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NAME OF THE INSTITUTE
Priyamvada Birla Aravind Eye Hospital, Loudon Street, Kolkata
(In collaboration with the Aravind Eye Care System, Madurai. This center combines the high-standard protocols of Aravind with the specialized clinical volume of a premier Kolkata institution.)
STIPEND & SELECTION
- Monthly Remuneration: ₹50,000
- Selection Process: * Round 1: Personal Interview.
- Round 2: A mandatory 3-day clinical observership at the hospital to assess surgical orientation and clinical aptitude.
- Intake: Highly exclusive—only one fellow is selected per session (January and July cycles).
DURATION
24 Months (2 Years)
- Structure: Rotational postings every 2 months across all sub-specialties (Cornea, Glaucoma, VR, etc.).
- Note: Completion of this 2-year Comprehensive track is a prerequisite for applying to their internal 1-year specialty fellowships.
HONEST REVIEW
1. Surgical Hands-On (The “Cataract Specialist” Track)
- Timeline: Surgical turns typically begin in the 2nd or 3rd month.
- The “Aravind Step-Ladder”: Training starts with SICS (Small Incision Cataract Surgery). Once you complete roughly 100 SICS or demonstrate absolute proficiency, you are transitioned to Phacoemulsification.
- Volume: Fellows typically perform 70–80 Phacos over the 2-year tenure.
- The “Seasonality” Factor: Surgical numbers are higher during the winter months (peak camp season). In summers, the caseload shifts toward private patients, who are usually reserved for consultants.
- Limitations: Advanced cases (small pupil, hard nuclei) are allotted based strictly on your demonstrated skill. There is no formal training for complication management (managed by consultants) and no topical phaco training.
2. Clinical Exposure & OPD
- Rotations: You spend 2 months in each specialty. While you primarily observe specialty surgeries, you get to see a massive volume of OPD cases.
- Workload: Described as very hectic. Fellows are responsible for:
- Managing the entire pre-operative workup.
- Post-operative patient evaluation.
- Routine OPD clinical screenings.
- Timings: Standard hours are 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM. However, pre-op duties start at 8:00 AM, and evening OPDs can frequently push the day until 7:00 PM.
3. Academics & Duties
- Education: Clinical discussions happen during OPD. Formal classes are scheduled weekly but can be irregular due to the high patient volume.
- Calls: On-call night duties are shared with fellows from other departments.
- Camps: Mandatory Sunday screening camps are frequent, especially during the winter months.
PERSONAL OPINION
Priyamvada Birla Aravind (PBA) is a “Clinical Foundation Hub.” It is not a high-volume Phaco “factory” like some South Indian trusts, but it offers a solid, well-rounded 2-year immersion. It is ideal for someone who wants to stay in Kolkata and values the Aravind pedigree and structured protocols. The primary drawback is the modest Phaco count (70–80), but the trade-off is the opportunity to graduate with the clinical confidence to eventually transition into their specialty VR or Glaucoma programs.
