Invited Faculty

Maria Rizk, MD Bio

Maria Rizk, MD is an ophthalmology assistant at the cornea department at the Rothschild Foundation Hospital in Paris, France. After finishing a one-year medical cornea and refractive surgery fellowship at the Rothschild Foundation, she worked as a research fellow in the same department for a year. She is now an assistant in this department. Her special interests include cataract surgery, treating ocular surface diseases, and refractive surgery.

Mahshad Darvish-Zargar, MD - Bio

Educational Background

Dr. Darvish-Zargar earned a Bachelor of Science degree with honours in microbiology and immunology at the University of British Columbia. He then completed a Master of Business Administration (MBA) as well as his medical degree at McGill University. He also finished a residency in ophthalmology at McGill, where he was named Chief Resident.

Afterwards, Dr. Darvish-Zargar completed a cornea and external disease fellowship at the Cincinnati Eye Institute as well as a cornea and external disease observership at the Singapore National Eye Center.

Professional Experience

With over 10,000 procedures performed, Dr. Darvish-Zargar specializes in Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE), Corneal Cross-Linking (CXL), general ophthalmology, and the treatment of cataracts.

He’s been a cornea specialist at the Jewish General Hospital in Montreal, Quebec since 2015, where he was also the Medical Director for the Academic Cataract Center. He additionally works at the Lachine Hospital, also in Montreal.

Dr. Darvish-Zargar is currently an Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology as well as a Director of the Cornea Fellowship at McGill University. He was previously the Residency Program Director of Ophthalmology, also at McGill.

Accomplishments and Awards

Dr. Darvish-Zargar’s work has been featured in a variety of publications, including journals such as Cornea, the Canadian Journal of Ophthalmology, and the International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung. He’s currently a cornea section editor for the Canadian Journal of Ophthalmology.

He’s also been recognized through a number of awards. He’s won McGill University’s Frank Buller Award for Most Outstanding Clinical Instructor twice, and more recently, won the Frank Buller Award for Most Outstanding Surgical Instructor. He’s the only person to win both best surgical and clinical instructor in the same year.

In addition, he won McGill Medicine’s Transition to Clinical Practice Teaching Award and the McGill Ophthalmology Leadership Award, and also earned the McGill Ophthalmology Best Oral Presentation twice.

Associations and Professional Memberships

Collège des médecins du Québec
Canadian Ophthalmological Society
American Academy of Ophthalmology
Association of Ophthalmologists of Quebec
Federation of Medical Specialists of Quebec
Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada

Dr. Isabelle Brunette, MD, FRCSC Bio

Dr. Isabelle Brunette, MD, FRCSC

Dr. Brunette is Professor of Ophthalmology at the Université de Montréal. She is head of the Cornea Service of the Université de Montréal Ophthalmology University Center at the Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital (CUO-HMR), Associate director of Vision Research at the HMR Research Center, and Associate director, FRQS Vision Health Research Network, Clinical and Translational Research. As a clinician, the driving force behind her research comes from the patient. Her work is oriented towards translational research and is funded mainly by CIHR and NSERC. Her research has been focusing on the optimization of the functional outcome of corneal transplantation, and more specifically in the context of Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy, based on leading edge progress in the fields of tissue engineering, femtosecond laser and biomaterials technologies.

Sangita Patel, MD, Ph.D - Bio

Dr. Sangita Patel is a physician-scientist at the University at Buffalo where she is an Associate Professor of Ophthalmology and Director of the Cornea Service. She also serves on the Ophthalmology and Research Services at the Veterans Affairs Western New York Healthcare System. Dr. Patel completed her MD/PhD (Physiology) from the University at Buffalo, ophthalmology residency at the Mayo Clinic, and fellowship in Cornea, Refractive Surgery and External Diseases at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary/Harvard Medical School.

As a cornea surgeon and scientist, Dr. Patel has a broad knowledge of corneal diseases from both clinical and basic scientific viewpoints. Her primary research focus is on health, disease, and injury of the corneal endothelium through laboratory, clinical observational, and epidemiologic studies. Her research is currently funded by the National Institutes of Health/National Eye Institute and Department of Veterans Affairs. In her current work, she is investigating injuries of the corneal endothelium and corneal endothelium – extracellular matrix interactions, especially as may pertain to Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy. She serves on several committees, including the Annual Meeting Program Committee for the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology. Integral to her work is mentoring trainees at all levels of their educational journeys.

Prof. Vito Romano's Bio

Prof. Vito Romano is a recognized eye surgeon and clinical researcher specialising in corneal diseases and severe ocular surface conditions, with a particular focus on corneal transplantation, eye banking, and corneal imaging. With extensive international training and expertise, he currently serves as a Professor of Ophthalmology and Residency Program Director at the University of Brescia. Prof. Romano has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications and pioneered innovative surgical techniques.

Julia Talajic, M.D. MPH, FRCSC Bio

Specialist in Cornea, Anterior Segment, Complex Cataract, and Refractive Surgery
Associate Clinical Professor, University of Montreal
University Ophthalmology Center, Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital
Fellowship Program Director in Cornea (Diplôme Études Supérieures), University of Montreal

Dr. Talajic is a respected ophthalmologist with extensive experience in corneal and cataract surgery. She earned her medical degree from McGill University in 2007 and completed her specialty training in ophthalmology at the University of Montreal in 2012. In 2013, she pursued a prestigious cornea fellowship at the Devers Eye Institute in Portland, Oregon, training with world-renowned experts Dr. Mark Terry and Dr. Mike Straiko. Upon returning to Montreal after fellowship, she was the first surgeon in Quebec to perform the DMEK (Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty) technique, an important advancement in corneal transplantation.

Dr. Talajic also practices at Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont’s University Ophthalmology Centre, specializing in corneal transplants and complex cataract surgery. In addition to her clinical work, she was recently promoted to Associate Clinical Professor at the University of Montreal. She mentors residents and cornea fellows, the next generation of ophthalmologists and cornea specialists. Many of these cornea fellows are international students that have come to learn lamellar transplantation techniques. Her academic pursuits also include a Master’s degree in Public Health from Johns Hopkins University, underscoring her commitment to patient outcomes through research and education. She has published a number of peer-reviewed articles in ophthalmology.

Dr. Talajic’s research focuses on corneal transplantation, especially lamellar techniques such as DMEK. She has also made other pioneering contributions, such as being the first in Quebec to perform CAIRS (Corneal Allograft Intrastromal Ring Segments), a novel therapy for keratoconus. Dr. Talajic regularly treats conditions like dry eye, corneal edema, Fuchs’ dystrophy, keratoconus, and other corneal and anterior segment disorders.

Theofilos Tourtas, M.D. Bio

Dr. Theofilos Tourtas, MD, is an Attending Surgeon on Cornea Service at the Department of Ophthalmology of the University of Erlangen. He is currently a Professor of Ophthalmology and serves as the Chief of the Cornea Division of the Department of Ophthalmology of the University of Erlangen. He is also the Medical Director of the Eye Bank of the University of Erlangen anda Fellow of the European Board of Ophthalmology (FEBO). He completed a Cornea fellowship under the supervision of Professor Friedrich Kruse at the same Department where he remained on faculty.

Dr. Tourtas has given numerous scientific presentations at local, national and international meetings, including instructional courses and wet labs at the annual Congress of the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS) and the European Cornea Society (EuCornea). He also serves as a reviewer for several ophthalmology journals.

Lions Gift of Sight

Lions Gift of Sight is a full-service eye bank that obtains, medically evaluates, and distributes donor eyes for cornea transplants, research, and education. By providing more than 1,000 corneas for transplant and 1,000 eyes for research every year, the eye bank helps ensure that as many people as possible receive the gift of sight.

Part of the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Neurosciences, Lions Gift of Sight has restored sight for sixty-five years.

Aurion Biotech

Aurion Biotech is a clinical-stage biotechnology company dedicated to transforming vision care through regenerative therapies. With locations in Seattle, Boston, and Tokyo, our mission is to restore vision for millions of patients suffering from corneal endothelial diseases. Our lead candidate, AURN001, is an investigational, single-administration, allogeneic cell therapy designed to treat corneal edema secondary to corneal endothelial dysfunction.

Jennifer Rose-Nussbaumer

Jennifer Rose-Nussbaumer is a board-certified ophthalmologist and fellowship-trained cornea specialist at the Byers Eye Institute at Stanford University. Her clinical practice focuses on corneal transplant, complex cataract surgery and treatment of infectious keratitis. After completing her fellowship in Cornea and External Disease at the University of California, San Francisco, she stayed on faculty and remained there until she transitioned to Stanford in 2021. She continues to collaborate closely with the FI Proctor Foundation as an Associate Proctor Researcher.

In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Rose-Nussbaumer is an NIH-funded researcher who focuses on randomized clinical trials in ophthalmology. She is the PI on a UG1 grant, Descemet Endothelial Thickness Comparison Trial (DETECT), a randomized clinical trial comparing UT-DSAEK to DMEK and ripasudil versus placebo in patients with endothelial disease such as Fuchs Endothelial Dystrophy. She is also the PI on the Steroids and Cross-linking for Ulcer Treatment Trial (SCUT II), a randomized clinical trial in collaboration with Aravind Eye hospital in India and the University of Sao Paulo looking at the benefit of adjunctive topical steroids, corneal crosslinking or rose bengal photodynamic therapy in the treatment of infectious ulcers.

As a native of Northern California, she loves spending time with her family and Bernese Mountain Dog, Kenji, exploring California’s natural beauty through hiking and camping.

Professor Michael Mimouni, M.D.

Professor Michael Mimouni is the president of the Israeli Cornea Society, the director of the Cornea Unit, and the Program Director of the Department of Ophthalmology at Rambam Health Care Campus. He also serves as the Medical Director of Care Vision Laser Centers, Israel, and as an assistant professor at the Technion–Israel Institute of Technology.
Professor Mimouni completed his medical studies at the Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, in 2014 and went on to complete his ophthalmology residency at Rambam Health Care Campus, where he was awarded the National Outstanding Resident of the Year Award for his achievements. During his residency, he pursued additional training at leading medical centers across Europe and Asia, earning prestigious awards and scholarships from the European Society for Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ESCRS), the International Society for Refractive Surgery (ISRS) and the American Society for Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS).

Following his residency, Professor Mimouni completed a two-year surgical fellowship at the University of Toronto, specializing in corneal transplantation, cataract surgery, ocular surface disease, and laser vision correction. At the conclusion of his fellowship, he was recognized as the Outstanding Fellow of the Department.
A prolific researcher, Professor Mimouni has authored over 250 original studies published in peer-reviewed journals and serves as an editor and reviewer for numerous scientific publications. He is actively engaged in medical education and serves as the Director of the Corneal Fellowship Program at Rambam Health Care Campus, training the next generation of cornea surgeons in Israel and the Middle East.

Mona Harissi-Dagher M.D., FRCSC

Dr. Dagher is professor of ophthalmology at the Université de Montréal, and head of the department of ophthalmology at Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CHUM). Dr. Dagher is chair of the annual meeting planning commitee of the Canadian Ophthalmologic Society (COS) and has served as Board member of COS since 2012.Dr. Dagher enjoys teaching medical students, ophthalmology residents and clinical and research cornea fellows as well as training MSc and PhD students as well. Dr. Dagher completed her undergraduate degree at McGill University where she received the Hilda Diana Oakley scholarship for ranking top female student at McGill. She then completed her medical degree and specialization in ophthalmology at Université de Montréal, graduatng on the dean’s honor list. Dr. Dagher then pursued post-doctoral fellowship training in cornea, external eye diseases, and refractive surgery at the Massachusets Eye and Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School.

Dr. Dagher has brought her expertise on keratoprosthesis surgery to Canada atier conducting considerable research and clinical work at Harvard Medical School under the mentorship of Dr ClaesDohlman. After restoring sight to several Canadian patients through implantation of the Boston Keratoprosthesis, Dr. Dagher was chosen ‘Personality of the Week’ by La Presse and Radio-Canada.Dr. Dagher has completed extensive research in the field of ophthalmology and more particularly, on the Boston Keratoprosthesis and on refractive surgery. Dr. Dagher has published over 120 scientific articles and acts as a reviewer for many ophthalmology journals. She has also authored numerous book chapters about cornea and external eye diseases. Dr. Dagher has been a guest lecturer and instructor at ophthalmology conferences internationally

Dr. Johanna Choremis, M.D.

Dr. Johanna Choremis is an ophthalmologist with fellowship training in cornea, anterior segment, and refractive surgery. After completing medical school at McGill University on a Hugh Brock entrance scholarship, she pursued her residency training at the same institution. Her fellowship training was completed at Tufts University with an E. A. Baker scholarship. Upon her return to Montreal, she has worked at both McGill University’s Jewish General Hospital and the University of Montreal’s “Centre Universitaire d’Ophtalmologie” at Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital, where she holds cross-appointments.

Over nearly 20 years of practice, Dr. Choremis has trained numerous residents and fellows in corneal transplantation, many of whom come from around the world. She is widely regarded as the highest-volume corneal transplant surgeon in the province and is recognized as a key opinion leader (KOL) in Canada for dry eye disease. Frequently sought after for her expertise, she is often invited to serve on advisory boards for dry eye products and deliver lectures to optometrists and ophthalmologists at both national and international conferences. She has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications and continues to contribute to advancements in her field through research and education.

Currently, Dr. Choremis is chief of the Cornea Division at the University of Montreal and was recently promoted to associate professor at the same institution. She also serves as an assistant professor at McGill University. Her main areas of interest include corneal transplantation and dry eye disease, and she leads innovative initiatives to advance care for these conditions.

Ellen Koo, M.D.

Dr. Koo is a Corneal specialist, with a research and clinical focus on endothelial dysfunction, keratoplasty, cataract and complex anterior segment surgeries. Dr. Koo is committed to improving the fields of corneal transplantation and eyebanking. She has pioneered innovations to improve the surgical techniques of DMEK and DSEK, and teaches keratoplasty techniques at national skill transfer wet-labs.

Dr. Koo is currently leading several Clinical Trials in the treatment of Corneal Edema and Fuchs Dystrophy as the Principal Investigator at the Bascom Palmer Eye Insitute. Dr. Koo is the current and past President of the Fuchs Symposium. She also serves on the Accreditation Committee for the Eye Bank Association of America, the Board of Directors of KeraLink International, as well as the medical advisory board for Florida Lions Eye Bank. In addition, Dr. Koo serves on the Editorial Board for several peer-reviewed scientific journals.

Dr. Koo is involved with the training and education of Residents and Cornea Fellows at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, and serves as the Associate Director of the Bascom Palmer Palm Beach Cornea Fellowship program. Dr. Koo has been awarded numerous peer-nominated Top Doctor awards, including the Castle Connolly Top Doctor award and the Exceptional Women in Medicine award.

CorneaGen

CorneaGen is transforming how corneal surgeons treat and care for the cornea. From new medical devices, biologic, therapeutics and interventions, CorneaGen supports corneal surgeons and their patients with the delivery of the highest-quality tissue, surgeon education, and advocacy for patient access and reimbursement policies.

Eversight

Eversight is a global nonprofit eye bank network that restores sight and prevents blindness through eye donation, corneal transplantation and vision research. Eversight provides human eye tissue for transplant, supports ophthalmic R&D, promotes organ donation, provides clinical education and aids international communities in need. Eversight operates in Connecticut, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio and South Korea, serving the world. Visit eversightvision.org to learn more.

Florida Lions Eye Bank

Located at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Florida Lions Eye Bank is a non-profit eye bank dedicated to providing surgeons with high quality corneal tissue for PKP, DALK, DSAEK, & DMEK surgeries. In addition, Florida Lions Eye Bank provides Serum Tears services for patients throughout Florida and supports research and innovation to advance the field of ophthalmology and improve ophthalmic care.

Iowa Lions Eye Bank

Since 1955, Iowa Lions Eye Bank has been translating science into vision to make the future now. As pioneers in eye banking and education, innovators in corneal research, and stewards serving patients, donors, and partners worldwide, ILEB is dedicated to progress and leadership in sight preservation and restoration.

Lions Eye Bank of Delaware Valley

Lions Eye Bank of Delaware Valley is committed to enhancing a person’s quality of life by restoring or improving vision through cornea transplantation, medical research and education. Learn more by visiting LEBDV.org.

VisionGift is a non-profit eye bank specializing in corneal processing for endothelial transplant, as well as research and medical education. We have processing and research facilities on both coasts of the United States, and serve the global market.

Lions Eye Institute for Transplant & Research

Largest nonprofit distributor of corneal tissue and leader in innovations, Lions Eye Institute for Transplant and Research (LEITR) continues to set new standards in eye banking and ocular tissue processing techniques including TransplantREADY preloaded for DSAEK and DMEK. LEITR’s tissue preparation is designed to improve clinical outcomes and ease cornea transplantation.

VisionFirst Indiana Lions Eye Bank

VisionFirst has been helping to eliminate corneal blindness for over 50 years. Located in Indianapolis, VisionFirst provides a full range of transplant services as well as research tissue and training consulting services for other medical professionals in the ophthalmic industry. They take pride in their highly skilled, knowledgeable, and consistently reliable staff who work together to provide the highest quality eye tissue to surgeons across the country.

The Eye Bank of Kentucky

The Eye Bank of Kentucky’s mission is to restore sight through corneal transplant, ocular research, and medical education. We promote eye, organ and tissue donation while respecting and honoring the donors and their families who so selflessly give.
We strive on excellence by providing superior quality tissue and specialized preparation service for DSAEK & DMEK and work with you to ensure that your individual tissue preferences are met.
We are committed to tissue quality, safety & outcomes!

Eye Bank Association of America

The Eye Bank Association of America supports both American and international eye banks in restoring sight worldwide through cornea donation, transplantation, research, and innovation. EBAA provides the gold-standard of tissue accreditation, education, training and certification, grants and funding, publications, and events, as well as a unified community for the cornea donation and transplantation profession.

Johnson & Johnson Vision

At Johnson & Johnson Vision, we are united in our aspiration to partner with eye care professionals and help more people around the world preserve and restore sight for life.

Bausch + Lomb

Bausch + Lomb is a global eye health organization with core businesses in over-the-counter products, dietary supplements, eye care products, ophthalmic pharmaceuticals, contact lenses, lens care products, ophthalmic surgical devices and instruments. Bausch + Lomb develops, manufactures and markets one of the most comprehensive product portfolios in the industry.

Emmecell

Emmecell is a clinical-stage biotechnology company whose mission is to bring innovative regenerative medicine in ophthalmology out of the laboratory and into patient care. A proprietary Magnetic Cell Delivery platform leveraging patented nanotechnology facilitates the delivery, localization, and integration of cell therapies into their target tissues.
The company is developing treatments for corneal endothelial dysfunction and dry age-related macular degeneration.

Design Therapeutics

is pioneering novel small-molecule therapeutic candidates, called GeneTAC™ molecules (Gene Targeted Chimera), that are designed to be disease-modifying and target the underlying cause of inherited nucleotide repeat expansion diseases.
Our GeneTAC™ molecules are designed to selectively bind to genetic repeat sequences, modulate gene expression either by restoring or blocking transcription, and restore cellular health. As a platform, we believe that GeneTAC™ molecules have broad potential applicability across monogenic nucleotide repeat expansion diseases.

Gunther Weiss Scientific

Gunther Weiss Scientific specializes in glass medical devices, specifically the Lester T. Jones Tear Duct Tubes for conjunctivodacryocystorhinostomy (CDCR) and glass cannulas for cornea transport (DMEK and DSAEK). Gunther Weiss Scientific has been innovating and providing solutions for Lacrimal Bypass Surgery (CDCR) since 1963 and are pioneers in glass cannula development for tissue transplantation.

Kowa Pharmaceuticals America, Inc.

Kowa Pharmaceuticals America, Inc., headquartered in Montgomery, Alabama, is committed to continuing the development and commercialization of safe, effective healthcare solutions for patients with chronic diseases and serious, acute conditions. Kowa Pharmaceuticals America focuses on its current and near-term portfolio of pharmaceutical products, and business development activities while maintaining our ethical and professional standards. By empowering our employees to live this mission, we can create a healthier vision for the future.

Trefoil Therapeutics

Trefoil Therapeutics is dedicated to restoring sight to the millions of people who live with corneal diseases through the advancement of regenerative therapies. One Molecule. Two Products. Multiple Potential Indications. Trefoil is advancing two products based on TTHX1114 to treat a spectrum of corneal diseases affecting the back or the front of the cornea. The company’s lead investigational medicine, TTHX1114, is an investigational engineered form of Fibroblast Growth Factor (FGF-1) that has the potential to be first-in-class and is being studied for the treatment of corneal endothelial dystrophies and conditions via intracameral injection. A topical formulation of the product is also under development for the treatment of multiple epithelial indications where corneal ulcerations are present.

Woodford Van Meter, M.D.

Woodford S. Van Meter, M.D. is Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, KY. He received his M.D. from Vanderbilt University in 1979. Dr. Van Meter completed his Ophthalmology residency at the Mayo Clinic in 1983 and a fellowship in Cornea and External Disease at Emory University in Atlanta, in 1984. He has practiced in Lexington, KY since 1984.

Dr. Van Meter is Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Kentucky, where he specializes in corneal transplants, cataract surgery, and external diseases of the eye. His research interests include corneal transplantation, eye banking, intraocular lens implantation, multifocal contact lenses, and infections of the cornea. He is Chairman of the Board and Medical Director of the Kentucky Lions Eye Bank in Louisville, KY. Dr. Van Meter served as President of the Kentucky Academy of Eye Physicians and Surgeons 2010-2012, Chair of the Eye Bank Association of America (EBAA), Washington, DC 2018-2020, and President of the American Ophthalmological Society (AOS) 2020-2021. He is currently Treasurer of the Cornea Society. Dr. Van Meter has participated as volunteer faculty in over 30 programs with ORBIS International, dating back to Baghdad, Iraq in 1986. He has served on both the Cataract and Cornea panels of the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) Basic and Clinical Science Course (BCSC), and chaired the AAO committee on Eye Banking.

Dr. Van Meter received the 2010 Paton Award from the Eye Bank Association of America (EBAA), the Life Achievement Honor Award from the AAO (2013), and has been listed in “Best Doctors in America” (Woodward/White) since 1993. He served as consultant to the FDA/CDRH Ophthalmic Devices Panel 1996 – 2016, and has been listed in the 135 Leading Ophthalmologists in America.

Dr. Van Meter is been married to Dorothy Clark Van Meter, a plastic surgeon in Lexington, KY, for 30 years. They have two children, Mary, an OB/GYN at Vanderbilt in Nashville, TN, and Wood, a music theater actor in Washington, D.C. Dr. Van Meter served on the board of directors of Kentucky Bank, the J.B. Speed Museum in Louisville, KY, and the Kentucky Chapter of the Nature Conservancy. He enjoys golf, tennis, cycling, white-water canoeing, and antiques.

Gunther Weiss Scientific

We specialize in glass medical devices, specifically the Lester T. Jones Tear Duct Tubes for conjunctivodacryocystorhinostomy (CDCR) and glass cannulas for cornea transport (DMEK and DSAEK). Gunther Weiss Scientific has been innovating and providing solutions for Lacrimal Bypass Surgery (CDCR) since 1963 and are pioneers in glass cannula development for tissue transplantation.

Ula Jurkunas, M.D.

Dr. Ula Jurkunas is a clinician-scientist in the Cornea and Refractive Surgery Service at Mass Eye and Ear and an Associate Professor of Ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School. She conducts basic science and clinical research on Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy and stem cell transplantation of the ocular surface. In addition, she teaches residents and fellows about corneal surgical procedures as well as diagnosis and clinical management of corneal and refractive conditions. Her main clinical areas of expertise are corneal endothelial dysfunction, femtosecond cataract surgery, refractive surgery, and lamellar keratoplasty, including DMEK and complex DSAEK.

Dr. Jurkunas heads a fully-staffed and RO1-NIH funded laboratory, which studies the mechanisms involved in the corneal endothelial degeneration seen in Fuchs dystrophy. Her studies focus on the role of oxidative stress in cell-extracellular matrix interactions, estrogen metabolism, DNA damage and repair, and mitochondrial biogenesis in Fuchs dystrophy.

Currently Dr. Jurkunas is working on an UG1 NIH/NEI grant and performing the first-in-human study using Cultivated Autologous Limbal Epithelial Cells (CALEC) transplantation at Mass Eye and Ear, in collaboration with Cell Manufacturing Facility at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Her work has led to numerous peer-reviewed publications, review articles, and both national and international presentations. Dr. Jurkunas has received numerous awards, including Research to Prevent Blindness Award, ARVO Alcon Early Clinician-Scientist Research Award, Alcon Research Institute Award, AAO Achievement Award, and, most recently, ARVO Foundation/Pfizer Ophthalmics Carl Camras Translational Research Award. She serves as Co-Director of Harvard Medical School’s Department of Ophthalmology Cornea Center of Excellence. She previously served for five years on the Editorial Board of Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science.

Dr. Gregory Moloney

Dr Moloney graduated with honours from UNSW Medicine and went on to train as an ophthalmologist at Sydney Eye Hospital. He completed his fellowship in both corneal and oculoplastic surgery at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. At the completion of his training he joined the faculty as Clinical Assistant Professor at the UBC Department of Visual Sciences. Dr Moloney is a fellow of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmology and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons Canada. Dr Moloney has published numerous peer reviewed articles and presented at national and international meetings. In 2012 he was awarded a Canadian National Research Award for his work on the new techniques in corneal transplantation. Since returning to Australia he continues to conduct research and teaching in his role as clinical lecturer at the University of Sydney. Dr Moloney’s fields of interest include eyelid and lacrimal surgery, lamellar corneal transplantation and refractive surgery in keratoconus and the irregular cornea.

Friedrich Kruse M.D. Bio

Dr. Kruse’s Bio

Viridiana Kocaba, M.D., Ph.D. Bio

Dr. Kocaba is the Director of Innovation and Senior Clinician Scientist specializing in corneal diseases at NIIOS (Netherlands Institute for Innovative Ocular Surgery) in Rotterdam and an Adjunct Clinician Scientist within the Tissue Engineering and Cell Therapy Group at Singapore Eye Research Institute. She graduated from Paris V René Descartes Medical School in 2006. She did her basic, advanced specialist, and sub-specialized fellowship training in Cornea External Disease and Refractive Surgery at Lyon 1 University. To increase her knowledge in the corneal endothelial field, she joined the laboratory of Dr. U.V. Jurkunas from 2015 to 2017. In 2018, she defended her PhD at Lyon 1 University in collaboration with Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA.

Her work profile is divided between clinical work and research. Her clinical work is mainly in corneal transplantation both basic and advanced forms, especially DMEK surgery, and anterior segment reconstruction. Her research interests cover all aspects of the corneal disease from basic science, to translational and clinical research. These include laboratory-based research investigating new stem cell-based therapies e.g. culturing of human corneal endothelial cells and studies on patients with corneal genetic disorders. She is also committed to clinical teaching to other surgeons on advanced forms of corneal transplantation.

Woodford S. Van Meter, M.D. Bio

Woodford Van Meter received his medical degree from Vanderbilt University, School of Medicine, Nashville, Tenn in 1979. He completed a residency at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. in 1983. He completed a fellowship at Robert W. Woodruff Health Science Center of Emory University, Atlanta in 1984. He is board certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology.

Honors and awards:
Council, American Ophthalmological Society 2013
American Academy of Ophthalmology, Lifetime Achievement Award 2013
Fellow, Cornea Society
Board of Directors, Eye Bank Association of America (EBAA) 2008
2010 Recipient, Paton Award, EBAA
Visiting Faculty, ORBIS International, 1986 – 2010
Consultant, FDA Ophthalmic Devices Panel 1996-2004

Faculty Rank

Professor of Ophthalmology

Training & Education

Degree

Vanderbilt University, School of Medicine, Nashville, Tenn.

Residency

Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn.

Fellowship

Robert W. Woodruff Health Science Center of Emory University, Atlanta

Certifications and Special Training

American Board of Ophthalmology

Shigeru Kinoshita, M.D., Ph.D Bio

Distinguished Alumnus, Schepens Eye Research Institute

Innovator and Pioneer in the Biology and Reconstruction of the Ocular Surface
Builder of Academic and Research Programs
Mentor and Exceptional Citizen of the Cornea and Ophthalmic Community

Shigeru Kinoshita, M.D., Ph.D. graduated from Osaka University Medical School in 1974, and has served as the Professor and Chairman of Ophthalmology at Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine since 1992. In the early 1980s at Schepens Eye Research Institute, he (in collaboration with Dr. Richard A. Thoft) established the concept of centripetal movement of corneal epithelium, and his groundbreaking work has shed new light on the importance of limbal epithelium. His series of findings has had an enormous impact on this subject, ultimately contributing to the development of the corneal stem cell theory. Over the past 30 years, his primary interest has been focused on the research and development of new therapeutic modalities for the cornea. Following this path, his group has recently established the system of cultivated mucosal epithelial stem cell transplantation and cultivated corneal endothelial transplantation. Dr. Kinoshita is a recipient of the 1999 Alcon Research Institute Award, the 2008 Castroviejo Medal Lecturer of the Cornea Society. He served as an ARVO Program Committee Member in the Cornea Section between 1996 and 1999, and was Vice President of ARVO in 2011. Dr. Kinoshita has also served as Associate Editor of Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, and as an Editorial Board Member of Experimental Eye Research and Cornea.

FURTHER READING

Shigeru Kinoshita, MD, PhD. Ocul Surf. 2010 Jan;8(1):44-6.

Sonya Yoo, M.D.

Biography

An expert in vision correction surgery, Sonia Yoo, M.D., is recognized as one of the world’s most skilled cornea, cataract, and refractive surgeons, with exceptional experience and knowledge of the field. Interested in the development and evaluation of new diagnostic and surgical technologies, as well as laser applications, she has served as a principal investigator on numerous drug and device trials and testing of new IOLs, and cataract surgery and imaging devices. She served as a lead clinical investigator in efforts to develop intraoperative OCT to assist and guide anterior segment diseases like dry eye, keratoconus, and Fuchs dystrophy, allowing real-time visualization on the anterior segment during surgery; and on the development of femtosecond laser-assisted sutureless anterior lamellar keratoplasties. She has served as the program chair of the Refractive Surgery subspecialty day program of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and received the International Society of Refractive Surgery’s prestigious Founder’s Award for her accomplishments in cataract and refractive surgery. She has been the chief editor for Refractive Surgery Outlook since 2020 published by the International Society of Refractive Surgery of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and she serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Refractive Surgery. She holds several patents and has authored more than 200 book chapters and peer-reviewed journal articles as well as serving as the principal investigator in numerous drug and device trials. Dr. Yoo was named to The Ophthalmologist Power Lists: 2018, 2021.

William Culbertson, M.D.

Dr. William Culbertson, MD is a ophthalmology specialist in Miami, FL. Dr. Culbertson completed a residency at Vanderbilt University Hospital. They currently practice at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute and are affiliated with Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center. They accept multiple insurance plans. Dr. Culbertson is board certified in Ophthalmology.

Carol Karp, M.D. Bio

Carol L. Karp, M.D, is an expert in the management of ocular surface tumors and anterior segment surgery. In the late 1990s, she pioneered the use of interferon for the treatment of ocular surface squamous neoplasia. She designed protocols to study the drug in patients with ocular surface tumors curing them of their cancer without surgery. She has continued to explore novel methods to treat surface cancers. In addition, she has innovated the use of high-resolution anterior segment OCT which has helped to revolutionize advances in the management of ocular surface tumors. A leader in the area of ocular surface oncology, her research has produced numerous landmark articles and her work has helped to change the standard of care of these lesions. Dr. Karp is the definition of a physician-scientist. In addition to improving the care of patients with ocular surface tumors around the world, her 150+ peer-reviewed publications and more than 25 chapters confirm her excellence as an academician. She has made the diagnosis of ocular surface tumors easier and the treatment more accessible. She will be the recipient of the 2022 Castroviejo Medal, given to the most outstanding individual in the field of cornea and anterior segment of the eye – only the third woman to receive the award. She is also the president-elect of the Pan-American Society of Ophthalmology with members in more than 35 countries in the Western Hemisphere and co-director of Bascom Palmer’s Inter-American Course in Clinical Ophthalmology (Curso), the largest meeting in the United States held for Spanish-speaking ophthalmologists. Dr. Karp was named to The Ophthalmologist Power Lists: 2019, 2021.

Terrence O'Brien, MD Bio

Dr. Terrence P. O’Brien is an ophthalmologist in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida and is affiliated with multiple hospitals in the area, including University of Miami Hospital and Clinics-UHealth Tower and Miami Veterans Affairs Healthcare System. He received his medical degree from University of Michigan Medical School and has been in practice for more than 20 years.

Natalie Afshari, MD

Natalie Afshari, MD, FACS, is Chief of Cornea and Refractive Surgery and is accomplished as a clinician, surgeon, and research scientist. She received her medical degree from Stanford University and her residency and fellowship training at Harvard University. Prior to her current appointment she was Professor of Ophthalmology and Director of Centers of Excellence at the Duke University Eye Center. Dr. Afshari’s achievement in cornea & refractive surgery and patient care has been recognized by her peers in several of the “best doctors” lists, including “The Best Doctors in America” in each listing for the past decade. She is also the recipient of the inaugural Top Ten Women in Medicine Award by Triangle News. Furthermore, Dr. Afshari was awarded the academic Achievement Award and the Secretariat Award by the American Academy of Ophthalmology. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has consulted Dr. Afshari’s expertise for matters of safety and efficacy of various ophthalmologic treatments. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has honored Dr. Afshari by awarding her and her collaborators extensive grant support to study Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy, a genetic disorder leading to corneal transplantation.

In her clinical practice, Dr. Afshari specializes in cataract surgery, corneal transplantation, endothelial keratoplasty, collagen cross linking and intacs for keratoconus, laser refractive surgery, including LASIK, LASEK/Advanced Surface Ablation, PRK, PTK, and treating surgical and medical diseases of cornea. She is a highly skilled cataract surgeon and has held national positions on the professional committees of cataract specialists, including serving as the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery’s representative on the Council of the American Academy Ophthalmology. Dr. Afshari is also a recognized expert in corneal transplantation and refractive surgery and has successfully treated many complex cases referred to her by other leading surgeons.

In addition to her successes with patients, Dr. Afshari has published extensively in both medical journals and textbooks. She is the co-editor of a two volume Cornea Book “Principles and Practice of Cornea”. While her textbook chapters focus on clinical skills, her journal articles report her innovations and findings in research. Her research has won her multiple honors, including the prestigious Research to Prevent Blindness (RPB) award and the Heed Foundation Ophthalmic Award. Additionally, Dr. Afshari performs sight-restoring procedure using keratoprosthesis, a synthetic plastic-based artificial cornea which has been featured nationally on television news programs.

Dr. Afshari’s dedication to research and clinical care also inspires her teaching. For her commitment to teaching and training ophthalmologists, she has received the Teacher of the Year award at Duke University Eye Center. She also has been invited to lecture nationally and internationally. Dr. Afshari’s peers also elected her to the cornea program committee and Awards committee of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO), which oversees the scientific program of the largest eye research association in the world. She is also the Chief Judge for the scientific posters of American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery.

Several scientific and scholarly journals have sought Dr. Afshari’s expertise and recognized her research leadership by naming her to their editorial boards or seeking her assistance in reviewing the work of other scientists. She is currently on the editorial board of Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science. She is also an editor for Current Opinion in Ophthalmology cataract surgery, and has served on the editorial board of EyeNet magazine, a journal published by the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

When not researching or practicing, Dr. Afshari donates her time and surgical expertise as an international volunteer. She has traveled to West Africa, Central America, and Mexico to help patients who might otherwise go untreated.

Dr. Afshari received her medical degree from Stanford University and her residency training at Harvard University, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary. She then completed a two-year fellowship in cornea and refractive surgery at Harvard University.

Dr. Peter Veldman

Dr. Peter Veldman left the department in July 2017 to become the Ophthalmology Residency Program Director and Vice-Chair for Education at University of Chicago in the Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Science. Dr. Veldman is a Harvard Ophthalmology alumnus (residency class ’12) and former Chief Resident (AY 2012-13). A member of the Mass. Eye and Ear Cornea Service, he served as Associate Director of the Harvard Ophthalmology Residency Training Program since 2014.

Mark A. Terry, M.D.

Dr. Terry has been the Director of Corneal Services at the Devers Eye Institute in Portland, Oregon since 1990. He is also a Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology at Oregon Health Sciences University. He received his undergraduate degree at Yale University, his medical degree at St. Louis University and completed his residency in Ophthalmology in San Francisco at the Naval Hospital Oakland. He completed his Corneal Fellowship in 1985 at the University of Oklahoma under the mentorship of J. James Rowsey. Since that time Dr. Terry has limited his referral practice to the subspecialty of Cornea, Anterior Segment and Refractive Surgery. He has been the Medical Director of Lions VisionGift Eye Bank in Oregon and the Scientific Director of the Lions VisionGift Research Laboratory since 1990. He has received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the AAO, the Paton Award from the Eye Bank Association of America, and is a member with thesis of the prestigious and exclusive American Ophthalmological Society since 2007.

Dr. Terry has lectured extensively internationally* and widely published his research work in the areas of corneal transplantation, corneal physiology, refractive surgery, dry eye and endophthalmitis. In 2000, after a year of laboratory development, he began the first U.S. clinical series of Endothelial Keratoplasty (EK) that he named DLEK. These cases began the new era of modern corneal transplantation. Over the past 20 years he has pioneered the further development of EK with over 150 peer-review publications on DSEK, DSAEK and now DMEK. He is the president of the international Endothelial Keratoplasty Group (EKG), which he founded in 2002, and this group continues international collaboration in the development of EK.

Mark Terry is married to Cindy Suckow Terry and they have two beautiful twin boys (Charlie and Nicholas) born in 1998 whom they treasure. Dr. Terry gives tribute to his family at the conclusion of every lecture.

*Dr. Terry has presented invited lectures in the following countries:

Country (number of trips)

Japan (X4), England (X4), Italy (X10), Spain (X4), Greece, India (X3), China (X4), Brazil (X4), Peru, Cuba, Columbia, Mexico (X5), Canada (X5), Dubai (UAE), Egypt (X2), South Africa (X2), Saudi Arabia, Poland (X2), Kuwait, Iran, Germany, New Zealand, Taiwan (X2), Argentina, Chile

Sadeer B. Hannush, M.D.

Sadeer B. Hannush, MD, is Attending Surgeon on the Cornea Service at Wills Eye Hospital, Department of Ophthalmology at Sidney Kimmel Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He earned his Doctor of Medicine degree from Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan, and completed his Ophthalmology Residency at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. He then went on to fellowship training in Corneal and Refractive Surgery at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia.

Dr. Hannush’s areas of interest are full and partial thickness cornea transplantation (endothelial and deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty), permanent keratoprosthesis surgery (artificial cornea), complex cataract and anterior segment reconstructive procedures, and laser vision correction.

Dr. Hannush has been named in ‘The Best Doctors in Philadelphia’ as well as ‘The Best Doctors in The United States’. In 1998 he received the American Academy of Ophthalmology’s Honor Award for distinguished service in education. At the 2008 American Academy of Ophthalmology Meeting, he received the Senior Achievement Award. The Wills Eye Hospital resident class of 2000 presented him with the Excellence in Teaching Award.

Together with Wills Eye Hospital Ophthalmologist-in-Chief, Dr. Julia Haller, Executive Director, Mr. Joe Bilson, and fellow surgeon, Dr. Brad Feldman, Dr. Hannush originated W.I.R.E. (Wills International Resident Experience), during which the Wills Eye Hospital senior residents spend time abroad experiencing the delivery of ophthalmic care in a third world setting.

Dr. Hannush is the Medical Director of Lions Eye Bank of Delaware Valley (LEBDV) and a Medical Advisory Board Member of the Eye Bank Association of America. He first joined LEBDV in 1988 as a corneal surgeon following completion of his fellowship at Emory. He was later asked to join LEBDV’s Medical Advisory Board, and in 2007 was appointed Co-Medical Director with Dr. Peter Laibson. He has since been responsible for the institution of procedures and methods for LEBDV to prepare tissue for endothelial keratoplasty (partial-thickness corneal transplantation) used by corneal surgeons throughout the Delaware Valley. This required the acquisition of special equipment (microkeratomes), surgical microscopes and a laminar flow hood. As endothelial keratoplasty techniques evolved from Descemet-stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK) to Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK), Dr. Hannush arranged for LEBDV’s technicians to receive extra training to prepare and provide appropriate tissue for this procedure.

Dr. Hannush has performed and taught corneal transplantation in Italy, Spain, Egypt and Kenya, where he started a transplant program at Tenwek Mission Hospital in Western Kenya. This was made possible by generous donations of corneal tissue on many occasions by LEBDV, which serves patients in need of the gift of sight around the world.

Dr. Alfonso L. Sabater

Dr. Alfonso L. Sabater is a surgeon-scientist and Assistant Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute – University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. Dr. Sabater is the Director of the Corneal Research Incubator at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute. Research in his laboratory is aimed at investigating strategies for corneal and ocular surface protection and regeneration. Dr. Sabater received his MD from the University of Valencia (Spain), and his PhD from the University of Navarra (Spain). He completed his ophthalmology residency at the University of Navarra, and both an ocular surface diseases research fellowship and a cornea and external diseases clinical fellowship at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute (USA). Dr. Sabater has several publications in leading journals and has filed multiple patents. He has served as an ad hoc reviewer for more than 15 different scientific journals, and he is currently a Board Member Director of the Pan-American Cornea Society (PanCornea). Dr. Sabater is also the co-founder of three University of Miami spin-off companies focused on developing therapies and devices for patients with corneal and ocular surface diseases.

Guillermo Rocha, M.D., FRCSC, FACS

Guillermo Rocha, MD, FRCSC, FACS is originally from Mexico City, Mexico. He obtained his Medical Degree at the Universidad Anahuac in Mexico City, followed by a research fellowship in Microvascular Surgery (Mexico City and Houston, TX). He trained in Ophthalmology at McGill University in Montreal and has completed subspecialty training in Ocular Immunology and Inflammation (McGill University), and Cornea and External Diseases (University of South Florida, Tampa). He recently completed the Physician CEO Executive Program at the Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University in Chicago, IL.

He is Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Manitoba, President of the COS Foundation, Past President of the Canadian Ophthalmological Society (2016-2018), past President of the Canadian Cornea, External Diseases and Refractive Surgery Society, and former Head of the Department of Surgery at the Brandon Regional Health Centre (2004-2009). He is past Associate Editor and Cornea Section Editor for the international journal Techniques in Ophthalmology and co-Editor of four books, “Advanced Technology IOLs in Cataract Surgery: Pearls for Success”, “Bringing you the Future in Ophthalmology”, “Advances in Refractive and Corneal Surgery” and “Surgical Correction of Astigmatism”. In the Canadian Ophthalmological Society, he is a current Board Member and past Chair of the Council on Continuing Professional Development.

In 1995, he was awarded the Canadian Society for Clinical Investigation & Medical Research Council of Canada Resident Research Award for his work on the causative factors of ocular inflammation. Dr. Rocha received two Best Paper of Session awards at the 2001 American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS) meeting in San Diego, CA, and was the recipient of the Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba iCare Award for 2014. In 2015, he was recognized as one of the 10 Most Successful Mexicans in Canada, followed by an award as one of the 10 Most Influential Hispanic Canadians in 2016.
Dr. Rocha currently resides in Brandon, Manitoba. He is Medical Director of TLC Laser Eye Centre/LMD Winnipeg, Medical Director of the Ocular Microsurgery & Laser Centre, active Medical Staff in the Brandon Regional Health Centre, Minnedosa Health Centre and Misericordia Health Centre.

He performs Anterior Segment and Corneal Surgeries, including femtosecond laser, LASIK, PRK, PTK, astigmatism correction, Cross-linking and Intacs for Keratoconus, advanced cataract surgery with premium lens implants and femtosecond laser, Visian ICL, corneal transplantation and glaucoma surgery.

Marianne Price, Ph.D.

Dr. Marianne Price joined the Cornea Research Foundation of America in 2002 as Executive Director. She directs the research and education programs of the Foundation, overseeing finances and supervising the daily activities of four professional staff members, visiting international research fellows and student interns. Dr. Price and her spouse, Francis W. Price, Jr. M.D., jointly publish an 12-16 articles annually in peer-reviewed clinical research journals and conduct a minimum of 15 research studies annually.

A respected scientist, Dr. Price was previously employed as a project manager and senior project engineer for Union Carbide. She is a sought after speaker and published author, a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, the American Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgery, and Ophthalmic Women Leaders. She serves as Co-President of the Notre Dame Women’s Connect Club, on the Editorial Board of Cornea, on the Programs and Sponsorships Committees of Executive Women in Health Care, on the Unisted States Food and Drug Administration’s Ophthalmic Devices Panel, on the Research Committee of the Eye Bank Association of America and Board of Directors for Retirement Living, Inc. and serves as Treasurer on the Board of Directors for Working Vision.

Marianne Price, Ph.D. holds a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering Science from Notre Dame, and both an MBA in Finance and a doctorate in Medical and Molecular Genetics from Indiana University.

Dr. Francis Price Jr.

Many of our patients at Price Vision Group are unaware that the eye doctor performing their eye exam is one of the premier ophthalmologists and LASIK specialists in the world. Indianapolis patients of Dr. Francis Price Jr. know him as a caring and gifted doctor who prioritizes their eye health and vision. But the numerous patients and physicians who travel great distances to benefit from his expertise know him as one of the top corneal specialists in the field.

Education and Experience

Dr. Price was born and raised on the south side of Indianapolis. Prior to his distinguished career in ophthalmology, Dr. Price graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Notre Dame. He earned his medical degree from Indiana University Medical School, where he also completed his residency in ophthalmology. He completed a prestigious fellowship in corneal and external eye disease at Tulane University. He earned board-certification in ophthalmology, and established Price Vision Group more than 30 years ago.
Dr. Price established a nationally ranked cornea fellowship program here in Indianapolis that provides exceptional training to the next generation of cornea surgeons. The first laser vision correction procedure in Indiana was performed at Price Vision Group. He has played a key role in advancing LASIK by working directly with the American Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgeons and the American Academy of Ophthalmology

Dr. Price, The Person

If he wasn’t an ophthalmologist, Dr. Price says that he might choose to be a guide or tracker as his occupation because he loves nature. He would enjoy helping others get the same enjoyment that he does from hiking and canoeing. He also enjoys growing things and gardening, so perhaps a farmer would be his other occupation.
During his free time, Dr. Price enjoys traveling. Dr. Price and his wife usually make it a family affair and include their children and grandchildren. They especially enjoy canoeing the Canadian boundary waters.

Sanjay V. Patel, M.D. FRCOphth

Sanjay V. Patel is Professor and Emeritus Chair of Ophthalmology at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. He received his BMedSci (Hons) and BMBS degrees at the University of Nottingham Medical School in 1993 and 1995. He joined Mayo Clinic in 1997 as a cornea research fellow under the mentorship of William M. Bourne, MD. He went on to residency training in internal medicine and ophthalmology at Mayo Clinic, and subsequently completed a cornea and external disease fellowship at the University of Michigan as a Mayo Foundation Scholar in 2005. Patel was awarded the Claes Dohlman Society Award for outstanding cornea fellow and returned to the faculty of the Department of Ophthalmology at Mayo Clinic in 2005, where he currently practices cornea, ocular surface, and complex lens surgery. He served as Department Research Director from 2009-2012 and then Department Chair from 2012-2020. With expertise in corneal transplantation, imaging, and clinical trials, he is a team-member of the Fuchs Dystrophy Clinical and Translation Research Program at Mayo Clinic. He has received several extramural grants, has been an NIH-funded principal investigator, and has served as a grant reviewer. He is the author of >150 peer-reviewed publications and has served on the Editorial Board of Ophthalmology since 2013.

Naoki Okumura M.D

I have been developing both pharmaceutical and tissue engineering treatment . We demonstrated that the ROCK inhibitor promotes corneal endothelial cell (CECs) proliferation, and started a clinical trial of ROCK inhibitor eye drops. We also demonstrated that corneal transparency was restored via the injection of cultivated CECs into the anterior chamber in animal model. Of note, our team has started the clinical trial of cultivated CEC-injection therapy.

Vinod Mootha, M.D.

Vinod Mootha, M.D., is a Professor in the Department of Ophthalmology at UT Southwestern Medical Center.
He earned his medical degree at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and completed a residency in ophthalmology at the University of Wisconsin. He then received advanced training in treating corneal and external eye disease and performing keratorefractive surgery through a fellowship at UT Southwestern Medical Center.

Certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology, he joined the UT Southwestern faculty in 2004.
Dr. Mootha is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology. He received the Fifteen-Year Service Award from the Department of Ophthalmology at UT Southwestern in 2015.
Dr. Mootha has delivered scores of national and international presentations, served as principal investigator for several National Institutes of Health-funded research projects, and published numerous academic articles on corneal transplantation and Fuchs’ endothelial corneal dystrophy.

Clinical Focus

Cornea & External Disease
Refractive & Cataract Surgery
Comprehensive Ophthalmology
Cataracts

Links

V. Vinod Mootha, M.D. publications
Ophthalmology
Mootha Research Lab

Mark A. Greiner, M.D.

Dr. Greiner joined the EyeRounds Board as a faculty member in 2016. He is an associate professor at the University of Iowa Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences. His practice specialty is Cornea, External Disease and Refractive Surgery. He is also a Medical Director and researcher at the Iowa Lions Eye Bank.
Watch Dr. Greiner’s clinical profile video

Education

⦁ BA, English, University of California, Berkeley
⦁ MD, Medicine, University of California, Davis School of Medicine

Postgraduate Education

⦁ Internship, University of California, Davis Medical Center, Internal Medicine
⦁ Residency, Ophthalmology Resident, University of California, Davis Health System Eye Center
⦁ Fellowship, Cornea and External Diseases, Devers Eye Institute, Portland, Oregon

Bennie H. Jeng, M.D., M.S.

Bennie H. Jeng is the Harold G. Scheie Professor and Chair of the Department of Ophthalmology, and Director of the Scheie Eye Institute, of the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine. He earned his bachelor’s degree summa cum laude from Washington University and his M.D. from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. He then completed his ophthalmology residency and chief residency at the Cole Eye Institute of the Cleveland Clinic, which was followed by a fellowship in cornea and external diseases at the Francis I. Proctor Foundation/University of California San Francisco (UCSF) in 2003. He then returned back to the Cole Eye Institute to serve on faculty, during which time he was the recipient of a K-grant from the NIH and also earned his Master degree in Clinical Investigation. He subsequently returned to Proctor/UCSF as an Associate Professor and then Full Professor, where he served as co-director of the UCSF cornea service, Director of the Proctor/UCSF Cornea Fellowship program, Chief of Ophthalmology at the San Francisco General Hospital, and was an R01-funded researcher. In August, 2013, Dr. Jeng began his tenure as Chair of the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at the University of Maryland School of Medicine where he served for nearly 9 years. He assumed his current position in July, 2022.

Dr. Jeng is actively involved in the leadership of many of our ophthalmologic societies, including as President of the Cornea Society, Immediate Past-President of the Eye and Contact Lens Association (formerly CLAO), and on the Board of Directors of the American Board of Ophthalmology. He also serves on several committees of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, including as an Associate Secretary for the annual meeting (Chair of the Annual Meeting Program Committee). He has served recently on the Board of Directors of the Eye Bank Association of America. He has published over 130 peer-reviewed journal articles and 30 book chapters, and he has delivered over 400 invited lectures nationally and internationally. Dr. Jeng is a past member of the editorial board of JAMA Ophthalmology and Eye, and he just completed his term as Editor-in-Chief of Eye and Contact Lens. He currently serves as an Associate Editor for Ophthalmology (official journal of the AAO), a Senior editor for Cornea, and as an editorial board member of several other journals including: Ophthalmology Science, Journal of Academic Ophthalmology, and Taiwan Journal of Ophthalmology. He is also the inaugural Editor-in-Chief of Cornea Open, which launched in 2022. He is the recipient of resident teaching awards from the Cleveland Clinic and at UCSF, and he has also received the Senior Achievement award and the Secretariat award from the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Divya Srikumaran, M.D.

Divya Srikumaran, M.D., is an associate professor of ophthalmology in the Division of Cornea and External Disease at the Johns hopkis Wilmer Eye Institute. She received her M.D. degree from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, after which she completed her ophthalmology residency and cornea fellowship training at the Wilmer Eye Institute. Dr Frikumaran’s research interest includes the assessment of corneal transplant outcomes and risk factors for receiving keratoplasty through bigh data sources including administrative claims data. She received the Hoskins Center IRIS Registry Research fund Award through the American Academy of Opthalmology as well as the EBAA Pilot Research grant to study real-world endothelial keratoplasty outcomes. She is busy clinician who is actively involved in multi-central clinical trials. She is also a renowned educator and currently serves as Vice Chair of Education and was previously residency director. As vice chair of education, she has an interest in medical education and studying best practices to support doctors in training. Blending her passion for both education and expertise in corneal surgery, Dr. Srikumaran has also studied barriers to adaptation of advanced keratoplasty procedures in the US and abroad.

Dr. Sophie X. Deng

Dr. Sophie X. Deng is a Professor in the Cornea Division at the UCLA Stein Eye Institute. Dr. Deng received her doctor of medicine and doctor of philosophy degrees at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, New York, where she completed the rigorous Medical Scientist Training Program. She did her residency in ophthalmology at the Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary, Chicago. Dr. Deng subsequently completed her fellowship in Cornea, External Ocular Disease and Refractive Surgery at the UCLA Stein Eye Institute.

Dr. Deng is a specialist in corneal and external ocular diseases, and cataracts. Her surgical areas include endothelial keratoplasty (DSEK and DMEK), deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK), penetrating keratoplasty, limbal stem cell transplantation, artificial cornea and cataract.

Dr. Deng is the director of the Cornea Biology Laboratory at the UCLA Stein Eye Institute. Her research focuses on corneal epithelial stem cells regulation, deficiency and regeneration. Dr. Deng’s research aims to improve the current treatment for patients with limbal stem cell deficiency by using stem cell therapy to restore vision. In addition, Dr. Deng conducts clinical studies to develop new imaging and molecular tests to accurately diagnose and stage limbal stem cell deficiency.

Languages
Chinese – Mandarin, Chinese – Cantonese, English
Education
Medical Board Certification
Ophthalmology, American Board of Ophthalmology, 2006
Fellowship
UCLA School of Medicine, 2006
Residency
University of Illinois at Chicago Eye Center, 2005
Internship
University of Tennessee College of Medicine, 2002
Degree
University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, MD, PhD, 2001

Keith H. Baratz, M.D.

As a corneal specialist, Keith H. Baratz, M.D., has specific interest in Fuchs’ corneal dystrophy and the outcomes of corneal transplantation surgery. Fuchs’ corneal dystrophy is a very common inherited condition resulting in vision loss through loss of corneal clarity. Corneal transplantation is currently the only therapeutic option for Fuchs’ dystrophy, and it is the most common indication for corneal transplantation. Despite the high frequency of the disease, research into its genetic causes and the biochemical mechanisms are still at a relatively preliminary stage.

In order to uncover some of the basic aspects of the disease, Dr. Baratz has focused his research on the genetic causes of Fuchs’ dystrophy. He and his colleagues have identified the genetic defect (Transcription factor 4) that is probably the major contributor to the disease in most families.

His current research involves the analysis of disease transmission within families and evaluation of genetic tests to identify young individuals at risk. He is also studying tissue specimens and cultured cells to identify how genetic defects lead to corneal disease.
Dr. Baratz and other investigators at Mayo Clinic hope to expand their research to include the identification of other potential genes affecting Fuchs’ dystrophy and to identify biochemical targets for eventual disease prevention through drug, stem cell or gene therapy rather than surgery.

Dr. Baratz is also involved in the analysis of the outcomes of corneal transplantation with specific emphasis on the evaluation of newer, more selective forms of corneal transplants. In conjunction with Drs. Sanjay V. Patel, M.D., and Jay W. McLaren, Ph.D., they have published extensively, giving insight into how different types of corneal transplant procedures restore vision and identifying areas of potential improvement.

Focus areas

Identification of the genes involved in Fuchs’ corneal dystrophy.
Family studies of the inheritance patterns of Fuchs’ corneal dystrophy.
Analysis of the effect of trinucleotide expansion on the expression of Transcription factor 4 and its protein in corneal endothelial tissue samples and in cell culture.
Outcomes and vision function after corneal endothelial transplantation.

Significance to patient care

Identification of the genes causing Fuchs’ dystrophy is the first step in understanding how the disease develops. Ultimately, nonsurgical treatments may be developed once the basic disease mechanisms are understood. Identifying patients at risk through genetic tests allows targeted treatment of individuals prior to the development of vision loss.
In addition, a variety of corneal conditions are treated by corneal transplantation. New procedures have improved the outcome of this surgery, but limitations in the quality of vision remain. Dr. Baratz and his colleagues have identified the causes and severity of these limitations. This research serves as a basis for comparison for future corneal transplantation techniques and also helps to establish the methods by which these procedures may be evaluated.

Professional highlights

American Academy of Ophthalmology Achievement Award, 2012
Board of Directors, American Board of Ophthalmology, 2010-present
Editorial board member and section editor for the journal JAMA Ophthalmology, 2008-present

PROFESSIONAL DETAILS

Primary Appointment
Consultant, Department of Ophthalmology
Academic Rank
Professor of Ophthalmology

EDUCATION

Fellow – Cornea and External Eye DiseasesDuke University
Resident – OphthalmologyMayo Graduate School of Medicine, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine
Internship – Medical/SurgicalMayo Graduate School of Medicine, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine
MDDuke University
BS – Aquatic BiologyBrown University

Professor David Rootman

Professor David Rootman has extensive qualifications placing him within an elite circle of top corneal specialist surgeons.

Dr. Rootman has been a board member of the Cornea Society (until 2008) and on staff at the University Health Network and the Hospital for Sick Children. At Toronto Western Hospital, he performs over 150 corneal transplants annually and deals with some of the most complex surgical problems. Dr. Rootman is a surgical pioneer and the first Canadian surgeon to perform Deep Lamellar Endothelial Keratoplasty (DLEK), Femtosecond Laser Enabled Keratoplasty (IEK) and Femtosecond Laser Enabled Astigmatic Keratotomy (IEAK). Dr. Rootman was the first Ontario-based surgeon to perform Intracorneal ring segment for Keratoconus. As an expert in corneal conditions affecting children, Dr. Rootman has restored vision to children across Canada and around the world.

Dr. Rootman’s clinical experience includes work with several artificial corneas such as the Cardona keratoprosthesis, Legais keratoprosthesis, Intracor lamellar keratoprosthesis, osteo-odonto keratoprosthesis and the Boston KPro type 1.

As a Professor at the University of Toronto, Dr. Rootman has made significant contributions to the education of ophthalmologists across Canada and around the world. He has trained corneal specialist surgeons from over 10 different countries, authored over 100 research papers and has lectured throughout the world on all topics related to his subspecialty. Finally, Dr. Rootman served as Medical Director of the Eye Bank of Canada for over 12 years.

Kathryn Colby, M.D., Ph.D.

Kathryn Colby, MD, PhD, is an internationally renowned academic corneal specialist with a longstanding interest in Fuchs dystrophy, the most common cause for corneal transplantation in the US. She is currently pioneering novel, non-transplant treatments for this condition. She has specific expertise in the management of ocular surface tumors, pediatric corneal disease, infectious keratitis, and keratoprosthesis.

Dr. Colby received her BA from the Johns Hopkins University, her PhD in Neurobiology from Brown University, and her MD from the University of Maryland School of Medicine, where she graduated summa cum laude. She completed her ophthalmology residency, chief residency and cornea fellowship at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary/Harvard Medical School where she remained on faculty. Dr. Colby is a passionate educator who trained hundreds of students, residents and fellows during the two decades she spent at Harvard prior to becoming Chairman of Ophthalmology at the University of Chicago, where she was the Louis Block Professor and a Master Clinician in the Bucksbaum Institute for Clinical Excellence. In 2020, Dr. Colby joined New York University Grossman School of Medicine as the Elisabeth J. Cohen Professor and Chairman of the Department of Ophthalmology.

Dr. Colby is the past-president of the Cornea Society and serves on numerous Boards of Directors. She is recipient of multiple awards, including the Senior Achievement award and three Secretariat awards from the AAO, mentorship awards from the AMA and Women in Ophthalmology, and the Innovation and Research Award from the Lions Eye Institute for Transplant & Research. Dr. Colby was the Chair of the Clinical Event Review Committee for the Zoster Eye Disease Study and now serves on the Executive Committee for this trial. She is the US Chair for a multi-national, multi-center study examining the role of Rho kinase inhibition in corneal endothelial rejuvenation. She is a program chair for World Cornea Congress 2022. Dr. Colby has published over 100 peer-reviewed articles, multiple book chapters and seven books, including the only textbook on pediatric cornea. Dr. Colby lectures around the world on corneal, clinical research, and professional development topics.

Allen O. Eghrari, M.D., M.P.H.

Allen O. Eghrari, M.D., M.P.H., is an ophthalmologist specializing in cornea, cataract and external eye diseases at the Wilmer Eye Institute’s locations in Baltimore and Bel Air, Maryland. He treats a wide range of eye conditions, with special interest in Ebola-associated eye disease, Fuchs’ dystrophy, cataract surgery, and corneal transplantation.

Dr. Eghrari received his M.D. degree from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and M.P.H. from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. He completed both residency training in ophthalmology and subspecialty fellowship in cornea and cataract surgery at the Wilmer Eye Institute.

Dr. Eghrari is a recipient of the Claes Dohlman Society Fellowship Award, the ARVO/Alcon Early Career Clinician-Scientist Award, and the Research to Prevent Blindness Special Scholar Award. He serves on the Advisory Board of the Johns Hopkins University Social Innovation Lab, an incubator for projects facilitating social change in local and global communities.

Titles
Associate Professor of Ophthalmology
Departments / Divisions
Ophthalmology – Cornea and Anterior Segment
Centers & Institutes
Wilmer Eye Institute

Education

Degrees
MD; Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (2009)
Residencies
Ophthalmology; Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (2013)
Board Certifications
American Board of Ophthalmology (Ophthalmology) (2016)

Research & Publications

Selected Publications
Barnes K, Chiang E, Chen C, Lohmeier J, Christy J, Chaurasia A, Rosen A, Vora P, Cai S, Subramanya A, Durr N, Allen R, Eghrari AO. Comparison of Tri-folded and Scroll-Based Graft Viability in Preloaded Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty. Cornea. 2018 Dec 13.
PREVAIL III Study Group, Sneller MC, Reilly C, Badio M, Bishop RJ, Eghrari AO, Moses SJ, Johnson KL, Gayedyu-Dennis D, Hensley LE, Higgs ES, Nath A, Tuznik K, Varughese J, Jensen KS, Dighero-Kemp B, Neaton JD, Lane HC, Fallah MP. A Longitudinal Study of Ebola Sequelae in Liberia. N Engl J Med. 2019 Mar 7;380(10):924-934.
Eghrari AO, Bishop RJ, Ross RD, et al. Characterization of Ebola Virus–Associated Eye Disease. JAMA Netw Open. 2021;4(1):e2032216. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.32216
Efficacy and Safety Outcomes of Cataract Surgery in Survivors of Ebola Virus Disease: 12-Month Results From the PREVAIL VII Study. Eghrari AO, Shantha JG, Ross RD, Ryn CV, Crozier I, Hayek B, Gradin D, Roberts B, Prakalapakorn SG, Amegashie F, Nishant K, Singh G, Dolo R, Fankhauser J, Burkholder B, Pettitt J, Gross R, Brady T, Dighero-Kemp B, Reilly C, Hensley L, Higgs E, Yeh S, Bishop RJ. Transl Vis Sci Technol. 2021 Jan 25;10(1):32. doi: 10.1167/tvst.10.1.32

Activities & Honors

Honors

Dean’s Predoctoral Research Fellowship, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Public Engagement, University of Illinois
Mitchell Research Prize, Wilmer Eye Institute
Claes Dohlman Society Fellowship AwardAliki Perroti Scholar, Wilmer Eye Institute
Fuchs Corneal Dystrophy Research Grant Award
A. Edward Maumenee Research Grant Award
Robert P. Larsen Award in Human Development
Undergraduate Research Fellowship, Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Research to Prevent Blindness Special Scholar Award, 2018
ARVO/Alcon Early Career Clinician-Scientist Award
Baltimore Business Journal 40 Under 40, Baltimore Business Journal, 2019

Videos & Media

Recent News Articles and Media Coverage
PREVAIL, Partners Perform 40 Successful Cataract Eye Surgeries – Front Page Africa (Jan. 2018)
Johns Hopkins team takes second in business plan competition with corneal surgery enhancement – the Hub, Johns Hopkins University (Apr. 2017)
Ebola’s Ghost: the Mystery After the Outbreak, Wired Magazine UK (Feb. 2016)

ANTHONY J. ALDAVE, M.D.

Dr. Aldave joined the Jules Stein Eye Institute in July 2002 as a full-time member of the Cornea and Refractive Surgery Services. He is currently a Professor of Ophthalmology, holds the Walton Li Chair in Cornea and Uveitis, is Chief of the Cornea and Uveitis Division and Director of the Cornea and Refractive Surgery Fellowship Program.

Dr. Aldave has received numerous honors during his career, including the Alpha Omega Alpha Scholarship Award for graduating first in his medical school class, the Heed Ophthalmic Foundation Fellowship, the American Ophthalmological Society-Knapp Testimonial Fund Fellowship, the first Claes Dohlman Society Award, and the Achievement, Secretariat and Senior Achievement Awards from the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

In addition to his busy clinical practice, Dr. Aldave directs the Corneal Genetics Laboratory at the Stein Eye Institute, which focuses on the molecular genetics of the corneal dystrophies, a group of inherited disorders that affect corneal clarity and constitute one of the primary indications for corneal transplantation. Recognized as a leader in his chosen field of scientific investigation, Dr. Aldave has authored over 160 peer-reviewed manuscripts, has been invited to give almost 500 scientific presentations at local, national and international meetings and serves as a scientific reviewer for 20 ophthalmology and genetics journals.

Albert S. Jun, M.D.

Albert S. Jun, M.D., Ph.D., is the Walter J. Stark, MD, Professor of Ophthalmology and chief of the Division of Cornea, Cataract and External Eye Diseases at the Wilmer Eye Institute. He specializes in corneal disorders – including Fuchs dystrophy and keratoconus – refractive surgery (LASIK), cataracts and external eye diseases. Dr. Jun’s clinical and research interests include endothelial keratoplasty, refractive surgery, granular corneal dystrophy, genetic analysis of corneal diseases and corneal gene therapy.

Dr. Jun has received grants and awards from numerous organizations including the National Institutes of Health, the Heed Ophthalmic Foundation, the Eye Bank Association of America and the Association of University Professors of Ophthalmology.
Dr. Jun received his AB from Harvard University in biochemistry in 1990. In 1997, he received his medical degree and his PhD in genetics and molecular biology from Emory University. He completed his residency at the Wilmer Eye Institute from 1998-2001. Thereafter, he completed a Cornea and External Disease Fellowship and a Corneal Gene Therapy Research Fellowship in London, and a Maumenee Clinician-Scientist Fellowship at Johns Hopkins Medicine.

Titles

Chief, Division of Cornea, Cataract and External Eye Diseases
Walter J. Stark, M.D., Professor of Ophthalmology
Professor of Ophthalmology
Departments / Divisions
Ophthalmology – Cornea and Anterior Segment
Centers & Institutes
Comprehensive Marfan Center
Wilmer Eye Institute Research

Education

Degrees
MD; Medicine; Emory University School of Medicine (1997)

Residencies
Ophthalmology; Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (2001)

Fellowships
Cornea and External Diseases; Moorfields Eye Hospital (2002)

Board Certifications
American Board of Ophthalmology (Ophthalmology) (2003)

Additional Training
AB Harvard University/AB; Biochemistry (1986-1990)
The Johns Hopkins University/Sinai Hospital of Baltimore; Internal Medicine Internship (1997-1998)
Maryland Medical License, Maryland Board of Physicians (2002)
Imperial College School of Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Corneal Gene Therapy Research Fellowship (2002)
The Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions; Maumenee Clinician-Scientist Fellowship (2002-2003)
Maryland Board of Physicians / Maryland Medical License

Research & Publications

Clinical Trials

Extramural Funding

9/10-8/15 Role of unfolded protein response and COL8A2 in Fuchs corneal dystrophy; 1RO1EY019874; National Eye Institute; Role: PI

6/12-5/15 Screening for potential drug therapies for Fuchs corneal dystrophy; J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation; Role: PI

9/14-8/15 AMPK activation for treatment of Fuchs corneal dystrophy;Eye Bank Association of America; Role: Mentor, PI: Guadalupe Villarreal, Jr., MD

9/14-8/15 Influence of endoreticulum stress caused by UV radiation to the corneal endothelial cells in a mouse model of early-onset Fuchs’ endothelial corneal dystrophy; Japan Eye Bank Association Overseas Grant; Role: Mentor, PI: Tetsuya Toyono, MD, PhD

10/14-9/17 Use of cultured human corneal endothelial cells for keratoplasty; Lions VisionGift; Role: PI

Intramural Funding

8/14-7/15 Proteomic analysis of keratoconus patients from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital/Wilmer Eye Institute Research Grant; Role: Co-investigator, PI: Shukti Chakravarti, PhD

1/15-12/15 In Vitro and In Vivo Treatment of Protein Processing Defect using Dendrimer-Drug Delivery for Early-onset Fuchs Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy; Wilmer Pooled Professors Fund; Role: Co-principal investigator with Liudmila Cebotaru, MD, JD, LLM
Selected Publications
View all on PubMed
Cursiefen, Claus, and Albert S. Jun. 2016. Current Treatment Options for Fuchs Endothelial Dystrophy. Cham, Switzerland: Springer.
PubMed

Academic Affiliations & Courses

Graduate Program Affiliation
Vice Chair for Education, Wilmer Eye Institute (2011-2016)

Activities & Honors

Honors
International Visiting Professor, Bowman Corneal Club- UK
International Visiting Professor, 150th Anniversary of the Dept. of Ophthalmology, Medical University of Graz, Austria
Achievement Award, American Academy of Ophthalmology
Ralph and Sophie Heintz Lecturer, Francis I. Proctor Foundation and University of California, San Francisco
Dolly Green Special Scholar Award, Research to Prevent Blindness
Neil Miller, MD, Medical Student Teaching Award, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Bill Anderson Memorial Lecturer, American Association of Tissue Banking, Savannah, GA
Inaugural Wilmer Scholar Award, Wilmer Eye Institute
Career Development Award, Research to Prevent Blindness
Fellow, Society of Heed Fellows, Heed Ophthalmic Foundation
Boston International Visiting Professor, Harvard Medical School Department of Ophthalmology, VA Boston Healthcare System and the Boston University Department of Ophthalmology, 2019

Memberships

American Academy of Ophthalmology, 1998 – 2016
Association for Research and Vision and Ophthalmology, 1998 – 2016
American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, 2014 – 2015

Professional Activities

Editorial Board Member, Cornea, The Journal of the Cornea Society, 2012 – 2016
Peer Review, American Journal of Ophthalmology
Peer Review, American Journal of Pathology
Peer Review, Archives of Ophthalmology
Peer Review, Biophysical Journal
Peer Review, British Journal of Ophthalmology
Peer Review, Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery
Peer Review, Nature
Peer Review, Ophthalmology

Videos & Media

Lectures and Presentations
Moderator, Cornea Surgery
Non-refractive Paper Session, ARVO Annual Meeting, Denver, CO (01/01/2015)
ARVO
Moderator, Corneal Endothelium, Dystrophies
Genetics Paper Session, ARVO Annual Meeting, Denver, CO (01/01/2015)
Organizer
Corneal Transplantation Didactic Session, Johns Hopkins Cataract and Cornea Practicum, Baltimore, MD (01/01/2015)
Johns Hopkins
Moderator
Oxidative Stress in Diseases of the Ocular Surface and Cornea Mini-symposium, ARVO Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL (01/01/2014)
Translational Minisymposium Lecture Series, Lexington, KY (01/01/2015)
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Kentucky
Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences Seminar Series,, Cleveland, OH (01/01/2015)
Case Western Reserve University
Visiting Professor, Rochester, MN (01/01/2015)
Mayo Clinic Department of Ophthalmology
Visiting Professor, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, MA (05/26/2016)
Harvard Medical School
“Surgical treatment for Fuchs dystrophy”
Presentation, 7th Annual Evidence Based Care in Optometry Conference, Baltimore, MD (01/01/2014)
“Fuchs Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy: Pathophysiology and Approaches for Medical Treatment,”
Visiting Professor, Resident Research Day, Nashville, TN (01/01/2014)
Vanderbilt Eye Center
“A century of Fuchs dystrophy,”
Visiting Professor, Ophthalmology Grand Rounds, New York, NY (01/01/2013)
Harkness Eye Institute, Columbia University
“Corneal dystrophies,” “A century of Fuchs dystrophy,” and “Lamellar keratoplasty,”
Visiting Professor, Monthly Regional Ophthalmology Meeting, Tampa, FL (01/01/2012)
University of South Florida and West Coast of Florida
“A Century of Fuchs Dystrophy,”
Visiting Professor, Ophthalmology Grand Rounds, New Haven, CT (01/01/2012)
Yale University
“Pre-operative evaluation and the future of non-surgical therapy”
Presentation, Corneal Dystrophy Foundation Biennial Symposium, Portland, OR (01/01/2011)
Corneal Dystrophy Foundation
“New insights on the etiopathogenesis of ectatic corneal disorders”
Invited Speaker, Therapy for Corneal Ectasia in Infants and Adults session, American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA (01/01/2015)
“Animal models of Fuchs dystrophy: what have we learned?”
Invited Speaker, Dystrophies, Degenerations, and Genetics session, World Cornea Congress VII, San Diego, CA (01/01/2015)
“Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy: pathophysiology and approaches for medical treatment,”
Visiting Professor, Seoul, Korea (01/01/2014)
Catholic University of Korea
“Molecular pathogenesis of Fuchs dystrophy”
International Guest Speaker, Fuchs Dystrophy: Pathophysiology, Diagnostics, Progression, and Stage-related Conservative and Microsurgical Therapy Symposium, 112th Annual Congress of the German Ophthalmological Society,, Leipzig, Germany (01/01/2014)
“Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty”
Presenter, Video Pearls in Keratoplasty session, Cornea Day, American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons Annual Meeting, Boston, MA (01/01/2014)
“Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy: genetics, pathogenesis, and potential non-surgical treatment”
Invited Speaker, Corneal Development, Differentiation, and Genetics Symposium, International Society for Eye Research Biennial Meeting, San Francisco, CA (01/01/2014)
“Why does the cornea bulge in keratooconus?”
International Guest Speaker, Keratoconus: Understanding the Disease and Treatments Symposium, XXX Pan-American Congress of Ophthalmology/XXXVII Brazilian Congress of Ophthalmology Meeting, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (01/01/2013)
“Keratoconus,” “Lamellar keratoplasty,” “Use of Pentacam in management of anterior segment disease,” “Epithelial and Bowman layer corneal dystrophies,”
International Guest Speaker, Saudi Ophthalmology Annual Meeting, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (01/01/2013)
“Studies of disease pathogenesis and drug discovery in a mouse model of Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy”
International Guest Speaker, Corneal Dystrophy Session, Asia Cornea Society Biennial Scientific Meeting, Manila, Philippines (01/01/2012)

Recent News Articles and Media Coverage

Mentoring as Our Mission: Enhancing Diversity in the Ophthalmology Pipeline, Wilmer Insider (Oct. 2021)
Celebrating Black History Month at Wilmer, Johns Hopkins Medicine (Feb. 2021)
Two-birds-one-stone strategy shows promise in RNA-repeat expansion diseases, Science Magazine (Nov. 2020)
The Power of Artificial Intelligence, Wilmer Magazine (Spring 2019)

Fuchs IX Symposium

Course Directors

Keith Baratz, M.D.

Guillermo Rocha, M.D.

Natalie Afshari, MD

Shiley Eye Institute at UC, San Diego Health

Isabelle Brunette, MD, FRCSC

University of Montreal

Clara Chan, MD, FRCSC, FACS

University of Toronto

Johanna Choremis, MD

University of Montreal

Kathryn Colby, MD, PhD

NYU Langone Department of Opthalmology

Mahshad Darvish-Zargar, MD

McGill University

Ore-Oluwa Erikitola, BM BS, Msc, FRCOphth

Cornea and External Eye Disease Fellow, Moorfields Eye Hospital

Mark Gorovoy, MD

Gorovoy M.D. Eye Specialists

Mark A. Greiner, MD

Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics

Sadeer B. Hannush, MD

Wills Eye Hospital, Sidney Kimmel Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University

Mona Harissi-Dagher, MD, FRCSC

University of Montreal

Albert S. Jun, MD, PhD

University of Virginia

Ula Jurkunas, MD

Massachusettes Eye and Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School

Shigeru Kinoshita, MD, PhD

Department of Frontier Medical Science and Technology for Ophthalmology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine

Ellen Koo, MD

Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine

Jonathan Lass, MD

Case Western Reserve University

Basma Matar, MD

McGill University

Michael Mimouni, MD

Israeli Cornea Society, Department of Ophthalmology at Rambam Health Care Campus

Vinod Mootha, MD

Department of Ophthalmology, UT-Southwestern Medical Center

Stephan Ong Tone, MD

Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre

Sangita Patel, MD, PhD

University at Buffalo Ophthalmology and Research Services

Sanjay Patel, MD

Mayo Clinic

Roberto Pineda, MD

Mass Eye and Ear

Francis Price, MD

Price Vision Group

Marianne Price, PhD

Price Vision Group

Alexandra Radermecker, MD

Cornea Fellow, Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont

Maria Rizk, MD

Cornea Fellow, Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM)

Vito Romano, MD

University at Brescia

David Rootman, MD

University of Toronto

Jennifer Rose-Nussbaumer, MD

Byers Eye Institute, Stanford University

Alfonso L. Sabater, MD, PhD

Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine

Julia Talajic, MD

Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital - University Ophthalmology Centre.

Mark A. Terry, MD

Devers Eye Institute, Oregon Health Sciences University

Theofilos Tourtas, MD

Erlangen University Medical School

Peter Veldman, MD

University of Chicago Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science

Fuchs IX Symposium

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September 27, 2025
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