Through the Looking Glass, Winter 2024

Winter 2024

From the Desk of Ian Conner

Greetings from the UPMC Vision Institute!

In this issue, we are proud to recap our 2023 year, including the addition of several dynamic new faculty members who are already adding to the innovative clinical and research work here in Pittsburgh. We highlight a few of the exciting grants received by members of the Department last year, which now ranks 8th nationwide in terms of NIH funding. As you can see, we have been quite busy!

Other highlights in this issue include a special feature on the research of Dr. Jay Chhablani from our vitreoretinal service, a moment to catch up with Dr. Ed Watters, resident class of 1974, and a somber farewell to our former colleague and friend, Dr. Dick Katzin, who recently passed away.

Finally, we are excited to share a few of the philanthropic high points from the year, including our expanded outreach efforts through both the Guerilla Eye Service and

the annual Mission of Mercy, including a fundraising effort for both organizations via our very own Pittsburgh Marathon relay teams comprised of our faculty, fellows, and residents.

I hope that you all take note of important dates coming up for Department events. Last year’s inaugural reunion was a great opportunity to reconnect with many of our alumni from across the country, and we hope to have even more of you join us this fall for a fun opportunity to learn and network with all of your fellow alumni. In fact, we hope that a few of our readers will step forward as alumni champions for your eras to make this year’s event an even bigger success!

All the best,

Ian Conner, MD, PhD

Chief of the Glaucoma Service Director of the Glaucoma Fellowship Assistant Residency Program Director UPMC Vision Institute

Ian Conner, MD, PhD

New Faculty

We are excited to announce the newest faculty recruits to the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center! Whether it be in the clinic or in the lab, each of these outstanding clinicians and researchers will add to the richness of the Department in different ways.

Larry Benowitz, PhD

Larry Benowitz received his PhD from Caltech with Nobel Laureate Roger Sperry and did postdoctoral fellowships at MIT and Harvard before joining the Harvard Medical School faculty, where he is currently a Professor of Neurosurgery and Ophthalmology. In 2016, he was named the first incumbent of the Neurosurgical Innovation and Research Professorship at Boston Children’s Hospital. Upon closing his lab and going into semi-retirement in Boston, Dr. Benowitz has been appointed as a Professor of Ophthalmology (part-time) at the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Benowitz is also the Co-Director of the Fox Center for Vision Restoration.

Sandeep Bollepalli, PhD

Prior to joining the Department permanently, Dr. Sandeep Bollepalli was a visiting scholar working on the digital twin of the eye, predictive models for age related macular degeneration and ophthalmic image registration, segmentation and classification. Before that he was a research fellow at Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School. He received both his PhD and masters from Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad. Dr. Bollepalli’s research interests are in machine learning, multimodal data fusion, biomedical signal processing, big data analytics, and natural language processing.

Michael Chang, MD

Michael Chang joined the Department on October 1st, 2023. He received his MD from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine in 2018. He then completed a research internship at Wills Eye Hospital (Ocular Oncology) in 2019, followed by an intern year at West Virginia University. Most recently, Dr. Chang completed an ophthalmology residency at West Virginia as well. Dr. Chang is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the West Virginia Academy of Eye Physicians and Surgeons.

Frank Dyka, PhD

Dr. Frank Dyka joined the Department in May as a Research Assistant Professor. Prior to joining the Department, he was an Assistant Scientist at the University of Florida. He received his PhD in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine at the University of Erlangen-Nurnberg, Germany, and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of British Columbia, Canada.

New Faculty (continued)

Airaj Fasiuddin, MD

Dr. Airaj Fasiuddin joined the Department in February 2023 as an Assistant Professor. Prior to joining the department, Dr. Fasiuddin was Division Chief of Pediatric Ophthalmology at Nemours Childrens Hospital and Ophthalmology Vice Chair for Education at the University of Central Florida College of Medicine. She received her MD from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersy-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. She completed a residency at St. Vincent Catholic Medical Centers in New York and a fellowship in pediatric ophthalmology and strabismus at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

Chanin Funair-Woods, OD

Dr. Funair-Woods received her Bachelor of Science in Biology, with a minor in Psychology, from Allegheny College in Meadville. She then earned her doctorate of optometry from the Pennsylvania College of Optometry in Philadelphia. Prior to joining UPMC, she was employed by Eyeglass World in Pittsburgh.

Richard Hagan, PhD

Dr. Hagan joined the Department in mid-November as the Director of Electrophysiology Service. Prior to joining the Department, Dr. Hagan was part of the Department of Medical Physics and Clinical Engineering at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital. His background includes receiving a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Queens University Belfast, a Master of Science degree in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Surrey, and his PhD from the University of Liverpool. His dissertation was on “Linear and Non-Linear Aspects of the mfERG.”

Fareedah Haroun, OD

Dr. Fareedah Haroun joined the Department as a Clinical Assistant Professor in August 2023. She received her BS in Environmental Science from the University of Pittsburgh, followed by her Doctor of Optometry degree from the Ohio State University, College of Optometry. Dr. Haroun received post-graduate experience from The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Department of Ophthalmology as a cornea and contact lens/ ocular disease resident focusing on specialty contact lenses.

New Faculty (continued)

Erick Henderson, OD

Dr. Erick Henderson joined the Department in May 2023 as a Clinical Assistant Professor. He received his BA in Biology from Illinois Wesleyan University and his Doctor of Optometry from Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, TN.

Jennifer Liu, OD

Dr. Jennifer Liu joined the Department as a Clinical Assistant Professor in August 2023. She received her BA from the University of Pittsburgh Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences, followed by graduating from the SUNY College of Optometry. Dr. Liu has a special interest in comprehensive care, pediatric and adult low vision, myopia management, glaucoma, and ocular manifestations of systemic disease.

David Mora-Boellstorff, MD

Dr. David Mora-Boellstorff joined the Department as a Clinical Assistant Professor in July 2023 after completing his residency at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. He graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a BS in biomedical engineering. He then received his MD from the McGovern Medical School at UTHealth – Houston. Dr. MoraBoellstorff is part of our comprehensive service.

Maria Constanza (Connie) Potilinski, PhD

Dr. Maria Constanza Potilinski was a visiting scholar in Dr. Ash’s lab working on “Alpha-1antitrypsin to delay retinal degeneration on a mice model of retinitis pigmentosa.” Prior to that she was a post-doctoral fellow in the Laboratory of Nano Medicine and Vision Group, Instituto de Investigaciones en Medicina Traslacional (IIMT) in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She also completed her PhD on Molecular Biology and Biotechnology in the Laboratory of Physiology and Biophysics at the National University of San Martin, Buenos Aires.

New Faculty (continued)

Kateryna Sanders, OD

Dr. Kateryna Sanders joined the Department as a Clinical Assistant Professor in July 2023 after completing her ophthalmology residency at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine – the residency being the first class to be offered at Pitt. Dr. Sanders received her degree from Salus University and her BA In Biology from Washington & Jefferson College. She has a special interest in ocular disease and low vision.

Rajesh Sasikumar, MD

Dr. Sasikumar received his Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery from the Jagadguru Jayadeva Murugarajendra Medical College in Davangere, Karnataka India. He then received his master of surgery in ophthalmology from the Joseph Eye Institute, Trichy, Tamil Nadu, India. Dr. Kumar completed a clinical research fellowship at the LV Prasad Eye Institute as well as a clinical fellowship in glaucoma at the Sydney Hospital and Sydney Eye Hospital in Sydney Australia. Following this, he completed another clinical research fellowship at the Singapore Eye Research Institute and Singapore National Eye Center in Singapore. Most recently, he had appointments at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner School of Medicine, Case Western Medical University as a clinical professor and the Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, UAE.

Kirsten Winter, OD

Dr. Kirsten Winter joined the Department as a Clinical Assistant Professor in July 2023 after completing her ophthalmology residency at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine – the residency being the first class to be offered at Pitt. Dr. Winter received her degree from the State University of New York College of Optometry, with a special interest in the diagnosis and management of glaucoma and retinal, neurological, and systemic disease.

Ophthalmology Faculty

José-Alain Sahel, MD

Distinguished Professor and Chairman

Department of Ophthalmology

The Eye & Ear Foundation Endowed Chair

University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine

Exceptional Class Professor, Sorbonne University, Paris

Issam Al Diri, PhD Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology

Sohani Amarasekera, MD Clinical Assistant Professor in Ophthalmology

Alexander J. Anetakis, MD Clinical Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology

John D. Ash, PhD

E. Ronald Salvitti Professor of Ophthalmology Research Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology

Vice Chair of Ophthalmology and Director of Research

Marlene Behrmann, PhD Professor of Ophthalmology

Larry Benowitz, PhD Professor of Ophthalmology

Miguel Betegon, PhD Research Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology

Robert Bittner, OD, FAAO Clinical Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology

Sandeep Bollepalli, PhD Research Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology

Gabrielle R. Bonhomme, MD Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology

Ellen Butts, OD Clinical Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology

Leah Byrne, PhD Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology

Kun-Che Chang, PhD Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology

Michael Chang, MD

Clinical Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology

Yuanyuan Chen, PhD Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology

Xing Chen, PhD Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology

Jay Chhablani, MD Professor of Ophthalmology

Ian Conner, MD, PhD Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology

Susana da Silva, PhD Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology and Developmental Biology

Kunal K Dansingani, MBBS, MA, FRCOphth

Associate Professor of Ophthalmology

Emily DePew, OD

Clinical Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology

Deepinder K. Dhaliwal, MD, L.Ac Professor of Ophthalmology Director, Refractive Surgery Service Medical Director, UPMC Laser Vision/ Aesthetic Center

Director and Founder, Center for Integrative Eye Care

Associate Medical Director, Charles T.Campbell Ocular Microbiology Laboratory

Clinical Codirector of the Funderburgh Cornea Regeneration Project

Morgan V. DiLeo (Fedorchak), PhD Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology, Bioengineering and Clinical & Translational Sciences

Frank Dyka, PhD

Research Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology

Amgad Eldib, MD

Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology

Andrew W. Eller, MD Professor of Ophthalmology

Marie Hélène Errera, MD, PhD Associate Professor of Ophthalmology

Airaj Fasiuddin, MD Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology

Jerome Finkelstein, MD, FACS

Clinical Associate Professor of Ophthalmology

Thomas R. Friberg, MD, FACS Professor of Ophthalmology

Roxana Fu, MD Associate Professor of Ophthalmology

Chanin Funair-Woods, OD Clinical Assistant Professor

Meghal Gagrani, MD

Clinical Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology

Denise S. Gallagher, MD

Clinical Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology

Anna G. Gushchin, MD

Clinical Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology

Richard Hagan, PhD

Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology

Fareedah Haroun, OD

Clinical Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology

Erick Henderson, OD

Clinical Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology

James P. Herman, PhD Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology

Nathan Isaacson, OD

Clinical Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology

Vishal Jhanji, MD, FRCS (Glasgow), FRCOphth, FARVO Professor of Ophthalmology

Ophthalmology Faculty (continued)

Roheena Kamyar, MD

Clinical Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology

Lama Khatib, MD

Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology

Paul (Kip) R. Kinchington, PhD

Joseph F. Novak, M.D., Chair in Ophthalmology Research Professor of Ophthalmology, Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry

Can Kocasarac, MD

Clinical Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology

Takaaki Kuwajima, PhD Research Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology

Kira L. Lathrop, MAMS Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology

Jennifer Liu, OD

Clinical Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology

Ekaterina Lobanova, PhD Professor of Ophthalmology

Craig A. Luchansky, OD Clinical Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology

Alex Mammen, MD Clinical Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology

Joseph N. Martel, MD Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology

J Patrick Mayo, PhD Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology

Ellen Mitchell, MD Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology

David Mora-Boellstorff, MD

Clinical Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology

Sabrina Mukhtar, MD Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology

Ken K. Nischal, MD, FAAP, FRCOphth Professor of Ophthalmology

Preeti Patil, MD Associate Professor of Ophthalmology

Shaohua Pi, PhD Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology

Gaurav Prakash, MD Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology

Colin Prensky, MD Clinical Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology

Pamela Rath, MD

Clinical Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology

Eric Romanowski, MS Research Instructor of Ophthalmology

Matthew Pihlblad, MD Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology

Scott L. Portnoy, MD

Clinical Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology

Maria Constanza Potilinski, PhD Research Assistant Professor

Boris Rosin, MD, PhD Clinical Instructor of Ophthalmology

Ethan A. Rossi, PhD Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology

Kateryna Sanders, OD Clinical Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology

Rajesh Sasikumar, MD Associate Professor of Ophthalmology

Robert M.Q. Shanks, PhD Associate Professor of Ophthalmology

Tarek Shazly, MD Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology

Ian A. Sigal, PhD

Associate Professor of Ophthalmology and Bioengineering

Debasish Sinha, PhD

Professor of Ophthalmology, Cell Biology and Developmental Biology

Jennifer Salvitti Davis, M.D. Chair in Ophthalmology Research Professor of Ophthalmology, Cell Biology and Developmental Biology

William Smith, OD Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology

Anthony St. Leger, PhD Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology and Immunology

Marshall W. Stafford, MD

Clinical Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology

S. Tonya Stefko, MD Professor of Ophthalmology, Otolaryngology, and Neurological Surgery

John Swogger, DO Clinical Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology

Lillian To, MD

Clinical Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology

Kiran Kumar Vupparaboina, PhD Research Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology

Evan L. Waxman, MD, PhD Professor of Ophthalmology

Xiangyun Wei, PhD

Associate Professor of Ophthalmology, Andrew Williams, MD Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology

Kirsten Winter, OD

Clinical Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology

Gary (Hin-Fai) Yam, PhD Research Associate Professor of Ophthalmologyç

Hongmin Yun, MD, PhD

Research Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology

Department Grants

Xin Fan

Liposome cysteamine carriers for eye drop formulation with longterm stability and smart release ability

Research Foundation $75,000

Sayan Ghosh Deciphering the role of mitochondrial/autophagy dysfunction in regulating inflammatory processes during AMD pathogenesis National Eye Institute/ NIH $185,414

Vishal Jhanji

Nerve Architecture in Normal and Diseased Corneas

Eric

Boris Rosin Universal Rare Gene Study: A Registry and Natural History Study of Retinal Dystrophies Associated with Rare Disease-Causing Genetic Variants

Center / FFB $51,250

Department Grants (continued)

Boris

2023

In Memoriam: Dick Katzin, M.D.

October 28, 1934 – January 4, 2024

Dick Katzin, of Oakmont, died at age 89 years old. Dick was born in New Jersey, the only child of Physician Eugene Katzin and his wife Ethel. Dick graduated from Cornell University and Cornell University Medical School where he met his wife, Loretta. Dick and Loretta, who predeceased him, were married for 64 years. Dick served in the United States Marine Corps, as a first Lieutenant in Quantico VA and Camp Lejeune in NC.

Dick completed his residency in ophthalmology at the Eye and Ear Hospital in Pittsburgh chaired by Murray McCaslin and later by Ken Richardson. Dick completed the training program in 1969 and joined the department staff as a comprehensive ophthalmologist.

When Dr. Richardson left for Alaska in 1972, Dick was appointed as interim Chair of the Department of Ophthalmology and served in this capacity until 1974.

While serving in the department he participated in training residents, many of whom went out to practice in our community. Dick staffed clinics and was a preceptor for surgery at Eye and Ear Hospital and at the Veterans Hospital (VA) in Oakland.

From 1969 – 1980, as Assistant Chief, he staffed ophthalmology residents in the ophthalmology clinic at the VA and was a surgical tutor. In 1980 Dr Lehman retired; Dick assumed the position of Department Chair of the ophthalmology division of the Department of Surgery at the VA and served in that capacity until 1999, afterwards serving as a consultant until 2023. Dick worked 55 years providing quality ophthalmologic care for the Veterans in our country!

Dick was known as a caring and compassionate physician / ophthalmologist. He was the “go-to person” to answer difficult management questions. Dick’s strength was in the compassionate management and care of patients. In providing care, he connected with the patient, always considering other medical issues and social issues. He knew his patients well. Residents learned patient management from him and sought to emulate his care as a role model. He received the distinguished Teaching award from the residents in 1983.

Dick continued with the ophthalmology department, until 1975 when he left the department joining Frank Cignetti in practice in Monroeville. The practice flourished but Dick continued to be active with the residency program by overseeing the training program at the Veteran’s Hospital. At the VA, he added new state of the art instrumentation as it became available. The residents had access to the most up-to-date technology.

Dick served Chair of the Eye and Ear Resident education fund for over 40 years, and he served on the Board of the Western PA Eye Bank.

Dick always had time to answer patient’s questions and explain treatments. He often had discussions that helped him to know more about the patient and integrate this into the patient care program.

After Dick retired, he joined the local, retired ophthalmologist group and attended the semi-annual meetings. The most recent gathering was at the new UPMC Eye Institute at the Mercy site this past fall.

Dick is survived by four children, Richard, Eugene, Darcy and James, as well as 9 cherished grandchildren. His legacy is more than 200 residents in ophthalmology that he has influenced and are now practicing.

Prepared by Al Biglan, Frank Cignetti, Seshaiyengar Venkatesh and family members.

Dick Katzin, M.D.

Pitt Ophthalmology Takes on the Pittsburgh Marathon!

For the second year in a row, faculty and residents in the Department of Ophthalmology will be running in this year’s Pittsburgh Marathon to raise money for important causes within the Department. Thanks to support from generous donors, last year we were able to raise $2,500 to support efforts for the Guerrilla Eye Service

(GES) in their work providing vision care in the community. This year, in addition to raising money for GES, a second team of runners will be raising support for the 2024 Mission of Mercy event.

Both Guerilla Eye Service and Mission of Mercy are the leading efforts by faculty and staff in the Department of Ophthalmology to provide vision care to some of our most vulnerable neighbors in the Pittsburgh region. GES holds free community clinics throughout the year at various locations, whereas Mission of Mercy is a singular, two-day event where patients can receive free vision screenings and glasses, along with also receiving hearing and dental care. Volunteers at this past year’s event saw over 700 patients in two days!

The two teams this year are the Phaco Fanatics and the Open Globe Trotters, raising money for Mission of Mercy and GES,

respectively. Phaco Fanatics team members include Ian Conner, Zachary Nadler, Tadhg Schempf, David Mora-Boellstorff, Chris Hampton, and Patricia Campos. Open Globe Trotter team members are Colin Xu, Samyuktha Melachuri, Amani Davis, John Gote, and Aidan Dmitriev.

Please join us in cheering on both of our teams as they tackle the Pittsburgh Marathon on May 5, 2024!

If you’d like to support the efforts of either, or both, teams in this year’s marathon please visit www.eyeandear.org/marathon and make a donation today. Your support of our community efforts is greatly appreciated!

David Baker

Scott Portnoy John Swogger Lillian To

Lorenzo Cervantes Raven Diacou Matt Kaufman

John Legaretta

Shelley Mo Laura Pallan

2024 Alumni Reunion Planning Committee

Save The Date

ARVO Alumni and Friends Reception

May 5, 2024 • Seattle, WA

Sheraton Grand Seattle, Cedar Room, 2nd Floor 6th and Pike Street

6:30 – 8:30 pm

Please RSVP by April 7, 2023 by emailing or calling Lauren Wally at wallyl@upmc.edu or 412.864.3283

Pitt OPH Alumni Reunion

September 26-28, 2024

See Save the Date (previous page) Invite Coming Soon!

Biglan Lecture

October 17, 2024 (Tentative)

AAO Alumni and Friends Reception

October 19, 2024

Marriott Marquis Chicago 2121 S. Prairie Ave. 5:30 – 7:30 pm

Want to keep up to date on all the exciting research happening in the Departments of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology at the University of Pittsburgh? Follow our social media accounts below to see pictures, articles, awards, and more highlighting all the great work taking place at your alma mater. Just click the logos to find our page!

Research Spotlight: Jay Chhablani

Can We Predict Progression of Age-Related

Macular Degeneration?

Age-related macular degeneration is a leading cause of irreversible vision loss, especially in the western world. As of 2019, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 19.8 million Americans aged 40 and older have age-related macular degeneration (AMD). This is about 12.6% of the population. AMD could be of two types: Dry AMD and Wet AMD. Dry form of AMD can range from early form (drusen deposits) to late stages of geographic atrophy. The wet form of AMD constitutes formation of abnormal blood vessel leading to leakage, bleeding and significant vision loss. Approximately one in 10 Americans aged 50 and older has the early form of AMD and approximately one out of every 100 Americans ages 50 and older have the vision threatening late form of AMD. Approximately 10%–15% of all AMD patients eventually develop the wet form. The advanced form of dry AMD, geographic atrophy, also leads to significant vision loss with recent treatment options to slow down the progression. Thus, predicting a progression of early AMD to advanced geographic atrophy or wet AMD is essential for early treatment intervention to prevent significant vision loss.

Choroid, one of the most vascular layers of the eye, supplies nutrition and oxygen supply of the retina. Its role in various retinal disease, particularly age-related macular degeneration, is very well established. With advanced imaging techniques, retinal and choroidal imaging is possible in patients, detailing as close as histological details. Dr Chhablani started Choroid Analysis and Research (CAR) Lab at the UPMC Vision Institute with the goal of developing various choroidal analytical tools

which can be used in clinical practice and help disease management. At the CAR Lab using the cutting-edge research and innovation, his team aims to develop next-generation image analytic tools utilizing state-of-the-art imaging technologies and artificial intelligence (AI) and established retinal and choroidal biomarkers. The team involves a team of machine learning experts and retina specialists, a great amalgamation leading to translational breakthroughs. The lab is working on developing predictive models for AMD progression based on these imaging biomarkers.

Dr. Chhablani is a Professor of Ophthalmology and a Vitreo-Retinal Surgeon at the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh. He is the Director of Clinical Research at the UPMC Vision Institute. He has published more than 600 articles in peer-reviewed journals with a focus in the field of choroid. He is the editor of four books focused on retinal diseases. He is on the reviewing boards of all highimpact journals including Science Translational Medicine and Lancet. He is also on the editorial board of several journals including the American Journal of Ophthalmology. He serves on the grant reviewing board of various funding agencies. He is a member of many esteemed societies such as the Macula Society and Gonin Club. He is a member of various scientific committees in various national and international societies including the American Academy of Ophthalmology. He has delivered more than 200 invited lectures and has been invited for visiting professorship by many universities around the world. He has won several national and international awards and delivered multiple named lectures. His research is supported by government grants and philanthropic funding through the Eye and Ear Foundation.

We Need Your Help!

Dear Friends of the Department of Ophthalmology and the UPMC Vision Institute:

This is an exciting time for our Department! We would like to share the below highlights with you, but first, We need your vote! The voting window for U. S. News & World Report Best Hospital rankings is now open. Doximity members should be receiving emails inviting completion of the survey or you may log into your Doximity profile and click the voting option in the top right-hand corner of the homepage. For ophthalmology, U. S. News determines rankings based on 100% physician opinion, so your vote will truly make a difference. When you open your ballot, cast your vote for UPMC Presbyterian Shadyside from the dropdown menu. By casting a vote for UPMC Presbyterian Shadyside, you are helping to bolster our department’s reputational score and are positively impacting our ranking.

PITTSBURGH PROUD - here’s why and so much more! (more detail below):

• a new 410,000 square foot building;

• 8th in NIH funding;

• 10 new physicians and 3 new research faculty members

HIGHLIGHTS FROM 2023:

Department - The UPMC Vision Institute opened in the UPMC Mercy Pavilion on May 1st. Clinical services in the pavilion include comprehensive ophthalmology and optometry, cornea, retina, glaucoma, neuro-ophthalmology, genetic conditions, oculoplastic and aesthetic services, a refractive surgery program, a full-service optical shop, and a dedicated clinical trials center offering some therapies that are not available outside of Pittsburgh. Research encompasses more than 30+ laboratories and six core facilities that explore the visual systems and how and why they are affected by disease in order to develop new therapeutic approaches. Most recently, our Urgent Eye Care Clinic opened, allowing patients to be treated for various acute ophthalmology emergencies. It is one of the few clinics nationwide dedicated to urgent care of eye problems and the only one in PA.

Recruitment - The Department has hired 10 new physicians and three new research faculty members. Our Department continues to grow as we are in negotiations with recruits that we hope to bring on board in 2024.

Awards and Recognition - Dr. Deepinder Dhaliwal was awarded the International Society of Refractive Surgery’s Founders’ Award; Marlene Behrmann, PhD, was awarded the 2023 Howard Crosby Warren Medal from the Society of Experimental Psychologists (SEP); Debasish Sinha, PhD, received the Edward N. & Della L. Thome Memorial Foundation Award for Age-Related Macular Degeneration Research; Andrew Williams, MD, received the David Epstein ClinicalScientist Award from the Chandler Grant Glaucoma Society; and Leah Byrne, PhD, received the 2023 University of Pittsburgh Office of Innovation Emerging Innovator Award.

Dr. José-Alain Sahel was honored to be nominated by French President Emmanuel Macrón to the Presidential Council for Science; was elected as a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors and received the American Foundation for the Blind 2023 Corinne Kirchner Research Award. Additionally, Dr. Sahel received the 2023 International Prize for Translational Neuroscience of the Max Planck Society and was promoted to Commander in the National Order of Merit by the government of France.

Publications - The Department published over 226 publications. There was a large number of publications with an impact score of nine or higher.

New Grants - We are ranked this year again 8th in NIH funding. The Department received 31 new grants: $7,445.444 in NIH and other Federal grants, $2,039,556 in Industry grants, and $2,220,663 in Non-NIH and Private funding for a total of $11,685,663 in new funding.

I would like to express my thanks to all our faculty, alumni, and friends for their support and acknowledgment of the Department of Ophthalmology/UPMC Vision Institute as a leader in patient care and research.

Please feel free to visit our websites to learn about more developments in the Department of Ophthalmology and the UPMC Vision Institute or contact me at eyecenter@ upmc.edu

Jose-Alain Sahel, MD

Distinguished Professor and Chair

Alumni Spotlight

Ed Watters, MD

Resident 1971-1974

Education:

I completed my residency in ophthalmology at the Eye and Ear Hospital in Pittsburgh in 1974. Prior to that, I graduated from the College of William and Mary in 1964 and George Washington University Medical School in 1968. Prior to starting my residency, I spent two years in the US Army, with one year served in Western Vietnam and Eastern Cambodia as a Battalion Surgeon with the First Air Cavalry.

Career:

From 1974 until 1986, I operated at Eye & Ear Hospital and had an office in downtown Pittsburgh. After 1986, I moved my office location to UPMC St. Margaret and operated there as well until I retired in 2010. While at UPMC St. Margaret, I served as the Chairman of the Section of Ophthalmology, President of the Medical Staff, Chairman of the Executive Committee, and on the Board of Directors of the St. Margaret Foundation. I also served as treasurer of the Pennsylvania Academy of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and on the Board of Directors of the Allegheny County Medical Society. For the 36 years that I was in practice, I had the honor and privilege of serving as a surgical preceptor at both Eye & Ear Hospital and at the Veteran’s Hospital (VA) in Oakland. In addition, I was privileged to help with the Eye & Ear Resident Education Fund until I retired.

Family:

My wife Comly and I were both raised in Natrona Heights, PA and lived five homes apart on the same street. We have been married for 57 years and now live at Longwood at Oakmont after having lived in Fox Chapel for many years. We are fortunate to have three terrific children, along with three terrific spouses, and eight wonderful grandchildren.

Hobbies:

Comly and I have been fortunate enough to visit 74 countries, mostly since I retired. Our first trip overseas to was to serve as medical missionaries in Liberia, West Africa in 1968. Besides family, other interests I have include hunting, fishing, and golf. Community Interests have included serving as an elder and treasurer of the Fox Chapel Presbyterian Church, a member of the Fox Chapel District Association, and a president of the Forest Manor Home Owner’s Association, in addition to being a rotarian.

Most important thing to you about having attended Pitt for Ophthalmology?

We were very fortunate to have been at Eye & Ear for our Ophthalmology residency in 1971-1974. We had excellent Department Chairmen in Ken Richardson and Dick Katzin, a very strong surgical program with superb surgical preceptors, and strong clinical rotations with very engaged and competent mentors. At that time, our rotations were at Eye & Ear Hospital, Children’s Hospital, Mercy Hospital, and the Oakland VA.

What are you most excited about in the future of the department?

I am very excited about the future of the Ophthalmology Department under the leadership of José-Alain Sahel. Combining the clinical and research expertise of UPMC and the University of Pittsburgh Department of Ophthalmology will continue to lead to advances that we would not have dreamed possible just a few years ago. The new UPMC Vision Institute at Mercy is a world class facility. Without question, it will provide the research, clinical, and educational components to make the University of Pittsburgh and the city of Pittsburgh extremely proud.

We Want To Hear From You! Webinar Information

As part of our alumni newsletter, Through the Looking Glass, we want to keep in touch with our alumni. Please share exciting personal or professional news with fellow alumni in future editions of our newsletter. Have you recently changed jobs? Got married? Published some exciting research? Welcomed a new member into your family? We want to know about it!

To update your contact information or to share personal and professional news, please visit http://ophthalmology.pitt.edu/ alumni/alumni-verification-form

The Eye & Ear Foundation, in conjunction with the Departments of Otolaryngology and Ophthalmology at the University of Pittsburgh, hosts a bi-weekly webinar series entitled “Sights and Soundbites.” The webinars are presented by department faculty members and highlight their current research initiatives and treatment strategies. These webinars have proven to be an accessible and interactive way to stay connected with patients, donors, faculty, and alumni. If you would like to register to receive webinar invites, please visit www.eyeandear.org/webinars

To view recent webinar videos, please click on the links below:

Ophthalmology

• Everything You Want to Know About Keratoconus

• Cerebral Visual Impairment

• Advancements in Glaucoma Treatment and Research

• Update on Optic Nerve Regeneration Progress

• Advancements in Cataract Surgery

• Research and Treatment Advances in Low Vision Therapy

Otolaryngology

• Protecting and Preserving Your Voice

• Hearing Loss and Cognitive Decline

• Chronic Rhinosinusitis

• Head and Neck Microvascular Reconstruction

• Nasal Obstruction: The Deviated Septum – Everything You’d Want to Know

• HPV and the Changing Epidemiology of Head and Neck Cancer

• Hearing with the Brain

The Eye & Ear Foundation of Pittsburgh is a nonprofit 501 (C)(3) organization. Our mission is to support the research and academic efforts of the Departments of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology at the University of Pittsburgh. Donations to support our research initiatives can be made online at eyeandear.org or by