President
Doheny Professional Alumni Association
Warm greetings and welcome to the final Eye on Doheny Alumni newsletter of 2024!
As we head into the remaining months of this year, I would like to wish each of you a happy and healthy upcoming holiday season.
It has been a pleasure to reconnect with many of our Professional Alumni Association (PAA) members during our alumni receptions and events throughout 2024. We hope to see many of you on October 20 during our Annual Alumni Reception at AAO. And, as we look ahead to 2025, it’s not too early to mark your calendar for more upcoming CME and PAA events. Additional details on these events, including links for more information and to RSVP, are included in this newsletter.
We are also excited to announce that the Doheny Alumni Association board of directors has selected David G. Hwang, MD, FACS, of UCSF as the 2025 Distinguished Alumnus. Dr. Hwang has made significant contributions to ophthalmology, and we look forward to celebrating his achievements at the annual alumni dinner on March 29, 2025.
In this issue, we are pleased to include updates and impressive accomplishments of our alumni community. These stories reflect the strength and influence of the Doheny alumni network in advancing ophthalmology, research, and patient care.
I also encourage you to renew your membership or sign up to become a member of the PAA. There are numerous benefits and opportunities that will support your professional journey, as well as the continued networking and events that we offer annually.
As we prepare to close out another calendar year, please remember to share any professional achievements with us, such as awards, keynote addresses or other prestigious speaking engagements, new jobs, or subspecialty updates, as well as any personal news such as weddings, the birth of a child or a grandchild, or any other wonderful news in your life. We are always eager to share this news with your colleagues in an upcoming Eye on Doheny Alumni newsletter!
All of us at Doheny Eye Institute are tremendously grateful for your continued support, and we look forward to seeing you at one of our upcoming events.
David G. Hwang, MD, FACS, Named 2025 Doheny Distinguished Alumnus
Each year, the Doheny Professional Alumni Association recognizes an individual who has made extraordinary contributions to the field of ophthalmology and who embodies the values and mission of Doheny Eye Institute. In 2025, we are honored to celebrate David G. Hwang, MD, FACS, as the newest Doheny Distinguished Alumnus.
Dr. Hwang is a renowned ophthalmologist and professor at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). He is widely recognized for his expertise in corneal and external diseases, refractive surgery, and ocular surface disorders. Dr. Hwang earned his undergraduate degree from Stanford University before completing his medical degree at UCSF, where he also completed a residency in ophthalmology. He went on to pursue advanced fellowship training in cornea, external disease, and refractive surgery at the Doheny Eye Institute.
Throughout his distinguished career, Dr. Hwang has demonstrated a commitment to advancing the field of ophthalmology through clinical excellence, research, and education. He has authored over 120 peer-reviewed publications and has contributed to several book chapters in the areas of corneal transplantation, dry eye syndrome, and the use of advanced technology in refractive surgery. His research has made significant impacts in the development of innovative treatments for complex corneal diseases and has shaped the future of ocular surgery.
In addition to his contributions to academic medicine, Dr. Hwang has held leadership positions in numerous professional organizations, including the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) and the Cornea Society, where he has played a vital role in promoting advancements in corneal surgery and educating the next generation of ophthalmologists. He has received numerous accolades for his contributions to the field, including the AAO’s Lifetime Achievement Award and election to the American Ophthalmological Society.
Currently, Dr. Hwang serves as the director of the Cornea Service and Refractive Surgery Center at UCSF, where he continues to mentor residents and fellows, shaping the future of ophthalmic care. His dedication to patient care, research, and education makes him an exemplary representative of Doheny Eye Institute’s mission to lead and transform the field of vision science.
We are proud to honor Dr. Hwang as the 2025 Doheny Distinguished Alumnus for his profound impact on ophthalmology and his dedication to improving the lives of patients around the world.
Alumni Connections: Celebrating Lifelong Bonds in the Doheny Community
We are thrilled to share personal reflections and photos from two of our esteemed Doheny alumni. Their stories highlight the meaningful connections they’ve built with fellow alumni and the lasting impact of the Doheny community on their professional and personal lives.
These snapshots offer a glimpse into the strong bonds that continue to unite Doheny graduates, fostering collaboration and lifelong friendships within our remarkable network.
The relationships and friendships from Doheny are strong and continue in the future. My training at the Doheny Eye Institute was exceptional but what I appreciate the most are the people, from my co-residents to the fellows to the attendings. From the crucible of the Los Angeles County hospital, those relationships have thrived and continue today. For instance, at the Annual American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) meeting, we have a regular tradition where Tom O’Hearn picks the best restaurant in town and Mike Jahaveri brings the wine as we dine together to catch up. Last year in San Francisco, we had a wonderful turnout involving Dean Eliott, Leo Kim, Michael Javaheri, Hani Salehi-Had, Dan Esmaili, and Thomas O’hearn (see picture on the right). I also serve on the AAO Board of Trustees where I am fortunate to work with other Doheny Alumni: Stephen McCleod, Tim Stout, and Tamara Fountain to Protect Sight and Empower Lives. There is a special bond among us who have trained at Doheny, and it is always wonderful to run into people later in your career who share those special experiences.
Rahul Khurana
Resident Class of 2006
Uveitis Fellow 2007
L to R: Dean Eliott, Rahul Khurana, Leo Kim, Mike Javaheri, Hani Salehi-Had, Dan Esmaili, and Tom O’Hearn
Mike Javaheri presenting at the 57th Annual Retina Society Meeting September 14, 2024 in Lisbon, Portugal
It was special to present cutting-edge clinical trial data at the meeting of The Retina Society in Lisbon, Portugal. I had the pleasure of speaking on Outcomes of Patients with Diabetic Macular Edema with Aflibercept 8 mg and 2 mg in the Phase 2/3 PHOTON Trial. Dr. Michael Ip was also presenting data regarding Eylea HD during that portion of the session and we were able to be part of the same discussion group. The meeting was organized by Dr. Jennifer Lim, a Doheny faculty alumnus and my former attending, who can be seen as well leading the question-and-answer portion. Without a doubt, the Doheny connection is real and is felt among us all from different generations.
Mike Javaheri
Resident Class of 2006
2-year Retina Fellow 2010
Connect with Doheny During the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) Annual Meeting
During the upcoming American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) 2024 Annual Meeting, 10 Doheny clinicians have been selected to give more than 20 talks and presentations. The annual meeting takes place October 18-21, 2024 at McCormick Place in Chicago.
They will present on a variety of topics that include: the retina, uveitis, age-related macular degeneration, neuro-ophthalmology, geographic atrophy, MIGS devices, ocular pathology and oncology, applied artificial intelligence in OCT imaging, and more.
The lineup of Doheny speakers includes:
- Judy L. Chen, MD
- Vikas Chopra, MD
- Alexander S. Fein, MD
- Brian A. Francis, MD
- Michael S. Ip, MD
- Peter A. Quiros, MD
- SriniVas R. Sadda, MD
- Alfredo A. Sadun, MD, PhD
- Victoria L. Tseng, MD, PhD
- Federico G. Velez, MD – 2024 Senior Achievement Award Recipient
In addition to joining Doheny-led sessions, please visit Doheny’s booth #5252 in the exhibition hall.
To celebrate, please join us at the Doheny and Stein Eye Institutes Annual Alumni Reception on October 20 from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. To RSVP see below.
Alumni to be Recognized at the AAO Annual Meeting
Every year, the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) recognizes a select few individuals for their contributions to the Academy, its scientific and educational programs and to ophthalmology. Please join us in congratulating Doheny alumni and former faculty that will be celebrated this year.
2024 Life Achievement Honor Award Recipients
- David Huang, MD, PhD (Alum)
- Peter J. McDonnell, MD (Former faculty)
- Steven Schallhorn, MD (Alum)
2024 Senior Achievement Award Recipient
- Berthold Seitz, MD (Doheny Society of Scholars Recipient)
2024 Achievement Award Recipient
- Ramya N. Swamy, MD (Alum)
Last call for RSVPs: Doheny and Stein Eye Institutes Annual Alumni Reception at AAO
Today is the RSVP deadline for the Doheny and Stein Eye Institutes Annual Alumni Reception at AAO! This annual gathering of alumni takes place on Sunday, October 20 at the Westin Chicago River North beginning at 6:00 p.m. The evening includes incredible food and cocktails, music, dancing, and networking. We look forward to seeing you!
Dr. SriniVas Sadda Co-Authors Study on SLIViT: A Breakthrough Deep-Learning Model Revolutionizing 3D Medical Image Analysis
SriniVas Sadda, MD, has co-authored a study on SLIViT, a groundbreaking deep-learning model that rapidly analyzes 3D medical images with accuracy comparable to specialists. The publication, featured in the October 1, 2024 issue of Nature Biomedical Engineering, includes Oren Avram, PhD, a postdoctoral researcher at UCLA Computational Medicine, as a co-first author. Unlike traditional models, SLIViT adapts across multiple imaging modalities, such as retinal scans, MRI, and CT, while requiring only hundreds of training samples. Dr. Sadda has noted SLIViT’s impressive performance, especially with smaller datasets, making it a powerful tool for advancing diagnostic efficiency, timeliness, and medical research. To read more, search DOI: 10.1038/s41551-024-01257-9 or visit https://www.nature.com/articles/s41551-024-01257-9. If you are not a subscriber to Nature.com, you can read the full article here.
Enjoy the Benefits of Membership to the Doheny Professional Alumni Association
Connecting with colleagues and networking is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the advantages of joining the Doheny Professional Alumni Association (PAA).
The goal of the PAA is to help maintain lifelong connections between graduates and Doheny Eye Institute, while also providing ongoing support and opportunities for personal and professional development.
Members have access to resources that support research and clinical fellows – such as the annual ARVO Travel Awards. The PAA will use funds generated through dues to expand support to clinical and research fellows through scholarships, underwriting courses and lectures, and gifting educational materials.
Additional PAA member benefits include:
- Invitation to the alumni receptions at the Annual American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) and the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) meetings
- Invitation to the Annual Alumni Dinner to celebrate the Distinguished Alumnus with a reduced fee
- Free registration for one Doheny CME conference of your choice (a savings of at least $100)
- Alumni eNewsletter to keep you connected to Doheny
To help strengthen our alumni community as well as support future generations, please click the button below.
Highlights from the 6th Annual Doheny-UCLA Glaucoma Symposium
The 6th Annual Doheny-UCLA Glaucoma Symposium took place on Saturday, September 28. The course, which was developed and co-directed by Vikas Chopra, MD, and Brian Francis, MD, MS, was attended by over 80 attendees.
Key topics covered included glaucoma progression, innovative treatments, complex surgical strategies, and advancements in imaging.
Highlights of the day included two keynote lectures, a presentation by Donald Minckler, MD, as well as dynamic talks by Doheny and UCLA Stein Eye Institutes clinicians.
Photo: 2024 Glaucoma Symposium Faculty from left to right: Iris Zhuang, MD; Kouros Nouri-Mahdavi, MD, MS; Donald Minckler, MD; Victoria Tseng, MD, PhD; Teresa C. Chen, MD; Vikas Chopra, MD; Brian Francis, MD, MS; Judy Chen, MD; Kuldev Singh, MD, MPH; Vivian Qin, MD; Simon K. Law, MD, PharmD; Adam C. Tanaka, MD; Reza Alizadeh, MD
The Donald Minckler Doheny Glaucoma Lecturer was:
Kuldev Singh, MD, MPH
Professor of Ophthalmology
Director of Glaucoma Service
Stanford Medicine Health Care
Stanford Byers Eye Institute
A second keynote was delivered by:
Teresa C. Chen, MD
Associate Professor of Ophthalmology
Harvard Medical School
Senior Scientist
Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary
Thank you to all who joined us, and we hope to see you again at one of our future CME courses in 2025!
Save the Dates: 2025 Alumni Events and CME Courses
It’s never too soon to mark your calendar for engaging and informative professional events. Here are key dates and details for some of the most anticipated annual Doheny Eye Institute gatherings during the first half of 2025:
February 1, 2025
3rd Annual Doheny-UCLA International Retina Symposium
- Time: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
- Location: Doheny Eye Institute
- CME Credits: 7
Photo: Dr. Sadda presenting at the 2024 Retina Symposium
March 29, 2025
Annual CME Conference featuring Doheny Alumni
- Time: 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
- Location: Doheny Eye Institute
- CME Credits: 6
Distinguished Alumnus Dinner honoring David G. Hwang, MD, FACS
- Time: 5:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
- Location: Valley Hunt Club
- Additional information forthcoming
For more information on these events, and all upcoming Doheny events, visit our Doheny Events page.