University of Pittsburgh Ophthalmology Alumni Newsletter

From the Desk of Ian Conner

G

reetings from the University of Pittsburgh Department of Ophthalmology and the Eye & Ear Foundation! These are exciting times for us here, as the new academic year gets into full swing. In this issue of Through the Looking Glass, we will introduce you to our newest residents, fellows, and faculty, drawn from all around the country (and in fact the world). We are delighted to share news of a recent award for our chairman’s research. Finally, we take a moment to catch up with one of our most cherished alumni. We hope that you enjoy these updates and look forward to hearing from you – we want to include news from our alumni in these dispatches.

Thanks for your interest!

All the best,

Ian Conner, MD, PhD Chief of the Glaucoma Service Director of the Glaucoma Fellowship Associate Program Director of the Residency UPMC Eye Center

Ian Conner, MD, PhD

In This Issue From the Desk of Ian Conner

1

Department of Ophthalmology Chairman Wins Prestigious Award

2

New Faculty

3

Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Pittsburgh

5

New Residents

7

New Fellows

9

Ophthalmology Alumni Spotlight

10

Webinar Information

Back Cover

Department of Ophthalmology Chairman Wins Prestigious Award José-Alain Sahel, MD was recently awarded with a Science Breakthrough of the Year Award from the Falling Walls Foundation for his work using optogenetics to restore sight.

Dr. Sahel conceived the first-in-man clinical trial combining a biotherapy with a stimulation device to observe the first clinical evidence for vision restoration using optogenetics. Dr. Sahel and his team supervised the clinical development of a wireless photovoltaic retinal prosthesis successfully used in trials of Leber Hereditary Optic Neuropathy, a blinding neurodegenerative disease. Phase III studies of the new therapeutical approach are completed in the US and Europe with promising results.

Over 1,000 nominations from 115 countries were reviewed by the jury chaired by Helga Nowotny, Former President of the European Research Council. The breakthroughs were

presented during the Falling Walls Science Summit on November 9 in Berlin, the anniversary of the Fall of the Berlin Wall.

“The jury was thrilled by the excellent research that lay at the foundation of each project and the commitment of research institutions around the world to continue looking for solutions that serve humanity” – comments Helga Nowotny, Jury Chair and Former President of the European Research Council.

As Jürgen Mlynek, the Chairman of the Falling Walls Foundation, adds: “The number of participating institutions and countries is growing each year. This is a positive trend that shows that the Falling Walls Science Summit makes an important contribution to the international scientific community and brings the best research on stage in Berlin “.

José-Alain Sahel, MD

Other Recent Faculty Awards Boris Rosin, MD, PhD – Foundation for Fighting Blindness Career Development Award for his work in exploring the role of the central nervous system in the treatment of inherited retinal dystrophies.

Ian Sigal, PhD – Research to Prevent Blindness – RPB Stein Innovation Award to support the development of novel biomechanics-based therapeutic approaches to glaucoma Evan Waxman, MD, PhD – 2021 Straatsma Award for Excellence in Resident Education from the Association of University Professors of Ophthalmology and the American Academy of Ophthalmology Andrew Williams, MD – Research to Prevent Blindness and the American Academy of Ophthalmology – IRIS Registry Research – grant supports selected investigators to use the IRIS Registry database and its analytic capabilities to further population-based research in ophthalmology & blindness prevention.

Andrew Williams, MD – American Glaucoma Society – Mentoring for Advancement of Physician Scientists (MAPS) Award – given annually to further the careers of young clinician-scientists as potential leaders in the specialty of glaucoma care.

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New Faculty Andrew Williams, MD Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Glaucoma Service Dr. Andrew Williams is a fellowship-trained ophthalmologist specializing in the medical and surgical treatment of glaucoma and cataracts. He performs both traditional glaucoma surgery, such as trabeculectomy and glaucoma tube shunts, as well as cutting-edge minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS). He has a strong research interest in improving healthcare delivery in ophthalmology by focusing on patient education, patient preferences, and system-based changes to broaden delivery of eye care. His work in these areas has been published in journals that include Survey of Ophthalmology, Preventive Medicine, and JAMA Ophthalmology.

Can Kocasarac, MD Clinical Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Neuro-Ophthalmology Service Dr. Kocasarac is a fellowship-trained ophthalmologist specializing in neuro-ophthalmology.

He also completed an ophthalmology residency at the Bevoglu Education and Research Hospital in Istanbul Turkey as well as a neurology residency at the Istanbul University Faculty of Medicine. Dr. Kocasarac has a strong interest in research methodologies and data and information collection.

Michael Sigal, MD Clinical Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology Dr. Michael Sigal received his medical degree from Temple University. He then completed an ophthalmology residency at the State University of NY at Buffalo and a pediatric ophthalmology fellowship at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. He is board certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology. He has memberships in the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the American Academy of Pediatric Ophthalmology & Strabismus, the Pittsburgh Ophthalmology Society, the PA Medical Society and the PA Academy of Ophthalmology.

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New Faculty (continued) Scott Portnoy, MD Clinical Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology Dr. Scott Portnoy is a skilled cataract, cornea and external disease specialist with more than 30 years of experience. He graduated with honors from Tulane University School of Medicine in New Orleans, Louisiana. He completed his residency in ophthalmology at the Louisiana State University, Health Sciences Center in New Orleans, LA and his fellowship in Corneal and External Disease at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Abreast of the latest developments within ophthalmology, Dr. Portnoy is board certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology. He is active within the ophthalmology community including memberships in the Pittsburgh Ophthalmological Society, Allegheny County Medical Society and Pennsylvania Academy of Ophthalmology. He is also involved in the education of residents, fellows, and medical students in his work as Assistant Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology at University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. In addition to providing a full array of ophthalmology services, Dr. Portnoy has a special interest in refractive cataract surgery using the latest laser technology.

James P Herman, PhD Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology Laboratory of Visual Cognition Dr. Herman received his PhD from the City College of New York, the City University of New York, Department of Biology. He completed a post-doctoral fellowship in the Laboratory of Sensorimotor Research, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health.

Dr. Herman’s lab employs carefully controlled psychophysical tasks, large-scale extracellular electrophysiology, neuronal perturbation, and computational modelling techniques to explain the relationship between both intact and perturbed neuronal activity to ongoing behavior.

He is particularly interested in leveraging learning-driven structured variation in behavior to understand how groups of neurons guide specific cognitive functions. Dr. Herman’s work is funded through a cortical vision grant from the Richard King Mellon Foundation.

Progress continues on the new Vision Institute at the UPMC Mercy Pavilion. Construction is expected to conclude in late 2022/early 2023.

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Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Pittsburgh José-Alain Sahel, MD

Emily DePew, OD

James P. Herman, PhD

Distinguished Professor and Chairman

Clinical Assistant Professor

Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology

Deepinder K. Dhaliwal, MD, L.Ac

Jamila Hiasat, MD

Professor of Ophthalmology

Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology

Exceptional Class Professor, Sorbonne University, Paris

Scott P. Drexler, OD

Vishal Jhanji, MD, FRCS (Glasgow), FRCOphth, FARVO

Issam Al Diri, PhD

Yiqin Du, MD, PhD

Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology

Associate Professor of Ophthalmology

Sohani Amarasekera, MD

Amgad Eldib, MD

Assistant Clinical Professor in Ophthalmology

Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology

Alexander J. Anetakis, MD

Professor of Ophthalmology

Department of Ophthalmology The Eye & Ear Foundation Endowed Chair University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine

Clinical Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology

Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology

Andrew W. Eller, MD Marie Hélène Errera, MD, PhD

Professor of Ophthalmology Roheena Kamyar, MD Clinical Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology Erin Keim, OD Clinical Assistant Professor, Ophthalmology Paul (Kip) R. Kinchington, PhD

Associate Professor of Ophthalmology

Joseph F. Novak, M.D., Chair in Ophthalmology Research

Professor of Ophthalmology

Morgan V. Fedorchak, PhD

Professor of Ophthalmology, Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry

Gabrielle R. Bonhomme, MD

Can Kocasarac, MD

Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology

Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology, Bioengineering and Clinical & Translational Sciences

Ellen Butts, OD

Thomas R. Friberg, MD, FACS

Clinical Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology

Professor of Ophthalmology

Leah Byrne, PhD

Associate Professor of Ophthalmology

Takaaki Kuwajima, PhD

Denise S. Gallagher, MD

Research Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology

Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology

Clinical Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology

Kira L. Lathrop, MAMS

Yuanyuan Chen, PhD

Jeffrey Gross, PhD

Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology

E. Ronald Salvitti Chair in Ophthalmology Research

Ryad Benosman, PhD

Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology Kun-Che Chang, PhD

Jay Chhablani, MD

Roxana Fu, MD

Associate Professor of Ophthalmology

Professor of Ophthalmology and Developmental Biology

Ian Conner, MD, PhD

Vice Chair and Director of Research

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

Director, Louis J. Fox Center for Vision Restoration Anna G. Gushchin, MD Clinical Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology

Clinical Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology Regis P. Kowalski, MS, M(ASCP) Research Professor of Ophthalmology

Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology Alkiviades Liasis, BSc, PhD Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology Craig A. Luchansky, OD Clinical Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology Alex Mammen, MD Clinical Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology Joseph N. Martel, MD

Jean C. Harwick, MD, FACS

Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology

Clinical Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology

J Patrick Mayo, PhD Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology

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Ellen Mitchell, MD

Ethan A. Rossi, PhD

S. Tonya Stefko, MD

Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology

Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology

Ken K. Nischal, MD, FAAP, FRCOphth

Associate Professor of Ophthalmology, Otolaryngology, and Neurological Surgery

Kelsey Sanata, OD

Professor of Ophthalmology

Clinical Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology

Preeti Patil, MD Associate Professor of Ophthalmology Matthew Pihlblad, MD Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology Julia Polat, MD

Robert M.Q. Shanks, PhD Associate Professor of Ophthalmology Tarek Shazly, MD Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology

Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology

Ian A. Sigal, PhD

Scott L. Portnoy, MD

Associate Professor of Ophthalmology and Bioengineering

Clinical Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology

Michael Sigal, MD

Gaurav Prakash, MD

Clinical Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology

Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology Colin Prensky, MD Clinical Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology Pamela Rath, MD

Clinical Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology Kiran Kumar Vupparaboina, PhD Research Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology Evan L. Waxman, MD, PhD Associate Professor of Ophthalmology Xiangyun Wei, PhD Associate Professor of Ophthalmology Andrew Williams, MD Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology

Professor of Ophthalmology, Cell Biology and Developmental Biology

Eric Romanowski, MS

Anthony St. Leger, PhD

Research Instructor of Ophthalmology

Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology and Immunology

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John Swogger, DO

Jennifer Salvitti Davis, M.D. Chair in Ophthalmology Research

William Smith, OD

Clinical Instructor of Ophthalmology

Associate Professor of Ophthalmology

Debasish Sinha, PhD

Clinical Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology

Boris Rosin, MD, PhD

Shivalingappa (Shiva) Swamynathan, PhD

Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology

Marshall W. Stafford, MD Clinical Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology

Gary (Hin-Fai) Yam, PhD Research Associate Professor of Ophthalmology Jen Y. Yu, MD, FACS Clinical Assistant Professor Hongmin Yun, MD, PhD Research Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology

New Residents Jacob Winters, MD Jacob Winters, MD graduated from Purdue University and spent several years as a high school teacher during which time he was awarded Teacher of the Year. After trekking The Way of Saint James pilgrimage in Spain, he discovered a desire to make further contributions to the world as a physician. While in medical school at Texas Tech El Paso, he served as Class President, Student Body President, and was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha and Gold Humanism medical honor societies. He has published several peer-reviewed papers regarding the eye. In addition, he has authored and contributed to several articles on the American Academy of Ophthalmology EyeWiki site including Leber’s Hereditary Optic Neuropathy, Transient Smartphone Blindness, and A Brief Guide to Spanish in Ophthalmology, which aids eye professionals in better communicating with Spanish-speaking patients. He enjoys spending time on adventures with his wife, a Family Medicine physician, and their children.

He aspires to be an excellent husband and father.

Timothy Chen, MD, PhD Timothy Chen, MD, PhD, is a native of Los Angeles, CA. He graduated from the University of California Berkeley in 2011 with a BS in Bioengineering with High Honors.

As an undergraduate, he was interested in tissue engineering and worked in Dr. Song Li’s laboratory developing small-diameter vascular grafts. He then earned a combined MD/PhD at Columbia University, where he performed his doctorate studies under the guidance of Dr. Gordana Vunjak-Novakovic. He worked in tissue engineering and on the development of in vitro human cardiac disease models. During his return to medical school, he became interested in ophthalmology and the expansive range of clinical and research opportunities the field presented. In his free time, he enjoys playing board games, cooking, and exploring Pittsburgh with his wife, Stephanie.

Matthew Sommers, MD Matthew Sommers, MD is a Yinzer by birth, but moved to Tampa, Florida as a toddler. After completing high school, he moved to Memphis where he graduated Magna Cum Laude with a BS in Neuroscience from Rhodes College; during this time, he worked at St. Jude Children’s Hospital where he researched a novel protocol for Bone Marrow Transplant.

Between college and medical school, Matt worked two years as a navigator doing outreach, education, and enrollment for the Affordable Care Act . He then moved to Vermont where he attended the Larner College of Medicine at the University of Vermont and performed research on a novel procedure for prostate cancer therapy as well as optimizing efficiency of perioperative medicine. He is not sure what his future within ophthalmology holds, but he is interested in ensuring equal access to ophthalmic care, improving systems of care delivery, and exploring the many research opportunities at UPMC. His interests outside of medicine include bicycle touring, cooking (and more importantly eating), coffee that’s too expensive, and rock climbing.

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New Residents (continued) Bushra Usmani, MD Dr. Usmani was born in Karachi, Pakistan and received her medical education from the Aga Khan University. She loves the ability of be able to reach out beyond borders, which translates into her love for writing, reading and participating in Model United Nations. It’s also why she started research right from medical school where she was part of an NIH funded research involving stroke, as well as several projects in Ophthalmology. She further pursued research electives at the Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University which led her to her position as a clinical research fellow at the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Usmani’s work involved big data, exploring epidemiology of ophthalmic diseases as well as determining healthcare disparities and barriers to eye care. She also researched on degenerative retinal diseases and contact-lens related adverse effects. She believes herself to be a movie-buff, loves being with her family, exploring, cooking and crossing off national parks with her husband.

Sonny Caplash, MD Sonny grew up in Monroe, Connecticut. His medical training began with his matriculation into the University of Connecticut’s Combined Program in Medicine. After completion of his undergraduate studies and prior to matriculation to the University of Connecticut’s School of Medicine, Sonny spent 8 weeks in Ludhiana, India as a volunteer to facilitate free cataract surgeries among the underserved. The experience imbued Sonny with a passion for ophthalmology that he pursued as a medical student. He worked with Dr. Royce Mohan studying the protective effect of Withaferin A in corneal fibrosis. After his second year, Sonny was accepted into the Medical Research Scholarship Program at the National Institutes of Health; where he spent a year working with Dr. Hatice Nida Sen in the National Eye Institute.

Sonny’s research focused on the efficacy of optical coherence tomography angiography as a new imaging modality in patients with uveitis. Sonny graduated as a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha honor society and is thrilled to be pursuing a career in Ophthalmology at UPMC. Outside of the clinic, Sonny enjoys playing tennis, reliving the glory days of when he was a competitive Bhangra dancer and trying new restaurants.

Jonathan Peterson, MD Jonathan Peterson was born and raised in Wisconsin where he stayed to complete a BS in Genetics and Mathematics at the University of Wisconsin, graduating with highest honors. While studying he was introduced to the joys of research, completing projects in neurodevelopment and genetics. He continued to foster this love for discovery after graduation, taking a research position at the Blood Center of Wisconsin where he published work on gene regulation in normal development and cancer. He then returned to his formal studies, completing an MD at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania where he also completed a Masters Degree in cell and molecular biology.

Jonathan fell in love with ophthalmology during his rotations at the Scheie Eye Institute and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and he is excited to continue his training at UPMC. His academic interests include gene regulation, stem cell biology, and gene therapy as well as medical student and resident education. He enjoys playing trumpet, cooking, and exploring all that Pittsburgh has to offer.

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New Fellows Pimpiroon Ploysangam, MD - Oculoplastics Dr. Ploysangam spent most of her childhood in Bangkok, Thailand. She graduated with distinction from Boston University and received her medical degree from University of Cincinnati. Her ophthalmology residency was at SUNY University at Buffalo, where she served as chief resident and cultivated her interests in pediatrics and oculoplastics. She has since completed her pediatric ophthalmology and strabismus fellowship at Duke University.

She is delighted to be at University of Pittsburgh for her oculoplastics fellowship. During her free time, she enjoys new foods, music, and sketching.

Kanwal Singh Matharu, MD - Cornea Kanwal Singh Matharu traces his love of live music and eclectic cuisine to his birthplace of New Orleans. He learned to love kayaking the bayous in Boy Scouts and the value of service by completing his Eagle Scout Project. He headed to Princeton University where he cofounded Sikhs of Princeton, reinvigorated Princeton Bhangra, and graduated with a BA in molecular biology with certificates in global health/health policy and neuroscience which culminated in a deep dive into basic science and translational research: studying the connectivity of the posterior parietal cortex in a rodent model. Serving on the Princeton Board of Trustees for four years added balance to his medical training at McGovern Medical School in Houston. Here his concentration in Medical Humanities concluded with a photojournalism project titled “Humans of the Hospital.” His four years of ophthalmology training at Baylor College of Medicine were a privilege, and he is excited to join the cornea team in Pittsburgh!

Kanwal will play any sport and dance to any beat. He enjoys gardening and is a rudimentary cook.

Thomas Berk, MD FRCSC - Glaucoma Dr. Thomas Berk comes to UPMC’s glaucoma fellowship program after completing his undergraduate, medical, and residency training in Canada. After graduating Summa Cum Laude with honors from York University’s psychology program, went on to complete his residency at McGill University in Montreal. During residency, Dr. Berk was recognized multiple times for his natural teaching ability and dedication to furthering ophthalmic education, being voted twice by the McGill medical student body as most outstanding resident teacher and contributing to the department’s educational mission by founding several teaching programs that have since been incorporated into the McGill residency curriculum. When not working Dr. Berk enjoys spending time with his wife and two daughters, exploring all that Pittsburgh has to offer their young family.

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New Fellows (continued) Shelley Mo, MD - Glaucoma Dr. Shelley Mo graduated summa cum laude from Northwestern University with a B.A. in Biology and Mathematics. She then went on to complete her M.D. at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. During medical school, she held a leadership position in the Ophthalmology clinic within the student-run East Harlem Health Outreach Program and spent a scholarly year between her 3rd and 4th years of medical school conducting research in high resolution retinal vascular imaging at New York Eye and Ear. Her research centered on the validity of optical coherence tomography angiography in normal and pathologic eyes compared to adaptive optics fluorescein angiography. Prior to starting her ophthalmology training at UPMC, she completed a preliminary year in Internal Medicine at Mount Sinai St. Luke’s-West. She is currently completing her glaucoma fellowship at UPMC. Her hobbies include cooking and cake decorating.

Sabrina Mukhtar, MD - Cornea Dr. Sabrina Mukhtar was born in Las Vegas, Nevada and at a young age moved to South East Asia. She grew up in several countries including Indonesia, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand and returned to the United States for her undergraduate degree. She received a BA in Public Health from the University of California, Berkeley. She then attended medical school at Virginia Commonwealth University. Before starting residency, she completed a Masters in Public Health from the University of Pittsburgh. During this time she worked in Dr. Ladan Espandar’s Ocular Surface Regenerative Therapy Lab. She completed her internship in Internal Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. She currently serves as a cornea fellow here at UPMC. During her free time, Sabrina likes to spend time with family and friends, try out new coffee shops, enjoy great restaurants, read and spin.

Elizabeth Conner, MD - Pediatrics Dr Conner has come to Pittsburgh from Christchurch, New Zealand. She has interest in corneal surgery and pediatric ophthalmology. After completing a medical degree through the University of Otago, she trained as an Ophthalmologist in the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists training program. Dr Conner completed a BMedSci research degree in the management of diabetic eye disease in 2010. Dr Conner has had extensive involvement with the New Zealand Medical Students Association, and is a current member of the New Zealand Medical Association’s ethics committee.

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New Fellows (continued) Meghal Gagrani, MD - Pediatrics Dr. Meghal Gagrani was born and raised in India. She earned her medical degree with distinction from All India Institute of Medical Sciences at New Delhi where she also completed her ophthalmology residency in 2018. She moved to Omaha, Nebraska in 2019 to pursue a research fellowship followed by a clinical glaucoma fellowship at University of Nebraska Medical Center. She has a special interest in pediatric glaucoma and is delighted to be at University of Pittsburgh for her pediatric ophthalmology fellowship. She is passionate about dancing and loves to cook in her free times.

Sohani Amarasekera, MD - Retina Clinical Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology Dr. Sohani Amarasekera grew up in Toronto, Canada. She graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 2010 with a BA in Biology. After graduation, she undertook a year of glaucoma research at the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary under the guidance of Dr. Robert Ritch. She then pursued her Master’s of Public Health at Cambridge University, followed by her MD at New York Medical College. She has particular interests in retina and global ophthalmology, and has worked on diverse clinical and surgical projects in India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Kenya. She recently graduated from the ophthalmology residency program at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center where she served as Chief Resident of the program. In her spare time, she enjoys spinning, trying out new restaurants, and cheering on the Raptors.

Denise Gallagher, MD – Retina Clinical Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology Dr. Denise Gallagher received her MD from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, followed by an internal medicine internship at the Beth Israel Medical Center in New York, NY. She then completed an ophthalmology residency at Bronx Lebanon Hospital.

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Ophthalmology Alumni Spotlight Jennifer Davis, MD Resident, 2001-2004 City: Canonsburg/Washington, PA

Family: My husband Ryan and I have been married for almost 24 years. We have four children: Elli (20), Will (18), Loch (17), and Piper (12).

Fun fact, my husband and I were high school sweethearts.

Hobbies: I have, so far, devoted my life to my family and my career. In addition to work, that means lots of youth sports and family travel! As our four children are becoming older and more independent, I plan to pursue my interests in photography and also plan to travel more with my husband.

I will also finally make the perfect ragù sauce.

Training: I graduated from the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University in 2000 and completed my training at the Eye & Ear Institute of UPMC in 2004.

Most important thing to you about having attended Pitt for Ophthalmology: I had a strong connection to Pitt even before earning a residency position. My father, E. Ronald Salvitti, M.D., did his residency training there. It was always part of my goal to follow in his footsteps and attending medical school at Temple was the first step. I felt really honored to be able to continue on that path by completing my ophthalmology residency at Pitt and then joining him in practice at the Southwestern Pennsylvania Eye Center.

Career: I have been in private practice as an ophthalmologist at the Southwestern Pennsylvania Eye Center in Washington, PA since 2004. I specialize in cataract surgery and glaucoma “MIGS” surgery. I serve as the President and Medical Director of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Surgery Center and was recently appointed to the Board of Visitors of the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University.

What made you stay involved with the Department of Ophthalmology and the Eye & Ear Foundation: Support for the Eye & Ear Foundation has been a significant goal for my family, under the leadership of my father. He has taught me the importance of giving back to educational institutions that have afforded me the opportunities and the education that I have. I will continue this legacy.

How has the campus/ Department changed since your time at Pitt?

Jennifer Davis, MD and her father, E. Ronald Salvitti, MD. Dr. Salvitti and Dr. Davis have endowed two chairs within the department to help fund research for Age-Related Macular Degeneration

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Under the leadership of Dr. Sahel, I have seen significant positive changes not only in major research advancements, but also improvement in relationships with the community ophthalmologists. Dr. Sahel

Jennofer Davis, MD

has shown great compassion for the field of Ophthalmology and has successfully fostered ongoing advancements in the field.

What are you most excited about in the future of the department and/or the Foundation?

It would be hard not to mention the new facilities, but I think those are just a means to an end. The key goal of the department that I’m most excited about is the research progress that is being made. We have had the privilege of being involved in some of this research from a philanthropic support standpoint and the progress that is being made is awe-inspiring and holds the potential to truly change peoples’ lives.

Truly amazing work.

Residency Memories: I was incredibly fortunate to be a part of a residency class that fostered teamwork, but also liked to have fun. My entire residency class, most notably Dr. Tom Harvey and the late Dr. Andy Keverline, and their families made my experience at Eye and Ear one that I will never forget, from crazy stories in the ER to performing skits roasting the faculty as a requirement to graduate. Lots of fond memories.

We Want To Hear From You!

W

ith the release of our new alumni newslet ter, 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-verificationform

Webinar Information

T

he Eye & Ear Foundation, in conjunction with the Departments of Otolaryngology and Ophthalmology at the University of Pittsburgh, has launched a new biweekly 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 past webinars, please click on the links below: •

Salivary Endoscopy for Salivary Stones

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Contact Lens Safety: Benefits of New Technology

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What’s the Buzz? The Neuroscience and Treatment of Tinnitus

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Dry Eye: The Problem, The Solutions, The Future

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Using Our Brain to See: Cortical Vision and the Movement of Our Eyes

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2021 Head and Neck Cancer Survivorship Symposium •

Clinical Science Advances in Survivorship Care

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Innovations in Dysphagia Management

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Psychosocial Interventions for Mental Health

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Defining the Value of Survivorship

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Advances in Drug Delivery for Glaucoma, Dry Eye, and Other Eye Diseases

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Hearing Loss in Babies: What Parents and Grandparents Should Know

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Immunology and Viral Eye Diseases: Herpes, Shingles, and Cytomegalovirus

•

Head and Neck Reconstruction: Past, Present, and Future

•

Cataracts: The Latest Developments in Treatment

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The official registration and financial information of the Eye & Ear Foundation may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling toll free, within Pennsylvania, 1-800-732-0999.

Registration does not imply endorsement.

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 returning the enclosed envelope. For more information on the Foundation, our research, or the articles in this newsletter, please contact Katherine Troy, Director of Operations, at katherine@eyeandear.org or 412-864-1300.