We are proud to announce that three Duke Eye Center faculty members, Esen Akpek, MD, Sharon Fekrat, MD, FASRS, and Goldis Malek, PhD have been named among the School of Medicine’s 2026 Distinguished Professors. Duke University awarded distinguished professorships to 22 School of Medicine faculty members this spring, recognizing extraordinary scholarship and contributions that advance science and improve human health.
Honorees will be recognized at Duke’s annual Distinguished Professorship Event on May 18. Learn more about each Duke Eye Center honoree and their accomplishments below.
Stephen & Frances Foster Distinguished Professor of Ophthalmology
Esen Karamursel Akpek, MD
Esen Karamursel Akpek, MD, is a professor of ophthalmology, director of the Frances and C. Stephen Foster Center for Ocular Immunology and Inflammation, and chief of the Division of Ocular Immunology. She is an internationally recognized leader in ocular immunology and corneal disease whose clinical, scientific, and educational contributions have transformed the field. A clinician-scientist with dual expertise in complex anterior segment surgery and ocular immunology, she has redefined standards of care in dry eye disease, Sjögren’s syndrome, ocular surface disorders, and corneal transplantation, including pioneering advances in artificial corneal devices and the integration of artificial intelligence into ophthalmic diagnostics.
Robert Machemer, MD, Distinguished Professor of Ophthalmology
Sharon Fekrat, MD
Sharon Fekrat, MD, is a professor and vice chair for faculty affairs in the Department of Ophthalmology. She also has appointments in the departments of surgery and neurology. She is recognized internationally for her contributions to retinal disease research, the intersection of ophthalmology with data science, and her innovative approaches and novel therapeutics. She has profoundly advanced the understanding and treatment of retinal venous occlusive diseases, and she founded the interdisciplinary and multi-institutional iMIND Research Group, which focuses on using retinal and choroidal imaging to detect neurocognitive and neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases.
Joseph A.C. Wadsworth Distinguished Professor of Ophthalmology
Goldis Malek, PhD
Goldis Malek, PhD, is a professor and vice chair of academic excellence and engagement in the Department of Ophthalmology. She also has appointments in the departments of cell biology and pathology. She is internationally recognized leader in the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying age‑related retinal diseases, particularly age‑related macular degeneration (AMD). Her research investigates the cellular and molecular pathogenic mechanisms underlying the three clinical subtypes of AMD, focused on understanding signaling pathways critical in initiation and progression of AMD and identifying therapeutic targets. Her research has fundamentally reshaped conceptual frameworks for retinal physiology and disease.