Executive Surgeon Fellowship
52 Weeks.
One Standard.
An institution-quality fellowship for surgeon-leaders who see beyond the operating room. Premium refractive surgery, premium cataract surgery, leadership, innovation, research, and business strategy — unified into one rigorous framework.
The Juliette Difference
Not Just a Surgeon. A Surgeon-Leader.
Traditional fellowships emphasize surgical volume and technical competency. This fellowship includes those essentials while also training the fellow to understand patient psychology, premium consultation design, team culture, finance, marketing, research, communication, AI, and the future of ophthalmic care.
Fellowship Director
Rob Melendez, MD, MBA
Founder & Fellowship Director
Dr. Melendez founded Juliette Eye Academy to create the fellowship he wished had existed during his own training — one that integrates world-class surgical education with executive leadership, business strategy, patient experience, innovation, and lifelong learning.
Juliette Eye Academy is also designed to help surgeons, practice administrators, and optometrists improve their leadership and clinical and surgical skills.
The desired graduate is not simply a surgeon. The desired graduate is a surgeon-leader who can build teams, serve patients, advance science, communicate with clarity, and help shape the future of ophthalmology.
"The patient is not buying a procedure. The patient is choosing a trusted team, a clear recommendation, and a better life experience."
— Premium Consultation Principle
Fellowship Manager
Melanie Mason
Fellowship Manager, Juliette Eye Academy
Melanie Mason serves as Fellowship Manager for the Juliette Eye Academy, coordinating the fellowship experience and supporting applicants through the enrollment process.
[email protected]Patient Experience
The Premium Patient Journey
Each step is a chance to build trust. Fellows learn the operational and emotional purpose of every handoff. The patient should feel known, educated, guided, and cared for.
Consultation Framework
Premium Consultation Framework
Build rapport and learn the patient's life goals.
Review occupation, hobbies, driving, reading, night vision, and tolerance for glasses.
Explain diagnostics visually and simply.
Present options without overwhelming the patient.
Make a confident recommendation when appropriate.
Discuss risks, benefits, alternatives, and expectations.
Confirm understanding and invite questions.
Coordinate a warm handoff to scheduling.
Communication Scripts
Premium Consultation
"Thank you for trusting us with your vision. My goal today is to understand how you use your eyes, what matters most to you, and then recommend the safest and best option for your lifestyle."
Recommendation
"Based on your goals, diagnostics, and anatomy, my recommendation is ___ because it gives you the best balance of safety, quality of vision, and long-term satisfaction."
Difficult Conversation
"I can see this is frustrating. I want you to know we take this seriously. Let us review what is happening, what options we have, and how we will support you through the next step."
Weekly Rhythm
Fellowship Overview & Weekly Schedule
| Day | Primary Focus | Secondary Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | Santa Fe clinic | Premium consultations and surgery |
| Tuesday | Operating room | Premium cataract, RLE, EVO ICL |
| Wednesday | Albuquerque clinic | Research, reading, executive meetings |
| Thursday | Operating room | SMILE, LASIK, PRK, wet lab, video review |
| Friday | CEO clinic & case conference | Leadership, journal club, business dashboard |
| Occasional Saturday | Wet lab, conference, outreach | Optional professional development |
52-Week Curriculum
Four Quarters of Progressive Mastery
Weeks 1–13
Foundation
Culture, patient experience, premium consultation foundations, diagnostics, tomography, ocular surface, biometry, clinical reasoning.
Weeks 14–26
Growth
RLE, patient psychology, expectation management, SMILE/LASIK/PRK laser workflow, EVO ICL sizing and planning, mixed procedures.
Weeks 27–39
Autonomy
Business, finance, KPIs, marketing, operations, leadership, culture, coaching, conflict, research, AI, publication, and innovation.
Weeks 40–52
Certification
Independent clinic, teaching, case presentation, increasing autonomy, transition to practice, career plan, capstone, and certification.
Each week includes Clinical, Surgical, Leadership, Research, Business, and AI/Technology objectives with weekly reflections and deliverables.
Weekly Structure
Six Domains. Every Week.
Clinical
Patient selection, diagnostics, and postoperative decision-making aligned with each procedure and monthly theme.
Surgical
Observe, assist, or perform graduated portions of each procedure; review surgical video and identify technical improvements.
Leadership
Apply a rotating leadership principle each week — servant leadership, coaching, conflict resolution, strategic clarity, and more.
Research
Update research tracker, read landmark papers, and document practical takeaways. Minimum one manuscript, one abstract, one presentation.
Business
Review KPIs, operational dashboards, finance, marketing, vendor relationships, and premium practice economics.
AI & Technology
Identify one workflow per week where AI, analytics, diagnostics, or technology can improve safety, education, speed, or experience.
Surgical Competency Checklists
Six Core Procedures. Structured Evaluation.
Each procedure is assessed on a 1–10 scale across patient selection, diagnostics, planning, consent, technical execution, complication management, postoperative care, communication, and professionalism — tracked across Q1, Q2, and Q3/Q4.
SMILE
Patient selection, diagnostics, planning, consent, technical execution, complication management, postoperative care.
LASIK
Patient selection, diagnostics, planning, consent, technical execution, complication management, postoperative care.
PRK
Patient selection, diagnostics, planning, consent, technical execution, complication management, postoperative care.
EVO ICL
Sizing, vault, toric planning, exchange strategy, patient selection, and full procedural competency.
Refractive Lens Exchange
IOL selection, ORA, femtosecond workflows, patient psychology, expectation management, premium counseling.
Premium Cataract Surgery
Advanced IOL planning, femtosecond integration, ORA-guided outcomes, and premium patient communication.
Quarterly Evaluations
Formal Scoring Across 15 Dimensions
Formal 1–10 scoring in professionalism, clinical judgment, diagnostics, surgical technique, communication, leadership, teamwork, research, business, teaching, ethics, emotional intelligence, efficiency, continuous learning, and overall progress.
Research Academy Requirements
Ready to Begin the Fellowship?
The 2027 cohort is now accepting applications. Selective admission. Limited positions.
2026 Inaugural Cohort · John Lee, MD