The Mary Jane O’Neill Fellowship in International Eye Banking was established in 2001 to provide medical or technical personnel from eye banks outside of the USA, and Canada, with the skills necessary to develop, operate, and maintain successful eye banks within their own countries, reducing blindness due to corneal disease or injury.
2026 Fellowship Information
The 2026 Mary Jane O’Neill Fellowship will bring an individual to the United States for a 2 week period during May/June 2026 to intern at the Lions Gift of Sight and attend the EBAA Annual Meeting, June 3-6, 2026 in Indianapolis. Once a Fellow is selected, the EBAA will work with the eye bank and the Fellow to determine the actual dates of the program.
EBAA and The Eye-Bank for Sight Restoration in New York City established this fellowship to honor Mary Jane O’Neill, The Eye-Bank’s Executive Director from 1980 to 2000. During her long history in eye banking, Ms. O’Neill was a forward thinking visionary and championed international outreach, devoting significant efforts to establish and improve eye-banking services worldwide.
Supported by:
Application Information
Deadline to Apply: October 3, 2025
Previous Mary Jane O’Neill Fellow
Marina Chatzea, MD, CEBT
Athens Eye Bank, Greece
Dr. Chatzea interned for one week at Lions Eye Bank of Wisconsin followed by attending the 2025 Annual Meeting in San Diego. Her personal account is below.
As a Mary Jane O’Neil Fellow, I had the opportunity to expand my knowledge and skills in the field of eye banking. The fellowship offered a well-rounded experience, allowing me to increase my scientific understanding and my professional capabilities in eye bank operations. This experience has provided me with essential tools to support the continued development of the Athens Eye Bank, the first eye bank in Greece, which requires a comprehensive approach to grow across all aspects of eye banking.
My training at the Lions Eye Bank of Wisconsin was both thorough and thoughtfully organized. I participated in a complete program that covered all key areas of eye bank operations, with a focus on hands-on experience. A major highlight was the practical training I received in DMEK tissue processing, which significantly improved my technical abilities. I was warmly welcomed by the entire team, who treated me with kindness and generosity. The eye bank itself was impressively advanced, beautifully designed, and equipped with latest technologies and carefully developed SOPs. I greatly appreciated how open they were to share their knowledge and how eager they were to support my learning experience.
Attending the EBAA Annual Meeting was another important part of the fellowship. The sessions offered essential knowledge, as well as updates on the latest advancements in the field, including innovative techniques, newest equipment designs, and the role of artificial intelligence in eye banking. The meeting also provided an excellent opportunity to connect with professionals from eye banks across the United States. I had the chance to explore potential future collaborations, especially in the area of research. I was especially pleased to finally meet the EBAA staff, whose ongoing support and approachability have been greatly appreciated.
For this amazing experience, I would like to express my gratitude to the Lions Eye Bank of Wisconsin for their warm hospitality, guidance, and training. I am also deeply thankful to the Eye Bank Association of America (EBAA) and The Eye-Bank for Sight Restoration for organizing and supporting this fellowship. It was a meaningful and inspiring experience that influenced my professional journey and contributed to the future of the Athens Eye Bank.
