Where are they now?

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.

2024 Graduates

Elise Timtim, M.D. - Chief Resident
 

Howard Russell Day, M.D. 
 

Kari Fossum, M.D.
 

Nicole Morrow, M.D.
 

Nkechi Nwabueze, M.D.
 

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