Lyna Azzouz, MD

I completed medical school at University of Michigan, where I served on the medical student council leadership and led development of a new course in healthcare disparities. I am interested in medical education, access and quality of care, and recently led a 25-student team to investigate access to care and telemedicine during COVID-19, including identifying barriers to care and intervening by connecting patients directly with clinics. I also worked on diabetic retinopathy biomarkers and remote monitoring for AMD and seek to be an outstanding clinician and agent of change in my community.

Sahil Shah, MD, PhD*

I was born in Mumbai, India, but grew up in New Jersey where most of my family still lives. After high school, I attended the University of Maryland, College Park for undergrad where I studied Neuroscience and was first exposed to basic science research and clinical care. I wanted to continue both tracks, and therefore joined the MD/PhD program at the University of California, San Diego. My experiences in the ophthalmology free clinic working to preserve sight in the underserved population led me to focus in ophthalmology as a field. I joined the lab of Dr. Jeffrey Goldberg studying the role of protein synthesis and transport in neurodegenerative diseases like glaucoma and developing methods to preserve vision in patients with such conditions. I spent several years in the Bay Area during this time, and really enjoyed the collaborative, approachable atmosphere within the department and the encouragement to pursue other interests like global health, research, or innovation in addition to clinical training. I am excited to join the department as a SOAR resident!

*SOAR program

Anna Bettina Toth, MD, PhD*

I was born in Budapest, Hungary. My family immigrated to the U.S. when I was five years old, and I spent most of my childhood growing up in Michigan. I attended the University of Michigan for college, where I studied Neuroscience and developed a strong interest in basic science research, especially cellular and molecular neurobiology. This formative experience in the laboratory inspired me to pursue a combined MD/PhD at Northwestern University in Chicago, where my thesis work focused on intracellular calcium signaling pathways in neuroglial cell physiology and synaptic plasticity. In medical school, I found my career calling in the fascinating and innovative specialty that is ophthalmology and chose to pursue residency training at Stanford because of this program’s uniquely strong support for the career development of physician-scientists. As an aspiring academic ophthalmologist, I was drawn to the exceptional clinical and surgical training environment here, as well as the opportunity to pursue my passion for research and discovery along the way. As a SOAR resident, I plan to combine my interest in cellular and molecular neuroscience with vision science to study neurodegenerative diseases of the retina and optic nerve.

*SOAR program

Cindy Zhao, MD, MBA

Born and raised in Ohio, I grew up eating deliciously fresh corn from nearby farmstands and running under the trees of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. I left the Midwest to attend college at Harvard, where I studied statistics and global health/health policy. I then moved to Philly to begin my clinical training as a medical student at Penn Med. There, I fell in love with the operating room and found my most meaningful time to be in several community clinics. I also took a year out for an MD/MBA, during which I took on a leadership role at a clinic working towards surgical equity, interned with the Clinton Health Access Initiative, and completed an ophthalmology elective at the Alaska Native Medical Center in Anchorage. These days, I’m excited to be starting the next chapter of my training at Stanford. Outside of medicine, I can often be found running, eating large quantities of fruit and bread, and hiking (preferably backpacking if time allows!).

Alec Bernard, MD, MS*

I completed my MD and MS in public health clinical research with an interest in international and entrepreneurial applications at the University of Michigan. Among other initiatives during medical school, I founded a student-led wilderness orientation program for matriculating medical students focused on fostering wellness and community. Aside from a love of backwoods camping, I am also a pilot and world traveler, including Ethiopia, India and Ghana, and am passionate to apply my background in public health and entrepreneurship to develop ophthalmology training programs and tools in resource-scarce areas internationally.

*SOAR program

Arnav Moudgil, MD, PhD*

After completing my MD and PhD at Washington University St. Louis, I will be coming back to Stanford where I completed my BS and MS. My research to date has focused on molecular and computational genomics, particularly single cell transcriptomics and the mechanics of gene regulation in individual cell types, and my long-term research goals include expanding the repertoire of cell-based therapeutics, engineering novel cell types uniquely capable of repairing and regenerating diseased tissues.

*SOAR program

Filippos Vingopoulos, MD, PhD

Born and raised in Athens, Greece, I completed my MD training in Athens Medical School while engaging in model United Nations humanitarian missions. A PhD at Harvard Medical School / Mass. Eye and Ear next to Dr. Miller and Dr. Vavvas in collaboration with the University of Crete was the next step, where I investigated the early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease through advanced retinal imaging and ocular fluid biomarkers. While at Mass. Eye and Ear, I also published a series of papers on contrast sensitivity as a new clinical trial endpoint in AMD and DR, leading to its adoption as an endpoint in several AMD and DRCR network ongoing trials. Prior experience on clinical trials next to Dr. John Kanellopoulos came in handy and for my clinical research contributions I was awarded with the ASRS distinguished contributor award, the Bodosakis scholarship, the Karp Fellow award, the Lions grant award, and also earned my permanent residence in the US as an alien of exceptional ability/national interest. While in Boston, I also mentored several medical students co-leading the Harvard underrepresented in medicine program, in an initiative to promote diversity and inclusion in medical education. Stanford and the Bay Area feel like the perfect environment to continue working on clinical research and medical education embraced by the unbelievably enabling and welcoming Stanford family. 

Anania Woldetensaye, MD

I am from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and grew up in Nashville, TN. I attended Rhodes College where I studied Spanish and obtained a BS in biochemistry and molecular biology. In addition to my studies, I was a Bonner scholar which enabled me to engage in community action and gain a deeper understanding of health disparities. These experiences led me to medical school at Wake Forest where I continued advocacy work for underserved and Spanish speaking immigrant communities. I was able to bridge my budding interest in ophthalmology through research in social determinants of health in retinal vein occlusions. I was drawn to Stanford because of the supportive and engaging learning environment,  the broad and robust training at multiple clinical sites, and the opportunity to care for patients from a wide array of backgrounds. Additionally, Stanford’s global ophthalmology partnerships provide an early foundation to launch my career towards longitudinal and sustainable engagement to improve ophthalmic care in developing countries.

Christine Xu, MD 

I was born in Boston, MA, and I grew up in a small, forested town in Connecticut, dabbling in a wide variety of sports. (Jack of all trades but master of none, my current obsession is pickleball.) I also grew up playing classical piano and considered becoming a concert pianist until I realized I enjoyed music more as a hobby than a profession. Attending college at Harvard, I majored in Human Developmental and Regenerative Biology and minored in Music, meshing my two passions for science and music by researching music’s potential to influence neuroplasticity and rehabilitation in patients with traumatic brain injuries. After graduating, I spent two years in Dr. Stephen Tsang’s lab at Columbia, running a clinical trial for Stargardt patients and conducting CRISPR research targeting inherited retinal degenerative conditions. I then attended Stanford for medical school, where I conducted clinical research on retinopathy of prematurity and diabetic retinopathy. I did my capstone research project on the positive social and medical impacts of guide dogs on low vision patients. I love Stanford Ophthalmology because it is a leader in its field, not only with its cutting-edge research and technological innovation, but also its outstanding teaching, collaborative environment, and opportunity for global service. Over the past four years, Stanford has become my home, and I am so excited to stay here for my next phase of training (and hopefully beyond)!

Adeeti Aggarwal, MD, PhD*

I spent parts of my childhood in New York, New Delhi India, and the Bay Area. I went to college at the University of California, Berkeley (Go Bears!) and completed my MDPhD at the University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine. My PhD was in Neuroscience and focused on how visual information is coordinated across multiple cortical areas in the mouse brain and how different states of consciousness distort visual processing. Inspired by my lab work in the visual sciences, I became drawn to ophthalmology as my future career as it has the perfect mix of complex physiology, intricate microsurgery, innovative research, and compassionate patient care. I am excited to start my journey with Stanford and SOAR as it offers the perfect blend of dedicated research time and clinical training, which will help me to grow into a scientific investigator leading a lab focused on dissecting and building neural circuitry necessary for visual perception. Moreover, I am excited to learn from my inspiring, accomplished, and personable mentors and colleagues. 

*SOAR program

Andrew DesLauriers, MD

Andrew DesLauriers, MD, is an incoming ophthalmology resident at Stanford. Originally from Vermont, he attended medical school at the University of Vermont, where he focused on developing low-cost educational tools, enhancing healthcare literacy during the COVID-19 pandemic, and improving the quality of services in rural areas. His dedication to enhancing access to care led him to Kumasi, Ghana, where he worked with the Himalayan Cataract Project and served as the inaugural research fellow at the Africa Eye Imaging Center. Dr. DesLauriers aims to continue improving global access to care and enhancing the quality of clinical education for trainees worldwide.

Helen Liu, MD

I grew up in Connecticut and left the East Coast to attend Stanford for undergrad, where I studied biology and data science while managing Stanford's Cardinal Free Clinic. I then attended Mount Sinai for medical school as part of their FlexMed program and oversaw their ophthalmology student-run free clinic, where I continued to pursue my passion for working with underserved communities. My other passions include research - especially concerning clinical outcomes and health equity, photography, swimming, violin, and hanging with my cat. I wanted to return to Stanford for its supportive and incredible faculty and department, rigorous training, and wide exposure to pathologies and patient populations. I'm thrilled to be back for my ophthalmology training!

Megan Paul, MD

Megan grew up in the small town of Southbury, Connecticut and attended Dartmouth College, where she studied Biology and Math. Prior to attending medical school at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, she worked in private equity consulting. While in medical school, Megan became interested in mitigating vision care disparities after working in the student-run free clinic. In her free time, Megan loves being outdoors and can be found running, hiking, skiing, and biking.

Jason Xiao, MD

I was born in the United States but spent most of my childhood in Saudi Arabia. I attended college at the University of Chicago, where I studied biological sciences and conducted research in oncology using single-cell transcriptomics. Continuing at UChicago for medical school, my research shifted to the gut microbiome, exploring its roles in mediating bacterial peritonitis and age-related macular degeneration. My interest in community health motivated me to lead a series of workshops on ocular health and to establish a mental health screening program at a low vision clinic as a Schweitzer Fellow. In my free time, I enjoy reading, cooking (and savoring!) various cuisines, and playing board games; however, despite being a homebody, I’ll never miss a chance to be in nature. I’m thrilled to train at Stanford for residency and am grateful to join such a supportive, brilliant, and inspiring community.

Jasmine Brown, MD, MPhil

I completed my bachelor's degree at Washington University in St. Louis where I majored in Neuroscience. During my senior year, I was awarded the Rhodes Scholarship. This allowed me to complete a Master of Philosophy (MPhil) in History of Science, Medicine and Technology at the University of Oxford. My master's dissertation became the groundwork for my book, TWICE AS HARD: The Stories of Black Women Who Fought to Become Physicians from the Civil War to the 21st Century (website: jasminebrownauthor.com), which I wrote while in medical school at the University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine. When my book was published by Beacon Press, it received national acclaim and was highlighted by various professional organizations, including AAMC and AMA, as well as media outlets including NPR, TIME Magazine and 6abc News. While in medical school, I became passionate about ophthalmology and spent a year working with Dr. Eve Higginbotham and Dr. Ahmara Ross to investigate social factors, such as neighborhood conditions and chronic stress levels, that could lead to ophthalmic health disparities. I'm excited to train in Stanford's ophthalmology program and continue exploring my interests in health equity, public/global health and writing.

Anna Dickinson, MD

Born and raised in Virginia Beach, Virginia, I spent much of my early life in the water. I attended the University of Virginia, where I studied Biology and competed as a Division I swimmer, before matriculating to Eastern Virginia Medical School. Under Dr. Suzann Pershing, I worked on retrospective studies utilizing the IRIS Registry, and developed a strong interest in data-driven approaches to improving care. I later traveled to Honduras with ACE Global, and helped develop a curriculum and Cybersight training course designed to equip community health workers with tools to prevent vision loss in underserved settings. I chose Stanford for its strong commitment to innovative research, global impact, and exceptional clinical training, but most importantly, for the culture of mentorship and collaboration that defines the program. Outside of medicine, you can usually find me running, back in the water, or in search of good coffee. I am beyond excited to train at Stanford and to learn from the inspiring faculty and residents who make this community so special.

Mikaelah Johnson-Griggs, MD

Mikaelah Johnson-Griggs, MD, grew up in the Pacific Northwest and earned her BS in Biology at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, where she also competed in Division 1 Women’s soccer. She attended the University of Michigan Medical School, where she deepened her passion for medical education through local STEM outreach and ophthalmology pipeline programming, and conducted research on social determinants of health under the mentorship of Dr. Newman-Casey. Outside of medicine, she enjoys reading and spending time outdoors. Dr. Johnson-Griggs looks forward to training at Stanford to become a culturally competent ophthalmologist dedicated to caring for diverse patient populations.

Aniket Ramshekar, MD, PhD *

I was born and raised in Michigan and attended college at the University of Michigan. My undergraduate honors in Dr. Antonetti's lab thesis focused on understanding pathophysiology involved in diabetic retinopathy and inspired me to pursue a physician-scientist career in ophthalmology. I completed my MD-PhD training at the University of Utah. My PhD was in Neuroscience and focused on signaling pathways implicated in the pathophysiology of age-related macular degeneration in Dr. Hartnett's lab. I am excited to continue my physician-scientist training at Stanford and SOAR as it offers a unique opportunity to advance my clinical and research goals while in residency. I look forward to learning from experts in the field and working in a collaborative, supportive environment. I am also excited to call the Bay Area my new home for this new chapter in my life!

*SOAR program

Jess Sedhom, MS, MD

My name is Jess! I have roots embedded in Colorado, New Orleans, and Cairo. My initial introduction to medicine was as an ophthalmology scribe at the University of Colorado. I then moved to New Orleans for graduate school, studying cancer pathology while embracing such a unique city. I remained at Tulane University for medical school and took a research year to pursue my main professional passion: global ophthalmology. I moved to Kumasi, Ghana where I worked with Stanford and Ghanian mentors to develop telemedicine retinal screening programs, focusing primarily on diabetic retinopathy, sickle cell retinopathy, and retinopathy of prematurity. I believe in interdisciplinary living, reading and writing, exploring the world physically and culinarily, and challenging myself in sea and on land. I’m excited for the continued support of the Stanford community, working with our immense network to fortify partnerships and improve eye care.

Ziming Luo, MD, PhD *

I was born and raised in Guangzhou, China, where I completed my MD and PhD training before moving to the U.S. to pursue research in regenerative medicine and vision restoration. At Stanford, I completed a postdoctoral fellowship focused on retinal ganglion cell transplantation and regeneration in optic neuropathies. My work demonstrated robust RGC axonal regeneration and structural integration—a promising step toward restoring vision after optic nerve injury. This experience deepened my motivation to bridge scientific discovery with patient care. Clinically, I am especially drawn to the complexity of optic nerve diseases and the lifelong impact of vision loss. I hope to contribute to the development of meaningful therapies through both patient-centered care and translational research. I’m honored to continue my journey at Stanford Ophthalmology, surrounded by mentors and colleagues who share a commitment to innovation and compassion. Outside of medicine, I enjoy long day hikes—my favorite so far has been a rim-to-rim trek through the Grand Canyon (with hopes of a rim-to-rim-to-rim in the future)—as well as summiting peaks like Mt. Whitney.

Charles Ryan, MD, PhD *

I was born and raised in Syracuse, New York. I first attended Onondaga Community College, where I developed a fascination with the development of complex biological systems, and then transferred to Syracuse University where I completed my B.S. in biochemistry. I next attended the University of Michigan MD/PhD program, where I used in-vitro models of human neurodevelopment to study to role of epigenetic marks in guiding neurogenesis. While at Michigan, I became interested in the prospect of harnessing in-vitro differentiation to cultivate functional tissues that can be transplanted to replace what is lost in degenerative conditions. Ophthalmology, with its microsurgical access to functionally critical cell layers, is well-positioned to capitalize on this emerging field of science to treat degenerative conditions. I am humbled and incredibly thankful to have the opportunity to pursue this aim as a SOAR resident at Stanford.