Alumni Highlights Nieraj Jain, M.D. (Fellowship,
2014) joined the faculty of Emory University as an Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology in 2015, following a fellowship in vitreoretinal surgery at Kellogg. In his first years in practice, Dr. Jain observed a pattern of symptoms and peculiar macular characteristics in a number of his patients. Initially, they seemed to present as pattern dystrophy or macular degeneration. But advanced retinal imaging ruled out those diagnoses. Dr. Jain found the common thread in patients’ medical records: prolonged use of the drug pentosan polysulfate Maria Woodward, M.D., M.S., has received a Career
sodium (PPS, trade name Elmiron), the only FDA-approved
Advancement award from Research to Prevent Blindness (RPB)
oral medication for interstitial cystitis, or painful bladder
and the Allergan Foundation, to fund continued research into
syndrome. His discovery has led doctors and patients to
improving the diagnosis and management of corneal ulcers.
reevaluate the risk/benefit of PPS, which now comes with
Her current work, through a National Institutes of Health (NIH) R-01 grant, uses morphologic and clinical features to
a new FDA warning label. Dr. Jain made the first of what promises to be many
risk-stratify patients with corneal ulcers for long-term out-
significant contributions to clinical ophthalmology. He credits
comes. “This RPB award builds upon that research,” Dr.
Kellogg for his great start. “I am so grateful to my mentors
Woodward says. “RPB’s leadership deeply understands the
at Kellogg,” he says. “My retina practice strives to emulate
phases of research. This grant mechanism supports a critical
the Kellogg model – thoughtful, patient-centered care.”
time in my research when our laboratory is expanding and innovating. Our NIH research and the collaborations that are fostered through the existing grant are opening up new pathways of discovery. The RPB grant provides our team the opportunity to continue to collaborate and maintain momentum to expand the scope of our investigations.” Kellogg Chair Paul Lee, M.D., J.D., agrees. “RPB funding has supported researchers who have been associated with nearly every breakthrough in vision research in the last 60 years. The Career Advancement Award is the latest example of RPB’s forward looking perspective to enhance the success of innovative investigators to obtain their second (and often more difficult to obtain) NIH R0-1 award.” “There are inflection points in research,” says Dr. Woodward. “These critical ‘aha’ moments are thrilling and
Susan Burden, M.D. (B.S. 1997,
M.D. 2001, Residency, 2005) has been elected the next president of Women in Ophthalmology (WIO). The WIO is committed to enhancing and improving the professional environment for women in the field. A comprehensive ophthalmologist, Dr. Burden is Associate Professor of Ophthalmology in the School of Medicine at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, NC, and serves as Residency Program Director for the Department of Ophthalmology. After completing undergraduate studies, medical school
sometimes daunting. I am truly grateful for RPB funding to
and residency at Michigan, Dr. Burden joined the Wake
extend our research in corneal infections using bioinformatics
Forest faculty in 2005. At the time, she was the only female
and deep-learning image analysis. This will let us help clinicians
full time faculty member in ophthalmology.
provide decision support tools to better care for our patients.”
“Coming from Kellogg, that was an unexpected adjustment,” she says. “I learned from so many exceptional mentors
says Dr. Woodward.
and role models (female and male) at Kellogg. They gave me the best possible clinical foundation for my career, and
RBP Award
helped spark my interest in helping other women achieve success through WIO.” 37