Congratulations to Charles Pfeifer on successfully defending your thesis! You have worked hard to achieve this significant milestone in your academic career.
Congratulations Charles Pfeifer, PhD
Category: DOVS News
2023 BeepBall Tournament
WashU Visionaries participated in the Mindseye Adaptive Athletics BeepBall Tournament on Saturday, September 9th, 2023. BeepBall is a spin on baseball that unites athletes who are blind and sighted on the same playing field. Players are guided by sound, not sight – the sound of the beeping ball, buzzing bases, and cues from the pitcher. […]
Guide to Refractive Errors
Types of refractive errors Is it genetic? Many genetic syndromes put patients at higher risk for developing refractive errors. All types of refractive errors are hereditary and contain a significant genetic component. The traits underlying refractive error such as the length of the eye and the curvature of the cornea are also heritable. Refractive errors […]
6 Common Eye Care Myths
Taking care of your eyes is important for maintaining good vision and overall eye health. However, there are many myths and misconceptions surrounding eye care that can lead to confusion and potentially harmful practices. Optometrist, Lindsey Thomas debunks six common eye care myths to help you better understand how to protect your eyes and maintain […]
Is Marijuana a Treatment for Glaucoma?
To properly answer this question, lets first define marijuana and glaucoma. Cannabis sativa is a plant that contains chemical substances called cannabinoids. Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) are the most commonly referenced cannabinoids and have effects on certain receptors within the brain and body, including the eye. Marijuana is a portion of the cannabis sativa […]
Welcome Jennifer Enright, MD, PhD
We are pleased to welcome Jennifer Enright, MD, PhD to our team of Cornea Faculty. Jennifer Enright, MD, PhD recently completed her Cornea and External Disease Fellowship at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI. Dr. Enright completed her medical degree and ophthalmology residency at Washington University Medical School in St. Louis. After her residency […]
Dry eye disease alters how the eye’s cornea heals itself after injury (Links to an external site)
Studying mice, researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have found that proteins made by stem cells to help regenerate the cornea may become new targets for treating and preventing injuries to the cornea related to dry eye disease.
Residents & Fellows Spotlight: Kevin La, OD
Where are you from? Seattle, WA Where did you attend Optometry School? University of California, Berkeley Favorite memory of Optometry School? My favorite memory from optometry school would have to be the annual class Tahoe trips Favorite memory between optometry school and starting residency? I got the chance to travel to Asia with some friends […]
Residents & Fellows Spotlight: Aaditya Shah, MD
Where are you from? Munster, Indiana Where did you attend Medical School? Indiana University School of Medicine Where did you complete your residency? Here at WashU! Why did you choose Ophthalmology and your specialty? I chose Ophthalmology because it is a unique field that allows you to medically and surgically help patients in one of […]
Residents & Fellows Spotlight: Sowmya Yennam, MD
Where are you from? Pittsburgh, PA Where did you attend Medical School? Baylor College of Medicine Favorite memory of Medical School? Exploring all of Houston’s coffee shops with classmates who have become lifelong friends Favorite memory of your intern residency year? Attending the medicine and ophthalmology holiday parties with the best group of co-residents! Why […]
How to Protect Your Eyes from UV Radiation
Ultraviolet (UV) Radiation is a form of energy produced by the sun that is invisible to the human eye. It is widely known that excessive UV exposure increases your risk of skin cancer, but it can also damage your eyes. Optometrist, Nathan Tuttle, OD, provides some tips on how you can protect your eyes from […]
2023 Top Doctors in St. Louis
We are proud to announce that 21 of our highly skilled ophthalmologists have been recognized as Top Doctors in St. Louis by the prestigious Castle Connolly Top Doctors list. We are honored to have so many of our ophthalmologists recognized for their exceptional patient care, innovative treatments, and commitment to advancing the field of ophthalmology.
ASRS 2023
Congratulations to Aaditya Shah, MD (retina fellow), Georgia Wilke, MD, PhD (PGY-4), Mary-Grace Reeves, MD, MBA (PGY-3) (pictured), Dr. Kumar Rao, Dr. Rajendra Apte, Dr. Rithwick Rajagopal, Dr. Kisha Piggott, and colleagues on their research presentations at the 2023 American Society of Retinal Specialists Annual Scientific Meeting in Seattle!
5 Most Common Vision Problems
At some point in our lives, many of us will experience vision problems. Whether it’s eye irritation, difficulty reading small print, or struggling to see objects at a distance, these issues can significantly impact our quality of life. To help you better understand these common vision problems, optometrist Julia Pulliam, OD, FAAO, has compiled a […]
The Hidden Benefits of LASIK
LASIK can improve your quality of life by providing clear and lasting vision. Don’t let the initial cost of LASIK deter you from experiencing the hidden savings and benefits that come with this life-changing procedure. There are many benefits to having LASIK surgery, including: Investing in LASIK surgery can be a practical choice for those […]
Residents & Fellows Spotlight: Eli Pratte, MD
Where are you from?Farmington, MO Where did you attend Medical School?University of Missouri – Columbia Favorite memory of Medical School?Getting to share Match Day with my family! Favorite memory of your intern residency year?Other than the birth of my first child, becoming such close friends with my ophthalmology co-residents! Why did you choose Ophthalmology?It is […]
Residents & Fellows Spotlight: Glory Mgboji, MD
Where are you from? Baltimore, Maryland Where did you attend Medical School? Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Favorite memory of Medical School? I have two! 1. Directing and singing in our “Second Look” welcome video for prospective students! It was such a fun way to connect with my extremely talented class and give incoming […]
Residents & Fellows Spotlight: Nathaniel Blecher, MD
Where are you from? Pittsburgh, PA Where did you attend Medical School? University of Pittsburgh SOM Where did you complete your residency? Washington University in St. Louis Why did you choose Ophthalmology and your specialty? I always knew I wanted to be a doctor, but no body told me I had to choose a specialty […]
8 Tips for Contact Lens Wearers
Contact lenses provide effective and safe vision correction to more than 140 million people worldwide. It is estimated nearly 1 in 6 Americans wear contact lenses or nearly 45 million people. Contact lenses sit on the cornea, the clear button of tissue that covers the colored part of your eye. The cornea is like the […]
Residents & Fellows Spotlight: Viviana Barquet, MD
Where are you from?San Juan, Puerto Rico Where did you attend Medical School?Univeridad Central del Caribe in Puerto Rico Where did you complete your residency?John H Stroger Hospital of Cook County in Chicago, IL Why did you choose Ophthalmology and your specialty?I chose Ophthalmology because it I love having a specialty that is both clinically […]
Residents & Fellows Spotlight: Catherine Gilbert, MD
Where are you from?Seattle, WA Where did you attend Medical School?Tulane University School of Medicine Favorite memory of Medical School?During my research year I was able work on many projects at the same time, some in person and some virtually. One of my projects required me to travel around the country with my best friend […]
Welcome Jessica Yang Walia, MD
We are pleased to welcome Jessica Yang Walia, MD to our team of Cornea Faculty. Dr. Walia recently completed her cornea fellowship with us and we are trilled to add her to our team of expert physicians. I picked ophthalmology because it is an incredibly gratifying field. Vision is such an important part of a […]
Welcome Incoming Residents & Fellows 2023
We are proud to welcome new Residents, Fellows, & Chief of Ophthalmic Trauma to our ranks as they embark on their medical career. We look forward to working with all of you throughout your training. Chief of Ophthalmic Trauma Residents PGY-2 Optometry Resident Fellows
2023 Graduation and Awards Ceremony
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, MDAssistant 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, […]
Welcome Ashley Ahlbrand, OD
Please join us in welcoming Ashley Ahlbrand, OD to our team of Adult Optometrists. Areas of clinical interest Education Locations
Welcome Praneetha Thulasi, MD
We are thrilled to announce the addition of Dr. Praneetha Thulasi to our esteemed faculty at Washington University Ophthalmology. With 7 years of experience at Emory University Eye Center, Dr. Thulasi brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to our team. We are confident that her passion for ophthalmology and dedication to patient care will […]
Eye Care Providers: What’s the difference and who do I choose?
When scheduling an eye exam, it is important to make sure you are seeing the right type of provider to meet your eye care needs. Each team member plays an important role in providing eye care, but sometimes those roles can get confused. The major difference between the types of eye care providers is the […]
First Annual Residents VS Faculty Flag Football Game
Saturday | 06.17.2023 | 10 AM – 2 PM Tower Grove Park Soccer Field #5 Faculty Players AttendingsAugustine HongJames LiuArsham SheybaniRobi MaamariWes GreenMike Stock FellowsMatt SantosRoss Kennamer-ChapmanParth ShahHuy NguyenAriana LevinDoug Snyder Resident Players Incoming PGY1Steven ObiefunaJohn WilsonRaj Mahal PGY1Catherine GilbertEli Pratte PGY2Natalia Morales PGY3Yi-Hsien YehMatt ElittAmritha Kanakamedala PGY4Rachael LyerlaNate BlecherAaditya Shah
2023 Unrestricted Grant from Research to Prevent Blindness
The Washington University School of Medicine in Saint Louis John F. Hardesty, MD Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences has been granted an Unrestricted Grant by Research to Prevent Blindness (RPB) in the amount of $115,000 a year to support eye research conducted by the Department of Ophthalmology. This funding has been awarded based on […]
2023 Winston Fellow Award Recipient
Congratulations to Sean McCracken, winner of the Inaugural Winston Fellow Competition. Sean McCracken from the Williams Lab presented “Diversity in homeostatic calcium set points predicts retinal ganglion cell survival following optic nerve injury in vivo” In December 2022, David (A&S ‘74) and Deborah Winston made a generous gift to establish the Winston Fellow Award in […]
ARVO 2023 Presenters
Rajendra Apte, MD, PhD Presentation “Laser Therapy/Surgery” Jason Colasanti Poster “C0352: MiR-34a promotes choroidal neovascularization through modulating the KLF2/CXCR4 axis” Isabella Gomes Poster “C0448: Phenotypic heterogeneity in a family with a late Cone-Rod Homeobox truncation mutation” Mae Gordon, PhD Presentation “How to minimize bias”Poster “B0166: Prediction model of visual field progression in the Ocular Hypertension […]
Clinical trials | Use of Imaging on Retina to Identify Alzheimer’s
A noninvasive test may screen for disease before symptoms begin. Dr. Van Stavern is using retinal imaging as a window to the brain to develop a more accessible and affordable screening tool for Alzheimer’s disease that could become part of a routine eye exam. The retina and central nervous system are so interconnected that changes in […]
Global Impact | Capacity Building for Medical Research in Africa
I am a new research faculty in the Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, started last November. My research aims to uncover the molecular and cellular basis of the regional specializations in the retina and understand why certain retinal diseases cause degeneration in specific regions such as age-related macular degeneration in the central eye and […]
Translating Science to Medicine | Tunable Gene Therapy
Gene therapy has been used in clinical trials to treat several types of inherited retinal degenerative diseases. Dr. Shiming Chen’s Lab aims to overcome the limitations of the current gene therapy technology by developing a new strategy called “tunable gene therapy” that has the ability to target diseases linked to mutations. The tunable gene therapy strategy […]
American Glaucoma Society: President Elect (2023); President (2024)
Congratulations! Carla Siegfried, MD, Jacquelyn E. and Allan E. Kolker, MD, Distinguished Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences; Vice Chair for Diversity, Equity and Professionalism on being named 2023 President Elect and 2024 President of the American Glaucoma Society
Walk-In COVID 19 Boosters
Dear WashU Employees, In a continued effort to protect our community and the St. Louis region, Occupational Health Services will continue to host walk-in COVID-19 booster clinics for any WashU employee. The walk-in clinics will provide booster shots each Friday from 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. throughout March, April and May at the Occupational Health Services […]
American Glaucoma Society: 2023 Bernard Schwartz Memorial Award Recipient!
Congratulations! Sharon Sabapathypillai, MD, MS, First-Year Resident, DOVS has been selected as a recipient of the 2023 Bernard Schwarz Memorial Award by the American Glaucoma Society for her abstract entitled “Evaluating At-Risk Driving Behaviors Using In-Car Telemetry in Older Drivers with Varying Glaucoma Severity“. This prestigious honor from the American Glaucoma Society includes: The Bernard […]
Congratulations! Joseph Lin
Joseph Lin, MTSP Student in the Apte Lab has received the 2023 National Eye Institute (NEI) ARVO Travel Grant. This awarded travel grant in the amount of $750, will cover Joseph’s meeting registration and provide partial travel support to attend and present at the ARVO 2023 Annual Meeting which will be held April23-27 in New […]
R01 Grant Renewal
Congratulations! Steven Bassnett, PhD, Grace Nelson Lacy Distinguished Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Science on the renewal of the R01 grant entitled “Structural, Mechanical, and Cell Biological Properties of the Ciliary Zonule.” (grant ID R01EY029130). The Research Project Grant (R01) is the original and historically oldest grant mechanism used by NIH. The R01 provides support […]
Mid-America Transplant Grant Recipient!
Congratulations! Andrew Huang , MD, MPH, Professor, Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, on receiving a grant from Mid-America Transplant through a collaboration with CryoCrate entitled “Establishment of the First Limbal Tissue Bank in the World Based on a First-in-Class Biocompatible Cryopreservation Technology.” The Mid-America Transplant Foundation provides grants and scholarships to community organizations and students working to improve donation […]
Congratulations! Joseph Lin
Joseph Lin, MSTP Student in the Apte Lab has just published a paper in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) entitled “Dry Eye Disease in Mice Activates Adaptive Corneal Epithelial Regeneration Distinct from Constitutive Renewal in Homeostasis” Joseph, along with additional faculty members of the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences discuss […]
Dr. Couch “Time is Vision” (Links to an external site)
New Faculty Member
Please welcome, Takeshi Yoshimatsu, PhD, to the DOVS Research Faculty team as the new Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences. Dr. Yoshimatsu who joined our team on November 14, 2022 has a MSc and PhD in Bioengineering from the University of Tokyo, Japan, as well as Postdoctoral Training in Neuroscience. Additional academic training includes: […]
Thach Award Recipient
Congratulations to Zelun Wang, MSTP MD/PhD student from the Apte Lab; and co-mentored by Dr. Philip Williams, on receiving the Thach Award in Neuroscience for his Short Talk entitled “Energetic Diversity of Retinal Ganglion Cells and Implications for Neurodegeneration” The Tom Thach Award was initiated in 2014 to honor the contributions to science and the […]
Dr. Margaret Reynolds Rising Star
Congratulations to Dr. Margaret Reynolds, who has been recognized as a Rising Star by the Missouri Athletic Club at the annual Women of Distinction luncheon. The Rising Star is someone 35 years of age or younger who is leading the next generation of professional women to new heights. Read More
Goniotomy: What Size Is Best?
Congratulations Dr. Erin Sieck on her recent talk entitled “A Millenial’s Approach to the Angle; I prefer partial goniotomy for its ease and efficiency, established efficiency, and lower rate of complications compared to total goniotomy Erin Sieck, MD
16th Annual Vision Walk
VisionWalk is a fun, family-friendly event to bring together the Foundation Fighting Blindness community to raise awareness of our mission to find treatments and cures for blinding diseases. VisionWalk takes place through local events across the country. Our very own Angela Demetrulias, OD, will once again be taking the helm as the medical chair for […]
Back-to-School Eye Exams
Check out Dr. Andrew Lee’s latest video discussion on back-to-school eye exams
R01 Grant Recipient
Congratulations! Thomas Ferguson, PhD Professor, Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, on receiving a new four year R01 Grant from NEI for his research entitled “Immune Privilege, Müller cells, and Autophagy.” The Research Project Grant (R01) is the original and historically oldest grant mechanism used by NIH. The R01 provides support for the health-related research and development based on the […]
2022 Bárány Prize Recipient
Congratulations! Rajendra Apte, MD, PhD, Paul A Cibis Distinguished Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences; Vice Chair for Innovation and Translation, on being selected as the 2022 Bárány Prize by the Ernst H. Bárány Prize Committee of the International Society for Eye Research (ISER), for his outstanding contributions toward research that has increased he understanding […]