The UAB Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences hosted its 26th Annual Research Symposium on Friday, June 13, 2025, at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens, drawing together faculty, trainees, alumni, and national experts for a full day of education, discovery, and collaboration in vision science.
This annual event, a cornerstone of the department’s academic mission, celebrated the latest advancements in ophthalmic research through a dynamic blend of guest lectures, resident presentations, and interactive roundtable discussions.
The day began with an inspiring address from Ruth Williams, M.D., glaucoma specialist at Wheaton Eye Clinic and Chief Medical Editor of EyeNet Magazine, who served as the Alumni Association Sponsored Lecturer. Williams, a former president of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, opened the symposium with a trio of insightful talks that reflected on leadership in medicine, innovation in glaucoma care, and the future of professional mentorship. Her message underscored how clinical excellence and compassionate leadership together drive progress in patient outcomes and professional development.
Interspersed between these distinguished lectures were presentations from fourth-year residents, who showcased their research before an engaged audience of faculty and peers. These sessions demonstrated the depth of inquiry and creativity among UAB trainees, spanning topics from retinal imaging and surgical techniques to case studies of rare ocular disease.
The program continued with the Charles J. Burnham, M.D., Endowed Distinguished Lectureship in Ophthalmology, presented by Nisha Acharya, M.D., M.S., the Elizabeth C. Proctor Distinguished Professor at the University of California, San Francisco. Acharya — an international leader in uveitis and ocular inflammatory disease — delivered three lectures exploring the evolving understanding of ocular inflammation, the role of data-driven clinical trials, and global collaboration in vision research. Her discussions highlighted the importance of precision medicine and long-term patient follow-up in improving outcomes for those affected by autoimmune and inflammatory eye diseases.
Following the morning and midday lectures, attendees participated in interactive roundtable discussions on subspecialty topics including retina, uveitis, and glaucoma. These sessions encouraged open dialogue between faculty, trainees, and community partners such as Alabama Ophthalmology Associates, Retina Specialists of Alabama, and Retina Consultants of Alabama. The conversations were designed to identify challenges in clinical care, foster research partnerships, and generate new ideas for advancing ophthalmic practice across Alabama and beyond.
The afternoon program featured the Helen Keller Lecture, delivered by Yoshihiro Yonekawa, M.D., associate professor of ophthalmology at Thomas Jefferson University and retina specialist at Wills Eye Hospital. Yonekawa, an internationally recognized expert in pediatric and adult retinal disease, captivated attendees with three engaging lectures on surgical advances, translational research in inherited retinal disorders, and the future of retinal imaging technology. His presentations highlighted how the integration of surgical innovation, molecular genetics, and interdisciplinary collaboration is redefining patient care in retinal medicine.
The symposium also celebrated the achievements of emerging physician-scientists with awards for outstanding resident research.
Second-Year Winner: Katharine Weintraub, M.D., for her poster “Don’t You (Forget About Me)”, sponsored by Nathan Fischer, M.D. and Russell Read, M.D., Ph.D., of Retina Consultants of Alabama.
Fourth-Year Winner: Malcolm Kates, M.D., for his presentation “Detecting a Specific Cause of Central Retinal Artery Occlusion”, sponsored and co-authored by Lanning Kline, M.D. of UAB Ophthalmology.
from left: Rob Tauscher, M.D., Yoshihiro Yonekawa, M.D., Nisha Acharya, M.D., M.S., Krupa Patel, M.D., Ruth Williams M.D.In closing remarks, department leaders emphasized how the symposium continues to strengthen the DOVS community by celebrating scientific rigor, mentorship, and the shared mission of preventing blindness through discovery. The 26th Annual Research Symposium not only highlighted the department’s research excellence but also reinforced UAB’s position as a leader in advancing vision science nationally.
Planning is already underway for the 27th Annual Research Symposium, scheduled for Friday, June 12, 2026. Next year’s event will be hosted at UAB’s brand-new Altec/Styslinger Genomic Medicine and Data Sciences Building. The department looks forward to another year of collaboration, innovation, and insight — continuing a proud tradition of shaping the future of ophthalmology through research and education.
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