The WashU Medicine John F. Hardesty, MD Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences is proud to share that Julia Pulliam, OD, FAAO, recently presented at the Envision Summit in Puerto Rico. Her presentation focused on “Collaborating (OD/MD) in Uveitis Patients,” highlighting the power of interdisciplinary care in managing complex inflammatory eye disease.
Uveitis often requires careful coordination between optometrists and ophthalmologists to ensure timely diagnosis, appropriate systemic workup, and effective treatment. Pulliam emphasized how strong OD/MD partnerships improve patient access to specialty care and streamline management, particularly for patients who require ongoing monitoring or advanced therapies.
“I think it’s beneficial for our patients (and doctors) that we offer collaborative care amongst many of our specialties. Not only does it improve access to care, but often expedites treatment, allowing us to provide the best care for our patients!”
Julia Pulliam, OD, FAAO
Her presentation underscored a core strength of WashU Medicine: a team-based approach that prioritizes communication, shared expertise, and patient-centered outcomes. By fostering collaboration across specialties, the department continues to enhance care delivery for patients with uveitis and other complex ocular conditions.
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.