IOWA VISION
page 32
STATE OF THE DEPARTMENT
This spring, I spent time
Ed Stone
Ferhat Evliyaoglu
Leigh Rettenmaier
Erin Boese, MD, Lindsay De Andrade, Alina Dumitrescu, Ian Han
Pavlina Kemp Chau Pham, Jaclyn
Haugsdal , FACS
PATIENT CARE & CLINICAL UPDATES
Where do
patients come from? 2025 Eye Clinic Visits by Service Area
Small Lenses, Big Impact
Turning everyday ophthalmic waste into lasting change
An idea whose time had come
Why contact lenses?
Simran Sarin
Christine Sindt Maliq Pruitt
“I’ve always cared deeply about sustainability— but there wasn’t much happening locally in ophthalmology. When this opportunity came up, I jumped at it.”
SIMRAN SARIN, THIRD YEAR MEDICAL STUDENT
The Backbone of Eye Care
How Ophthalmic Technicians Keep Iowa’s Clinics Running Strong
Karen Eicholtz
Team
Preventing Burnout: Culture Counts
A Unique Place to Grow
“A Whole New Level of Vision”
One Patient’s Journey Through Refractive Surgery at the University of Iowa
“I have never had this level of precision of vision that didn’t have a layer of glass between me and what I was looking at. Wherever I look, I’m just now looking around at things in the room—whatever I look at has depth and clarity that I’ve never experienced.”
SURGERY PATIENT
RESIDENT & EDUCATION NEWS
Fellows Class of 2026
Class 2026
Dr. Rachel Chu (Cornea)
Residency Class of 2026
Residency Class of 2026
Dr. Brandon Baksh
Fellows Class 2026
Residency: University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas
Fellows Class of 2026
Dr. Richard Yi (Vitreoretinal Surgery)
Residency: Prisma Health/University of South Carolina School of Medicine Columbia, Columbia, SC
Dr. Rachel Chu (Cornea) University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas
Private Practice, Mercy Clinic Eye Specialists, St. Louis, Missouri
Residency Class of 2026
Residency Class of 2026
Dr. Mahmoud KhalafAllah (Neuro-Ophthalmology)
Dr. Richard Yi (Vitreoretinal Surgery)
Residency: Prisma Health/University of South Carolina School of Medicine Columbia, Columbia, SC
Residency: Minufiya University, Shebin Elkom, Menoufia, Egypt
IDENT & EDUCATION NEWS
RE IDENT & EDUCATION NEWS
Dr. Nicole Mattson (Glaucoma)
RESIDENT
Residency: University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
Dr. Mahmoud KhalafAllah (Neuro-Ophthalmology) Minufiya University, Shebin Elkom, Menoufia, Egypt
Fellows Class of 2026
& EDUCATION NEWS
Fellows Class of 2026
Dr. Patrick Donegan Glaucoma Fellowship, Mass Eye and Ear, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts
Brandon Baksh Private Practice, Mercy Clinic Eye Specialists, St. Louis, Missouri
Dr. Patrick Donegan Glaucoma Fellowship, Mass Eye and Ear, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts
Dr. Matthew Hunt Vitreoretinal Surgery Fellowship, Associated Retina Consultants/Beaumont University Hospital, Royal Oak, Michigan
Residency Class of 2026
Residency Class of 2026
Dr. Matthew Hunt Vitreoretinal Surgery Fellowship, Associated Retina Consultants/Beaumont University Hospital, Royal Oak, Michigan
Dr. Matt Meyer Private Practice, Des Moines Eye Surgeons, West Des Moines, Iowa
Dr Valencia Potter (Ophthalmic Genetics)
Dr. Nicole Mattson (Glaucoma)
Dr. Rachel Chu (Cornea)
Dr. Rachel Chu (Cornea)
Residency: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
Residency: University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas
Residency: University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
Residency: University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas
Fellows Class of 2026
Dr. Brandon Baksh
Dr. Brandon Baksh
Dr. Samuel Tadros Vitreoretinal Surgery Fellowship, University of Iowa
Private Practice, Mercy Clinic Eye Specialists, St. Louis, Missouri
Private Practice, Mercy Clinic Eye Specialists, St. Louis, Missouri
Residency Class of 2026
Dr. Matt Meyer Private Practice, Des Moines Eye Surgeons, West Des Moines, Iowa
(Vitreoretinal Surgery)
Dr. Rachel Chu (Cornea)
(Vitreoretinal Surgery)
Dr. Nicole Somani (Vitreoretinal Surgery)
Dr. Valencia Potter (Ophthalmic Genetics)
Dr. Richard Yi (Vitreoretinal Surgery)
Dr. Richard Yi (Vitreoretinal Surgery)
Residency: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
Residency: Prisma Health/University of South Carolina School of Medicine Columbia, Columbia, SC
Residency: University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas
Residency: Baylor College of Medicine, Cullen Eye Institute, Houston
Residency: Prisma Health/University of South Carolina School of Medicine Columbia, Columbia, SC
Dr. Mahmoud KhalafAllah (Neuro-Ophthalmology)
(Vitreoretinal Surgery)
Dr. Richard Yi (Vitreoretinal Surgery)
Dr. Mahmoud KhalafAllah (Neuro-Ophthalmology)
Residency: Minufiya University, Shebin Elkom, Menoufia, Egypt
Residency: Prisma Health/University of South Carolina School of Medicine Columbia, Columbia, SC
Residency: Minufiya University, Shebin Elkom, Menoufia, Egypt
2026 Incoming Fellows
Fellows Class of 2027
Dr. Nicole Mattson (Glaucoma)
Dr. Nicole Mattson (Glaucoma)
Dr. James Gibson (Glaucoma)
Dr. Mahmoud KhalafAllah (Neuro-Ophthalmology)
Residency: University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
Residency: University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
Residency: Tulane University School of Medicine
New Orleans, Louisiana
Residency: Minufiya University, Shebin Elkom, Menoufia, Egypt
Fellows Class of 2027
2026 Incoming Fellows
2026 Incoming Fellows
Dr. Valencia Potter (Ophthalmic Genetics)
Dr. Valencia Potter (Ophthalmic Genetics)
Dr. James Gibson (Glaucoma)
Dr. Nicole Mattson (Glaucoma)
Dr. Manal Milhem (Neuro-Ophthalmology)
Residency: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
Residency: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
Tulane University School of Medicine
Residency: Tulane University School of Medicine
New Orleans, Louisiana
Residency: University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
New Orleans, Louisiana
Fellowship: Neuro-Ophthalmology at Manchester Royal Eye Hospital; Residency: King Abdullah University, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
Dr. Valencia Potter (Ophthalmic Genetics)
Dr. Sachi Patil (Cornea)
Residency: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
Dr. Manal Milhem (Neuro-Ophthalmology) Fellowship: Neuro-Ophthalmology at Manchester Royal Eye Hospital; Residency: King Abdullah University, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
Residency: NYU Langone Health, New York, New York
Dr. Sachi Patil (Cornea)
2026 Incoming Fellows
Dr. Valencia Potter (Pediatric Ophthalmology) Fellowship: Ophthalmic Genetics, University of Iowa; Residency: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
2026 Incoming Fellows
Residency: NYU Langone Health, New York, New York
Dr. James Gibson (Glaucoma)
Dr. James Gibson (Glaucoma)
Dr. Valencia Potter (Pediatric Ophthalmology)
Dr. Samuel Tadros (Vitreoretinal Surgery)
Residency: University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
Residency: Tulane University School of Medicine New Orleans, Louisiana
Residency: Tulane University School of Medicine New Orleans, Louisiana
Fellowship: Ophthalmic Genetics, University of Iowa; Residency: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
2026 Incoming Fellows
Dr. Manal Milhem (Neuro-Ophthalmology)
Dr. James Gibson (Glaucoma)
Dr. Sanya Yadav (Vitreoretinal Surgery)
Dr. Manal Milhem (Neuro-Ophthalmology)
Dr. Samuel Tadros (Vitreoretinal Surgery)
Residency: University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
Residency: West Virginia University Eye Institute, Morgantown, West Virginia
Fellowship: Neuro-Ophthalmology at Manchester Royal Eye Hospital; Residency: King Abdullah University, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
Fellowship: Neuro-Ophthalmology at Manchester Royal Eye Hospital; Residency: King Abdullah University, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
Residency: Tulane University School of Medicine New Orleans, Louisiana
Dr. Sanya Yadav (Vitreoretinal Surgery)
Dr. Manal Milhem (Neuro-Ophthalmology)
Dr. Sachi Patil (Cornea)
Dr. Sachi Patil (Cornea)
Residency: West Virginia University Eye Institute, Morgantown, West Virginia
Fellowship: Neuro-Ophthalmology at Manchester Royal Eye Hospital; Residency: King Abdullah University, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
Residency: NYU Langone Health, New York, New York
Residency: NYU Langone Health, New York, New York
Dr. Valencia Potter (Pediatric Ophthalmology)
Dr. Valencia Potter (Pediatric Ophthalmology)
Dr. Sachi Patil (Cornea)
Residency: NYU Langone Health, New York, New York
Fellowship: Ophthalmic Genetics, University of Iowa; Residency: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
Fellowship: Ophthalmic Genetics, University of Iowa; Residency: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
Dr. Samuel Tadros (Vitreoretinal Surgery)
Dr. Samuel Tadros (Vitreoretinal Surgery)
Residency: University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
Residency: University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
Dr. Valencia Potter (Pediatric Ophthalmology) Fellowship: Ophthalmic Genetics, University of Iowa; Residency: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
Dr. Sanya Yadav (Vitreoretinal Surgery)
Dr. Sanya Yadav (Vitreoretinal Surgery)
Dr. Samuel Tadros (Vitreoretinal Surgery)
Residency: West Virginia University Eye Institute, Morgantown, West Virginia
Residency: University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
Residency: West Virginia University Eye Institute, Morgantown, West Virginia
Dr. Jonathan Trejo
Dr. Samuel Tadros Vitreoretinal Surgery Fellowship, University of Iowa
Dr. Patrick Donegan Glaucoma Fellowship, Mass Eye and Ear, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts
Private Practice, American Eye Associates, San Diego, California
Dr. Brandon Baksh Private Practice, Mercy Clinic Eye Specialists, St. Louis, Missouri
Dr. Patrick Donegan Glaucoma Fellowship, Mass Eye and Ear, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts
Dr Patrick Donegan Glaucoma Fellowship, Mass Eye and Ear, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts
Dr. Matthew Hunt Vitreoretinal Surgery Fellowship, Associated Retina Consultants/Beaumont University Hospital, Royal Oak, Michigan
Dr. Matthew Hunt Vitreoretinal Surgery Fellowship, Associated Retina Consultants/Beaumont University Hospital, Royal Oak, Michigan
Residency Class of 2030
Residency Class of 2030
Dr. Molly Barten MD, Indiana University School of Medicine
Dr. Matt Meyer Private Practice, Des Moines Eye Surgeons, West Des Moines, Iowa
Dr. Matt Meyer Private Practice, Des Moines Eye Surgeons, West Des Moines, Iowa
Dr. Jonathan Trejo Private Practice, American Eye Associates, San Diego, California Class
of 2030
Dr. Matthew Hunt Vitreoretinal Surgery Fellowship, Associated Retina Consultants/Beaumont University Hospital, Royal Oak, Michigan
Residency Class of 2030
Dr. Samuel Tadros
Dr. Brian Grodecki MD, Drexel University College of Medicine
Dr. Molly Barten MD, Indiana University School of Medicine
Dr. Matt Meyer Private Practice, Des Moines Eye Surgeons, West Des Moines, Iowa
Dr. Samuel Tadros Vitreoretinal Surgery Fellowship, University of Iowa
Vitreoretinal Surgery Fellowship, University of Iowa
Dr. Jonathan Trejo
Dr. Jonathan Trejo
Dr. Savannah Hensley MD, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine
Dr. Brian Grodecki MD, Drexel University College of Medicine
Private Practice, American Eye Associates, San Diego, California
Dr. Samuel Tadros Vitreoretinal Surgery Fellowship, University of Iowa
Private Practice, American Eye Associates, San Diego, California
Dr. Savannah Hensley MD, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine
Dr. Regina Scott MD, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine
Dr. Jonathan Trejo Private Practice, American Eye Associates, San Diego, California
Residency Class of 2030
Residency Class of 2030
Dr. Molly Barten MD, Indiana University School of Medicine
Dr. Regina Scott MD, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine
Dr. Molly Barten MD, Indiana University School of Medicine
Dr. Nicole Terfloth MD, University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine
Residency Class of 2030
Dr. Brian Grodecki MD, Drexel University College of Medicine
Dr. Brian Grodecki MD, Drexel University College of Medicine
Dr. Gelilah Yohannes MD, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
Dr. Nicole Terfloth MD, University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine
Dr. Molly Barten MD, Indiana University School of Medicine
Dr. Savannah Hensley MD, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine
Dr. Savannah Hensley MD, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine
Dr. Gelilah Yohannes MD, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
Dr. Brian Grodecki MD, Drexel University College of Medicine
Dr. Regina Scott MD, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine
Dr. Regina Scott MD, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine
Dr. Savannah Hensley MD, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine
Dr. Regina Scott MD, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine
Dr. Nicole Terfloth MD, University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine
Dr. Nicole Terfloth MD, University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine
Dr. Gelilah Yohannes MD, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
Dr. Gelilah Yohannes MD, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
Dr. Nicole Terfloth MD, University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine
The P. J. Leinfelder award
Resident Winner: Cy Lewis, MD
Fellow Winner: Taariq Mohammed, MD
The Brenton Research Award
Resident Winner: Cheryl Wang, MD
Fellow Winner: Guadalupe Torres, MD , MPH
From Operating Room to
Richards’ current project involves attaching a lowcost, open-source stereovideo module to an operating microscope, built around a Raspberry Pi platform, to capture immersive 3-D surgical footage for education. “There’s been great momentum and a lot of buzz,” he says. “We’re making progress.”
Zac Richards Named 2025–2026 Iowa Innovation
Engineering Meets Medicine
Zachary Richards
to Innovation Hub
Leadership Fellow
Innovating in Real Time
A Surgeon–Inventor’s Vision
More Than Medicine
Ryan Diel
Edward Linton
Global Connections in Eye Care
Kanwal Matharu
Cold Winters, Warm Welcomes
A Mozambican Surgeon’s Month in Iowa
A Month of Immersive Learning
Cataract, Glaucoma, and Beyond
“[Dr. Vasco da Gama] came across as deeply humble, kind, and genuinely passionate about his work. He emphasized that global ophthalmology is not just about treating patients one by one, but about building sustainable, scalable models of care…creating a multiplier effect that allows care to reach entire
GLOBAL OPHTHALMOLOGY
Education and Lasting Impact
A Vision for
The Power of Partnership
Building Global Bridges
Mozambique
IOWA VISION: UNIVERSITY OF IOWA DEPARTMENT OF
UI researchers receive 2025 Helen Keller Prize for pioneering eye research
drivers of blinding eye diseases like macular degeneration and glaucoma
, MD, PhD,
Edwin M. Stone
examples of academic medicine at its best, where passionate researchers make breakthroughs that go on to change people’s lives,”
THE UI CARVER COLLEGE OF MEDICINE
Advancing Ocular Oncology
Dr. Elaine Binkley’s Vision for the Future of Eye Tumor Treatment
Elaine Binkley
Publication highlights in 2025
149 TOTAL FACULTY PUBLICATIONS IN 2025
140 CITATIONS OF 2025 FACULTY PUBLICATIONS
11,528 2025 CITATIONS OF FACULTY PUBLICATIONS FROM ANY YEAR
178,710 CITATIONS OF CURRENT FACULTY, ALL TIME
Top cited articles all time from current faculty:
,
Abramoff
Stone E
Russell SR
Russell S, , Stone EM
Sightlines on the Cutting Edge
Inside Eye Research Trials at the University of Iowa
pushing the boundaries of vision science one clinical
CONDITION:
IOWA FACULTY:
The Parasitic Ulcer Treatment Trial (PUTT) MD, FACS; Ian Han, MD
CONDITION:
IOWA FACULTY:
Why These Trials Matter
CONDITION:
IOWA FACULTY:
Sepofarsen for LCA10
CONDITION:
IOWA FACULTY:
EndoArt: A Synthetic Alternative to Corneal Transplant
Transforming Corneal Care
Iowa Leads in Fuchs Dystrophy, Transplantation Research, and Infectious Keratitis
Mark Greiner,
A Friendship That Fuels Discovery
How Two Couples Are Accelerating Vision Research
Ed Stone
Mark Greiner
TOTAL GIVING FY25 (JULY 1, 2024 – JUNE 30, 2025)
$13,725,266 www.givetoiowa.org/eye www.givetoiowa.org/ivr
NUMBER OF GIFTS 911
AVERAGE GIFT SIZE $15,066
GIFTS FROM 40 STATES AND TWO CANADIAN PROVINCES
To learn more about how philanthropic support
Sciences and UI Institute for Vision Research, please contact:
Angelina Ahrens
Katie Sturgell
Frank Descourouez
Jedd Spidell
Remembering Matthew C. Weed, MD (1982–2025)
University of Iowa Ophthalmology Alum & Devoted Pediatric Ophthalmologist
Matthew Weed
An Iowa City Formation
A Life of Meaning Beyond Medicine
A Career of Compassion and Expertise
A Legacy of Love and Courage
Tribute and Continued Inspiration
Seeing Clearly
NEWS & EVENTS
Watching for the Signs
The Importance of Early Screening
A Visit to Iowa
Eye Culture
Where Vision Meets Art, Science, and Meaning
Brian Young Grace Necker
OF OPHTHALMOLOGY AND VISUAL SCIENCES
Sophia Chen
Stephen Russell
Michael Edrington
Give Sight, Give Love
Lions Clubs of Iowa Exceed Goal to Support of Eye Bank
Investing in the Gift of Sight
Iowa Lions Eye Bank’s impact in 2025
Our 2025 Impact Snapshot:
981
806 60% 50%
cornea and whole eye donors transplant recipients in 23 U.S. states and 14 countries worldwide (see maps) of Iowa’s cornea and whole eye donors were registered donors. (53.2 percent) of cornea and whole eye donors also gave the gift of tissue and/or organ donation.
Our oldest donor was 104 and the youngest donor was 9 The average age of our donors was 64
Department Awards
Promotions
New Endowed Appointments
Other Achievements
Ian
Jaclyn
Pavlina
Chau
Bilal Ahmed, Cheryl Wang,
Rupin Parikh, MD
Patrick Donegan,
Erin Shriver, MD,
Sophia Chung
Andrew Zolot
Erin Boese
Lindsay De Andrade
Alina Dumitrescu
Han
Haugsdal
Kemp
Pham
Andrew Pouw
Richard Yi
Elaine Binkley
Ian Han
Pavlina Kemp
Elliott Sohn, MD, FASRS,
Top 10% of Providers in patient ratings:
• Elaine Binkley*
• Erin Boese
• Culver Boldt*
• Alina Dumitrescu
• Kenneth Goins
• Mark Greiner
• Vera Howe
• Pavlina Kemp*
• Andrew Pouw
• Stephen Russell
• Khadija Shahid
• Christine Sindt
• Ed Stone
• Mark Wilkinson
Erin Boese, MD
Lindsay De Andrade
Ryan Diel
John Fingert
Michael Abràmoff, Erin Boese, Arlene Drack, John Fingert Mark Greiner.
Mark Greiner
NEWS & EVENTS
Jaclyn Haugsdal
Jaclyn Haugsdal, MD — Awarded best Paper of the Session, American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery Annual Meeting, Los Angeles, CA
Pavlina Kemp
Pavlina Kemp, MD — Appointed Vice Chair of Education for the department.
Matharu
Kanwal Matharu, MD — Awarded a Fulbright for fall 2025, to collaborate with the Research Institute of Ophthalmology (RIO) in Giza, Egypt.
Valencia Potter
Valencia Potter, MD, PhD — Awarded the Foundation for Fighting Blindness Clinical Research Fellowship Award.
Adetayo Oladele-Ajose
Adetayo Oladele-Ajose, MD — Elected to serve on the Board of Directors for Iowa Medical Society.
Arnulfo Garza MD
Arnulfo Garza Reyes, MD – Selected a Real World Ophthalmology Visionary Award winner—given to a young ophthalmologist whose work demonstrates qualities of exceptional foresight, creativity, advocacy, and vision.
Zachary Richards
Zachary Richards, MD, MEng — Named one of the 2025–2026 Iowa Innovation Leadership Fellows for his project, adapting the slit lamp microscope to improve accessibility and telemedicine capabilities in ophthalmology
Stephen Russell, MD — Presented the Victor T. Curtin Lecture at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute and was appointed to the AAO OKAP Exam Development Committee.
, MD, PhD and Ed Stone , MD, PhD — Awarded the 2025 Helen Keller Prize for Vision Research, by global brain and vision research nonprofit BrightFocus Foundation and the Helen Keller Foundation for Research and Education.
Erin Shriver, MD, FACS — Awarded the Bernice Z. Brown Memorial Lecture Award, given by Women in Ophthalmology to members who have contributed to the profession of ophthalmology and to the advancement of women in the profession.
Ed Stone , MD, PhD — Elected to the National Academy of Medicine. Election to the National Academy of Medicine (NAM) is considered one of the highest honors in the fields of health and medicine and recognizes individuals who have demonstrated outstanding professional achievement and commitment to service.
Matthew Thurtell
Matthew Thurtell, MBBS, MSc — Appointed as Neuro-Ophthalmology fellowship director and presented the Prechter Lecture in NeuroOphthalmology at Kresge Eye Institute.
Marc ToetebergHarms, MD, FEBO — Named new ophthalmology clinic medical director. He will serve as a clinical team leader and be responsible for aligning our department with hospitalwide initiatives.
Michael Wall, MD — Presented the William F. Hoyt Lecture at the 2025 AAO meeting. The Hoyt Lectureship is to be awarded for lifetime clinical or research contributions to the field of neuroophthalmology and/or unselfish service to neuro-ophthalmology
Stephen Russell ,
Erin Shriver ,
Marc ToetebergHarms
Wall
PATIENT CARE & CLINICAL UPDATES
Turning waste into something more
From pilot to program
A call to the Iowa ophthalmology community
Editor-in-Chief
MD, FACS
Editors
Photography
Design
Contributors
Please direct comments and inquiries to
Appointment scheduling: general public:
UI Consult for referring providers:
