HEED Application FAQs
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: What is the deadline for the application?
A: March 1 for fellowships beginning in July of the same year.
Q: What is the dollar value of the Heed Fellowship?
A: It is a merit award of $10,000 paid in monthly increments to the Fellow. It cannot be reduced by the institution for any reason.
Q: Are taxes deducted from the merit award?
A: No.
Q: If I receive a Heed Fellowship, will I receive a W-2 form for the award?
A: No; please check with your accounting advisor for reporting assistance. A letter will be sent by our bank confirming the amount you received in the year.
Q: If selected, is the fellowship program allowed to retain any of the Heed award to support salary or research expenses?
A: No. This is a merit award to the Heed Fellow and cannot be reduced by the institution for any reason.
Q: My fellowship is a 2-year program, and I am currently in my first year. Am I eligible to apply?
A: Yes.
Q: I understand that I must be a citizen of the USA to apply - is this true?
A: Yes.
Q: I am currently a USA Green card holder/permanent resident. I have already applied for U.S. citizenship, which I anticipate receiving soon, but not before the application deadline. Am I eligible to apply for the Heed Fellowship?
A: No; individuals are eligible if they are citizens or naturalized citizens at the time of application.
Q: I am in a United States-based fellowship, but some of my fellowship research will be conducted in another country. Am I eligible to apply for a Heed Fellowship?
A: Yes.
Q: I just finished my fellowship in July. Can I still apply for this award?
A: To be eligible, you must be applying for your first year of fellowship or, in the case of a two-year fellowship, anticipating the second year prior to the application deadline.
Q: I applied for the Heed fellowship last year but was not selected. Am I eligible to apply again since I will be in my second year of fellowship?
A: Yes.
Q: Are neuro-ophthalmology fellows who graduated from a neurology residency rather than an ophthalmology residency eligible to apply for the Heed fellowship?
A: Yes.
Q: I will be starting my fellowship in Neuro-ophthalmology and wish to apply for the Heed Fellowship. On the applicant page, it states that the applicant should submit a letter from the Ophthalmology Chair or Residency Program Director who supervised the applicant's residency. My residency is in Neurology; am I still eligible to apply?
A: Yes; in this circumstance, the letter should be from the Neurology Chair or Residency Program Director.
Q: What specifics is the board looking for in an applicant?
A: Special consideration is given to the candidate who is planning an academic career in a medical school.
Q: I applied for a Heed fellowship previously and was not selected. Is there any advice you can offer as I prepare my application for this year?
A: No. The committee’s decisions are confidential. Approximately 100 applications are received, with funding of approximately 20 fellowships annually; competition is rigorous. You are encouraged to reapply; if an application is not submitted, there will be no chance of being selected.
Q: Will I be able to revise the application if it has not yet been submitted?
A: Yes.
Q: If I complete and submit the application, can I revise it if an error is found?
A: Yes, as long as the applications have not yet been submitted for the review process. You will notify the Administrator, who can ‘unsubmit’ the application, allowing it to be revised. It is recommended to print a copy of the application before submitting it.
Q: Are there any Heed activities that fellows can attend once they become alumni?
A: Yes. Former Heed Fellows become members of the Society of Heed Fellows, our alumni organization. The Society funds fellowships and hosts the annual Heed Luncheon, where a former Heed Fellow is honored with the prestigious Heed-Gutman Award.
Q: Will I receive a certificate when I complete the one-year Heed Fellowship?
A: Yes, upon completion of the fellowship year and submission of a Final Fellowship Experience Report, a certificate will be mailed to you.
Q: If I relocate, should I send Heed my change of address, new phone number, and e-mail address?
A: Yes. An up-to-date database is maintained to communicate with Heed Fellow alumni.