MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR |
| As the year draws to a close and the holiday season begins, I want to extend my deepest wishes for peace and joy to you and your families. Despite the need for fiscal prudence and strategic management, this year has been defined by the excellence in patient care, research discoveries, and training programs that are the core missions of the Department of Ophthalmology.
Wishing you all a fulfilling holiday season!
J. Martin Heur, MD, PhD Professor and Chair Grace and Emery Beardsley Professor of Ophthalmology Co-Director, USC Roski Eye Institute USC Department of Ophthalmology Keck Medicine of USC |
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FACULTY |
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On Tuesday, Sept. 30, Mark Humayun, MD, PhD, was installed as the Dennis and Michele Slivinski Chair in Macular Degeneration Research. At the Keck School, Humayun is a University Professor of Ophthalmology, Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine and Biomedical Engineering, as well as co-director of the USC Roski Eye Institute, director of the USC Institute for Biomedical Therapeutics, and director of the USC Sensory Science Institute.
Read more about the installation. |
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RESEARCH |
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USC and UCLA, known for their intense football rivalry, have put aside competition to accelerate discovery and address critical healthcare challenges. Researchers led by Qifa Zhou, PhD, Distinguished professor at USC Viterbi School of Engineering and professor of biomedical engineering and ophthalmology at the Keck School, in collaboration with the UCLA Jun Chen Group, developed a revolutionary wireless implant that provides personalized chronic pain relief by utilizing machine learning algorithms and eliminating the need for bulky battery systems.
Learn how Trojan and Bruin faculty and students are working together. |
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Meet Angeline Nguyen, MD, clinical assistant professor of ophthalmology (clinician educator) |
Angeline Nguyen, MD, graduated summa cum laude from the Southern Methodist University after which she earned her medical degree at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. She completed her ophthalmology residency training at the Wilmer Eye Institute at the Johns Hopkins Hospital and further specialized in pediatric ophthalmology and adult strabismus surgery in fellowship training at the Byers Eye Institute at Stanford Hospital.
Dr. Nguyen is an assistant professor of ophthalmology at CHLA/USC. Her clinical and surgical interests include a broad range of pediatric ophthalmological conditions, such as amblyopia, cataract, and pediatric strabismus as well as adult strabismus. She utilizes Botox and surgery in the management of pediatric and adult strabismus. Surgically, she uses hidden adjustable sutures to optimize the alignment of the eyes, and sutures can be adjusted up to ten days after surgery. Additionally, she has a strong interest in teaching residents and surgical training. |
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Dr. Sun Young Lee Appointed to NIH Study Section |
We are delighted to share that Dr. Sun Young Lee, associate professor of ophthalmology and physiology & neuroscience, has been appointed as a chartered member of the NIH Pathophysiology of Eye Disease–2 (PED2) Study Section within Brain Disorders and Clinical Neuroscience Integrated Review Group (BDCN). This four-year appointment recognizes Dr. Lee’s expertise in vision science and translational ophthalmology and her commitment to advancing research that improves human health.
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👀 Seeing floaters? |
Benjamin Xu, MD, PhD, an ophthalmologist specializing in glaucoma and cataract care, breaks down what they really mean for your vision.
Watch on Instagram. |
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Ophthalmology Times featured commentary by Gloria Chiu, OD, an optometrist with Keck Medicine and associate professor of clinical ophthalmology with the Keck School, on an FDA-approved treatment for keratoconus, a progressive eye disorder that causes the cornea, the clear front window of the eye, to bulge into a cone shape.
Learn more from Ophthalmology Times. |
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Since October 1, 2025, our faculty have published 34 papers. Eligible publications included those that were e-published in October.
See all publications here. |
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