Celebrating the Duke Ophthalmology Class of 2026

Duke Ophthalmology hosted the 2026 Residents’ & Fellows’ Graduation Banquet on June 6 at the JB Duke Hotel, bringing together trainees, faculty, and staff for an evening recognizing excellence in education, research, innovation, and clinical care. The event highlighted the accomplishments of residents, fellows, ophthalmic technicians, and faculty who have shaped another outstanding academic year.

2026 Graduates' Next Steps

Award Highlights

Robert Machemer Research Award

Recognizing originality and scientific rigor in research.

Recipient: Irene Song, MD (PGY1) — Risk of Ischemic Optic Neuropathy after Routine Cataract Surgery: A Nationwide Study.

OpTech Mentor Awards

Honoring those who made a meaningful impact on ophthalmic technician education.

• Resident Mentor: Agnes Owete, MD

• Fellow Mentor: Nkechi Nwabueze, MD

Best Research Presentation Awards

Recognizing excellence among full-time research fellows and clinical fellows for both podium and poster presentations.

• Best Research Presentation by a Full-Time Research Fellow (Poster): Impact of Systemic Neonatal Factors on the Developing Fovea in Early Preterm Infants; Syeda Fatima Abid, MD, Research Scholar; Mentor: Xi Chen, MD
• Best Research Presentation by a Full-Time Research Fellow (Podium): Surgical Implantation of Revakinagene Taroretcel-lwey for Macular Telangiectasia Type 2: The First Case in an Academic Center; Adam Snowden, Research Fellow; Mentor: Lejla Vajzovic, MD, FASRS
• Best Research Presentation by a Clinical Fellow (Poster): Iris Insertion and Trabecular Meshwork Composition in Primary Congenital Glaucoma and Normal Eyes Using Anterior Segment OCT; Jiaxing Wang, MD, Pediatrics Fellow; Mentor: Sharon Freedman, MD
• Best Research Presentation by a Clinical Fellow (Podium): Comparison of Preterm Infant Stress During Non-contact Handheld Optical Coherence Tomography and Contact Fundus Photography: A Prospective Observational Study; Angela Li, MD, VR Fellow; Mentor: Cynthia Toth, MD
• Best Research Presentations by a Resident: Geographic Distribution and Drive Times to Glaucoma Specialists in the United States: A National Geospatial Access Analysis and Drive-Time Study,” Jean Adomfeh, MD, MBA, PGY3; Mentor: Kelly Muir, MD, and “OCT-Based Differentiation of NAION and CRAO; Greg McElroy, MD, PGY4; Mentor: Can Kocasarac, MD

Medical Student Educator Award

Recipient: Anupama Horne, MD

Golden Apple Teaching Awards

Presented by the Ophthalmology Interest Group to outstanding resident and fellow educators:

• PGY1: Nishita Sheth, MD

• PGY2: Alice Liu, MD

• PGY3: Hazem Mousa, MD

• PGY4: Keke Liu, MD

• Fellow: Jesus Vidaurri-Martinez, MD

Edward K. Isbey, Jr. Award

For excellence in clinical care, ethics, and research.

Recipient: Terry Lee, MD

K. Alexander Dastgheib Unedited Surgery Video Award

Recipient: Gregory McElroy, MD, PhD

Edward G. Buckley Resident Educator Award

Recipient: Jinwon (Terry) Lee, MD

Ocular Innovation Award

Recipient: Esteban Andres Peralta Chacon, MD

Hornaday Fellow Award

Recipient: Matthew Debiec, MD

Ophthalmic Technician of the Year

Recipient: Ashley Terry

Golden Globe Award for Faculty Teaching

Recipient: Alan Barlow, MD