Meet The Team
Course Director
Richard F. Spaide, MD
Dr. Spaide specializes in diseases of the retina and vitreous. His particular interests include retinal surgery, Macular Degeneration, Macular Holes, Macular Pucker, Diabetic Retinopathy, and intraocular inflammation. He has published more than 300 articles and 50 book chapters and 9 books about the diagnosis and treatment of Retinal Diseases. He has given lectures around the world.
About
He has a remarkable number of “firsts” in retinal diseases including the development of autofluorescence imaging using a fundus camera and the first practical method to image deeper structures in the eye with optical coherence tomography. These imaging methods now are used around the world. He has described many new findings and diseases of the eye and helped develop many novel treatments. He has developed numerous surgical instruments that were named after him and holds patents for ophthalmic inventions.
Awards
He is the recipient of the Richard and Hilda Rosenthal Foundation Award in the Visual Sciences, the Senior Honor Award from the American Society of Retinal Surgeons, and the Senior Achievement Award from the American Academy of Opthalmology and the Prix Soubrane de la Recherche en Ophthalmologie, Award of Merit from the Retina Society, the Henkind Award, Coscas Award, Nataraja Pillai Award, W. Richard Green MD Award, George Theodossiadis Award, Founders Award, American Society of Retinal Surgeons, Life Achievement Honor Award, American Academy of Ophthalmology, and the Simon Gratz Award, Thomas Jefferson University. Dr. Spaide was chosen as the 2016 recipient of the Roger H. Johnson Macular Degeneration Award and the America's Best Eye Doctor 2022 Award. This is given every 2 years to an individual making a substantial contribution to the understanding, diagnosis, or treatment of macular degeneration, and is one of the most prestigious awards in macular degeneration research.
Author
Dr. Spaide is the first author with the most articles in the top 100 list. According to the Web of Science search, the most cited article published from 2010 to 2020 was “Retinal Vascular Layers Imaged by Fluorescein Angiography,” published in Jama Ophthalmology, written by Dr. Spaide.
MedicalBoards
Dr. Spaide is on medical boards of a number of institutions and has been mentioned in multiple Who’s Who and Best Doctors lists. He is a past executive editor of the American Journal of Ophthalmology and is currently associate editor of the journal Retina. He is on the editorial board of numerous journals.
Education
Undergraduate: Muhlenberg College
Medical School: Jefferson Medical College
Ophthalmology Residency: St. Vincent’s Hospital and Medical Center of New York
Vitreoretinal Surgical Fellowship: Manhattan Eye, Ear & Throat Hospital
Academic Appointments
Clinical Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology, NYU
Innovations
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Developed autofluorescence imaging using a fundus camera
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Created the first practical method to image deeper structures in the eye with optical coherence tomography
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Invented a system of instruments for vitrectomy surgery to improve surgical procedures and provide solutions for issues with prior components
Curriculum Vitae
View Dr. Spaide’s full academic history, professional achievements, and research accomplishments. < https://www.vrmny.com/ophthalmologists-retina-specialists/richard-f-spaide-md/>
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KELMAN, MD LECTURE
Faculty
Denise Visco, MD
Dr. Visco is an award winning ocular surgeon, Medical Director and founder of Eyes of York. In addition to being certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology, she is among the few elite providers certified by the American Board of Eye Surgery, performing over 15,000 no stitch cataract surgeries as well as thousands of Laser Vision Correction procedures. Dr. Visco is a pioneer of surgical advancement being the first female surgeon in the world to perform cataract surgery with the LENSAR Advanced Laser Cataract System. She is also the first in the area to offer all laser LASIK procedures and customized options for cataract surgery.
Dr. Visco graduated with honors from the University of Delaware, Jefferson Medical College, and Penn State University. She went on to found Eyes of York in 1996 and soon after established a free standing laser center for Laser Vision Correction. Additionally, she opened York County’s first and only ambulatory surgical center specializing in eye surgery.
Dr. Visco is the Medical Director, Eyes of York
President-elect, Cedars/Aspens
Immediate Past President, American College of Eye Surgeons
Faculty
Daniela Ferrara, MD, PhD
Dr. Ferrara received her medical degree suma cum laude from Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, one of the most prestigious universities in South America. During medical school, she joined a research group from the Biophysics Institute and conducted laboratory research projects on macromolecular metabolism at the Health Sciences Center. She completed a surgical internship and ophthalmology residency at the same University, followed by a Master’s Degree in Ophthalmology conducting experimental research on electrophysiology of chromatic vision. Dr. Ferrara completed her training at University of Sao Paulo, Brazil, achieving a PhD degree in Visual Sciences with her research on multimodal imaging on retinal dystrophy. Dr. Ferrara moved to the United States in 2006 to complete a research fellowship in Medical Retina at the Manhattan Eye, Ear & Throat Hospital affiliated to New York University, and since then she has been working on multimodal imaging analysis for clinical trials on retinal diseases. Dr. Ferrara’s training and career are shaped to bring together basic research and clinical challenges.
Dr. Ferrara’s major research interests include imaging of the posterior segment of the eye, and multimodal imaging analysis on pathological conditions of the vitreous, retina and choroid. She is focused on dystrophic and degenerative diseases of the retina, and retinal vascular diseases. As Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology at Tufts University School of Medicine, Dr. Ferrara is currently involved with the Optical Coherence Tomography Team at the New England Eye Center, a multidisciplinary group that promotes the scientific contribution on a clinical setting between retina specialists and the Research Laboratory of Electronics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Professional Affiliations
Academic Appointments
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Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology, Tufts University School of Medicine
Education and Training
Retinal fellowship
Research Fellowship, New York, New York, USA
Additional fellowship
Medical Retina Doctoral Fellowship, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
Ophthalmology residency
Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
Internship
Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
Medical school
Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
Course Director
Michael S. Ip, MD
Dr. Ip is the Chief of the Vitreoretinal Surgery Service at the Doheny Eye Centers, UCLA. His practice concentrates on the surgical management of complex retinal detachment, complications of diabetic retinopathy, macular holes, epiretinal membranes and other vitreoretinal diseases amenable to surgical intervention.
In addition, he has served as the National Director for numerous NIH-funded ophthalmic clinical trials.
Education
Medical Board Certification
Ophthalmology, American Board of Ophthalmology, 1999
Fellowship
New England Eye Center, 1999
Residency
University of Pittsburgh, 1997
Internship
Lenox Hill Hospital, 1994
Degree
New York University School of Medicine, MD, 1993
Course Director
Ronald E.P. Frenkel, MD
Dr. Frenkel founded the East Florida Eye Institute in 1989 to bring state-of-the-art diagnosis and treatment to the Treasure Coast, specializing in the most advanced treatments for Cataract, Diabetic Retinopathy, Macular Degeneration and Glaucoma. He is certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology. He is a Former Professor of Ophthalmology on the Voluntary Faculty at the US News #1 Ranked Eye Hospital Bascom Palmer Eye Institute. He is a recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award of the Kresge Eye Institute and has been annually rated a Top Doctor by U.S. News and World Report and Castle Connolly.
Dr. Frenkel is a recipient of the Achievement Award from the American Academy of Ophthalmology. He was honored with a Glaucoma Fellowship at Harvard Medical School, and a Retina Fellowship at East Florida Eye Institute. He did his residency at the Kresge Eye Institute and his internship at Harvard Medical School. He is one of the very few Elected Members of both the American Society of Retina Specialists and the American Glaucoma Society. Dr. Frenkel has spoken at over 100+ Medical meetings, published over 80+ Peer Reviewed Manuscripts & Abstracts, and has been a Principal Investigator in 90+ Clinical Trials that have brought revolutionary new treatments to patients in his field of studies.
Education
Residency
Kresge Eye Institute
Internship
Harvard Medical School
Degree
Wayne State University School Of Medicine
Graduated 1982
Faculty
William R. Katowitz, MD
As an oculoplastic and orbital surgeon who primarily treats children, Dr. William Katowitz fills a highly specialized role at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). He is not to be confused with his father Dr. James Katowitz, who also works at CHOP as an Attending Surgeon in the Division of Ophthalmology and the Director of Oculoplastic and Orbital Surgery. It is easy to assume that Dr. Katowitz the younger followed in the footsteps of his father. But as Paul McCartney would say, Dr. Katowitz took “the long and winding road” to where he is today.
“My dad is an incredible inspiration,” said Dr. Katowitz, who noted that although he ultimately ended up in the same division of the same hospital as his father, he didn’t realize that he wanted to pursue medicine until later in life. “My journey was somewhat circuitous in that I didn’t go right out of college into med school,” said Dr. Katowitz. After earning his undergraduate degree from Brown University in 1989, Dr. Katowitz decided to move to New York to pursue music professionally. After 10 years of playing in a band, however, he decided that life in the music industry was no longer what he wanted.
“I realized I wasn’t using my mind to the extent that I wanted to,” said Dr. Katowitz, who then moved to Boston to do a post-baccalaureate premed program. When Dr. Katowitz was accepted into the Perelman School of Medicine, he did not yet know he would specialize in ophthalmology. “I actually was interested in infectious diseases when I applied to medical school, because it was the time of the AIDS crisis,” he said. During medical school, however, his interests veered towards surgical specialties, and he eventually landed on ophthalmology.
After graduating from his ophthalmology residency at Scheie, Dr. Katowitz completed not one, not two, but three fellowships. Two of those fellowships were at CHOP, one in Pediatric Ophthalmology and another in Oculoplastic and Orbital Surgery. Dr. Katowitz went to London for his third fellowship, which was in Orbital and Lacrimal Surgery at Moorfields Eye Hospital. Because Moorfields Eye Hospital is a high-volume center for orbital disease, Dr. Katowitz did a great deal of surgical training during his year there.
“When you’re well trained and then you do more training, you just turbocharge your skillset,” said Dr. Katowitz. In 2008 he joined the faculty at CHOP as an Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology. Dr. Katowitz is also the director of CHOP’s two-year oculoplastics fellowship.
Dr. Katowitz’s practice is roughly 90% pediatric and 10% adults, but he sees all of his patients at CHOP. “Most of what I see, I call it the four Ts: tumors, trauma, tearing, and ptosis,” Dr. Katowitz said, chuckling. “And that’s kind of a medical joke because ptosis is spelled with a P.”
Dr. Katowitz often works with children with thyroid conditions, hemangiomas, and vascular malformations in addition to eyelid and tear duct abnormalities. He explained that the aim of most of his surgical work is rehabilitation. “I take something that doesn’t look as good as it could and try to make it look better,” said Dr. Katowitz. He added that although most of the procedures he performs at CHOP are functional, appearance and functionality go hand-in-hand. For example, a child with an eyelid abnormality, or ptosis, will see and look better after undergoing a surgery.
“People feel very strongly about the way they look, and sometimes the way they look gets in the way of how they feel,” said Dr. Katowitz.
In addition to being a passionate surgeon and clinician, Dr. Katowitz also conducts research. Most recently, he was involved in a study that was successful in identifying risk factors for craniosynostosis, a condition in which the plates in a child’s skull fuse too early. “The pressure in the head goes up, and it can lead to cognitive delays and issues with swallowing, chewing, breathing, and seeing,” explained Dr. Katowitz. “One of the signs of pressure in the head is a change to the back of the eye.”
Conventional techniques for detecting craniosynostosis are invasive and can potentially cause problems such as bleeding, infections, or a leak of cerebrospinal fluid. Dr. Katowitz and his colleagues investigated if taking light-wave images of the retina through a process called optical coherence tomography (OCT) could be an alternative, non-invasive technique for identifying elevated intracranial pressure. They studied 79 children undergoing treatment at CHOP and compared the results of a spectral-domain OCT with directly measured intracranial pressure. Ultimately, the study identified retina imaging as a promising technique for safely and noninvasively measuring pressure in the skull.
Above all, Dr. Katowitz’s passion for patient care is the ultimate motivation behind his work. “The main thing is that, as touchy-feely as it sounds, in medicine you’re here to serve people,” said Dr. Katowitz. “I love the interactions I have with patients and their families. That’s why I do it.”
NORTON , MD LECTURE
Faculty
Judy Kim, MD
Dr. Judy Kim was inducted into the American Ophthalmological Society (AOS) during the society’s 150th (2014) annual meeting in New York. The AOS is limited to 275 active members and has included most of the notable luminaries in ophthalmology over the years.
Dr. Kim is the first Korean-American ophthalmologist to become an AOS member. Founded in 1864, during the Civil War, the AOS was the first specialty society in the country, and its membership has served to influence virtually every facet of American ophthalmology. Admission to membership starts with a nomination process based on leadership and research in ophthalmology and requires the writing and publication of a thesis within three years of nomination. Acceptance into the society continues to represent special recognition of personal achievement.
Dr. Kim is the President of the American Society of Retina Specialists
Education and Training
Doctor of Medicine
Johns Hopkins University
School of Medicine
Baltimore, MD (1990)
Residency
Bascom Palmer Eye Institute - Miami, FL (1991-1994)
Fellowship in Vitreo-Retinal Diseases and Surgery Medical College of Wisconsin - Milwaukee, WI (1994-1996)
Course Director
Michael W. Stewart, MD
Michael W. Stewart, MD is a Professor in the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Chairman of the Department of Ophthalmology at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida. For the past 7 years, Dr. Stewart has also served as Chairman of the Mayo Clinic Facilities Planning Committee where he heads the institution's construction projects and maintenance services.
Dr. Stewart received his undergraduate degree in chemistry from Harvard College and graduated from the McGill University School of Medicine. He served as an Internal Medicine resident at Jackson Memorial Hospital/University of Miami and completed a residency of Ophthalmology at Emory University. This was followed by vitreoretinal fellowships at the Retina Research Foundation at Touro Infirmary in New Orleans and the University of California, Davis. Dr. Stewart spent 10 years in private practice before joining the Mayo Clinic in 1999.
Dr. Stewart is past president of the Florida Society of Ophthalmology and current councilor of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. He is a member of the American Society of Retina Specialists and Macula Society and received an Achievement Award from the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
His research interests include the treatment of infectious retinopathies, the mathematical modeling of vitreoretinal diseases and treatments, and the pharmacokinetics of ophthalmic drugs.
Education
Fellow
Vitreoretinal Diseases: Maurice Landers, M.D., Chief of SectionUniversity of California, Davis (1989)
Vitreoretinal Diseases: Kurt A. Gitter, M.D. and Gerald Cohen, M.D.Retina Research Foundation (1988)
Resident
Department of Ophthalmology, Emory University (1987)
Department of Medicine, University of Miami (1984)
Degree
School of Medicine, McGill University (1983)
Faculty
Louis B. Cantor, MD
Louis B. Cantor, MD, is the Jay C. and Lucile L. Kahn Professor of Ophthalmology at Indiana University School of Medicine. He completed his undergraduate and graduate medical education at Indiana University and was an ophthalmology resident at Indiana University, graduating in 1984. In 1985, he completed his glaucoma fellowship at Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia under the direction of George L. Spaeth, MD.
Dr. Cantor joined the IU School of Medicine Department of Ophthalmology as director of the Glaucoma Service in 1985. From 1986 through 1989, Dr. Cantor also served as chief of Ophthalmology at Eskenazi Memorial Hospital, now Eskenazi Health (Indianapolis). From 1996 until 2006, he served as director of the Ophthalmology Residency Program for the department. In 1999, he attained the rank of Professor of Ophthalmology. Dr. Cantor also served as chair for the department from 2009 - 2017.
Dr. Cantor is a frequent invited lecturer and has presented several named lectureships. He is the recipient of multiple grants and has published more than 100 abstracts and 80 peer reviewed publications.
Dr. Cantor was appointed Senior Secretary for Education for the American Academy of Ophthalmology in January 2013. He is a member of the American Medical Association, the Indiana State Medical Association, the Association for Research and Vision in Ophthalmology, the American Glaucoma Society, and other professional organizations. In addition, Dr. Cantor serves as an associate examiner for the American Board of Ophthalmology and has served as a scientific advisor and reviewer for many ophthalmology publications, including Ophthalmology, American Journal of Ophthalmology, Archives of Ophthalmology, Journal of Glaucoma and others.
Titles & Appointments
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Jay C. & Lucile L. Kahn Professor Emeritus of Glaucoma Research and Education
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Professor Emeritus of Ophthalmology
Education
Fellowship
Wills Eye Hospital (Philadelphia) - 1985
Residency
Indiana University School of Medicine (Indianapolis) - 1984
Medical Degree
Indiana University - 1980
Degree
Indiana University - 1976
Faculty
E. Randy Craven, MD
A pioneer of minimally-invasive glaucoma surgery, Dr. Craven previously served as chief, Wilmer Eye Institute–Bethesda, and associate professor of ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins University.
30+ years of clinical experience for cataracts and glaucoma. One of the first MIGS surgeons for glaucoma, lead enrollment in multiple glaucoma and cataract trials. Served as advisor, researcher or author for over 125 clinical trials.
Managed large MD-OD, multiple location with 2 ASCs, 3 optical shops, and LASIK for over 10 years.
Chief of Glaucoma at the largest hospital in the Middle East.
Developed new business plan and change for Johns Hopkins, Wilmer Eye Institute, expansion for eye care in the Nations Capital Market.
Education
Undergraduate
1979 B.S. Regis College, Dual Major—Biology and Chemistry, Denver, CO; summa cum laude
Doctoral/graduate
1983 M.D. University of Colorado School of Medicine, Denver, CO
Postdoctoral
1983-84 Intern, Rotating--Presbyterian Hospital, Denver, CO
1984-87 Resident, Ophthalmology, University Texas Health Sciences Center at Dallas, TX
1987-88 Fellowship, Glaucoma, Wills Eye Hospital, Philadelphia, PA
Faculty
Matthew D. Kay, MD
Dr. Kay received his undergraduate degree from Northwestern University in Illinois, his medical training at Temple University, and his neuro-ophthalmoloy fellowship at the world renowned Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia. He then served as a full-time faculty member at the prestigious Bascom Palmer Eye Institute in Miami prior to inintiating the first full-time private practice devoted exclusively to neuro-ophthalmology to cover the tri-county area in Southeast Florida, Dr. Kay frequently teaches and lectures to practicing ophthalmologists, optometrists, residents, and students. Dr. Kay has helped create the neuro-ophthalmology study curriculum for practicing ophthalmologists who are studying to maintain their Board certification and annually co-teaches the neuro-ophthalmology portion of the American Academy of Ophthalmology's MOC Review Course.
Specialties
Ophthalmology and Other Specialty
Hospital Affiliations
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Jackson North Medical Center
Education and Training
Medical School
Lewis Katz School Of Medicine At Temple UniversityGraduated in 1987
Faculty
Richard L. Lindstrom, MD
Dr. Richard L. Lindstrom, Founder and attending surgeon at Minnesota Eye Consultants, Adjunct Professor Emeritus at the University of Minnesota, Department of Ophthalmology, Associate Director: Minnesota Lions Eye Bank, Board Member: University of Minnesota Foundation, and Visiting Professor: UC Irvine: Gavin Herbert Eye Institute. Dr. Lindstrom is a board certified ophthalmologist and internationally recognized leader in corneal, cataract, refractive and laser surgery. He has been at the forefront of ophthalmology’s evolutionary changes throughout his career, as a recognized researcher, teacher, inventor, writer, lecturer and highly acclaimed physician and surgeon. After graduating Magna Cum Laude from the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Minnesota, Dr Lindstrom completed his doctorate degree in medicine in 1972. Dr. Lindstrom holds over 38 patents in ophthalmology and developed a number of solutions, intraocular lenses and instruments that are used in clinical practices globally. A frequent lecturer throughout the world on cornea, external diseases, cataract, refractive surgery, and glaucoma he has presented over 40 named lectures and keynote speeches before professional societies in the USA and abroad. He has co-edited ten books, published over 350 peer reviewed journal articles and 60 book chapters. His professional affiliations are extensive.
Faculty
Matthew J. Owens