ST. LOUIS, MO — June 9, 2025 — We are proud to announce that 21 physicians from the John F. Hardesty, MD Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences at WashU Medicine have been recognized as 2025 Castle Connolly Top Doctors!
This prestigious distinction is awarded to physicians who are nominated by their peers and rigorously vetted for excellence in clinical care, research, and leadership. The recognition underscores the department’s commitment to compassionate, evidence-based care and its national leadership in ophthalmic innovation.
Leading in Clinical Excellence and Compassionate Care
The department continues to be a national leader in ophthalmology, offering subspecialty care in retina, cornea, glaucoma, pediatric ophthalmology, neuro-ophthalmology, and more. With over a dozen locations throughout the region, patients have access to top-tier care close to home.
The legacy of Dr. John F. Hardesty lives on through the faculty’s dedication to restoring and preserving vision using the latest research and most advanced technology—all while serving with heart and humility.
Congratulations to all of our Castle Connolly 2025 Top Doctors! We are honored to have you represent the excellence and integrity of WashU Medicine.
“This recognition reflects the outstanding skill, dedication, and compassion our faculty bring to patients every day. We’re proud to see so many of our ophthalmologists honored at the national level.”
– Todd Margolis, MD, PhD, Alan A. and Edith L. Wolff Distinguished Professor and Chairman, Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences
2025 Castle Connolly Top Doctors – WashU Ophthalmology
Rajendra S Apte, MD, PhD
Paul A. Cibis Distinguished Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences; Vice Chair for Innovation and Translation
- Email: apte@wustl.edu
- Retina
- Lab Website
- Research Profile
-
Steven Couch, MD, FACS
Professor, Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences; Director of Quality and Safety
- Email: couchS@wustl.edu
Andrew R Lee, MD
Associate Professor, Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences; Chief, Pediatric Ophthalmology; Director, Medical Student Education for Ophthalmology
- Email: arlee@wustl.edu
Todd Margolis, MD, PhD
Alan A. and Edith L. Wolff Distinguished Professor and Chairman, Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences
- Email: margolist@wustl.edu
Kisha Piggott, MD, PhD
Associate Professor, Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences; Co-Director of the Residency Program
- Email: piggottk@wustl.edu
- Retina, Ocular Oncology
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.