Building Local Capacity

Our mission is to build sustainable eye health care systems that function effectively over the long-term with minimal external involvement. We provide top-rate education and training opportunities at all levels of ophthalmology by working closely with a variety of partner institutions and affiliated ophthalmologists in the USA, South Asia, Africa and Europe.

Since 1994, HCP has directly supported the training of 18,000 ophthalmic personnel from 19 countries, either onsite at their home institutions or at one of our partner training facilities in Nepal, India, England, Israel, Canada and the United States.

HCP’s main training facility for hands-on clinical surgical experience is the Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology in Kathmandu, Nepal. Tilganga provides a wide range of training opportunities, including both short and long-term options for primary eye care workers, ophthalmic assistants, equipment maintenance personnel, optometrists, orthoptists, ophthalmic nurses, ophthalmology residents, ophthalmologists and ophthalmologists. From 1994 to 2016, 19,381 ophthalmic personnel from 43 countries have received specialized training at Tilganga of which 493 are doctors.

Residency Training Programs

Ophthalmology Residents represent the future of ophthalmology for their countries, and high-quality programs are vital to establish sustainable eye care systems. HCP prioritizes strengthening ophthalmology residency programs in order to train young ophthalmologists who will operate at the highest international level of ophthalmology. HCP’s Affiliated Ophthalmologists work with local residency directors in Nepal, Ghana, Ethiopia, and Bhutan on curriculum development, providing lectures while in country and hands-on training through cataract campaigns and hospital based training programs. HCP also supports residency exchange programs to provide ophthalmology residents with enhanced clinical and surgical exposure.

Sub-Specialty Fellowship Training

Sub-specialty fellowships for foreign ophthalmologists include twelve months of training and includes hands-on training at the fellow's home institution, hands-on training in Nepal or India, followed by observation at an academic medical center. Specialties include cornea, pediatrics, retina, glaucoma, and oculoplastics. Each fellow is paired with a mentor who prepares the specific course of study, appropriate to each fellow’s background and objectives. Accommodation and living stipends are provided.

Short-Term Cataract Surgery Training Programs

HCP supports cataract-training programs for ophthalmic teams from all over the developing world at training centers in Asia as well as during cataract surgical interventions. Beyond the clinical training, the trainees are introduced to a system of delivery that enables high-quality, cost-effective cataract surgery.