Friendly competition strengthens community across the department Members of the John F. Hardesty, MD Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences at WashU Medicine gathered for the annual Faculty vs. Residents Kickball Showdown, continuing a department tradition that brings together residents, fellows, and faculty for an evening of friendly competition and camaraderie. After a hard-fought game, […]
The John F. Hardesty, MD, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at WashU Medicine proudly announces the winners of the 2026 Winston Fellow Competition. This annual event showcases outstanding research contributions from postdoctoral fellows and graduate students. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to the award recipients. Winners of the 2026 Winston Fellow Awards ITVS Graduate […]
The WashU Medicine John F. Hardesty, MD Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences is celebrating national recognition for its innovative surgical simulation lab, which recently received a 2026 Lab Design Award for user engagement. Designed in partnership with HKW Architects, the space was recognized for its collaborative, learner-centered design that supports advanced surgical training and […]
The WashU Medicine John F. Hardesty, MD, Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Science gathered on Saturday, May 30, for its annual Staff Appreciation Party at 9 Mile Garden. The event brought together faculty, staff, trainees, and their families for a morning of celebration, recognition, and community. P. Kumar Rao, MD, MBA and Aaron Y Lee, […]
Medical student recognized for outstanding research accomplishments and commitment to scholarly development Henok Getahun, of WashU Medicine John F. Hardesty, MD Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences has been selected to receive a DeNardo Education and Research Foundation award in recognition of his scholarly accomplishments within the Year-Long Research Program. As part of this honor, […]
New publication highlights the potential of routine eye exams to support early brain health surveillance Research by principal investigator Cecilia S. Lee, MD, MS, Jane Hardesty Poole Distinguished Professor at the WashU Medicine John F. Hardesty, MD Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, has been published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment & Disease Monitoring. […]
Community members, civic leaders, artists and members of the Venable family gathered Saturday, May 16, for the memorial artwork ribbon cutting and grand re-opening of Venable Park in Creve Coeur, honoring the life and legacy of Dr. Howard P. Venable. Venable was a pioneering ophthalmologist and the first African American faculty member in the WashU […]
From May 3–7, 2026, researchers and trainees from the John F. Hardesty, MD Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences at WashU Medicine participated in the annual meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology in Denver, Colorado. As the premier international gathering for eye and vision science, ARVO brings together investigators from around […]
Poonam Naik, PhD has been featured by the National Institutes of Health as part of its MyWHY: Stories Made Possible by NIH Research series, which highlights the personal motivations behind biomedical research careers. A Personal Connection to Vision Loss Naik’s interest in vision science began with early experiences witnessing people close to her struggle with […]
The WashU Medicine John F. Hardesty, MD Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences continues its commitment to advancing patient care through education with its annual Spring Update, a premier event designed to share the latest clinical insights and innovations in eye care. This long-standing program brings together faculty, trainees, and community providers to explore new […]
The WashU Medicine John F. Hardesty, MD Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences LASIK Surgery Center recently hosted its Spring 2026 LASIK Continuing Education Dinner, bringing together optometrists and ophthalmologists for an evening focused on advancing refractive care. Held April 28, the event featured expert-led discussions on the latest techniques and clinical decision-making in LASIK, […]
Wei Li, PhD, of the WashU Medicine John F. Hardesty, MD Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences has been awarded a prestigious Career Starter Grant from the Knights Templar Eye Foundation for 2026–2027. This competitive award supports early-career investigators advancing research to better understand and treat vision disorders. Li’s work focuses on the anterior segment—the […]
Research from the WashU Medicine is helping shape national conversations on fall prevention, highlighted in a recent The New York Times feature on a large-scale clinical trial led by Susan Stark, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA. Mae Gordon, PhD, professor at the John F. Hardesty, MD Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, served as co-principal investigator on the […]
Riya Philip, OD, joins the WashU Medicine John F. Hardesty, MD Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences with a strong background in primary eye care and ocular disease management. She earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago and her Doctor of Optometry degree from the Illinois College of Optometry, graduating with […]
Faculty and trainees from the WashU Medicine John F. Hardesty, MD Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences will share their latest discoveries at the upcoming Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) Annual Meeting, taking place May 3–7. This premier international conference brings together scientists and clinicians focused on preventing, treating, and curing vision […]
Faculty and students from the John F. Hardesty, MD Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences at Washington University School of Medicine made a strong impact at the 2026 American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (AAPOS) annual meeting. Their work spanned cutting-edge surgical approaches, better treatment strategies for childhood eye conditions, and innovations in how […]
A new study from the WashU Medicine John F. Hardesty, MD Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, led by Philip Williams, Ph.D., Rajendra S. Apte, MD, PhD, and graduate student Zelun Wang, offers important insight into how retinal neurons adapt their metabolism to sustain vision and respond to disease. Published in Nature Communications, the research focuses […]
Department members earn leadership grants, keynote honors, and abstract awards at neuro-ophthalmology annual meeting. The WashU Medicine John F. Hardesty, MD Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences was well-represented at the North American Neuro-Ophthalmology Society (NANOS) 2026 Annual Meeting, with a contingent of nine faculty members, residents, and medical students contributing to the scientific program. […]
Shiming Chen, PhD, and her team are developing mechanism-based gene therapies to restore vision. Shiming Chen, PhD, the Dr. Bernard and Janet R. Becker Distinguished Professor of Ophthalmology at WashU Medicine John F. Hardesty, MD Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, is spearheading research to understand and treat CRX-associated retinopathies. These inheritable blinding diseases are […]
Stephen A. Wexler, MD, a professor of ophthalmology and visual sciences at WashU Medicine John F. Hardesty, MD Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, recently published a study regarding advancements in laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK). The article, titled “Myopic and Astigmatic Laser in situ Keratomileusis Using a Ray Tracing−Based Treatment Algorithm with a Personalized […]