Visiting Professor Series [2026-2027] (NON-CME)

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In this series, we welcome influential ophthalmologists from around the country and the world to speak at Wills Eye Hospital for the benefit of residents and practicing ophthalmologists. Presentations and lectures include clinical and non-clinical content, and reflections on each guest's professional journey. 

Julie Schallhorn, MD, MS, is Professor of Ophthalmology and the Rose B. Williams Endowed Chair in Corneal Research at the University of California, San Francisco, in the Department of Ophthalmology and the Francis I. Proctor Foundation. She completed her residency in ophthalmology at UCSF, and fellowships in Uveitis at the Proctor Foundation (UCSF) and in Cornea and External Disease at the Casey Eye Institute in Portland, Oregon. She sits on the editorial board of the Journal of Refractive Surgery and is the past chair of the American Academy of Ophthalmology's Refractive Intervention Ophthalmic Technology Assessment committee. She currently serves as Medical Director of the Refractive Surgery Service at UCSF and is actively involved in corneal and refractive surgery research and surgical education.

This series is not certified for CME credit. 

Click here to register for the livestream

In this series, we welcome influential ophthalmologists from around the country and the world to speak at Wills Eye Hospital for the benefit of residents and practicing ophthalmologists. Presentations and lectures include clinical and non-clinical content, and reflections on each guest's professional journey. 

Dr. Melike Pekmezci is a Professor of Pathology and Ophthalmology at the University of California, San Francisco, with subspecialty expertise in neuropathology, ophthalmic pathology, and molecular pathology. She earned her medical degree from Hacettepe University in Turkey and completed two years of ophthalmology training there before moving to the United States. She subsequently completed her anatomic pathology residency, as well as fellowships in neuropathology and surgical pathology, at UCSF, where she later joined the faculty.

Dr. Pekmezci has authored or co-authored more than 150 publications. Her research is primarily translational, focusing on the identification of diagnostic and prognostic markers in central nervous system and ocular neoplasms. She is a co-editor of the third edition of Diagnostic Pathology: Neuropathology and has authored multiple book chapters, including contributions to the World Health Organization classifications of CNS tumors, soft tissue tumors, pediatric neoplasms, and ocular tumors. She is an active member of several professional organizations and has served on multiple committees within the American Association of Neuropathologists, the United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology (USCAP), the Society for Neuro-Oncology, and the American Association of Ocular Oncologists and Pathologists. She also serves on the editorial boards of the Journal of Neuropathology & Experimental Neurology and Brain Pathology, and has delivered numerous invited lectures and microscopic slide sessions at regional, national, and international meetings.

This series is not certified for CME credit. 

Click here to register for the livestream

In this series, we welcome influential ophthalmologists from around the country and the world to speak at Wills Eye Hospital for the benefit of residents and practicing ophthalmologists. Presentations and lectures include clinical and non-clinical content, and reflections on each guest's professional journey. 

After a pediatric residency at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, an ophthalmology residency at Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia, and a pediatric ophthalmology fellowship at The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, he became Professor in the Departments of Pediatrics, Genetics, and Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences at the University of Toronto. There, he started the Ocular Genetics Program in 1995.  In 2008, he returned to Wills as the Chief of Pediatric Ophthalmology and Ocular Genetics. There, he established a new Ocular Genetics program. He serves on the Executive Committee of the International Society of Genetic Eye Disease and Retinoblastoma (ISGEDR) and is a frequent lecturer and contributor to the medical literature on ocular genetics. He is now Chief of Pediatric Ophthalmology and Ocular Genetics at Flaum Eye Institute and Golisano Children’s Hospital and Chief of Clinical Genetics at the University of Rochester, New York.

This series is not certified for CME credit. 

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In this series, we welcome influential ophthalmologists from around the country and the world to speak at Wills Eye Hospital for the benefit of residents and practicing ophthalmologists. Presentations and lectures include clinical and non-clinical content, and reflections on each guest's professional journey. 

Dr. Pradeep Ramulu was born in Chicago, Illinois, graduated with Honors from Stanford University, and then joined the MD/PhD program at Johns Hopkins University, completing his PhD work on retinal biology with Jeremy Nathans. He subsequently completed his Ophthalmology residency at the Johns Hopkins Wilmer Eye Institute and a Glaucoma Fellowship at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute.

After his fellowship, he returned to Wilmer’s Glaucoma Division, where he began a program to study the functional consequences of visual impairment. Using a variety of tools including patient-reported outcomes, observation of task performance, and real-world behavioral monitoring, Dr. Ramulu has helped define when, how, and why visual impairment results in disability. His current work is focused on developing methods to assess/prevent falls in older adults, particularly those with visual impairment, and mentoring emerging clinician-scientists.

Dr. Ramulu’s work has resulted in nearly 300 peer-reviewed publications, 10 book chapters, and 2 books. Because of his expertise, he has helped various agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, to set vision standards for work. He also holds or has held leadership positions in various national and international ophthalmic societies, including past Program Chair and incoming President for the American Glaucoma Society, Program Chair and Director of the Education Committee for the World Glaucoma Association, Chair of the AAO Public Health Committee, Program Chair and now Treasurer for the Glaucoma Research Society, Board of Directors for the Heed Foundation, and member of the National Eye Institute Council. He has mentored numerous junior faculty, PhD students, medical students, MPH students, residents, and fellows clinically and in research careers. He thrice won the resident teaching award and, in a model that has now become the standard for Wilmer, reorganized resident teaching by placing lectures online and using in-class time for interactive sessions using game-based learning and small-group interactive case review. On top of caring for his patients’ needs, he serves as Director of the Wilmer Glaucoma service, consisting of 10 faculty and over 20 research, clinical, and administrative staff members. Dr. Ramulu has received continuous NIH funding since 2007 and has received the Secretariat, Achievement, and Senior Awards from the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the Pisart Award for Vision Science. He has also been named to Newsweek’s list of “America’s Best Eye Doctors” for several years running.

This series is not certified for CME credit. 

Click here to register for the livestream

In this series, we welcome influential ophthalmologists from around the country and the world to speak at Wills Eye Hospital for the benefit of residents and practicing ophthalmologists. Presentations and lectures include clinical and non-clinical content, and reflections on each guest's professional journey. 

Helen K. Wu, MD, is a cornea, external disease, uveitis, cataract, and refractive surgeon at Newton Wellesley Eye Associates in Wellesley, Massachusetts. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan and her medical degree from The Ohio State University College of Medicine. She completed her ophthalmology residency at the Kellogg Eye Center of the University of Michigan, followed by fellowships in Ocular Immunology and Uveitis and Cornea and External Disease at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary.

Dr. Wu spent more than three decades on the faculty of Tufts University School of Medicine and the New England Eye Center, where she served as Director of Refractive Surgery. Throughout her career, she has combined a busy clinical and surgical practice with a longstanding commitment to resident, fellow, and physician education.

She currently serves as Academic Director of the RSA Fellowship Network, an international educational initiative dedicated to advancing ophthalmic education and expanding access to advanced refractive surgery training worldwide. Through this role, she has helped develop a global network of mentors and fellows and has trained ophthalmologists who now serve as educators, mentors, and surgical leaders across the globe.

An internationally recognized educator, surgeon, and mentor, Dr. Wu has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications and book chapters and is co-editor of the textbook Refractive Surgery. She is a past Chair of the Refractive Surgery Clinical Committee of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery and has served on multiple committees for the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the International Society of Refractive Surgery. Her professional passion is developing future ophthalmic leaders and extending the reach of mentorship through education, collaboration, and service.

This series is not certified for CME credit. 

Click here to register for the livestream

In this series, we welcome influential ophthalmologists from around the country and the world to speak at Wills Eye Hospital for the benefit of residents and practicing ophthalmologists. Presentations and lectures include clinical and non-clinical content, and reflections on each guest's professional journey. 

Erin M. Shriver, MD, FACS is a Clinical Professor, the Jim O’Brien Gross and Donnita Gross Chair in Ophthalmology, and Vice Chair of Faculty Affairs within the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at the University of Iowa. After graduating from Pomona College, Stanford University School of Medicine, Ophthalmology Residency at the University of Iowa, and an American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery fellowship at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Dr. Shriver stayed on faculty at University of Miami for several years before returning to Iowa City in 2012.  She is currently actively involved in clinical practice, teaching, research, and advocacy at the University of Iowa and the Iowa City Veteran’s Affairs Health Care System.

Dr. Shriver has also been passionately involved in organizational medicine and advocacy at the state and national level and has served as President of Women in Ophthalmology and the Iowa Academy of Ophthalmology, Delegate to the American Medical Association for the American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, and Trustee-At-Large for the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Her ophthalmic research interests are varied, and she has published and spoken widely on topics including critical analysis of current practices in periocular and orbital oncology and orbital trauma, increasing physician awareness and understanding of intimate partner violence, objective analysis of eyelid position, the physics of eyelid malposition, gender equity and sexual harassment in the field of ophthalmology, and thyroid eye disease.

When she is not working or advocating for her patients, she enjoys exercising, traveling, and spending time with her husband and teenage sons.

This series is not certified for CME credit. 

Click here to register for the livestream

In this series, we welcome influential ophthalmologists from around the country and the world to speak at Wills Eye Hospital for the benefit of residents and practicing ophthalmologists. Presentations and lectures include clinical and non-clinical content, and reflections on each guest's professional journey. 

Dr. Thomas Oetting is a Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Iowa.  He also serves as Chief of Ophthalmology at the Iowa City Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

Dr. Oetting studied engineering as an undergraduate and graduate student at Duke University. He was in ROTC at Duke and went on to serve in the USAF on active duty and in the reserves, developing avionics for tactical forces. He changed course, inspired by his pediatrician wife, and attended medical school at Duke.  He did his ophthalmology residency at the University of Iowa.  After a brief time in private practice, he joined the ophthalmology faculty at Iowa almost 30 years ago. He served as residency program director at the University of Iowa from 2004 to 2022. 

Dr. Oetting loves teaching cataract surgery. He has staffed over 20,000 resident cases, ranging from simple first cases to complex cases with experienced chief residents. He developed a structured program using simulation, videos, and partial cases to safely bring residents through the risky, early part of their surgical learning curve. His educational approach was influenced by his engineering and Air Force background. Dr. Oetting has won several teaching awards including the inaugural ASCRS 2021 Educator Award, the Iowa GME Impact Award 2022, the Iowa Resident Teaching Award (5 times), the Iowa Provost and President Teaching Award, the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO)/Association of University Professors of Ophthalmology (AUPO) Straatsma Award, the AAO Secretariat award (6 times), the AAO Achievement Award, and the AAO Senior Achievement Award. 

Dr. Oetting has been active in the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS) where he has served as chair of the ASCRS Cataract Skills Transfer Subcommittee, Cataract Committee, and on the Education Committee. He has been active in the AAO where he served as a Trustee at large on the AAO board, lead several committees including chair of the cataract Preferred Practice Pattern (PPP), co-chair AAO/AUPO residency committee, co-chair AAO/FDA Premium IOL endpoint, and chair AAO Continuing Medical Education task Force.  He served as president of the AUPO Program Directors Council.  He has been active with Orbis international. 

He helped found and now serves on the editorial board for http://EyeRounds.org and http://facebook.com/cataract.surgery.  He writes and gives lectures on cataract surgery and medical education.  

This series is not certified for CME credit. 

Click here to register for the livestream

In this series, we welcome influential ophthalmologists from around the country and the world to speak at Wills Eye Hospital for the benefit of residents and practicing ophthalmologists. Presentations and lectures include clinical and non-clinical content, and reflections on each guest's professional journey. 

Dr. Rizzo is a graduate of the Louisiana State University School of Medicine (New Orleans). After internship, he completed a residency in Neurology at the Tufts New England Medical Center, then a residency in Ophthalmology at Boston University Medical Center, and a fellowship in Neuro-Ophthalmology at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear (Infirmary). Thereafter, he worked in the laboratory of Richard Masland, PhD, at MGH under an NIH-sponsored “Physician Scientist Award”, which launched his founding of the Boston Retinal Implant Program as a novel collaboration between MIT and Harvard Medical School. Dr. Rizzo has devoted his career to improving our understanding of the clinical diagnosis of afferent and efferent visual pathway disease, especially of disorders that affect the retina and optic nerve. Since 2018, he has focused on trying to understand the root causes of non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) and exploring the use of epigenetic reprogramming to offer a treatment for this form of blindness.

This series is not certified for CME credit. 

Click here to register for the livestream

In this series, we welcome influential ophthalmologists from around the country and the world to speak at Wills Eye Hospital for the benefit of residents and practicing ophthalmologists. Presentations and lectures include clinical and non-clinical content, and reflections on each guest's professional journey. 

This series is not certified for CME credit.