HOANG-VIET TRAN, BS
Why did you choose to pursue a research fellowship?
I realized ophthalmology was the right field for me halfway through my third year of medical school. A research fellowship offered me valuable time to gain more clinical exposure, understand the field more deeply, and contribute to research before applying for residency. In my experience, as more people have discovered what a remarkable field this is, ophthalmology has become more competitive. I wanted to show that I could contribute meaningfully to the academic side of the specialty.
What drew me specifically to glaucoma research was my experience at the free eye clinic at George Washington University in Washington, DC. I noticed how patients would reorganize their entire lives around declining vision without fully recognizing their compromises. Seeing how socioeconomic factors shaped their care made me want to address these problems on a larger scale. That's what led me to the Wilmer Eye Institute in Baltimore and Mona Kaleem, MD, and Pradeep Ramulu, MD, PhD, whose work on patient quality of life and care disparities aligned with questions I wanted to explore.
What areas of research interest you?
I am particularly drawn to patient-reported outcome measures in glaucoma. Because glaucoma is currently incurable, I believe we need alternative ways to measure success beyond IOP control and visual field preservation. Understanding how patients experience their disease could transform how we define treatment success. I am also fascinated by the evolving landscape of MIGS procedures. We have so many treatment options available now but limited head-to-head comparisons of their long-term outcomes and risk profiles. Which patients benefit most from which procedure? These are practical considerations that directly affect surgical decision-making and ones I hope to help address.
Finally, I am excited about AI applications in ophthalmology, particularly in surgical training. Fellowship has given me a glimpse of the institution’s research in this area. In addition, with ophthalmology having the first FDA-approved AI diagnostic tool (AEYE Diagnostic Screening, AEYE Health), I am eager to see how AI will revolutionize our field.
How has the experience affected the trajectory of your training?
This fellowship confirmed that academic ophthalmology is the right path for me and clarified what that career entails. I came in knowing I wanted to combine patient care with research, but I had limited understanding of what that looks like in practice. Now, after seeing my mentors’ work, managing multiple projects, and helping coordinate multicenter trials spanning institutions nationally and internationally, I have a much clearer picture. I've learned the logistics of conducting high-impact research, and I’ve had the opportunity to work alongside mentors who constantly ask questions and pursue the answers.
I have been most surprised by the advocacy side of ophthalmology, which I discovered through Dr. Kaleem, who leads ophthalmology advocacy efforts in Maryland. Watching her translate research findings into policy initiatives has shown me a path from bench to bedside to the legislature and opened my eyes to how physicians can shape health care policy. I now see advocacy as an essential component of my future academic career.
What were your research goals going into the research fellowship, and what are they now?
Going into the fellowship, I had two main goals. First, I wanted to learn the fundamentals of conducting clinical research: how to design studies, navigate Institutional Review Board protocols, analyze data, and write manuscripts. Second, I needed more clinical exposure to prepare for my ophthalmology rotations in my final year of medical school. I wanted to expand my research experience and understand how research questions emerge from real clinical problems.
During the fellowship, I have been able to lead projects from conception to completion and learn every step of the research process under my mentors' guidance. Watching them balance research leadership, clinical practice, and mentorship has shown me what is possible in academic ophthalmology. The fellowship has reinforced my commitment to an academic career. My objective now, as I prepare for residency, is to continue developing research skills through residency and fellowship, with the long-term goal of leading my own research team. I want to combine patient care with research to answer clinical questions while mentoring the next generation, just as my mentors have done for me.
RIZUL NAITHANI, DO, MPH
Why did you choose to pursue a research fellowship?
A research fellowship can be an exciting period to explore ophthalmology through the lens of an academician. I chose to pursue a research fellowship after witnessing the profound impact of glaucoma on both patients and those close to me. Coming from a medical school without an ophthalmology research program or home residency program, I sought out opportunities elsewhere. I was fortunate to find a position at Duke University, right in my backyard.
What areas of research interest you?
Initially, my research goals focused on gaining experience and contributing to established projects, but over time they evolved into a deeper commitment to developing impactful, patient-centered research. I am now especially interested in innovative approaches to glaucoma treatment, including personalized treatment algorithms, sustained-release drug delivery systems, and minimally invasive surgical strategies that reduce the burden on patients. I am also committed to studying health care disparities in eye care, particularly how socioeconomic barriers and limited access to specialty services affect glaucoma detection and progression. I am excited about emerging technologies such as virtual and home-based perimetry platforms, portable OCT devices, and machine-learning tools for early disease prediction. These solutions have the potential to transform diagnostics, expand access, and ultimately improve outcomes for currently underserved patients.
How has the experience affected the trajectory of your training?
This fellowship immersed me in world-class mentorship and exposed me to innovative research at the intersection of big data, computational analysis, and virtual reality applications in patient care. My first year in the laboratory of Felipe Medeiros, MD, PhD, was transformative. Although I had taken computer science courses as an undergraduate, working directly with large clinical datasets helped me quickly master how to code, analyze, and interpret my own research. I learned how computational tools can reveal patterns in glaucoma detection that are often missed by traditional methods. That experience strengthened my knowledge and sparked my interest in using data-driven approaches to improve clinical decision-making.
The following year, I met pediatric glaucoma specialist Sharon F. Freedman, MD. Her long-standing commitment to caring for children with complex eye disease, combined with her reputation as an exceptional clinician, teacher, and advocate, continues to be a source of inspiration. As her research fellow, I had the privilege of working with pediatric patients whose diagnostic and management needs differ profoundly from those of adults. Dr. Freedman introduced me to emerging technologies, such as virtual perimetry, that have the potential to improve testing for young children. Through her mentorship, I observed exemplary leadership: recognizing each team member’s strengths, fostering a supportive and inclusive environment, and being fully present when patients and colleagues need guidance.
Collectively, these experiences exposed me to the full spectrum of glaucoma care, from adults with complex disease to children facing lifelong vision challenges. They underscored the need for innovative tools that bridge gaps in diagnosis and management and helped define the kind of physician-scientist I aspire to become. I hope to leverage technology to solve real clinical problems, contribute meaningfully to patient-centered research, and lead with rigor and empathy. I envision a career that integrates clinical glaucoma care with translational research in computational medicine and novel diagnostic technologies. My goal is to continue developing tools that help clinicians detect disease earlier, personalize treatment, and improve outcomes for patients of all ages.
What were your research goals going into the research fellowship, and what are they now?
While I once believed that the main objective of a fellowship was to generate as many publications as possible, the day-to-day experience of conducting research fundamentally changed my perspective. Working with mentors who prioritized rigorous methodology over speed, participating in research meetings where study design was discussed in depth, and witnessing how high-quality data can influence real-world clinical decisions reshaped my understanding of what meaningful research entails. I began to understand that the true impact of a project lies not in the number of papers produced but in the clarity of its questions and the relevance of its findings to patient care and public health. This shift in mindset has helped me grow into a more deliberate and reflective researcher as well as a more collaborative and effective team leader—qualities I hope to carry forward as I further explore the subspecialty.
