Expert Recommendations for Ideal-Status of Iran's Ophthalmic Fellowship Education :Foresight-Panel

  Promotion of Ophthalmic Education and practice is one of the main priorities for policy makers in ophthalmology. This study aimed to present experts solutions to accomplish an Ideal Status for Ophthalmic Fellowship Education in Iran over a 10- year horizon.

In this applied qualitative research, using purposive sampling, 11 key informants of Iran’s Ophthalmic Fellowship Education invited to participate in an expert panel on February2023. The data analyzed by thematic approach.

 in this article the identified solutions to achieve desired status for fellowship education in ophthalmology were presented in 14 main themes, and 44 subthemes.Based of consensus of experts, this study, proposed 14 applied solution including: Revising the ophthalmic fellowship curriculum to the highest quality, promoting accountability, promoting professionalism , constant interaction with clinical research sectors,  reform in national system of  fellowship’s admission, reform in fellowships  program evaluation  and accreditation system, decentralization of ophthalmic fellowship admission, Integration of some ophthalmic fellowship disciplines, cut unnecessary admissions and increase admissions in required  ophthalmic fields , foresight  in workforce planning ,  cost-effectiveness analysis  in fellowship programs development , ophthalmic services tariffs reform, Ophthalmologists retention policy reform , Investing and building technological infrastructures.

 The priority areas and applied solutions to actualize the ideal situation for ophthalmic fellowship education of the highest quality in response to community and health system demands are determined .The experts recommendations should be considered through revision of policies, standards and practical mechanisms by educational  planners to promote ophthalmic fellowship education in IRAN.