Seminar sponsored by WashU Medicine John F. Hardesty, MD, Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences featured expert talks and continuing education opportunities for ophthalmic personnel
More than 50 ophthalmic personnel from WashU Medicine John F. Hardesty, MD, Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences and community practices across the St. Louis region gathered for the 2025 Ophthalmic Personnel Update XX. The seminar, held on September 27th, offered attendees a full day of learning and the opportunity to earn continuing education (CE) credits.
Erin Sieck, MD, shares her expertise with ophthalmic personnel, supporting education and excellence in patient care. 
Aaron Y. Lee, MD, MSCI, Arthur W. Stickle Distinguished Professor and Chairman, shares his insights on how artificial intelligence is shaping the future of ophthalmology—and transforming the way we care for patients. 
Erin Sieck, MD, shares her expertise with ophthalmic personnel, supporting education and excellence in patient care. 
Julia Pulliam, OD, FAAO, discusses the role of prisms in vision care, offering practical strategies to enhance patient outcomes. 
Steven M. Couch, MD, FACS, showcases the remarkable results of oculofacial plastic surgery in restoring form and function after trauma. 
Anna Dykreve, CO, teaches with passion and precision. 
Leanne Stunkel, MD, presents to students, highlighting the importance of learning and innovation in eye care.
“This was an awesome educational opportunity for ophthalmic personnel from both WashU and surrounding community practices to come together for an engaging day of learning,”
Tracey Shultz, COA
Sessions covered a wide range of ophthalmic topics. Speakers included Steven Couch, MD, FACS, who presented on trauma outcomes; Aaron Lee, MD, MSCI, who discussed artificial intelligence and the future of patient care; Julia Pulliam, OD, FAAO, who offered insights on prisms; and Erin Sieck, MD, who was highlighted for her engaging teaching style. One attendee, Jaime Hilecher, COA, OSC, remarked: “The seminar this year was so engaging! Dr. Couch always amazes me with his results after trauma. Dr. Lee made me think about the future and how AI will change for the better how we can treat our patients. Dr. Pulliam was great in breaking down prisms. Dr. Sieck was amazing, as always. As a tech, this seminar always teaches me something to make me think.”
About WashU Medicine
WashU Medicine is a global leader in academic medicine, including biomedical research, patient care and educational programs with 2,900 faculty. Its National Institutes of Health (NIH) research funding portfolio is the second largest among U.S. medical schools and has grown 56% in the last seven years. Together with institutional investment, WashU Medicine commits well over $1 billion annually to basic and clinical research innovation and training. Its faculty practice is consistently within the top five in the country, with more than 1,900 faculty physicians practicing at 130 locations and who are also the medical staffs of Barnes-Jewish and St. Louis Children’s hospitals of BJC HealthCare. WashU Medicine has a storied history in MD/PhD training, recently dedicated $100 million to scholarships and curriculum renewal for its medical students, and is home to top-notch training programs in every medical subspecialty as well as physical therapy, occupational therapy, and audiology and communications sciences.