# Congratulations to Our 2024 Clinical Trainee Graduates June 21, 2024 ![2024 Grad Group Photo](/sites/g/files/omnuum9886/files/styles/hwp_1_1__720x720_scale/public/eye/files/fph05364.jpg?itok=sR_2MKzI) Harvard Ophthalmology held its clinical trainee graduation on Thursday, June 20. The outdoor ceremony, held at the Boston Museum of Science, celebrated six Harvard Ophthalmology residents, the AY2023–2024 Chief Resident, and two optometry residents, as well as 25 clinical fellows from Mass Eye and Ear, Joslin Diabetes Center, and Boston Children’s Hospital. “You have made an indelible impact on this department. As you embark on an exciting new phase in your lives, I have every confidence that you will use your knowledge and talents to positively impact the world around you,” remarked Harvard Ophthalmology Chair [Joan W. Miller, MD](/joanmiller). Several faculty and staff were also honored during the ceremony. [Matthew Gardiner, MD](/matthewgardiner), received the Simmons Lessell Excellence in Education Award. This award recognizes faculty who have made—and continue to make—sustained and profound contributions to education— just like Dr. Lessell. [Nimesh (Nemo) Patel, MD](/people/nimesh-nemo-patel-md-0), received the Clinical Teacher of the Year, while [Michael Lin, MD](/michaellin), received the Surgical Teacher of the Year Award. Naomi Francisque, a Medical Administrative Assistant at Mass Eye and Ear, received the Residency Appreciation Award. Two ophthalmology trainees were recognized with awards from Harvard Ophthalmology residents. Laura Barna, MD, a glaucoma fellow, received the Fellow of the Year Award and graduating resident Jennifer Tran, MD, received the Resident Peer Recognition Award. **Residents Pursue Subspecialty Training** This year, all 6 of our graduating ophthalmology residents, and our chief resident Isaac Bleicher, MD, will pursue subspecialty training at top-ranking fellowship programs around the country. We’re happy to report that several of them will continue their training with us at Mass Eye and Ear. Marta Stevanovic, MD, MSc, will be staying with us as Chief Resident and Director of Ocular Trauma, and one of our optometry residents will be joining us as faculty at Mass Eye and Ear. Sort **Ophthalmology Residents** Bertan Cakir, MD Vitreoretinal Fellowship at Stanford University Jonathan Lin, MD, PhD\* Vitreoretinal Fellowship at Stanford University Yifan Lu, MD Medical Retina Fellowship at Mass Eye and Ear Marta Stevanovic, MD, MSc Harvard Ophthalmology Chief Resident for AY2024-2025 and Director of the Trauma Service at Mass Eye and Ear Jennifer Tran, MD Cornea Fellowship at Mass Eye and Ear Yapei (Rosie) Zhang, MD Glaucoma Fellowship at Mass Eye and Ear **Chief Resident** Isaac Bleicher, MD Vitreoretinal Fellowship at Mass Eye and Ear **Optometry Residents** Meredith Fry, OD Optometrist at Marietta Eye Clinic in Atlanta, Georgia Leah Margolis, OD Instructor in Ophthalmology, Member of the Optometry and Contact Lens Service at Mass Eye and Ear/Harvard Ophthalmology *\* Graduate is a recipient of a Heed Fellowship* **What’s Next for Clinical Fellow Graduates?** Our clinical fellows will embark on new careers in both academic medicine and private practice, including six of whom will stay on at our affiliate hospitals as full-time faculty. Several others will pursue additional subspecialty training. Sort Ahmad Al Moujahed, MD, PhD, MPH Inherited Retinal Disorders Fellowship at Mass Eye and Ear Tómas Andersen, MD, MPH Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology, Director of the Cornea Service at Boston Medical Center/Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine Grayson W. Armstrong, MD, MPH Instructor in Ophthalmology, Member of the Retina, Comprehensive Ophthalmology, and Ophthalmology Emergency Services at Mass Eye and Ear/Harvard Ophthalmology Buravej Assavapongpaiboon, MD, FICO Clinical instructor, Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand Ariel Axelbaum, MD Neurology/Neuro-Ophthalmology Specialist at Milford Regional Medical Center in Milford, Massachusetts Laura E. Barna, MD Glaucoma Specialist at Northeast Eye Specialists in Hazle Township, Pennsylvania Yandong Bian, MD Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology/Cornea Specialist at New York Eye and Ear/Mount Sinai Amalie Chen, MD Neuro-Ophthalmology attending at Wake Forest Medical Center in Winston-Salem, North Carolina Jeffrey Desilets, MD Cataract-Refractive Surgeon at Dello Russo Laser Vision in Bergenfield, New Jersey David J. Doobin, MD, PhD* Retina Specialist at New Jersey Retina in Northern New Jersey Tais Couto Bernardes P. Estrela, MD Instructor in Ophthalmology, Member of the Neuro-Ophthalmology Service at Mass Eye and Ear/Boston Children’s Hospital/Harvard Ophthalmology Ward Fickweiler, MD Staff Ophthalmologist at Beetham Eye Institute at Joslin Diabetes Center Samet Gulkas, MD Pediatric Retina Fellowship at Boston Children's Hospital Lindsay Imber, MD Instructor in Ophthalmology, Comprehensive Pediatric Ophthalmologist at Boston Children's Hospital/Harvard Ophthalmology Part-time Comprehensive Ophthalmologist at Ophthalmic Consultants of Boston Ella Arnon Katz, MD Comprehensive Ophthalmologist at Flaum Eye Institute, Rochester, New York Aaron R. Kaufman, MD* Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology at University of Cincinnati/Corneal Specialist at Cincinnati Eye Institute Ines Lains, MD, PhD Instructor in Ophthalmology, Member of the Retina Service at Mass Eye and Ear/Harvard Ophthalmology and a K12 Scholar Daniel L. Liebman, MD, MBA Instructor in Ophthalmology, Member of the Glaucoma Service at Mass Eye and Ear/Harvard Ophthalmology Nicole R. Lifson, MD Private Practice at Eye Center of Texas in Houston, Texas Anthony Marte, MD* Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology at Montefiore-Einstein College of Medicine in Bronx, New York Michael Thai Binh Nguyen, MD Pediatric Ophthalmologist and Comprehensive Ophthalmologist at the Hospital for Sick Children and Kensington Eye Institute in Toronto, Canada Daniel A. Schwartz, MD Attending at Westchester Medical Center/NY Medical Center Osama A. M. Sorour, MBChB, MD Pediatric Vitreoretinal Surgery Fellowship at Boston Children’s Hospital Megan S. Steinkerchner, MD Surgical Retina Fellowship at Vanderbilt University Jie Sun, MD, PhD, MPH Medical Retina Fellowship at Duke Eye Center *\* Graduate is a recipient of a Heed Fellowship* ![Graduation 2024](/sites/g/files/omnuum9886/files/eye/files/graduation_2024.png) See also:- [ Awards ](/category/awards) - [ Events ](/news-categories/events) - [ Trainees ](/news-categories/trainees) Share on:- [ Facebook ](#) - [ Twitter ](#) - [ Linkedin ](#)