Congratulations to the 2024 Residents & Fellows

An Emory Eye Center Tradition: The Scientific Session

The seven residents and 13 fellows who completed their studies at the Emory Department of Ophthalmology on June 8 did so with a nod to their research interests and a bow to their mentors.

The day started off with the Annual Scientific Session, wherein many of the 2024 fellows and six of the graduating residents gave a brief talk centering on a specific research project that each had pursued at Emory. Their preceptors and other faculty took notes and rated each presentation, in anticipation of selecting the best ones for the awards program later in the day. Also listening to each presentation was one of the Emory Eye Center's most iconic former professors, Dr. Paul Sternberg, Jr. who later delivered the Henry Edelhauser Lecture "“Addressing the Challenges in Managing the Unmet Needs of Patients with Arophic AMD.”

The Residents' Presentations

Samera Ahmad, MD “Social Barriers to Care at the Grady Eye Clinic” (preceptor: Jacquelyn O’Banion, MD

Adrianna Eder, MD “The Role of Lymph Node Sampling in the Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma, An Institutional Experience" ((preceptor: Adam de la Garza, MD)

Timothy Grosel, MD “Determining the Economic Value of an On-Call Emory University Ophthalmology Resident.” ((preceptor: Jeremy Jones, MD)

Mung Yan (Amy) Lin, MD “Emergency Department (ED) Non-Mydriatic Fundus Photography Expedites Care for Patients Referred for Papilledema” (preceptor: Valerie Biousse, M.D and Nancy Newman, MD)

Riley Lyons, MD “Association Between Prior Laser to Peripheral Avascular Retina in Retinopathy of Prematurity and Rates of Late Vitreoretinal Complications” (preceptor: G. Baker Hubbard, MD

Jared Raabe, MD “An Analysis on Patient Transfers to Grady Memorial and Emory University Hospital”

(preceptor: Jacquelyn O’Banion, MD

And the winners are....Dr. Mung Yan (Amy) Lin (1st) and Dr. Adrianna Eder (2nd)

The Fellows' Presentations

Elma Chang, MD, Global Ophthalmology: “Why Patients No-Show at Grady and Why It Matters?”(preceptor: Jacquelyn O’Banion, MD)
Mutaz Al-Nawaflh, MD, Ocular Oncology: “Prospective Multi-Center Evaluation of the 15-Gene Expression Profile and PRAME Status as an Integrated Prognostic Classifier for Uveal Melanoma: First Report of the Collaborative Ocular Oncology Group Study Number 2 (COOG2)” (preceptor: Jill Wells, MD)
Carolyn Hebson, MD, Glaucoma Fellow: “Three-Year Outcomes for Combined Phaco-KDB Goniotomy in the Management of Glaucoma”(preceptor: Rebecca Neustein, MD)
John (Jack) Morgan, MD, Glaucoma Fellow: "Long-Term Outcomes of Cyclophotocoagulation Procedures in Treatment of Primary and Secondary Glaucoma at a Large Academic Public Hospital”(preceptor: Rebecca Neustein, MD)
Andrew F. Fischer, MD, Neuro-ophthalmology Fellow: “Etiologies Underlying Pediatric Papilledema at a Tertiary Care Children’s Hospital” (preceptor: Jason Peragallo, MD)
Étienne Bénard-Séguin, MD FRCSC, Neuro-ophthalmology Fellow: “Diagnosis of Acute Retinal Artery Occlusion: Time for Change!” (preceptors: Valerie Biousse, MD and Nancy Newman, MD)
Duaa Sharfi, MD, Oculoplastics Fellow: “Cocaine-Induced Orbitopathy: Case Series and Review of Literature” (preceptor: Ted Wojno, MD)
D. Wade Redick, MD , Surgical Retina Fellow: “Bilateral Coats Disease and Fellow Eye Vascular Abnormalities” (preceptor: G. Baker Hubbard, MD)

And the winners are ....Dr. Étienne Bénard-Séguin, (1st) and Dr. Andrew F. Fischer (2nd)

The 2024 Graduation Gala

Celebrating our graduates and their mentors

On Saturday night June 8, all of the slide decks, laser pointers, and note cards were put away. It was time to celebrate the seven residents and 13 fellows who were ending this chapter of their careers to start new adventures. Someone must have been on call somewhere, but their scrubs were scrupulously hidden behind taffeta and suit jackets.

Happily, four of those graduates will be staying with the Emory Eye Center: Dr. Andrew Fischer has accepted an appointment to the Neuo-ophthalmology Section, Dr. Elma Chang will be joining our clinical staff at Grady, Dr. Riley Lyons will be starting a retina fellowship, and Dr. Mung Yan (Amy) Lin will be starting a neuro-ophthalmology fellowship.

See photos from the Graduation Gala

With spouses, parents, and children in tow, the residents and fellows were celebrated by their mentors and friends before receiving their certificates. As is the tradition, the graduating residents returned all accolades with a few of their own, issuing seven awards to the colleagues and mentors who inspired them.

The Thoma M. Aaberg, Sr. Clinical Teaching Award: Jeremy K. Jones MD "In special recognition of your dedication to resident education, excellence in patient care, and outstanding teaching expertise. You rock."

The Fellow of the Year: Duaa Sharfi, MD "For her unwavering commitment to kindness, education, and support of residents 24/7. For two years."

The Calm in the Chaos Award: Joshua Barnett, MD, PhD "For helping us all survive hectic Grady Thursday clinics while providing excellent clinical and surgical teaching."

The Lake House Legend Award: Jill Wells, MD "For generously giving our class a venue for our senior retreat, which turned into a weekend of sun, fun, and lifelong memories."

The Take Off the Training Wheels Award: Yousuf Khalifa, MD "For his commitment to creating confident, high-performing, and independent surgeons."

The Hump Day Hero Award: Sruthi Arepalli, MD "For your mentorship, positive attitude and making VAMC Wednesday Medical Retina clinic a highlight of the week."

-- Kathleen E. Moore