Saturday, September 23, 2023
Breakfast:7:15-8am
Program begins:8am
Lunch and Wet Lab: 11:45am
Program Ends: 3:20pm
The Westin Kierland Resort and Spa
Herberger 3
6902 E Greenway Parkway
Scottsdale, AZ
6902 East Greenway Parkway
Scottsdale, Arizona, USA, 85254
Tel: +1 480-624-1000
Room Block Information
Dr. Anesi is co-president and partner of Massachusetts Eye Research and Surgery Institution (MERSI), seeing and treating patients with uveitis, scleritis, keratitis, dry eye, cataracts, glaucoma and general ophthalmology issues. Dr. Anesi attended the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California to earn his Doctorate of Medicine. After completion of his residency in 2010, where he served as Chief Resident, Dr. Anesi traveled to Cambridge for his Fellowship in ocular immunology and uveitis with Dr. Foster.
Dr. Foster is the President and Founder of Massachusetts Eye Research and Surgery Institution (MERSI), a state-of-the-art practice with its own chemotherapy infusion suite and phlebotomy lab. Dr. Foster received his medical degree at Duke University Medical Center in 1969 and after completing various distinguished trainings in Internal Medicine and Ophthalmology, was appointed to join the full-time faculty of the Department of Ophthalmology of Harvard Medical School. Dr. Foster began his independent research in 1977 and continues this research currently at MERSI while treating patients with ocular inflammatory diseases. Dr. Foster has authored 1000 published papers and 14 textbooks as well.
Dr. Chang was born and raised in Taipei, Taiwan. He moved to the United States at age13 and has come to call New England his second home. He received Bachelor of Science in Biology from Brown University in 2004 and Doctor of Medicine from Tufts University School of Medicine in 2008. After medical school, Dr. Chang pursued a 2-year Clinical Research Fellowship in Uveitis and Ocular Immunology with Dr. C Stephen Foster, and he served as the Chief Research Fellow from 2009 to 2010. The MERSI training helped solidify his interest in complex ocular conditions and systemic rheumatic disorders. Upon completing medical internship at Mount Auburn Hospital in Cambridge, MA, Dr. Chang moved to Manhattan and underwent residency training in Ophthalmology at the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai. During his senior year, he held responsibilities as the Administrative Chief Resident. Dr. Chang then completed fellowship training in Vitreoretinal Surgery at the Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary in Chicago where he was named Fellow of the Year. In fall of 2016, Dr. Chang joined MERSI as a Partner and in January 2021 became its Co-President.
Dr. Chu is an ophthalmologist specializing in ocular immunology and corneal transplantation. He is also a professor of ophthalmology at the New Jersey Medical School of Rutgers University, where he teaches residents and medical students. His office is located in Palisades Park, New Jersey. Dr. Chu conducts research and clinical trials and lecture nationally and internationally, striving to provide cutting-edge medical and surgical options for patients with complex ocular conditions.
Frances Foster received her bachelors in nursing and then masters from Boston College. She is an adult health nurse practitioner and has her clinical nurse specialty in health promotion and stress management. She is one of the founders of the uveitis support group of the Ocular and Immunology Uveitis Foundation. She started the support group in 1996 and remains as the group facilitator today. She is a patient advocate for obtaining medications for ocular inflammatory disease patients. She practiced many years as a nurse practitioner in primary care at Mass General Hospital in Boston and since 2014 she oversees the infusion therapy and emergencies at the Massachusetts Eye Research and Surgery Institution.
Dr. Shah is an ophthalmology specialist in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Specializing in age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and epiretinal membranes. He graduated from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in 2005 and then went on to complete his residency In Ophthalmology at State University of New York. Dr. Shah has also completed fellowships in vitreoretinal surgery, uveitis and ocular immunology, as well as vitreoretinal surgery. Dr. Shah also currently serves as an assistant professor of ophthalmology at Wake Forest University School of Medicine.
Alexander Shusko, M.D., is a board-certified Ophthalmologist with expertise in ocular inflammatory disorders of the eye. Dr. Shusko completed his medical training at Creighton University School of Medicine followed by an ophthalmology residency at Nassau University Medical Center, where he was elected Chief Resident. He went on to complete his fellowship in Uveitis and Ocular Inflammatory Disease at the Jules Stein Eye Institute, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). In addition to caring for patients with uveitis and ocular inflammatory diseases, Dr. Shusko is also committed to advancing the field of ophthalmology. His research focuses on clinical characteristics of Birdshot Chorioretinopathy and Coccidioidomycosis.
Mark Barakat received his undergraduate degree in Computer Science from Duke University and his medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania. He completed residency training as chief resident at Hahnemann University, followed by retina fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic. He is a retinal surgeon at Retinal Consultants of Arizona, Director of the Retinal Research Institute, Vice Chair of Clinical Research at American Vision Partners, Medical Director of Spectra Eye Surgery Center, and a Clinical Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology at University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix. He is beyond fortunate to have his wife, Monika, and his daughters, Jennah and Kathryn, to support him and remind him that there is life beyond retina.
Dr. Mandi Conway attended medical school and did her internship in Chicago. She attended graduate school in immunology at Southern Illinois University prior to medical school. After a preretinal Fellowship in corneal diseases at Tulane, she did her residency at Tulane University. She did a 3 year NIH post – Doctoral funded research Fellowship (NRSA) in molecular biology of viral retinal diseases at theTulane Primate Center . She did a 2 year Fellowship in vitreoretinal surgery, and uveitis at Washington University in St. Louis. Following this, she was a faculty member at Louisiana State University Medical Center Department of Ophthalmology in New Orleans for 12 years and was Professor of Ophthalmology at Tulane for 6 years, prior to Hurricane Katrina. She joined the University Of Arizona Tucson Department Of Ophthalmology in 2006 after Hurricane Katrina and moved to Phoenix in 2007 where she is currently in private practice at Arizona Retinal Specialists, specializing in vitreoretinal diseases, ocular oncology and uveitis. She is also a Professor of Basic Medical Science at the University of Arizona College Of Medicine Phoenix campus, and Chair ofDept of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences for this campus. She retains a Clinical Professorship atTulane University Department of Ophthalmology. She is over 100 publications, over 75 abstracts, four book chapters, and has spoken internationally in Italy, Greece, Spain, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Mexico, and Great Britain. She has trained in numerous residents, vitreoretinal follows, and medical students.
Darren received his B.S. in Genetics from the University of California, Davis and his Ph.D. in Genetics from the University of New Hampshire, Durham in 2007. His doctoral research focused on gene regulation, specifically mRNA transcript stability of the poly(A) tail. Following graduation Darren began his postdoctoral fellowship at Schepens Eye Research Institute and Harvard Medical School in the lab of Dr. Andrew Taylor. Darren’s postdoctoral research focused on understanding how antigen presenting cells and Treg cells suppress autoimmune disease. In 2010, Dr. Taylor moved the lab to Boston University School of Medicine, where Darren continued the project. In 2013 he was promoted to Instructor in the Department of Ophthalmology at Boston University School of Medicine and in 2015 he joined the faculty at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center in the Department of Ophthalmology as an Assistant Professor and as an adjunct with the Department of Microbiology and Immunology and in 2018 received a full time appointment. In 2022 Darren moved to the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School with appointments in the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Immunology and Microbiology Program, and NeuroNexus Institute.
Dr. Lefebvre is a board-certified ophthalmologist and ASOPRS (American Society of Oculoplastic and Reconstructive Surgery) oculoplastic surgeon who specializes in evaluation and management of disorders of the eyelid, orbit, and lacrimal system. He completed his undergraduate education at Boston University and attended medical school at State University of New York Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, NY. From there he entered general surgery residency at Jefferson Health in Philadelphia, PA, however changed to Ophthalmology with the goal of becoming an oculoplastic surgeon. After his surgical internship he went on to Nassau University Medical Center in Long Island, NY for ophthalmology residency and then a two-year ASOPRS-sponsored fellowship in oculoplastic surgery at Boston Medical Center / Brown / Mass Eye and Ear. He is a member of the full-time faculty of Mass Eye and Ear and is an Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School in Boston, MA; staff ophthalmologist at the Veterans Affairs HealthCare System Boston; and staff ophthalmologist of Lexington Eye Associates. He teaches residents in the clinic and operating room from Mass Eye and Ear / Harvard Medical School and Boston Medical Center / Boston University School of Medicine, and he is a preceptor for the ASOPRS fellowship at Mass Eye and Ear. Dr. Lefebvre specializes in functional and cosmetic surgery of the eyelids, post-Mohs reconstruction of the periocular area, endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) surgery, management of orbital diseases including thyroid eye disease, and complex orbital trauma. He has spoken extensively at regional, national, and international meetings, is a co-editor of two textbooks on oculoplastic surgery, four book-chapters, and an author of over 70 abstracts.
Andrea Patisteas became involved with the Ocular Immunology and Uveitis foundation when her daughter Mia was diagnosed with Pars Planitis and Retinal Vasculitis at the age of 11. Mia is now 24. In her day job, Andrea is a Senior Executive Vice President at Primo Medical Group, one of the top 25 medical device companies in Massachusetts as well as a Founder of several Massachusetts start-up companies. Andrea has a passion for raising awareness and funds to help support the Ocular Immunology and Uveitis Foundation.
Dr. Netland received his undergraduate degree at Princeton University, his PhD from Harvard
University, and his medical degree from the University of California, San Francisco. He
completed his residency in Ophthalmology, followed by a clinical fellowship in glaucoma, at the
Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary and was subsequently appointed Assistant Professor of
Ophthalmology and Associate Director of the Glaucoma Service at the Massachusetts Eye and
Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School. He joined the faculty at the University of Tennessee
School of Medicine in Memphis, where he was the Siegal Professor of Ophthalmology, Director
of the Glaucoma Service and Vice-Chair. Dr. Netland was appointed the DuPont Guerry III
Professor and Chair of the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Virginia in 2009,
and the Vernah Scott Moyston Professor and Chair in 2012.
In addition to his recognized expertise in the clinical management and surgical treatment of
glaucoma, Dr. Netland is an innovative and prolific investigator. He has written more than 300
peer-reviewed publications. He has published six textbooks, most recently the third edition of
Glaucoma Medical Therapy. Dr. Netland has delivered numerous named and invited lectures
on clinical and surgical management of glaucoma, and on glaucoma research at national and
international meetings. He has been a perennial best-doctors award recipient. He has been
director of a long-standing AUPO FCC-certified clinical glaucoma fellowship training program.
The American Academy of Ophthalmology awarded him the Achievement Award in 2001, the
Senior Achievement Award in 2007, and the Life Achievement Honor Award in 2018. He has
served on numerous AAO and AGS Committees. He is a Past President of the Memphis Eye
Society, and was a Board member and President-Elect of the Tennessee Ophthalmological
Society. He has served the American Board of Ophthalmology. He has served as President of
the Albemarle County Medical Society and is a member of the Board of Directors for the
Medical Society of Virginia. He is currently President-Elect for the Chandler Grant Glaucoma
Society. He is a member of the Board of Directors for the University Physicians Group (UPG) at
UVA. He has served on numerous institutional committees and non-profit boards. He was a
founder and serves as Chair of the Board for Aniridia North America. Dr. Netland was elected
to the American Ophthalmological Society in 2009.
Dr Patel completed residencies in both internal medicine and dermatology at Washington University in St Louis and specializes in inflammatory disease of the skin and the cutaneous side effects of chemotherapy, targeted therapies, and immunotherapy. He is in private practice in Phoenix Arizona and also teaches at both Creighton University School of Medicine, Phoenix and the University of Arizona Health Science Center, Phoenix.
Dr. Huang is an ophthalmologist specializing in pediatric ophthalmology, cornea and external disease, and uveitis. She graduated medical school from Rush University in Chicago and completed her ophthalmology residency training at The New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mt. Sinai. She went on to complete a Pediatric Ophthalmology fellowship at Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles/USC affiliated with Doheny Eye Institute and a Uveitis, Cornea and External disease fellowship at The University of California- Irvine, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute. Dr. Huang has a special interest in complex pediatric anterior segment disease, ocular inflammatory disorders in children and adults, and corneal transplants.
In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by Amedco LLC and Ocular Immunology and Uveitis Foundation. Amedco LLC is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
Amedco Joint Accreditation #4008163.
Physicians (ACCME) Credit Designation
Amedco LLC designates this live activity for a maximum of 6.00 AMA PRA Category 1 CreditsTM. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Physician Assistants
PAs may claim a maximum of 6.00 Category 1 credits for completing this activity. NCCPA accepts AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ from organizations accredited by ACCME or a recognized state medical society.
Nurse Practitioners
The American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) recognizes the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) as approved accreditors and allow reciprocity for AANPCP continuing education credit. 6.00 hours.
