May2026Volume54
Recognition
Earflohasofficiallylaunched! TheFDA-approveddevice designedtotreatnegative middleearpressurein childrenasyoungastwo (andworksinadultstoo)is nowavailableforpurchasein theU.S.
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Congratulationstothe 2026TopDoctors,featuredinPittsburghMagazine,withthehelpof CastleConnolly,whomweacknowledgedintheFebruaryScoop!What'snewisthespecial acknowledgmentfor SabrinaMukhtar,MD,MPH ,Director,DryEyeCenterofExcellence,listed asaRisingStar!
Otolaryngology-Head&Neck Surgery.
TheARVO(AssociationforResearchinVisionandOphthalmology)AnnualMeetingisbeingheld inDenver,CO,May3-7. José-AlainSahel,MD,Chair,DepartmentofOphthalmology,isgiving theProctorMedalLectureonMay3,titled"ShootingintheDark,ATranslationalOdyssey."The Departmentiswell-represented,with33talks&papersand99posters.Watchoursocialmedia forposts!
ThomasKaffenberger,MD,wasnamedarecipientoftheVA ClinicalExcellenceAwardforMarch2026!
Thisprestigious,system widehonorrecognizeshealthcare professionalswhoconsistentlydemonstratecompassionate, patient centeredcare,andastrongcommitmenttoimproving healthcaredelivery.
AndrewWilliams,MD ,wasselectedtojointheeditorialboardof OphthalmologyGlaucoma.His researchwasalsowrittenupinAAO's EyeNetMagazine (scrolltothesecondpage(akap.14), orclickthislink: EHRPortalMessagingReengagesPatients
MarleneBehrmann,PhD, waschosentohostaMeet-the-Expert sessionattheSocietyofNeuroscienceinWashingtonDC.The seriesinvitesleadingresearcherstodescribetheirtechniques andaccomplishmentsinapersonalcontextthatoffers participantsabehind-the-sceneslookatfactorsinfluencingthe expert’swork.
GarretChoby,MD,and AmandaStapleton,MD,receivedtheMedicalStudentResearch MentoringMeritAward.Thisprestigioushonorisawardedbasedonrecommendationsfrom graduatingPittMedstudentsandrecognizesexceptionalmentorshipprovidedthroughthe LongitudinalResearchProject(LRP).
ChrisCunningham,PhD,AssistantProfessor ofOtolaryngology-Head&NeckSurgery,has madealotofprogressinpreclinicalwork developingagenetherapyforcongenital hearinglossassociatedwithmutationsinthe TOMTgene,arareformofhearingloss.
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MeettheClassof2031 Otolaryngology-HNSResidents
Agreatgroupofresidentswillbejoiningthe DepartmentofOtolaryngology-Headand NeckSurgeryattheUniversityofPittsburgh. Inadditiontoacademicachievementsand dedicationtootolaryngology-headandneck surgery,thegroupincludesadiverserange ofaccomplishments.
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ThreeCIBDGraduatesJoin PittsburghCREATESTeam
Thisyearmarksameaningfulinflectionpoint forPittsburghCREATES:threeindividuals trainedintheJohnsHopkinsCenterfor BioengineeringInnovationandDesign (CBID)traditionarenowpartofourteam. That’snotcoincidental.
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TheDepartmentofOphthalmologyandthe DivisionofRheumatologyandClinical ImmunologyattheUniversityofPittsburgh havejoinedforcestocreatetheSjögren's DryEyeClinic,theonlyoneofitskindin Pennsylvania.
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StrengtheningOPH'sResearch Enterprise
InearlyMarch,KalyanC.Vinnakota,PhD, joinedtheDepartmentofOphthalmologyas aResearchAssociateProfessorandHeadof StrategicPlanningandInitiatives.Hewas recruitedtosupportandstrengthenthe researchenterpriseoftheDepartment.
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eBoostsPatient'sIndependence
Twelveyearsago,PattyAzocar’sdaughter–anurseinArizona–sawapaperthat WilliamSmith,OD,hadwritten.Shetoldher momthatsheandDr.Smithwerebothin Pittsburgh.So,Patty,whohasbeenlegally blindsinceshewas13,madean appointment.
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