Welcome Alexander Lyss, OD

Welcome Alexander Lyss, OD

The John F. Hardesty, MD, Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences at WashU Medicine welcomes Alexander Lyss, OD, to the clinical team. Lyss brings a unique background and a strong commitment to patient-centered eye care. Before pursuing optometry, Lyss worked as a chemist—but soon realized he wanted a career that allowed him to connect more […]

New Publication: Rethinking How We Quantify Effects in Cell Biology

New Publication: Rethinking How We Quantify Effects in Cell Biology

We’re excited to share a new publication from Josh Morgan, PhD, Assistant Professor, Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, titled “Alternative to the statistical mass confusion of testing for ‘no effect’”, published in the July 2025 issue of the Journal of Cell Biology. Morgan’s work challenges the traditional reliance on P values to determine whether an effect exists. While P […]

Featured Fellows and Residents Spotlight: Kathryn Flaharty, MD

Featured Fellows and Residents Spotlight: Kathryn Flaharty, MD

This spotlight series highlights the individuals behind the white coats, their journeys, passions, and the impact they’re making in the field of medicine. Today, we highlight Kathryn Flaharty, MD. Incoming Resident: Kathryn Flaharty, MD Where are you from? Fort Myers, Florida Where did you attend Medical School? University of Michigan Medical School Favorite memory of […]

Groundbreaking Study Reveals How lncRNA Evf2 Guides Forebrain Interneuron Development

Groundbreaking Study Reveals How lncRNA Evf2 Guides Forebrain Interneuron Development

AUGUST 2025 – ST. LOUIS, MO — Brian Clark, PhD Assistant Professor, Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, and colleagues have published a new study titled “Single-cell transcriptomics of ventral forebrain progenitors identifies Evf2 enhancer lncRNA–enhancer gene guidance through direct RNA binding and RNP recruitment domains”. This work provides new insights into how long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) […]

Science in Focus: Art Beyond the Microscope

Science in Focus: Art Beyond the Microscope

Science in Focus: Art Beyond the Microscope, a science as art competition! We invite all vision science researchers to participate in this unique competition, where science and art intersect to reveal the beauty within scientific research. Purpose and Goals Our goal is to celebrate the beauty of science and engage the community in its impact. […]

Understanding Uveitis: Causes, Treatments & Hope for the Future

Understanding Uveitis: Causes, Treatments & Hope for the Future

Uveitis might sound like a rare eye condition, but it affects thousands of people each year—causing discomfort, vision problems, and concern for long-term eye health. If you’ve recently been diagnosed or are supporting a loved one with uveitis, here’s what you need to know about the condition, its causes, treatment options, and why there’s real […]

Featured Fellows and Residents Spotlight: Olivia Cummings, MD, MSc

Featured Fellows and Residents Spotlight: Olivia Cummings, MD, MSc

This spotlight series highlights the individuals behind the white coats, their journeys, passions, and the impact they’re making in the field of medicine. Today, we highlight Olivia Cummings, MD, MSc. Incoming Resident: Olivia Cummings, MD, MSc Where are you from? New York Where did you attend Medical School? The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown […]

July Is Children’s Eye Health & Safety Month: Time to See (and Play) Outdoors!

July Is Children’s Eye Health & Safety Month

July isn’t just summer vacation—it’s also  Children’s Eye Health & Safety Month! At WashU Medicine’s John F. Hardesty, MD, Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, we’re highlighting the crucial role of sunshine and outdoor play in promoting healthy vision, particularly in preventing nearsightedness (myopia). Here’s a deep dive into the latest insights from the American […]

Featured Fellows and Residents Spotlight: Krishna Mallem, MD

Featured Fellows and Residents Spotlight: Krishna Mallem, MD

This spotlight series highlights the individuals behind the white coats, their journeys, passions, and the impact they’re making in the field of medicine. Today, we highlight Krishna Mallem, MD. Incoming Resident: Krishna Mallem, MD Where are you from? Plainsboro, New Jersey Where did you attend Medical School? Drexel University College of Medicine Favorite memory of […]

First-of-Its-Kind Apte Lab Study Links Retinal Microglia to Circadian Rhythms

First-of-Its-Kind Apte Lab Study Links Retinal Microglia to Circadian Rhythms

A Novel Insight Into Eye Immunity and Circadian Biology Charles Pfeifer, PhD, a former graduate student and postdoctoral researcher, Andrea Santeford, MS, supervisor in the Apte Lab at WashU Medicine, and Rajendra Apte, MD, PhD, Paul A. Cibis Distinguished Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, have published a landmark study in the journal Glia. The paper, […]

2025 Graduation Awards Ceremony

2025 Graduation Awards Ceremony

WashU Medicine’s John F. Hardesty Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences proudly celebrated the achievements of its outstanding students, residents, fellows, and faculty during the 2025 Graduation Awards Ceremony, held on Saturday, June 21. Hosted by Department Chair Todd Margolis, MD, PhD, the ceremony highlighted the academic and clinical accomplishments of the Class of 2025, […]

Are You Sleeping in Your Contacts? Here’s Why That’s a Bad Idea—Especially If You’re Considering LASIK

Are You Sleeping in Your Contacts? Here’s Why That’s a Bad Idea

Click below to hear Eric Polk, OD from WashU Medicine LASIK Surgery Center explain why sleeping in your contacts can affect your LASIK candidacy: Why It Matters: Contacts, Sleep, and LASIK Risks Raise your hand if you’ve ever accidentally fallen asleep in your contacts. You’re definitely not alone! But as Eric Polk, OD explains in […]

Residents and Fellows Spotlight: Deena Shaath, MD

Residents and Fellows Spotlight: Deena Shaath, MD

This spotlight series highlights the individuals behind the white coats, their journeys, passions, and the impact they’re making in the field of medicine. Today, we highlight Deena Shaath,MD. Graduating Fellow: Deena Shaath, MD What are your future plans? I’m moving to Orlando for a private practice job! Why did you choose Ophthalmology and Cornea? Ophthalmology […]

Yoshida Named 2025 NIH Outstanding Scholar in Neuroscience

Yoshida Named 2025 NIH Outstanding Scholar in Neuroscience

JULY 3, 2025 — ST. LOUIS, MO — WashU Medicine John F. Hardesty, MD Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences congratulates Mitsukuni Yoshida, MD, PhD, on being selected as a 2025 recipient of the NIH Outstanding Scholars in Neuroscience Award Program (OSNAP). I am very humbled and honored to receive this recognition. As a physician-scientist, […]

Residents and Fellows Spotlight: Howard Chen, MD

Residents and Fellows Spotlight: Howard Chen, MD

This spotlight series highlights the individuals behind the white coats, their journeys, passions, and the impact they’re making in the field of medicine. Today, we highlight Howard Chen, MD. Graduating Resident: Howard Chen, MD What are your plans for the future? Cataract and refractive surgery fellowship. Why did you choose Ophthalmology/WashU Medicine?  I chose WashU […]

Groundbreaking Advances in Imaging Technologies and Machine Learning Revolutionize the Ocular Hypertension Treatment Study (OHTS)

Groundbreaking Advances in Imaging Technologies and Machine Learning Revolutionize the Ocular Hypertension Treatment Study (OHTS)

Groundbreaking Advances in Imaging Technologies and Machine Learning to Reanalyze OHTS Data | Leveraging Modern Techniques to Enhance Glaucoma Risk Assessment July 2, 2025 – St. Louis, MO: A new publication in JAMA Ophthalmology led by James C. Liu, MD, glaucoma specialist at WashU Medicine, highlights the transformative potential of deep learning and artificial intelligence […]

Residents and Fellows Spotlight: Mary-Grace Reeves, MD, MBA

Residents and Fellows Spotlight: Mary-Grace Reeves, MD, MBA

This spotlight series highlights the individuals behind the white coats, their journeys, passions, and the impact they’re making in the field of medicine. Today, we highlight Mary-Grace Reeves, MD, MBA. Graduating Resident: Mary-Grace Reeves, MD, MBA What are your future plans? Vitreoretinal surgery fellowship at Cleveland Clinic Cole Eye Institute. Why did you choose Ophthalmology/WashU […]

Ophthalmology Residents Honored with 2025 Friend of the ED Award

Ophthalmology Residents Honored with 2025 Friend of the ED Award

We are excited to share some fantastic news: the Department of Ophthalmology residents have been named the 2025 recipients of the Friend of the ED Award! Each year, Emergency Medicine (EM) residents vote on the specialty that has gone above and beyond in supporting their training. This award recognizes excellence in collaboration, education, and clinical […]

Residents and Fellows Spotlight: Aaditya Shah, MD

Residents and Fellows Spotlight: Aaditya Shah, MD

This spotlight series highlights the individuals behind the white coats, their journeys, passions, and the impact they’re making in the field of medicine. Today, we highlight Aaditya Shah, MD. Graduating Fellow: Aaditya Shah, MD What are your future plans? Starting private practice in the Chicagoland area, specifically the Northwest Indiana suburbs. Why did you choose […]