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SEPTEMBER 2026

FROM THE CHAIR Access, Recognition, and Momentum As we open the academic year, I want to share several developments from August and September that reflect the strength of our faculty, clinical teams, and partners. After a decade of efforts to further increase the quality of care and translational science developed by our growing team, U.S. News & World Report has for the first time ranked our Department among the leading departments, No. 12 nationally, with a rating of excellent. That placement is an encouragement to continue to strive for clinical excellence, research productivity, and praise the daily work of everyone who cares for patients and trains the next generation of ophthalmologists. I congratulate our entire community, and our supporters on this milestone. Read Dr. Sahel's message

José-Alain Sahel, MD, FARVO Distinguished Professor and Chairman of Ophthalmology The Eye & Ear Foundation Endowed Chair University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Director, UPMC Vision Institute Executive Vice President, UPMC Enterprises Chief, UPMC Health Technology Advancement Program

CLINICAL INNOVATION First Artificial Iris Implant at UPMC The first artificial iris implanted in a patient was done at UPMC in December 2025, thanks to Ian Conner, MD, PhD, Division Chief of the Glaucoma and Cataract Service, who was committed to making it happen. Read more about the artificial iris | Watch the video

RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT ARVO celebrates 2026 Champalimaud Vision Award winners The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) congratulates the 2026 recipients of the António Champalimaud Vision Award — José-Alain Sahel, MD, FARVO and Botond Roska, MD, PhD. The pair were recently recognized by the Champalimaud Foundation with the €1,000,000 award for their innovative work, individually and collaboratively, to restore vision loss caused by retinal diseases. Read more about the award

FEATURE PUBLICATION

RECOGNITION Jay Chhablani, MD

Selected as a recipient of the 2026 APVRS Achievement Award from the Asia-Pacific Vitreo-retina Society Congress Deepinder Dhaliwal, MD, LAc Elected as president of the Cornea Society José-Alain Sahel, MD, FARVO Received the prestigious 2026 António Champalimaud Vision Award

OUTREACH, EDUCATION, AND TRAINING

Congratulations to the 2026 graduates of the UPMC Technician Training Program!

uilding a Regional Model for Community-Based Vision Care and B Workforce Development At the UPMC Vision Institute and the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Pittsburgh, we are advancing a coordinated set of initiatives designed to expand access to vision care, strengthen community partnerships and build the ophthalmic workforce. The work combines paid technician training, mobile and community-based services, retinal imaging in outpatient settings, permanent clinical capacity and education for community health workers. Read about the community-based vision care model

NEW RESIDENT PROFILE: Dr. Robert Porter First year resident in Ophthalmology Robert J. Porter, MD was originally drawn to the field while working as an ophthalmic scribe and technician prior to medical school. As a special tester, he was fascinated by the variety of technologies used in clinical decision-making. As a medical student, he became even more interested in the field because of its complex pathologies, microsurgical techniques, and opportunities for community advocacy.

Read more about Dr. Porter

GRANTS Principal Investigator(s)

Project

Amount

Type

Behrmann

Reorganization of visual function in patients with posterior cortical research: Selectivity and plasticity

Chamanzar

Using Functional Near-InfraredSpectroscopy to Identify Objective Correlates in Auditory and NonAuditory Cortices

$2,500,000

R01

Chang, K.

Harnessing Microfluidic Innovation to Discover Axon Growth Boosters for Regeneration Therapies

$433,324

R21

Conner

New Tonometer Based on Nonlinear Solitary Waves

$403,633

R21

Fuller

Dual-Activity Inhibitors Targeting Aspergillus fumigatus PanK for Antifungal Therapy

$78,374

Subaward from Yale University

Jhanji

Molecular subtyping of dry eye disease

$8,769

Subaward from Augusta University

Kinchington

VZV vaccine attenuation and the

$634,966

R01

DNA damage response Kinchington

Interdisciplinary Visual Sciences Training Program

Sigal

Optic nerve head microstructure, biomechanics and susceptibility to glaucoma

$163,209

T32 Renewal

R01 Renewal

UPCOMING EVENTS The Fox Center for Vision Restoration Conference, November 2-4

PITTSBURGH First-Time Visitor Guide to Pittsburgh Welcome to the Steel City. This guide covers getting around, must-see spots, dining, and practical tips for your first visit. Read more about Pittsburgh

A Department Like No Other "I have traveled to ophthalmology departments around the world and the one at Pitt that Dr. JoséAlain Sahel, MD, and Dr. John Ash, PhD, has built is like no other. Having 63 research faculty is phenomenal, but more important than the number of research faculty is the quality, not only as scientists but as human beings. The faculty is incredibly accomplished, wonderfully collaborative, and collegial." - Bryan Jones, PhD, retinal neuroscientist and Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine

Pitt is once again among the top 2% of universities worldwide

PHILANTHROPY - A Vital Partner The Eye & Ear Foundation of Pittsburgh, an independent 501(c)(3) organization, was founded in 1985 to foster philanthropic support for the Departments of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh. The goal is to keep moving forward, expanding EEF’s support network, and helping the Departments achieve unparalleled distinction in research, education, outreach, and patient care.