Upon graduating, many residents who trained at Vanderbilt Eye Institute enter competitive fellowship programs at top-ranked medical centers. Others go directly into private practice.
2023 Graduates
Jack Fitzpatrick, M.D. - Chief Resident
Vitreoretinal Surgery Fellowship, Austin Retina Associates
Irene Lee, M.D. - Chief Resident
Oculoplastics Fellowship, Duke Eye Center
Jonathan Barnett, M.D.
Comprehensive Ophthalmology, VA Medical Center, Murfreesboro, Tennessee
Charlie Chai, M.D.
Comprehensive Ophthalmology, Specialty Eye Institute, Jackson, Michigan
Drew Young, M.D.
Comprehensive Ophthalmology, Mattax Neu Prater Eye Center, Springfield, Missouri
2022 Graduates
Jordan Comstock, M.D. - Chief Resident
Cornea, Anterior Segment, and Refractive Surgery Fellowship, Baylor College of Medicine
Nicolaas DeRuyter, M.D. - Chief Resident
Retinal and Vitreous Surgery Fellowship, Vanderbilt Eye Institute
Hans Andrews, M.D.
Cornea and Refractive Surgery, Eye Consultants of Atlanta
Carisa Bohnak, M.D.
Ocular Oncology Fellowship, Vanderbilt Eye Institute
Daniel Valenzuela, M.D.
Comprehensive Ophthalmology, Vanderbilt Eye Institute
2021 Graduates
Cindy Ocran, M.D. - Chief Resident
Oculoplastics and Reconstructive Surgery and Surgical Neuro-ophthalmology with Kimberly Cockerham
Patrick Differding, M.D.
Comprehensive Ophthalmology
Rachel Mogil, M.D.
Retina Fellowship, Mayo Clinic
Tyler Knight, M.D.
Pediatric Ophthalmology Fellowship, Indiana University
Edward Linton, M.D.
Neuro-ophthalmology Fellowship, University of Iowa
2020 Graduates
Allison Umfress, M.D.- Co-Chief Resident
Fellowship: Pediatric Ophthalmology - Duke University Eye Center
Alina Lou, M.D. - Co-Chief Resident
Comprehensive Ophthalmology - Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Frini Makadia, M.D.
Fellowship: Glaucoma - Ohio State Ophthalmology
Alexis Flowers, M.D.
Fellowship: Neuro-ophthalmology - Emory Eye Center
Alex de Castro-Abeger, M.D.
Fellowship: Pediatrics - Vanderbilt University Medical Center
2019 Graduates
Joshua Barnett, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Resident
Fellowship: Vitreoretinal Diseases & Surgery - Emory, Atlanta, GA
Mehak Aziz, M.D.
Fellowship: Glaucoma - University of San Francisco
Nina Farivari, M.D.
Comprehensive Ophthalmology - The Nashville VA Medical Center
Alexandra May, M.D.
Comprehensive Ophthalmology - Heritage Medical Associates, Nashville, TN
Thomas Mendel, M.D., Ph.D.
Fellowship: Vitreoretinal Diseases & Surgery - Cole Eye Institute. Cleaveland, OH
2018 Graduates
Ronald Milam, M.D., Chief Resident
Fellowship: Vitreoretinal Diseases & Surgery, Cole Eye Institute - Cleveland Clinic
Heather Tamez, M.D., Chief Resident
Fellowship: Vitreoretinal Diseases & Surgery, Vanderbilt Eye Institute
Sean Batson, M.D.
Comprehensive Ophthalmology Washington Pacific Eye Associates
Mark Breazzano, M.D.
Fellowship: Vitreoretinal Diseases & Surgery, Columbia University, New York, NY
Joy Carroll, M.D.
Private Practice, Comprehensive Ophthalmology with McFarland Clinic
2017 Graduates
Tomas Moreno, M.D.
Fellowship: Vitreoretinal Diseases & Surgery, Vanderbilt Eye Institute
Private Retina Practice: Florida
Jeanie Ling, M.D.
Fellowship: Glaucoma, University of Texas Houston Health Science Center
Viraj Mehta, M.D.
Fellowship: Oculofacial, Reconstructive, & Orbital Surgery, Mayo Clinic / University of Minnesota
Ian Thompson, M.D.
Fellowship: Vitreoretinal Diseases
2016 Graduates
Niraj Nathan, M.D., Chief Resident
Fellowship: Glaucoma, Baylor College of Medicine
David Herren, M.D.
Private Practice, Comprehensive, Harbin Clinic LLC
Matthew Hollar, M.D.
Private Practice, General Ophthalmology. North Georgia Eye Clinic
Caroline Vargason, M.D.
Oculoplastic Surgery at Idaho Eyelid and Facial Plastic Surgery
Matthew Zhang, M.D.
ASOPRS Fellowship. Annesley Flanagan & Associates. Wills Eye Hospital. Philadelphia PA
2015 Graduates
Christopher Estopinal, M.D., Chief Resident
Fellowship: Cornea, University of Michigan Ann Arbor
Talmage Broadbent, M.D., Ph.D.
Oculoplastic Fellowship: Mayo Clinic/ University of MN
Anthony Gregory M.D., Ph.D.
Fellowship: Glaucoma, Emory University
Kevin Mundy M.D.
Academic Comprehensive Ophthalmology, Oregon Health Science Center
Yuna Rapoport M.D.
Fellowship: Cornea, Mass Eye and Ear
2014 Graduates
Samantha Williamson, M.D., Chief Resident
Fellowship: Cornea, University of Chicago
Richard Hwang, M.D., Ph.D.
Fellowship: Retina, University of Colorado - Denver, CO
Sivashakthi Kanagalingam, MBChB
Fellowship: Neuro-Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins
Evan Silverstein, M.D.
Fellowship: Pediatric Ophthalmology, Duke University
Ryan Whitted, M.D.
Fellowship: Retina, University of Kentucky - Lexington, KY
2013 Graduates
William Watkins, M.D. Chief Resident
Academic Practice: University of Mississippi, Jackson
Lauren Butts McDonald, M.D.
Private Practice with John Dryfuss, M.D. - Comprehensive Ophthalmology
Ajay Shalwala, M.D.
Fellowship: Cornea, Wills Eye Institute, Philadelphia, PA
Daniel Straka, M.D.
Fellowship: Oculoplastics, Ophthalmic Surgeon and Consultants of Ohio, Columbus, OH
Sumeer Thinda, M.D.
Fellowship: Retina, UC Davis Eye Center, Sacramento, CA
2012 Graduates
Scott Schultz, MD
Fellowship: Glaucoma, Bascom Palmer Institute, Miami, FL
Sarita Dave, M.D.
Fellowship: Neuro-Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, Baltimore, MD
Karen (Schmitt) Grove, M.D.
Assistant Professor, Meharry Medical College, Nashville, TN
Clinical Instructor, Vanderbilt Eye Institute, Nashville, TN
Kasra Rezaei, M.D.
Fellowship: Retina, Associated Retina Consultants, Phoenix, AZ
Courtney Ridner, M.D.
Private Practice, Chattanooga, TN
2011 Graduates
Chirag Patel, M.D.
Fellowship: Cornea & Refractive Surgery, New York Eye & Ear Infirmary
Michael Dieckhaus, M.D.
Private Practice, Guardian Eye Associates, Nashville
Carey Dozier, M.D.
Private Practice, Chattanooga, TN
Ami Shah, M.D.
Fellowship: Oculoplastics, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA
Ruth Yeilding, M.D.
Fellowship: Oculoplastics, Dr. John Fezza Center for Sight, Sarasota, FL
2010 Graduates
Brian Armstrong, M.D.
Fellowship: Cornea and External Diseases, Cole Eye Institute, Cleveland Clinic
Currently Cornea & Refractive Specialist, Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group, Largo, MD
Maziar Lalezary, M.D.
Fellowship: Vitreoretinal Diseases and Surgery, Vanderbilt Eye Institute
David Reichstein, M.D.
Fellowship: Oncology, Wills Eye Hospital, Philadelphia
2009 Graduates
Desiree Ong, M.D.
Comprehensive Private Practice, MD
Mark Moore, M.D.
Comprehensive Private Practice, Bowling Green, KY
Ryan Tarantola, M.D.
Fellowship: Vitreoretinal Diseases and Surgery, University of Iowa
Currently Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology, St. Louis University Eye Institute
Wright Lauten, M.D.
Fellowship: Vitreoretinal Diseases and Surgery, University of Alabama
Jeffrey Colburn, M.D.
Fellowship: Pediatrics, Indiana University
Private Practice: Spokane Eye Clinic, Spokane, Wash.
2008 Graduates
KoriAnne Galler, M.D.
Fellowship: Vitreoretinal Diseases and Surgery, University of Iowa
Vitreoretinal Private Practice: Tidewater Eye Centers, PC
Joshua Hu, M.D.
Comprehensive Private Practice, FL
Jonathan Welch, M.D.
Comprehensive Private Practice, TX
Prat Itharat, M.D.
Comprehensive Private Practice, SC
Keshini Parbhu, M.D.
Fellowship: Oculoplastics, University of Alabama
Private practice, Orlando Eye & Oculoplastics, FL
2007 Graduates
Daniel Bustos, M.D.
Comprehensive Private Practice, Eugene, OR
Denise John, M.D.
Fellowship: Glaucoma, Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan
Glaucoma Academic Practice: University of Michigan
Deepak Raja, M.D.
Fellowship: Cornea and External Disease, University of Minnesota
Private practice, Orlando Eye & Oculoplastics, FL
Ronald Teed, M.D.
Fellowship: Pediatrics
Storm Eye Institute, Medical University of South Carolina
Pediatric Academic Practice, Storm Eye Institute, SC
Alejandro Leon, M.D.
Fellowship: Pediatrics, University of Iowa
Pediatric Private Practice, New Orleans, LA
2006 Graduates
Alissa Craft Hudson, M.D.
Private Practice: Middle Tennessee Eye Associates, Cookeville, TN
Aziz Khanifar, M.D.
Fellowship: Vitreoretinal Diseases and Research, Duke University Medical Center
Vitreoretinal Surgery, Weill Cornell Medical College
Private Practice: Retina Group of Washington
Jaclyn Lekse Kovach, M.D.
Fellowship: Vitreoretinal Diseases, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute
Academic Practice: Florida
Thomas Stuckey, III, M.D.
Private Practice: Eye Specialists of Louisiana, Baton Rouge, LA
2005 Graduates
Cameron Johnson, M.D.
Fellowship: Cornea & External Disease, University of Florida
Eric Chen, M.D.
Fellowship: Vitreoretinal Diseases, Wills Eye Hospital, Philadelphia
Michael Henry, M.D.
Fellowship: Oculoplastics, Dr. Thomas C Spoor, Warren, MI