and uncertainties posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Thank you to all the doctors and staff at the Goldschledger Eye Institute, Sheba, Israel."
Dr. Chigozie looks forward to transferring skills learned during her fellowship to her colleagues back in Nigeria, and aims to improve the ophthalmic care for children with retinoblastoma in her region.