President
Doheny Professional Alumni Association
Dear Alumni and Friends,
Happy New Year! As we welcome 2025, I hope this message finds you in good health and high spirits. The Doheny Professional Alumni Association (PAA) is excited for the year ahead, filled with opportunities to connect, learn, and celebrate our shared commitment to advancing ophthalmology.
One of the most anticipated milestones of 2025 is the opening of the new Doheny Eye Center UCLA Pasadena this February. Spanning approximately 15,000 square feet, this state-of-the-art facility is designed to enhance patient care, research, and education.
Highlights of the new clinic include:
- 36 fully equipped exam lanes
- 2 convenient procedure rooms
- 3 laser and injection rooms
- 3 certified clinical research rooms
- A 1,000 sq. ft. central imaging suite housing over 20 diagnostic and imaging devices
- Onsite call center and integrated surgery scheduling offices
We are proud to see this vision come to life and look forward to the positive impact it will have on the community and our field.
The new year also brings exciting educational opportunities through our upcoming CME programs:
- 3rd Annual Doheny-UCLA International Retina Symposium on February 1, featuring keynote speaker Dr. Hendrik Scholl of the European Vision Institute in Basel, Switzerland.
- Annual CME Conference on March 29, with the prestigious Irvine Memorial Lecture delivered by Dr. Baruch Kuppermann, Chair of the UC Irvine Department of Ophthalmology.
Following the CME Conference on March 29, we hope you will join us for the Annual Distinguished Alumnus Dinner at the beautiful Valley Hunt Club in Pasadena. This year, we are thrilled to honor Dr. David Hwang, a distinguished professor and leader in ophthalmology at UCSF, for his extraordinary contributions to our field.
Additionally, I look forward to reconnecting with many of you at the upcoming CME meetings and ARVO events. These gatherings are a wonderful opportunity to catch up, exchange ideas, and celebrate our collective achievements.
As we embark on another year, let us continue to uphold the values and mission of Doheny Eye Institute. Together, we can make 2025 a year of innovation, collaboration, and progress in vision science.
Wishing you a joyful and prosperous New Year. I hope to see you at one of our events soon!
Warm regards,
The 3rd Annual Doheny-UCLA International Retina Symposium
Join us for the 3rd Annual Doheny-UCLA International Retina Symposium on Saturday, February 1, 2025, at Doheny Eye Institute!
This must-attend event brings together renowned experts, including Hendrik P.N. Scholl, MD, MA, FARVO, and David Boyer, MD, along with distinguished faculty from Doheny and Stein and prominent ophthalmologists from the local area and across the nation. Attendees will gain insights into the latest advancements in retinal imaging, artery occlusions, whole eye transplantation, GLP-1-R agonists, and more.
Course directors Michael Ip, MD, and Kirk Hou, MD, PhD, have curated an exciting lineup of talks from leading retina specialists.
Remember that members of the Professional Alumni Association can attend this event free of charge.
Mark Your Calendar for the Annual Alumni Dinner On March 29
Join us on Saturday, March 29, 2025, at the beautiful Valley Hunt Club in Pasadena as we celebrate David G. Hwang, MD, FACS, as the 2025 Doheny Distinguished Alumnus. A renowned ophthalmologist, researcher, and educator at UCSF, Dr. Hwang has made extraordinary contributions to corneal surgery, refractive surgery, and ocular surface disorders. His dedication to advancing ophthalmology through innovation, mentorship, and patient care embodies the values of Doheny Eye Institute. Don’t miss this special evening honoring Dr. Hwang’s remarkable achievements!
Voting Opens Soon for U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals for Ophthalmology
The U.S. News & World Report annual analysis and ranking helps inform critical eye care decisions made by millions of people every year. We are honored to partner with you to advance important research and education that improves care for your patients, and we hope you will attest to the impact that Doheny Eye Institute has in ophthalmology by supporting us in this year’s U.S. News & World Report’s Best Hospitals for Ophthalmology survey. The survey will be available on Doximity soon.
IMPORTANT: Make your vote count! Ensure our Doheny Eye Institute is recognized by first confirming your voting eligibility online, which does include adding your board certification end date to your Doximity profile. You can read more about voting eligibility criteria here. Once you confirm you are eligible, you can vote at this link.
The Next Doheny Lecture Series is Feb. 7
Join us for the next Doheny Distinguished Lecture Series on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025, at 12:00 PM, featuring Rajendra Apte, MD, PhD, from Washing University School of Medicine. Dr. Apte, a leading ophthalmology researcher, will present “Marching Upstream: The Battle Against Age-Related Macular Degeneration.” This one-hour lecture, exploring groundbreaking insights into AMD, will be held at Doheny Eye Institute in Pasadena and via Zoom. To join us remotely, please register online.
Dr. Colvard was always smiling
Remembering Michael Colvard, MD
We are saddened to announce the passing of Dr. Michael Colvard, a beloved ophthalmologist, educator, and humanitarian, on September 18, 2024.
A pioneer in lens-based surgery and a generous supporter of Doheny Eye Institute, Dr. Colvard dedicated his life to advancing ophthalmic care, mentoring future clinicians, and serving underserved communities worldwide. Read more about Dr. Colvard and his connection to Doheny.
Dr. Colvard accepting the 2015 Distinguished Alumnus Award
Dr. Colvard, his wife, Sue, and two daughters, Caitlin and Megan
Our Thoughts Are With Our Community
Given the events of the past month across our Pasadena and Altadena community, as well as Greater Los Angeles, we’d like to share our sincere sympathies to all of our alumni and their families who have been affected by the recent, devasting fires. Please know that we stand with you during this challenging time. Your Doheny community is here to support you — please don’t hesitate to reach out if we can assist in any way.
Dr. Alfredo Sadun Featured in New Book About Cuba’s Blindness Epidemic
Discover the story behind a major outbreak of optic neuropathy in Cuba during the early 1990s and how Doheny’s Dr. Alfredo Sadun was instrumental in uncovering the causes, investigating the epidemic, and recommending life-changing interventions. The book is now available on Amazon.
Highlights from The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) 2024 Annual Meeting
The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) 2023 Annual Meeting took place at the McCormick Place Convention Center in Chicago from October 18-21, 2024.
Doheny and Stein Eye Institutes again united in a shared a booth to highlight the work of our physicians, recruit for open faculty positions, and provide information to prospective residents, fellows, and faculty about our respective organizations.
We are proud to share that Doheny and Stein Eye staff welcomed over 1,000 visitors to the booth and provided branded goodies to build awareness as visitors return to their respective institutions across the country.
The annual alumni reception was held at the Westin Riverfront North. Over 175 guests enjoyed delicious appetizers, and danced to the tunes of DJ AJA, otherwise known as Dr. Anthony Aldave. It was a pleasure to reconnect with many of you, and to those who we didn’t have an opportunity to see, we hope to have an opportunity to reunite with you at a future alumni event.
Photos taken at our AAO booth
Photos taken at AAO Reception
Join Doheny at ARVO 2025
Planning for our presence at the 2025 Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) Annual Meeting is well underway! This year’s meeting will take place from May 4–8 in Salt Lake City, Utah, and, excitingly, this year’s planning was led by Doheny’s own SriniVas Sadda, MD, FARVO, who currently serves as ARVO’s president. Dr. Sadda is the Director of Artificial Intelligence & Imaging Research at Doheny Eye Institute and Professor of Ophthalmology at the UCLA Geffen School of Medicine.
We hope you will join us on Sunday, May 4, at 6:30 a.m. for the annual Doheny Breakfast Forum, titled “Oculomics: Accelerating Discovery of Systemic Disease Mechanisms.” The event will be held at the Hyatt Regency Salt Lake City. We are also finalizing plans for the ARVO Annual Alumni Reception, and additional details, including registration links, will be shared soon.
Doheny and the UCLA Stein Eye Institute will once again share a booth, and while the official lineup of presentations is still being finalized, we anticipate strong representation from Doheny.
In the coming months, we will share more details about our booth number, the presentation schedule for Doheny researchers and clinician-scientists, and our annual Doheny-hosted ARVO events. Stay updated by visiting our Doheny events page for RSVP information.
Enjoy the Benefits of Membership to the Doheny Professional Alumni Association
Joining the Doheny Professional Alumni Association (PAA) is more than just staying connected—it’s about making a lasting impact on the future of ophthalmology while unlocking exclusive opportunities for professional growth and collaboration.
As a PAA member, you directly support the next generation of clinicians and researchers by funding ARVO Travel Awards, scholarships, cutting-edge courses, lectures, and essential educational resources. Your membership fuels innovation and ensures that Doheny-trained professionals continue to lead in vision science.
Don’t just be part of the alumni network—be a driving force behind it. Join today and help shape the future of ophthalmology!
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 join or renew your membership, please click the button below.