Through the Looking Glass, Summer 2023

Message from the Chairman

at the UPMC Mercy Pavilion. With our clinical activities in full swing and our researchers transitioning their labs to the new facility, it is wonderful to have the full scope of our Department activities in one space, advancing the collaboration and innovation we take such pride in. This beautiful hospital is an exceptional addition to the Pittsburgh community and we hope you all get an opportunity to come visit us and see it for yourselves!

Dear Alumni and Friends,

I hope you are all enjoying your summers and hopefully getting some much-needed vacation and relaxation time with your family and friends. It’s hard to believe that it’s that time of year we once again find ourselves at the academic crossroads. With familiar faces graduating and moving on, and new faces joining the Department, I remain as excited as always about the life-changing work being performed by our excellent faculty here in Pittsburgh, as well as all our incredible alumni around the country.

It has been a busy spring here in Pittsburgh as we’ve celebrated the grand opening of our new Vision Institute

In this issue, we bid farewell to our outgoing residents and fellows as they take the next step in their ophthalmology careers. We also have the privilege of welcoming a new class of doctors to Pittsburgh to continue their training and education, and we are excited to add them to our illustrious alumni group. You’ll also have the opportunity to read about the research of Dr. Xing Chen, a phenomenal researcher who joined our Department last year. We also get an update from one of our distinguished alumni, Dr. Dave Verdier, who, after his time in Pittsburgh, has had a long and successful career in Michigan.

This past weekend we, along with the Eye & Ear Foundation, held the

inaugural Alumni Reunion Weekend at the new Vision Institute at the UPMC Mercy Pavilion. Alumni from around the country came back to Pittsburgh for a weekend of education, networking, and fun with their fellow trainees. Attendees included resident and fellow alumni spanning six decades of training in the Department of Ophthalmology. Eye & Ear Foundation board member and resident alumnus Dr. E. Ronald Salvitti delivered the keynote lecture on the history of phacoemulsification. I would like to extend a special thanks to our planning committee members for making this first event such a great success! We hope to see you all at the next one!

Sincerely,

José-Alain Sahel, MD

Distinguished Professor and Chairman of Ophthalmology

Eye & Ear Foundation Endowed Chair University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine

Director, UPMC Vision Institute

Emeritus Exceptional Class Professor at Sorbonne Université, Paris

Graduating Residents

Peter Jones, MD, PhD

Dr. Jones graduated from Stanford University with a BS in Biology and completed his PhD in Neuroscience at Baylor College of Medicine. After receiving his PhD, he was a member of Nathan Urban’s Lab as a Postdoctoral Fellow at Carnegie Mellon University. He then went on to complete his MD at the University of Pittsburgh. Prior to starting his Ophthalmology training, he completed his internship in Internal Medicine at UPMC. Dr. Jones is currently a Vitreoretinal Fellow at UNC, Chapel Hill.

Ralitsa Loewen, MD

Dr. Ralitsa Loewen has a B.A. in Biology from Luther College, Decorah, IA and an MD from Medical University - Sofia, Bulgaria. After graduation, she pursued a fellowship in basic and clinical science at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, which led to several publications. There she also acquired the technique of embryonic stem cell microinjections in blastocysts for generation of knockout mice. Using the same set of skills, she continued to work as an embryologist at Rush University performing Intra-cytoplasmic sperm microinjections (ICSI). She completed two years of General Surgery residency training at UPMC and pursued her research interests in the Department of Ophthalmology. She has peer reviewed publications and is the recipient of fellowship and ARVO travel awards. She completed her Ophthalmology residency training at UPMC. Currently she is pursuing a career as a physician-scientist in Germany.

David Mora-Boellstorff, MD

After graduating in 2023, Dr. Mora-Boellstorff is staying at UPMC as an ophthalmic hospitalist and comprehensive ophthalmologist in the department. He will spend most of his time at UPMC Presbyterian Hospital, where he will work with residents and APPs to staff inpatient consults and ocular trauma cases. Additionally, he will continue to see scheduled patients with the comprehensive service and perform cataract surgery. He plans to apply for a retina fellowship in the fall of 2023.

Zachary Nadler, MD– Co-Chief Resident

Born and raised in Pittsburgh, Dr. Nadler graduated from Emory University with a dual degree in Physics and Mathematics. He spent several years applying his physics expertise conducting imaging research as part of the UPMC Ophthalmology Department before attending the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University. He returned to UPMC for ophthalmology residency training and is excited to continue within the department as a glaucoma fellow. He is a lifelong fan of Pittsburgh sports and enjoys spending his free time outdoors with his wife and their two dogs.

Graduating Residents (continued)

Manuel

Paez-Escamilla, MD, FICO

Dr. Paez Escamilla is native to Guadalajara, Mexico and has trained across North America. From an early age, he was intrigued by history and science. He graduated magna cum laude from the Autonomous University of Guadalajara School of Medicine. He completed his ophthalmology residency at Guadalajara’s Civil Hospital. During this time, he participated in the World Ophthalmology Congress abstract competition and was awarded “Best Abstract.” He also passed the International Council of Ophthalmology basic science, clinical science, and advanced examinations, making him part of a select group who may use the acronym FICO. He additionally became a board-certified ophthalmologist in Mexico.

Dr. Paez Escamilla continued his training in the US by doing a combined research/clinical fellowship in ocular oncology at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute in Miami, Florida, followed by a year of residency training in general surgery at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas. He then went on to complete ophthalmology residency at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center in Pennsylvania.

Currently, Dr. Paez Escamilla is a Vitreoretinal Surgery fellow at McGill University in Montreal, Canada, an area for which he is most passionate. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his wife, going to the gym, trying new restaurants, and playing video games.

Tadhg

Schempf, MD– Co-Chief Resident

Dr. Tadhg Schempf grew up in Pittsburgh and graduated summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Pittsburgh with a BS in Neuroscience. He graduated from New York University School of Medicine, receiving Alpha Omega Alpha and Valedictorian honors.

He has completed his Ophthalmology residency at UPMC, where he operated as Co-Chief Resident. His research pursuits have included projects investigating social determinants of health in glaucoma, effectiveness of tele-health care, retinal imaging modalities, oculoplastic surgical approaches, and IOL techniques, resulting in several peer-reviewed articles. He also takes part in community outreach efforts including the Guerilla Eye Service and Mission of Mercy.

In Remembrance George Gerneth, Resident Class of 1960

We are saddened to announce the recent passing of George Gerneth, who completed his residency with the Department of Ophthalmology from 1957-1960.

Obituary:

George J. Gerneth, MD, of Point Breeze, a respected member of the medical community and a beloved family man, passed away peacefully at Longwood at Oakmont on August 7, 2023. The cherished husband of Eileen (Jordan) Gerneth for 57 years, and a loving father to Lisanne G. (Brad) Smith and Megan G. (Peter) Bergmann. He held a special place in the hearts of his grandchildren, Caroline, Charlie, Cooper, Otto, Hugo, and Annelies. His sister, Dr. Jane (Richard) Garboden, was a constant source of support and connection throughout his life.

Born and raised in Verona, George’s life was marked by dedication, service, and compassion. After his graduation from North Catholic High School, he pursued higher education at the University of Pittsburgh, where he earned a B.S. in Chemistry. His desire to heal and help led him to the University’s medical school, where he became a distinguished member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honorary Medical Fraternity.

In 1955, he enlisted in the United States Air Force, serving in the 6048th USAF Dispensary. Following his commitment to service he continued his medical training by pursuing a residency in ophthalmology. His dedication to his profession led him to numerous esteemed memberships, including the American Medical Association, Pennsylvania Medical Society, Allegheny County Medical Society, American and Pennsylvania Academy of Ophthalmology, and the American College of Surgeons.

As a prominent figure in the medical field, George served on and chaired various committees within these organizations. He was elected President of the Pittsburgh Ophthalmology Society, Pennsylvania Academy of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology, and Allegheny County Medical Society. Throughout his career, he imparted his wisdom as a Clinical Associate Professor of Ophthalmology and Surgical Tutor at Veterans Administration Hospital. An advocate for organized medicine and ophthalmology, George tirelessly served on hospital and medical society committees, advocating for the advancement of patient care and the medical profession.

George’s medical practice was a testament to his caring nature and commitment to patient relationships. He practiced in Pittsburgh, Braddock, and Forest Hills, treating everyone not just as patients, but as friends. His dedication to education extended beyond his practice; he spent his early years volunteering to teach residents at the former Eye and Ear Hospital, UPMC in Pittsburgh, nurturing the next generation of ophthalmologists. He considered ophthalmology “The Queen of Specialties,” as it combined elements of medicine, surgery, neurology, pediatrics, and long-term patient relationships.

Outside of medicine, George loved birds, nature, reading, Ligonier and his friends. He was gentle and kind, compassionate and loving. His sense of humor and quick wit were a testament to his vibrant spirit, leaving an impression on all who had the privilege of sharing joyful moments alongside him. His passing has left his loved ones with deep sadness. However, having their lives touched by George’s wisdom, kindness and love is a gift they will cherish forever.

George J. Gerneth, MD

In Remembrance David A. Hiles, Resident Class of 1965

Obituary:

David passed away on September 14, 2023, following a cerebral hemorrhage. David’s family was present including spouse Barbara Hiles and children Susan, James, and Andrew.

David was born in Chicago and at age 15, David’s family moved to Pittsburgh where he resided during his professional life. David began his education at Shady Side Academy, went to college at Johns Hopkins University and completed medical school at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.

Following medical school and internship, he joined the United States Navy as a general medical officer, serving on a destroyer in the South Pacific.

After his service, he started his ophthalmology residency at the Eye and Ear Hospital in Pittsburgh. The chairman, Murray McCaslin, and David became good friends. They often went fishing and hunting together.

Murray was building a department at Eye and Ear Hospital responding to the emerging trend for sub-specialization in ophthalmology. He sent David for fellowship training in the very new subspecialty of Pediatric Ophthalmology with Marshall Parks, MD in Washington, D.C. David returned to Pittsburgh in 1966 to start one of the very first Pediatric Ophthalmology specialty practices in the United States.

While in private practice, David became the Chief of Pediatric Ophthalmology at the Eye and Ear Hospital and Director of Ophthalmology at the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh.

The practice grew exponentially reflecting the need for ophthalmologists to address the special needs of infants and children. David was a quick adapter to new technology. He was trained in NYC by Charles Kellman to remove cataracts using phacoemulsification. He applied this technology and rapidly became one of the experts in treating cataracts in infants and children.

This special interest in infants and children affected by cataracts made him a true pioneer in pediatric cataract surgery. At the time David entered practice, many ophthalmologists discouraged the removal of cataracts in infants and young children. David, a “can do” person, developed techniques to safely remove the cataracts. However, after the child’s cataract had been successfully removed, optical rehabilitation became a difficult problem.

In the early 1970’s, adult cataract surgeons were beginning to use Intra ocular lenses (IOLs) to solve the problem of optical rehabilitation. David went to Europe to study with Cornelius D. Binkhorst who was beginning to implant IOLs in children. David brought these techniques back to Pittsburgh and he became the expert in removing children’s cataracts and using an IOL for rehabilitation in select children. He began using IOLs, constantly refining the techniques used and performing sight saving surgery, for these patients when they were commonly told elsewhere that nothing could be done. Parents brought their children to David’s practice from all over the U.S., Europe and South America to treat their children with cataracts.

David was an innovator. He developed and refined surgical techniques and suture material for treatment for strabismus. During his career, he authored several hundred papers published several books and presented many papers on the treatment of strabismus in children and other subjects within the specialty and was in high demand as a speaker at meetings around the world.

David’s practice quickly adopted new technology. The practice had the first autorefractor in Pittsburgh, the first computerized office for billing and coding and information retrieval and one of the first Nd. Yag lasers in an operating room at the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh.

David was Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Pittsburgh Schol of Medicine. He was the Director of Ophthalmology at the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. He started a Fellowship program which attracted more than 40

Fellows from the USA and around the world. David was an excellent teacher using “old school” methods of teaching. Residents were challenged by him and had great respect for him and as well as his methods. Pediatric rotation was one of the favorite rotations and had some of the highest assessment scores on national testing. He tutored Ophthalmology residents in the office and operating room. He had trained more than 200 residents during his career.

After 25 years in clinical practice, he took a 2-year position as Quality Assurance Officer at Children’s hospital and later he became the Medical Director of the Eye and Ear Hospital Pittsburgh. He later was appointed to create a “full time” position as Director of Pediatric Ophthalmology at the UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh.

Upon retirement he relocated to Scottsdale, AZ and became an accomplished stone sculptor, eventually settling in Naples, FL. David’s hobbies included photography, fishing, golf stamp collecting, wine tasting and collecting, and world travel.

David was a Charter Member of the new Society, Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus. During his career he was a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the Pennsylvania Academy of Ophthalmology and the Society of Cataract and refractive Surgery. David was proud to be a member of the Minute Men for the University of Pittsburgh and was a strong supporter for the Winter Academy held in Naples FL each year.

David A. Hiles, MD

Prepared by Al Biglan, M.D., Ken Cheng, M.D. with help from David’s family.

We are also sad to share the passing of another former alumnus and longtime faculty member, David Hiles, MD.

Research Spotlight

Xing Chen, PhD

Blindness affects 40 million people worldwide, and a neuroprosthesis may restore functional vision in the future. We developed a 1024-channel, chronically implantable prosthesis for the monkey visual cortex, using electrical stimulation to elicit percepts of dots of light (“phosphenes”) across hundreds of electrodes. Phosphene locations matched the receptive fields of stimulated neurons, and V4 activity predicted phosphene detection during stimulation in V1. Lastly, we stimulated multiple electrodes simultaneously to generate percepts composed of multiple phosphenes. The monkeys could immediately recognize simple phosphene shapes, directions of motion, and letters, demonstrating the potential of electrical stimulation to restore life-enhancing vision in the blind.

Xing Chen is an Assistant Professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, specializing in braincomputer interfaces, visual neuroscience, blindness, and chronic recording from and microstimulation of the brain in non-human primates.

She obtained her Bachelors in Neuroscience at the University of Southern California on a Trustee Scholarship in 2008, before obtaining her PhD in Neuroscience at Newcastle University in 2014 in the lab of Alexander Thiele. She carried out her postdoctoral work in the lab of Pieter Roelfsema at the Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, becoming Senior Researcher in 2020. There, she developed 3D modeling and printing techniques to create customized cranial implants to improve implant stability and animal welfare. She co-developed a 1024-channel

prosthesis for recording and electrical stimulation of the cortex, establishing proof-of-concept for the feasibility of artificial vision in the blind, winning a Best Poster Award in 2018 at the Amsterdam Neuroscience Meeting and the NIN Brain Award for Scientific Excellence in 2021. In 2019, she co-founded Phosphoenix, a neurotech startup which aims to develop clinical devices that allow profoundly blind people to regain functional vision.

Her work has been featured in international and national newspapers, radio and television, including CNN, Science Magazine, Science Podcasts, Scientific American, Het Parool, De Volkskrant, Het Financieele Dagblad, El País, NOS, NPO Radio, and RTL News.

Incoming Residents

Oliver Beale, MD

Dr. Oliver Beale was born in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. He graduated summa cum laude with a BS in chemistry from Susquehanna University. He obtained his MD from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. During his time at medical school, he worked at the Institut de la Vision in Paris and took a research year under the mentorship of Dr. Leah Byrne, where he worked on developing platforms to facilitate research in gene therapy vector engineering. Dr. Beale has also done work in diseases of the choroid and image processing of the retina using machine learning. Prior to starting his ophthalmology residency, Dr. Beale completed a medical internship at UPMC. In his free time, Dr. Beale enjoys reading, traveling, climbing, and cooking.

Amani Davis, MD

Amani Davis, MD, grew up in Pittsburgh PA. He completed undergraduate studies at Washington University in St. Louis, earning his B.S. in 2016. Between undergraduate studies and medical school, he became involved with pediatric ophthalmology research with Dr. Ken Nischal at UPMC Children’s Hospital. His research centered on surrogate measurements of intracranial pressure and underlying syndromic diagnoses in patients with Craniosynostosis. During this time, he tutored elementary and middle school students in the Pittsburgh Public School district.

Amani began attending University of Pittsburgh Medical School in 2018. During medical school he mentored premedical students attending the University of Pittsburgh and was community service coordinator for SNMA. After graduating in 2022, and prior to starting his ophthalmology training, he completed his transitional year at UPMC. Outside of Ophthalmology, Amani enjoys spending time with friends and family, painting, and traveling to hot places.

Aidan

Dmitriev, MD

Aidan Dmitriev, MD, was born in Erie, Pennsylvania and grew up in the Chautauqua Lake area in Western New York. He later moved to Lawrence, Kansas, where he completed his secondary education and stayed to earn a BS in Microbiology with highest honors at the University of Kansas. During his time as a Jayhawk, he developed a passion for research in the lab of Dr. Scott Hefty as a nationally selected Beckman Scholar, where he studied structural proteomics in Chlamydia trachomatis. Aidan went on to earn a medical degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, where he also spent a year in the lab of Dr. Anthony Richardson as part of the Physician Scientist Training Program. During his research year through this program, Dr. Dmitriev studied the contribution of anaerobic metabolism to the virulence of Staphylococcus aureus from an evolutionary perspective. Dr. Dmitriev developed an interest in Ophthalmology during medical school with a special interest in uveitis after working with Dr. Marie-Helene Errera, and he is excited to continue his residency training at UPMC. In his free time, he enjoys hiking, sailing, cooking, and playing tennis and violin.

Incoming Residents (continued)

Crystal Lee, MD

Dr. Crystal Lee completed her undergraduate degree in Integrative Biology with honors at the University of California, Berkeley. She then completed a master’s in public health at Thomas Jefferson University and continued there for her medical training at Sidney Kimmel Medical College with a focus on providing care to underserved communities in Philadelphia. Prior to starting her ophthalmology training at UPMC, she completed a transitional year in Internal Medicine at UPMC, Pittsburgh, PA. She enjoys doing martial arts and finding new places to eat in Pittsburgh during her free time.

Samyuktha Melachuri, MD

Samyuktha (Sami) Melachuri was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where her passion for medicine began. From a young age, Dr. Melachuri noticed the large disparity of access to healthcare and resources between affluent, middle class, and underserved populations. With the mentorship of Dr. Bruce Bostrom and after organizing free medical camps for refugees/homeless populations, she realized the life changing impact medicine can provide.

Her journey to medicine brought her to Pittsburgh, where she completed her undergraduate studies and medical school at Pitt Medicine. Much of her time was devoted to patient advocacy by crafting policy to improve healthcare and pursuing research to improve patient outcomes. Though initially interested in other surgical specialties, she was drawn to Ophthalmology after volunteering with Pitt Med’s Guerilla Eye Service, a mobile and free eye clinic. The ability to provide eye care to the community and perform intricate ocular surgeries was an opportunity not to miss.

Throughout her journey, she had the unwavering support of her parents, younger sister Divya, an ENT resident, her fiancé Ravi, a neurosurgery resident, and her Havanese puppy, Bella. Outside the hospital, Sami enjoys dancing, working out, being a puppy butler, and exploring new places.

Ryan Williamson, MD, PhD

Dr. Ryan Williamson graduated from Brigham Young University with a BS in Electrical Engineering and a minor in Japanese. As an undergraduate, he conducted research on cellular mechanisms of learning and memory and on unsupervised machine learning techniques. His interest in the intersection between biology and machines inspired him to pursue graduate training at the University of Pittsburgh where he earned his MD and Carnegie Mellon University where he earned a PhD in neural computation and machine learning. During this time Dr. Williamson developed a novel brain-machine interface for evaluating the limits of learning in brain circuits. Later through volunteer experiences, Dr. Williamson gained a love for the field of ophthalmology. As an ophthalmologist, he hopes to combine his experiences in machine learning and ophthalmology to develop new approaches to personalizing clinical decisions to each patient’s needs. Outside of his studies, he enjoys running, language learning, and spending time with his family.

Incoming Fellows

Born and raised in Pittsburgh, Dr. Zachary Nadler graduated from Emory University with a dual degree in Physics and Mathematics. He spent several years applying his physics expertise conducting imaging research as part of the UPMC Ophthalmology Department before attending the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University. He returned to UPMC for ophthalmology residency training where he served as co-chief resident and is excited to continue within the department as a glaucoma fellow. He is a lifelong fan of Pittsburgh sports and enjoys spending his free time outdoors with his wife and their two dogs.

Dr. Tadhg Schempf grew up in Pittsburgh and graduated summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Pittsburgh with a BS in Neuroscience. He graduated from New York University School of Medicine, receiving Alpha Omega Alpha and Valedictorian honors. He has completed his Ophthalmology residency at UPMC, where he operated as Co-Chief Resident. His research pursuits have included projects investigating social determinants of health in glaucoma, effectiveness of telehealth care, retinal imaging modalities, oculoplastic surgical approaches and IOL techniques, resulting in several peer-reviewed articles. He also takes part in community outreach efforts including the Guerilla Eye Service and Mission of Mercy.

Marissa Heary is a Pennsylvania native, born and raised in St. Marys. She graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences. She then attended The Ohio State University, where she completed her doctorate in optometry. Dr. Heary has been working in ophthalmology and optometry practices for eight years and is excited to be back with UPMC, completing an optometric residency in ocular disease. Outside of optometry, she enjoys watching football, especially Ohio State and the Steelers, working out, exploring new places in Pittsburgh, and listening to Taylor Swift.

Dr. Ann Terrarosa received her medical degree from SUNY Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn, NY. She completed her ophthalmology residency at the New York University Grossman School of Medicine. In 2022 she received the Manhattan Eye & Ear Ophthalmology Alumni Foundation (MEEOAF) Research Grant, the Harvey “Chip” Cole III ASOPRS Foundation Fall Symposium Travel Grant, and the Gold Humanism Honor Society GME Chapter award. She is also a member of Women in Ophthalmology. She will be beginning her oculoplastics fellowship.

Chris Hampton grew up in Farmington, Connecticut. After high school, he moved to Baltimore, Maryland, where he completed his BA and MS in Neuroscience at Johns Hopkins University through their dual degree program and graduated with honors. There he studied ocular development and became interested in ophthalmology. He then returned to his home state to complete his MD at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine. During medical school he continued to pursue his interest in research and was accepted into the Medical Research Scholarship Program at the National Eye Institute (NEI). There he worked in Dr. Kapil Bharti’s lab both at the NEI and at the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS). His focus was ocular tissue engineering using 3D bioprinting to study disease modeling. He subsequently completed his internship and residency in ophthalmology at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University in Brooklyn, New York, where he was elected Chief Resident. There he developed a passion for cornea and ophthalmologic surgical interventions. He is excited to join UPMC and focus on corneal diseases. In his free time he enjoys running, rock climbing, hiking, traveling, and trying new restaurants.

Incoming Fellows (continued)

Dr. Nathaniel Briggs was born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA. He cultivated an interest in eyecare from childhood, having worn glasses since preschool. Having personally experienced the benefit in managing ocular health growing up, he decided in high school to pursue optometry. He then attended the University of Pittsburgh for his undergraduate education. While filling his pre-requisites for optometry school, he chose to major in Spanish while at Pitt. Growing up with a mother from Italy, it catalyzed a desire to learn other languages from a young age. He went on to complete his optometric education at the Illinois College of Optometry in Chicago, IL where he earned the title of Doctor of Optometry. He has since returned to Pittsburgh where he is completing his residency in Low Vision and Ocular Disease. While not in clinic, Dr. Briggs loves to play guitar, go to concerts, collect CDs, watch hockey, read, play video games, and a bunch of other random hobbies.

Dr. Angeli Yu received her medical degree from the University of Santo Tomas in the Philippines. She completed her residency at the Makati Medical Center in the Philippines followed by a clinical fellowship in cornea and external disease at the Ospedali Privati Forli “Villa Igea” in Forli, Italy. She then received her PhD in Advanced Therapies and Experimental Pharmacology from the Universita degli Studi di Ferrara in Italy. She will be a cornea fellow.

Dr. Marjan Fooladi received her medical degree from the Mashhad University of Medical Sciences in Mashhad Iran. She completed her residency at the Iran University of Medical Sciences in Tehran, followed by a fellowship in vitreoretinal surgery at the Farabi Eye Hospital at Tehran University of Medical Sciences. She came to the University of Pittsburgh in 2021 for a fellowship in retinal research. She will now be starting her fellowship in pediatric ophthalmology at UPMC Children’s Hospital.

Dr. Farid Kalantaritarari received his medical degree from the Tehran University of Medical Sciences in Tehran, Iran. He completed an ophthalmology residency at the Farabi Eye Hospital , Tehran University of Medical Science. Dr. Kalantaritarari came to the University of Pittsburgh in 2022 for a fellowship in pediatric ophthalmology research. He will now be starting his fellowship in pediatric ophthalmology at UPMC Children’s Hospital.

Dr. Tatyana Beketova received her medical degree from the McGovern Medical School at the University of Texas Health Science Center, followed by her residency at the New York Medical College in Valhalla NY. In 2022 she received the Excellence in Academic Award, awarded from the New York Medical College for exemplary academic achievement in ophthalmology residency. She will be starting a retina fellowship.

Dr. Fatima Raza received her medical degree from the King Edward Medical University in Lahore, Pakistan. She then completed her residency at the Layton Rahmatulla Benevolent Trust Eye Hospital. She also completed a fellowship at the College of Physicians and Surgeons. She will be starting her fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh in neuro-ophthlamology.

Save The Date

AAO Alumni and Friends Reception

November 5, 2023 • San Francisco, CA

The W San Francisco

181 3rd St.

San Francisco, CA 94103

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!

Alumni Spotlight

Hobbies:

Sailing, golfing, e-foiling, taking long walks, playing the guitar, and music history.

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

Encouragement/foundation for a lifetime of learning and appreciation for quality eye care. Our particular group of residents (including the two years ahead of me) and our academic mentors established a high bar for learning, research, and patient care. Perhaps the best thing I took away from my training was learning how to enjoy and continue learning. That is the bedrock of any successful practice. Four of the six in my residency group (Kenn Cahill, Marlene Moster, Pete Walden, and me) have remained close friends and vibrant clinicians and connect each year at the AAO meeting for dinner and fun.

How has the campus/department changed since you were in school?

David Verdier, MD

Resident 1980-1983

Career:

I began as a solo practitioner in my hometown in Grand Rapids Michigan after finishing my Corneal and External Eye Disease Fellowship at the University of Iowa in July 1984. My practice has evolved and now includes four Ophthalmologists and three Optometrists. Our practice is limited to the specialty practices of Cornea / External Eye Disease; Glaucoma; and cataracts.

Family:

I live in Grand Rapids, MI two blocks from the house I grew up in. I’m married to my wife Beverly and we have four children: Renee, Travis, Eric, and Nora.

Complete turnover of staff and location. Regis Kowalski was my last remaining colleague/mentor at Pitt. Rege is an all-star. I have enjoyed from afar watching the Department transition and grow, including the contributions of my Pittsburgh corneal colleagues.

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

Its continuing contributions to Ophthalmology research and training. I am confident the department will continue to be a source of pride and inspiration.

Any funny/interesting stories from your years working or in school?

Not that is fit for publication in a family read newsletter! Join us for dinner at the Academy meeting, and especially if Pete Walden is in attendance, I promise you will be entertained.

We Want To Hear From You!

With the release of our new 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? Gotten 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

Webinar Information

The Eye & Ear Foundation, in conjunction with the Departments of Otolaryngology and Ophthalmology at the University of Pittsburgh, has 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

• Improving Drugs and How They’re Delivered for Eyecare

• Cortical Vision: Can We See with Just Our Brain?

• Sight + Soundbites: Pittsburgh’s New Vision Institute: A Resource for the Community

• Sight + Soundbites: Behind the Scenes: The Impact of Providing Care at Mission of Mercy

• Making an Impact on How We Hear, See, and Live

• Vision for Childhood Development and Education

Otolaryngology

• Hearing with the Brain

• Down Syndrome and Sleep Apnea: A New Treatment on the Horizon

• Tinnitus Treatment Options: To Audiology and Beyond

• Sight + Soundbites: Behind the Scenes: The Impact of Providing Care at Mission of Mercy

• Spring Fling – An Update on the Evaluation and Treatment of Allergies

• Making an Impact on How We Hear, See, and Live

Please consider a donation to the Eye & Ear Foundation to fund our research and academic efforts.

If you no longer wish to receive our newsletter, please submit requests to our mailing address, or email optout@eyeandear.org

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contact Katherine

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