New to VEI
VEI at Health Zone Fair
Deepa Chandrasekaran, MS, OD, Christopher Grove, Chenbin Huang, and Amelia Colgate, represented VEI at the eye screening for Health Zone Fair on October 27th. They screened and refracted almost 100 people.
Twenty years ago Sean Donahue, MD, PhD, operated on a 3-month-old boy at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt to remove congenital cataracts and allow the child to grow up with normal vision.
Earlier this summer, Donahue heard from the boy, Jai Ailawadi, now a rising junior at Georgetown University, who happened to be in Nashville for an internship with a health care private equity firm.
“You did surgery on me 20 years ago,” Ailawadi wrote. “You have changed my life in more ways than I can express in an email. I have a lot of gratitude to express toward you.
“You made it possible for me to run triathlons, to play soccer and lacrosse, to swim, to do all these things that most kids born with cataracts don’t have the opportunity to do. I would love to meet you at some point because you’ve had an incredible impact on my life and my family’s life.”
Link to whole article here
Reid Longmuir, MD to assume role of Residency Program Director
When Dr. Longmuir joined Vanderbilt’s faculty in 2015, he dove right in to contribute to our educational mission. He began as a VU SOM Portfolio Coach for students during their 4 years of training, a Small Group Facilitator for case-based learning in the M1 year, Course Director for the Enhanced Experience in Ophthalmology for advanced students and served as Resident Education Liaison for Neuro-ophthalmology. In 2022, he was selected as Associate Residency Director, assisting Dr. Jennifer Lindsey with advancing residency program initiatives, and developing resident education curricular enhancements and trainee assessments. We can't wait to see our residency program flourish under his leadership!
Paul Sternberg, Jr., MD named next Executive Vice President of AUPO
With great pleasure, the Board of Trustees announces the appointment of Paul Sternberg, Jr., MD as the next Executive Vice President of AUPO effective January 1, 2025.
Congratulations Faculty & Residents
Special Awards
Laura Wayman Award: Edward (Ted) Cherney, MD
Karla Johns Award: Dolly Ann Padovani-Claudio, MD
Faculty Awards
Denis O’Day Clinical Instructor: Avni Finn, MD
Bridge Builder Award: Bina Patel, MD
Best Fellow 2023-2024: Logan Smith, MD
Resident Awards:
Benchmark Award: Kari Fossum, MD
Leadership Award: Sean Berkowitz, MD
Best Research Paper Award: Sean Berkowitz, MD
Tonia Rex, PhD, takes on new role as Vice Chair for Basic and Translational Research as David Calkins, PhD, steps into Vice Chair for Strategy Role.
Tonia Rex, PhD David Calkins, PhD
A "Site" for Sore Eyes
Four years ago, Roger Lasater went outside to look at the stars and the moon and couldn’t see them. He was was in the beginning stages of age-related macular degeneration, one of the many eye diseases studied by physician-scientists at the Vanderbilt Eye Institute.
Link to full article here
Dora Mathe, MS, OD, FAAO named Optometry Division Chief
In this role, Dr. Mathe will provide oversight of both pediatric and adult optometry services, ensuring high quality care and high patient satisfaction. Congratulations, Dr. Mathe!
Jeff Hunter, MD joins VEI
Jeffrey S. Hunter, MD is originally from Dallas Texas, but spent 27 years in private practice as a Pediatric Ophthalmologist in Tyler, Texas. He recently moved up to the Nashville area to be near all of his children and grandchildren. Graduating from Baylor University with a B. S. in Biology, he then headed to University of Texas at Houston ( McGovern) Medical School. After his internship in Internal Medicine at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, he stayed in the Metroplex area to train as an Ophthalmologist , completing his residency at UT Southwestern. From there, he headed east to Duke University, where he completed a fellowship in Pediatric Ophthalmology and Adult Strabismus . He returned to Texas serving the East Texas region in private practice for many years before moving to join Vanderbilt Eye Institute. Dr. Hunter enjoys any activity with his family and traveling with his wife and working outdoors.
Dr. Nicholas Volpe gave the 18th Annual Paul Sternberg Sr. Lectureship
From left to right: David K. Wallace, MD, MPH, Professor and Chair, Nicholas Volpe, MD, Mrs. Gloria Sternberg, Paul Sternberg, Jr., MD, Former Director, Vanderbilt Eye Institute
The New York Times reporter, Gina Kolata interviewed David Calkins, PhD, Director, Vanderbilt Vision Research Center, for a story about safety and viewing of the solar eclipse coming in April.
Congratulations to our 2024 Gass Fellows, Drs. Nicolaas DeRuyter and Tahreem Mir.
It was a very special night for VEI Retina, remembering a legendary clinician, Dr. J. Donald M. Gass.
Dr. Lori Ann Kehler named Associate Vice Chair of Faculty Affairs
Lori Ann Kehler, O.D. has been named Associate Vice Chair for Faculty Affairs. In this role, Dr. Kehler will organize and oversee our departmental mentoring program, and she will partner with Vice Chair, Dr. Milam Brantley in leading faculty-related initiatives such as appointments and promotions, career development, faculty engagement, and award nominations. Dr. Kehler also serves as the Chief of our Optometry Division.
Large, Diverse Genetic Study of Glaucoma Implicates Vascular and Cancer-related Genes
An international genetic study using multiancestry biobanks has identified novel genetic locations associated with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), the most common type of glaucoma and the leading cause of irreversible blindness globally.
CLICK HERE to read the full article in the VUMC Reporter
VEI Announces 2024 Fellowship and Residency Match Results
