As a glaucoma fellow at UAB Callahan Eye, Tim Johnson, M.D., came to Birmingham with a clear sense of purpose. A Tuscaloosa native and accomplished comprehensive ophthalmologist, Johnson practiced for nearly a decade before seeking advanced fellowship training. His decision to hone this specialty at UAB was driven by a commitment he saw reflected across the glaucoma service.
“Callahan’s mission to care for underserved patients isn’t just a statement,” Johnson said. “It’s lived out every day in the clinics, the operating rooms, and the Emergency Department.”
The UAB Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences glaucoma fellowship offers broad, high-volume surgical and clinical exposure across UAB Callahan Eye, Cooper Green Hospital, and the Lions Clinic. Fellows gain progressive responsibility in the diagnosis and management of complex disease, including surgical experience with filtering procedures, drainage devices, cataract surgery, and pediatric glaucoma interventions. Trainees also play an integral role in resident education, both in clinic and in the operating room.
For Johnson, that combination of mission-driven care, surgical breadth, and academic mentorship has been transformative. He highlights Brian Samuels, M.D., Ph.D., Glaucoma Fellowship Director and The EyeSight Foundation of Alabama Endowed Chair of the department, as well as Michael Callahan, M.D., as particularly influential, noting their commitment to teaching and to patient-centered care. The pace and variety of pathology in the dedicated eye Emergency Department have also been a defining part of his fellowship experience.
As he looks ahead to the remainder of his year, Johnson is most eager to continue working closely with residents and attendings. “Teaching here feels like an extension of the culture,” he said. “Everyone invests in your growth so you can invest in others.”
The glaucoma fellowship’s depth, rigor, and service-focused training continue to prepare future clinicians like Johnson to meet the needs of patients right here in Birmingham, across Alabama and beyond.