Congratulations to all of our 2023 graduates and award recipients!
Clinical Fellowship Graduates
Cornea, External Disease, & Refractive Surgery
Karina Somohano, MD
Cornea, Cataract, and Refractive Surgeon, Florida Vision Institute, West Palm Beach, FL
Jessica Yang Walia, MD
Assistant Professor, Washington University and John Cochran Veterans Affairs Hospital, St. Louis, MO
Anterior Segment & Glaucoma Surgery
Brent Bruck, MD, MA
Glaucoma Specialist, Midwest Eye Care, Omaha, NE
Ariana Levin, MD
Clinical Assistant Professor, Glaucoma Division New York University, New York, NY
Neuro-Ophthalmology
Douglas Snyder, MD
Assistant Professor, Medical Director of Quality Improvement and Peer Review, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI
Vitreoretinal Disease & Surgery
Ross Kennamer-Chapman, MD
Vitreoretinal Specialist, Georgia Retina Group, Atlanta, GA
Chief of Ophthalmic Trauma
Matthew Santos, MD
Cornea and External Disease Fellowship Wills Eye Hospital, Philadelphia, PA
Residency Graduates
Optometry
Ashley Ahlbrand, OD
Staff Optometrist Washington University, St. Louis, MO
Ophthalmology
Nathaniel Blecher, MD
Chief of Ophthalmic Trauma, Washington University, St. Louis, MO
Kelly Kiser, MD
Refractive Surgery Fellowship, Kugler Vision, Omaha, NE
Rachael Lyerla, MD
Private Practice, Chippewa Valley Eye Clinic, Eau, WI
Aaditya Shah, MD
Vitreoretinal Disease & Surgery Fellowship Washington University, St. Louis, MO
Nicole Varnado, MD, PhD
Private Practice, St. Louis, MO
Achievement Awards
Faculty
Academic Teacher of the Year – Rithwick Rajagopal, MD, PhD
Clinical Teacher of the Year – Sean Breit, MD
Research Teacher of the Year – Gregory Van Stavern, MD
Fellows
“Golden Apple” Award – Ross Kennamer-Chapman, MD
Residents
Ron Burde “Good Egg” Award –
Aaditya Shah, MD
Dr. James Song and Linda Duan- Song Award for Clinical and Surgical Excellence –
Rachael Lyerla, MD
Mat Guirgis Award – Natalia Morales, MD
The Morton E. Smith Excellence in Medical Student Education Award –
Natalia Morales, MD
PGY3 Clinical Service Award –
Thiago Moulin, MD
Rosenbaum Research Award –
Yi-Hsien Yeh, MD
Medical Students
The Max & Evelyn Grand Prize – Alexandra Zdonczyk, MD
The Doctor William Ellis Research Prize in Ophthalmology – Jennifer Chung, MD
Volunteer Faculty Recognition
10 years – Priya Shetty, MD
5 years – Michael Stock, MD
