In this episode, we meet with the OGT team and gather perspectives on exposure to global ophthalmology during medical school.

In this episode, we have the pleasure of hosting Dr. Eve Higginbotham, SM MD ML, a renowned glaucoma specialist and professor of ophthalmology at the Scheie Eye Institute. Among the many roles she serves, she is also the inaugural vice dean for the Penn Medicine Office of Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity. She is also the senior fellow at the Leonard Davis Insitute for Health Economics and a Board member of Ascension's finance and audit committees. Dr. Higginbotham maintains a strong background in serving the community not just at the local level but also at the federal level.

A graduate of Harvard medical school and someone who carries a Master of Law from the University of Pennsylvania, Dr. Higginbotham shares her thoughts on how we can develop inclusive environments in our medical community. As we discuss this matter, we hope that our listeners will start thinking upstream and at the population level to serve our collective patient community!

For our season finale, we have the pleasure of being joined by Dr. Ike Ahmed, a renowned specialist in glaucoma. Dr. Ahmed holds various positions in both academia and private practice, including serving as the director of the Alan S. Crandall Center for Glaucoma Innovation and as the Chief Innovation Officer and former Medical Director of Prism Eye Institute in Canada. His contributions to the field of ophthalmology are widely recognized, particularly for his development of tools and techniques like Micro-Invasive Glaucoma Surgery, which has revolutionized the treatment of glaucoma. We are truly grateful to have innovators like Dr. Ahmed driving progress in this field, and we extend our sincere thanks to him for joining us on the show today! For more podcast episodes please visit: https://www.openglobetk.com/

Welcome back to Open globe talk, this is your host, Rizul Naithani and I am joined today with Dr. Jullia A. Rosdahl, an incredible glaucoma specialist and Associate Professor of Ophthalmology at the Duke Eye Center.  Dr. Rosdahl obtained her medical education and PhD from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and completed her ophthalmology residency at Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary. She then completed her glaucoma fellowship from the Duke Eye Center.

As this recording was conducted in February, we want to acknowledge Black History Month and also celebrate all the women physicians who have furthered the medical field. Please join us in this incredibly important discussion on what it is like to have supportive mentorship and also how we can conduct patient education to be better humans for our patients.

Welcome back to Open globe talk, this is your host, Rizul Naithani and I am joined today with Dr. Craig Chaya who is an assistant clinical professor at University of Utah and the division chief of it global ophthalmology department. Dr. Chaya completed medical school at Loma Linda University School of Medicine and an Ophthalmology residency at Texas Tech University. He completed two ophthalmology fellowships. An international ophthalmology fellowship as a Freedom Foundation Fellow through the Himalayan Cataract Project in Nepal. Another in Glaucoma at the University of Utah. Dr. Chaya’s global work has encompassed work in Nepal, Thailand, Haiti, Ghana, Guam, and Micronesia. His research interests are in preventing global blindness and developing novel glaucoma surgery devices with specific attention to customized and holistic care. As one of the prominent leaders in global ophthalmology, we are very glad to have him here with us today and learn about the sustainable approaches to how we can better our healthcare delivery systems.

We are joined by not one but TWO incredible guests from the University of Wisconsin Department of Ophthalmology. Dr. Schneider is the Graduate Medical Education program administrator and Mrs. Hannah Baker is the senior graduate medical education program manager. Both of them are integral in the management of the global ophthalmology curriculum at UW-Madison. With DOVS unique global health curriculum integrated during residency, this is not the episode to miss for aspiring changemakers and global ophthalmologists!

For our video version, check out this YouTube link: https://youtu.be/yhPmX7hnFU8

Episode 31 features Dr. Oluwatosin Smith, MD, a renowned glaucoma specialist based at the Glaucoma Associates of Texas in Dallas. Dr. Smith is also an acclaimed global ophthalmologist who serves on the board of the 'Cure Glaucoma Foundation'. She is also an assistant professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Texas Southwestern. Dr. Smith obtained her MBBS from the University of Ibadan in Nigeria graduating with the Andrew Blair Aitken's Prize in Surgery. She completed her ophthalmology residency from Howard University graduating with the outstanding resident for the class of 2002 award. Thereafter, Dr. Smith obtained her glaucoma specialty training at the Wills Eye Hospital. In this segment, we discuss multiple aspects of global glaucoma work which includes research and service. We also go through Dr. Smith's path in ophthalmology and what the 'Cure Glaucoma Foundation' is!

Episode 30 is a special segment featuring Dr. Keith J Wroblewski, who is a retired colonel from the US Army and an associate professor as well as Vice Chair of Education at the George Washington University department of Ophthalmology. As we discuss Dr. Wroblewski’s work in both military medicine and the civilian world, we want to also thank all the armed men and women in uniform who put their lives on the line so that our nation could be safe each and every day.

Dr. Wroblewski is originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He obtained his undergraduate degree from the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York and served four years with the 4th Infantry Division at Fort Carson, Colorado as an Infantry Officer. Dr. Wroblewski then pursued his medical education from Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine after which he trained in ophthalmology from Madigan Army Medical Center in Washington State. After residency, Dr. Wroblewski trained through 2 fellowship subspecialties: 1) Ocular Inflammation and Uveitis at the National Eye Institute in Bethesda 2) Ocular Pathology at the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology.

Dr. Wroblewski has served as the chair of Ophthalmology at the Walter Reed Army/National Military Medical Centers and has been the Chief of Surgery at Fort Meade, Maryland serving in the following countries: Korea, Bosnia, Germany, Iraq, and the states of Colorado and Washington. He has also serviced in multiple medical missions inclusive of countries such as Kenya, Mauritania, El Salvador, Honduras, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago, and Guatemala. With an incredible array of experiences, not surprisingly, Dr. Wroblewski has been endowed with many prestigious awards such as the Saint Lucia Medal from the Society of Military Ophthalmology.

We are pleased to host Dr. Adrian Fung, MBBS (Hons1), MMed (Ophthal Sci), MMed (Clin Epi), FRANZCO, who is one of Australia's leading vitreoretinal surgeon and medical retina specialist. Dr. Fung is currently the professor at Macquarie University Hospital and a clinical associate professor at the University of Sydney. He is also the head of vitreoretinal unit at Westmead hospital. Having completed international fellowships at institutions inclusive of University of British Columbia, Manhattan Eye and Ear, the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, and Wills Eye, we have an incredibly well-travelled guest to speak with. In this segment, we will not only learn about Dr. Fung's journey, the Australian medical system pertaining to ophthalmology, but also how Dr. Fung co-founded 'Vitreoretinal Surgery Online', an expansive online textbook addressing growing topics in retina! Join us for this discussion and an opportunity to explore a new continent!

In this episode, we are excited to feature Dr. Uday Devgan, MD also known as the 'Cataract coach'! He is an international expert in ocular surgery, ranking #1 in southern California and #3 in the US. He specializes in cataract, refractive lens implant, and LASIK. With over 13 million views on his YouTube channel, Dr. Devgan has added tremendously to the skill sharing required of being a dedicated and proficient ophthalmologist. His 'Back to Basics' monthly feature is disbursed to over 80,000 ophthalmologists around the globe. Dr. Devgan currently practices at Devgan Eye Surgery in Los Angeles and is a full partner at Specialty Surgical Center of Beverly Hills. He has served as a clinical professor at Jules Stein Eye Institute UCLA and has been the Chief of Ophthalmology at Olive View-UCLA Medical Center. He has been awarded the annual ophthalmology faculty teaching award at UCLA a record 5 times! A true leader in ophthalmology, we are incredibly excited to host him on this episode and learn about his thoughts on how to be the best version of ourselves in ophthalmology. 

We are joined today with Dr. Marianeli Rodriguez, MD PhD who is a vitreoretinal surgeon at Vitreoretinal Associates in Massachusetts. She completed her medical school education and PhD at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Then proceeded to continue her ophthalmology residency training at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute. Dr. Rodriguez then decided to pursue a Vitreoretinal disease fellowship at Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary. We are excited to have her today as she walks us through her path and shares some important medical insight about the recent ruling that repealed Roe vs. Wade and its impact on Ophthalmological patients' health. 

Join us in this heart-to-heart conversation with soon to be graduating PGY4 Dr. Sila Bal, MD MPH who is at Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary. Having started her global ophthalmology career incredibly early and serving as a board member of Partners for Andean Community Health (PACH), she has a lot to share regarding sustainable development of both international relations and delivery of care. We are excited to chat with her and learn about her take on global health and how she got started, along with the use of social media to create awareness. If you are a young ophthalmologist, you don't want to miss this wonderful segment!

In this episode of Open Globe Talk, we are excited to welcome Dr. Ashiyana Nariani who is an assistant professor at King Edward Memorial Hospital in Mumbai, India. Her specialties include complex limbal stem cell transplants, corneal transplants, and ocular surface tumors. Inclusive of being the founder of the "2020 Ophthalmology Educational Series", she is on the AAO Cornea Network Committee, is on the Executive Committee for Refractive Surgery Alliance (RSA), and now the Global clinical consultant for the Himalayan Cataract Project! Join us in hearing her background in the US and how she decided to serve patients and practice abroad as a part of her global ophthalmology career!

Taking on the theme of 'Global is Local', we spin off a new episode and format where we conduct a roundtable discussing Guerrilla Eyecare Service (GES). An organization founded by University of Pittsburgh Ophthalmology residency program director, Dr. Evan Waxman MD PhD, we gain an insightful segment on what is GES, how it was founded, and its profound impact on not just the community but also its participating student doctors. We also host two incredible student doctor mentees of Dr. Waxman join us in this discussion: 4th year Sanya Yadav BS and 2nd year Amrish Selvam BS. While we learn about the program's setup and its director's perspective, hear how students prepare for their ophthalmic service careers as they progress through medical training as they indulge in the resources afforded by GES!

Welcome back to Open Globe Talk and in this episode we have the amazing opportunity to chat with Dr. Bala Ambati, who is a remarkable surgeon at the Pacific ClearVision Institute and also a research professor at the Knight Campus of the University of Oregon.

He attended New York University for undergraduate and completed medical school at Mount Sinai. Thereafter, he conducted residency training at Mass Eye and Ear with a subsequent fellowship in cornea and refractive surgery from Duke University. He has also earned his PhD from the Medical College of Georgia and obtained his MBA at the University of Utah.

Having been named as the number 1 eye surgeon in the top 40 under 40 global competition and making the top 100 power list of ophthalmology by The Ophthalmologist magazine, Dr. Ambati is a globally recognized figure who is also an incredible humanitarian. Having worked with ORBIS, Sightlife, Sight for the Sightless, Help Mercy International, and many other service organizations, it is a testament to the contributions he has made to the global ophthalmology community. Today we get to learn about his journey and how his early career has impacted him in the path he leads.

Season 2 premieres the well acclaimed surgeon-humanitarian featured in the book "Second Suns", Dr. Geoff Tabin, MD MA. In this episode, Dr. Tabin chats with us how the Himalayan Cataract Project began and the incredible partnership with the legendary Dr. Sanduk Ruit in Nepal. We also get a chance to hear his unique life perspectives and where the direction of global ophthalmology training should be as he founded the first global ophthalmology fellowship at the University of Utah, Moran Eye Center. It is our great pleasure to host him on our platform!

In this episode of OGT, we are joined by Dr. Peter Macintosh who is an associate professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Illinois College of Medicine. He is a dual fellowship-trained surgeon in neuro-ophthalmology, Oculoplastic and reconstructive surgery. Dr. MacIntosh obtained his Ophthalmology residency from Stroger Cook County Hospital and did his fellowships at Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary (Neuro-ophthalmology) and the Massachusetts Eye and Ear infirmary Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery). He is also the program director at the University of Illinois College of Medicine for its Ophthalmology residency program as well as UIC's global ophthalmology fellowship. We are delighted to have him share his journey in the global arena!

In this episode of Open globe talk, we have the esteemed pleasure of speaking with Dr. Alessandro Jammal who is a glaucoma specialist from Brazil and a current research scientist at Duke University. Dr. Jammal completed his medical school at Universidade de Uberaba (Uniube) and his Ophthalmology residency at Universidade Federal do Triângulo Mineiro (UFTM). He then completed a glaucoma fellowship at the prestigious Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP, in Campinas, São Paulo) and a research glaucoma fellowship at the Duke University in conjunction with his PhD through Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP, in Campinas, São Paulo).

Dr. Jammal has helped organize and create the Duke Ophthalmic Registry, a foundation for several exciting artificial intelligence studies and through which he has worked on and published several high impact research articles. Not only has Dr. Jammal excelled in academia, but he is also a compassionate global ophthalmologist. He has worked as a glaucoma surgeon in countries such as Nigeria, Kenya, Brazil and Haiti. With his incredible insight today, we will come to learn of a new perspective on eyecare in Latin America.

In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Brenton Finklea who is the co-director with Dr. John Anhalt of the Wills Eye Center for Academic Global Ophthalmology. He obtained his medical education from the University of Virginia and then subsequently conducted ophthalmology residency training at the Wills Eye Hospital. Post-residency, he obtained fellowship training in 2 areas. One in Cornea, External Diseases, and refractive surgery from Duke University and the other in Academic Global Ophthalmology from the Wills Eye Hospital. As a trainee he has received multiple awards for his outstanding performance, ranging from intern of the year and the James Shipman Award for best resident paper presentation. We are very fortunate to have a guest like him join us today.

It is our esteemed pleasure to host Dr. Ciku Mathenge, MD PhD, an eyecare leader in Africa (specifically Rwanda) who has earned adulation and respect among her patients and the global ophthalmology community for her clinical care as well as research. Dr. Mathenge originally spent many years as an ophthalmologist in Nakuru Eye Unit at Rift Valley Provincial Hospital in Kenya where she transformed care. She served as the Regional Medical Advisor for the Fred Hollows Foundation (FHF) and started programs in Kenya, Rwanda, and Burundi. She was awarded the first Sir John Wilson Fellowship by the British Council for Prevention of Blindness and received her PhD from the acclaimed London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine where she conducted research in glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and ARMD in Africa. She has over 30 scientific papers in peer reviewed journals. Currently, Dr. Mathenge has been working diligently on developing the Rwanda International Institute of Ophthalmology (RIIO), a center that aims to become the top center for training and research for all eyecare specialists in the region. Among the many committees Dr. Mathenge has served on, some of them include the ICO advisory committee as well as the ICO Diabetic Retinopathy Task Force. 

We have much to learn from this episode as Dr. Mathenge narrates her journey and shares the incredible path that is forged with hard work, integrity, and a pursuit to make her residence a place of progress and ingenuity!