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Profile

Maria Aaron MD

  • Department of Ophthalmology
    Professor
  • (404) 727-5658
  • mmendic@emory.edu
Head shot of Maria Aaron

Overview

Maria M. Aaron, MD, is a professor in the Department of Ophthalmology within Emory University School of Medicine. For 14 years, Dr. Aaron served as the residency program director for Ophthalmology and is now the associate dean of Graduate Medical Education.

National Recognition
Dr. Aaron was elected to the Program Directors Council of the Association of the University Professors of Ophthalmology and in 2010, she received the prestigious Straatsma Award for Excellence in Resident Education. The award was dually conferred by the presidents of the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) and the American University Professors of Ophthalmology (AUPO). She also received the 2011 Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Educations (ACGME) Parker J. Palmer "Courage to Teach" Award, which is presented nationally to 10 outstanding residency program directors for their commitment to teaching and their innovative and effective teaching methods.

Dr. Aaron served as president of the Program Directors Council of AUPO (2008) and as the vice-chair of the Ophthalmology Residency Review Committees for the ACGME. In 2011, she was invited to work on the Special Projects Committee of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and assumed the role of Associate Secretary of Special Projects for the American Academy of Ophthalmology in January 2013.

For her contributions to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, she was recognized with a Senior Achievement Award in July 2015. She has also been recognized by the American Board of Ophthalmology (ABO) with a Certificate of Appreciation for Outstanding Contributions as an Examiner of the ABO (2005-2013).

From 2016 to 2022, Dr. Aaron served as secretary for the American Academy of Ophthalmologys (AAO) Annual Meeting and on the Board of Trustees for the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

She is a sought-after speaker, particularly on a variety of education topics. She has published a number of articles and chapters on topics related to resident education and has lectured widely at national ophthalmic meetings on a variety of important competency and accreditation topics. Her most recent interest is in the area of generational differences in academic medicine

Above all, Dr. Aaron truly enjoys her large clinical and surgical practice and is frequently ranked in the top 10% of all Emory physicians for patient satisfaction. She is a natural leader and compassionate physician who has an unparalleled passion for education.

Areas of Clinical Interest
Adult comprehensive ophthalmology
Cataract surgery

Academic Appointment

  • Professor of Ophthalmology, Medical Educator and Service Track, Emory University School of Medicine

Education

Degrees

  • MD from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
  • BA from Vanderbilt University

Research

Publications

  • Assessing the phacoemulsification learning curve using duration of each step.
    J Cataract Refract Surg Volume: 48 Page(s): 44 - 50
    01/01/2022 Authors: Rali A; Grosel T; Fontus J; Aaron M; Jones J; Moore E; Khalifa YM
  • Advancing Complementary Resident and Fellow Education Through 8 Intraprofessional GME Tracks.
    J Grad Med Educ Volume: 13 Page(s): 426 - 427
    06/01/2021 Authors: Luhanga U; Taylor TR; Aaron M
  • A Narrative Review of Strategies to Increase Patient Safety Event Reporting by Residents.
    J Grad Med Educ Volume: 12 Page(s): 415 - 424
    08/01/2020 Authors: Aaron M; Webb A; Luhanga U
  • Value of an Emergency Care Back-Up Service for Residents and Fellows.
    J Grad Med Educ Volume: 12 Page(s): 355 - 356
    06/01/2020 Authors: Shayne P; Khan J; Aaron M
  • Using the CLER Pathways to Excellence to Evaluate the Learning Environments at a Multi-Site Institution.
    J Grad Med Educ Volume: 10 Page(s): 683 - 687
    12/01/2018 Authors: Aaron M; Shayne P; Brownfield E; Spell NO; Khan J; Luhanga U
  • EXTRACAPSULAR CATARACT EXTRACTION
    Page(s): 219 - 233
    01/01/2014 Authors: Aaron M; Broocker G; Pettey J; Tabin G
  • Teaching manual cataract extraction.
    Ophthalmology Volume: 119 Page(s): 2191
    10/01/2012 Authors: Henderson BA; Oetting TA; Yang EB; Rankin JK; Aaron MM; Yang Z; Broocker G; Blomquist PH
  • Hyperbaric oxygen therapy and optic neuritis: case report and literature review.
    Undersea Hyperb Med Volume: 38 Page(s): 557 - 559
    01/01/2011 Authors: Register SD; Aaron ME; Gelly HB
  • Evaluation of the virtual mentor cataract training program.
    Ophthalmology Volume: 117 Page(s): 253 - 258
    02/01/2010 Authors: Henderson BA; Kim JY; Golnik KC; Oetting TA; Lee AG; Volpe NJ; Aaron M; Uhler TA; Arnold A; Dunn JP
  • Ophthalmomyiasis associated with Fuchs heterochromic iridocyclitis.
    Retina Volume: 26 Page(s): 973 - 974
    10/01/2006 Authors: Spirn MJ; Hubbard GB; Bergstrom C; Harris L; Aaron MM; Broocker G
  • Phacoemulsification with topical anesthesia performed by resident surgeons.
    J Cataract Refract Surg Volume: 30 Page(s): 149 - 154
    01/01/2004 Authors: Randleman JB; Srivastava SK; Aaron MM
  • Ophthalmology resident training in refractive surgery.
    Am J Ophthalmol Volume: 131 Page(s): 241 - 243
    02/01/2001 Authors: Aaron MM; Aaberg TM
  • Long-term surgical and visual outcomes in primary congenital glaucoma: 360 degrees trabeculotomy versus goniotomy.
    J AAPOS Volume: 4 Page(s): 205 - 210
    08/01/2000 Authors: Mendicino ME; Lynch MG; Drack A; Beck AD; Harbin T; Pollard Z; Vela MA; Lynn MJ
  • Subretinal haemorrhage in idiopathic intracranial hypertension.
    Br J Ophthalmol Volume: 83 Page(s): 883 - 884
    07/01/1999 Authors: McCasland BJ; Mendicino ME; Newman NJ
  • The ophthalmology of intracranial vascular abnormalities.
    Am J Ophthalmol Volume: 125 Page(s): 527 - 544
    04/01/1998 Authors: Biousse V; Mendicino ME; Simon DJ; Newman NJ
  • 1,1'AZONORBORNANE RADICAL CATION - A SOLUTION-STABLE AZOALKANE RADICAL CATION
    ABSTRACTS OF PAPERS OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY Volume: 201 Page(s): 124 - ORGN
    04/14/1991 Authors: MENDICINO ME; BLACKSTOCK SC
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