The schedule of an ophthalmology resident can be a demanding one, with academic pursuits such as participation in research having to be juggled between clinical duties and other learning objectives.
Despite those busy schedules, residents in the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences Residency Program at the WVU School of Medicine demonstrated excellence in research throughout the past year by giving more than a dozen presentations at several national conferences across the country.
“We only have a set amount of time with our residents, so objectives like research and publication have to occur alongside our busy clinical and surgical schedules,” said Bradley Thuro, M.D., director of the ophthalmology residency program. “It is truly a proud moment for me as program director to see our residents overcome these barriers and reach this level of success at a national level.”
Throughout the 2023-2024 academic year, eight ophthalmology residents had a total of 13 research projects accepted to be presented at six national conferences across the country. The conferences included the annual meetings of several national ophthalmology organizations, including the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology. See the full list of residents and the conference(s) they presented at below:
- Andrew Beiter, M.D. – American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting, American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus Annual Meeting
- Deena Dahshan, M.D. – Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology Annual Meeting
- Alen Eid, M.D. – American Academy of Ophthalmology Annual Meeting
- April Enger, M.D. – American Academy of Ophthalmology Annual Meeting, Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology Annual Meeting
- Yonah Levy, M.D. – North American Neuro-Ophthalmology Society Annual Meeting
- Ami Patel, M.D. – Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology Annual Meeting
- Michael Shi, M.D. – American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus Annual Meeting, Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology Annual Meeting
- Sanya Yadav, M.D. – American Society of Retina Specialists Annual Meeting, North American Neuro-Ophthalmology Society Annual Meeting, Women in Ophthalmology Summer Symposium
Topics covered in residents’ various research projects included the exploration of clinical applications for artificial intelligence and significant focuses on several ocular conditions including thyroid eye disease, retinal diseases and anterior segment diseases.
Dr. Thuro said that participating in research helps residents stay current with the latest medical and surgical advancements in ophthalmology and beyond. It also provides opportunities to hone crucial investigative skills that will aid them through residency and into the next stage of their careers.
“Through participating in research, residents will learn how to critically evaluate information for accuracy and validity,” Thuro explained. “Understanding how to identify good versus heavily biased information can lead to better clinical decision-making for physicians, particularly when exploring potential treatment options for patients.”
In addition to the skills it helps residents build, Thuro added that presenting research at national conferences provides residents with crucial networking opportunities, allowing them to engage in conversations with physicians from all over the world who bring new and different ideas to the table. He also said that it provides a platform for them to share their hard work with an audience of fellow residents and ophthalmologists.
“Participation at national conferences places WVU on the map for those who know little about West Virginia and what our program has to offer, especially when it comes to the incredible work done by our residents. I am proud to have watched our residents share so many new projects and ideas on the national stage throughout the past year,” Thuro said.
To learn more about the research opportunities at the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, visit medicine.hsc.wvu.edu/eye/research.
