It was two days that were put on hold for three years.
But for many who participated in the Department of Ophthalmology's 2022 Residents and Fellows Weekend, it was worth the wait. Each year, the decades-old graduation tradition brings together proteges and preceptors for two days of laughter, celebration, and reflection. Scaled down or canceled for three years because of COVID, the 2022 Residents & Fellows Weekend was seen as a must-attend event in 2022.
This is one of the main reasons I love my job,
said Ophthalmology Department Chair Dr. Allen Beck, himself a graduate of the Emory School of Medicine, the Emory Ophthalmology Residency program, and the Emory Glaucoma Fellowship program.
It's this weekend, when we launch the careers of so many promising ophthalmologists - colleagues who literally represent the future of vision health in our region and the world. My only hope, really, is that we continue to connect, to learn from one another. I'm as happy as they are that they have finished their training here. But now I want them to remember to come back.
Is Mulligan
an Emory Eye Center graduate?
The weekend commenced with an 18-hole golf outing at the Stone Mountain Golf Club. Blue skies and gassed-up carts launched gleeful teams of optimistic residents, fellows, and faculty at 7:30 am. By 2 pm, all teams had returned from the par-71 course -- still smiling, but no longer harboring fantasies of a second career as a golf pro.
For the record, the First-Year Residents team bested the entire bunch with a score of 7 over par, while department chair Allen Beck, MD, took home bragging rights for putting closest to the pin. First-year resident Sami Ahmad, who had never before played golf, won the prize for longest drive..
Exploring the science behind the patient care
On June 4, a half-day research session gave residents and fellows the opportunity to explore and showcase their commitment to the science behind clinical practice. Each of the six graduating residents and 13 graduating fellows prepared a 10-minute presentation grounded in their own clinical and academic interests. Retired ophthalmologist and Emory alumnus Liev Tackle, MD awarded the first and second-place presentations, which were:
Residents:
• Dr. Albert Liao's paper When Splits Go Wrong: Surgical Outcomes of Progressive Retinoschisis-related Retinal Detachments: A 17-year Survey from a Large Academic Center,
received top recognition in the category of graduating resident. (Preceptor: Jiong Yan, MD)
• Dr. Mark Morel, Jr, MD, took home second place for Early Corneal Neurotization Outcomes at Emory Eye Center.
(Preceptor: Soroosh Behshad, MD)
Fellows:
• Dr. Matt Boyko received top honor for Retinal & Optic Nerve MRI Diffusion-Weigh ted Imaging Hyperintensity in Acute Non-arteritic Central Retinal Artery Occlusion.
(Preceptors: Nancy J. Newman, MD, and Valerie Biousse, MD.)
• Dr. David Levine received second place for Vitamin A Deficiency Retinopathy
(Preceptor: Nieraj Jain, MD)
The research session was concluded with the Henry F. Edelhauser Lecture in Translational Research, entitled, The Genetics of Ocular Disease.
It was given by Dr. Joan O'Brien, the director of the University of Pennsylvania's Scheie Eye Institute.
Celebrating the grit and brilliance of our colleagues
Before they took their final leave, the graduating residents and fellows were guests of honor at a festive Graduation Banquet, held Saturday, June 4. From the podium, Emory Eye Center residency director Dr. Jeremy Jones made it clear that the current crop of newly minted ophthalmologists was like no other.
To say they were thrown a curveball in their medical training is an understatement,
he said.
Not only have they had to master an ever-increasing amount of information, knowledge, and surgical techniques; they have had to do so in the midst of a global pandemic. Many of our graduating fellows were asked to serve in their programs' ICUs or emergency rooms with little information on how to keep themselves safe from a virus we knew so little about. I'd like to give them all a round of applause, because, in spite of all of this, they came in extraordinarily well-prepared and competent. All of us on faculty know and understand the importance the fellows play in the training here at Emory. They are our first line supervisors and teachers of our residents. And for that, all of us are grateful.
The residents returned Jones's praise with their own slate of awards that spoke volumes about the Emory Eye Center's culture of mutual admiration.
• The 2021-22 Thomas M. Aaberg, Sr. Clinical Teaching Award was given to Yousuf Khalifa, M.D., In special recognition of your dedication to resident education, excellence in patient care, and outstanding teaching expertise. You are a role model to us all.
• The Multiple Hats
Award went to Jeremy Jones, MD, the director of resident education, For always knowing when to be our leader, teacher, therapist, and friend. We cannot thank you enough for the past 4 years.
• The Alliance
Award was given to Homaira Ayesha Hossain, MD For helping unite Uveitis and Rheumatology clinics at Grady, one EPIC message at a time.
• The Marathon Award went to Joshua Barnett, MD, because You may not be able to run a marathon, but you can definitely operate for 26.2 hours straight in the Grady 4K3 OR.
• The Scheduling Wizard
Award went to Blaine Cribbs, MD, For always knowing exactly which retina patients need Monday, Wednesday, or Thursday follow-up appointments at the VA.
• The You Look Beautiful
Award went to Ted Wojno, MD, For demonstrating the skillful dance that is required when counseling post-op patients.
-Kathleen E. Moore