Duke Eye Center

04/16/2026

Duke Eye Center was proud to participate in Advocacy Day in Washington, D.C., where ophthalmologists and trainees from across the country met with lawmakers to advocate for policies that protect patients’ access to sight‑saving care!

04/15/2026

We are thrilled to celebrate Durga S. Borkar, MD, MMCi, recipient of the 2026 Emerging Leader Award from the Duke Medical Alumni Association.

A dedicated educator and mentor, Dr. Borkar plays a key role in surgical training and helped launch innovative national programs for vitreoretinal fellows. Her leadership and contributions continue to advance patient care, research, and the future of ophthalmology.

Congratulations, Dr. Borkar, on this well‑deserved honor.

Read more: https://medschool.duke.edu/news/2026-emerging-leader-award-durga-s-borkar-md-mmci21

Congratulations to the 2026 Duke University Medical Alumni Association awardees!

• Kathryn M. Andolsek, MD, HS’76-’79, has been named the recipient of a 2026 Distinguished Faculty Award
• David A. Spiegel, BS’85, MD’90, HS’90-’96, has been named the recipient of the 2026 Humanitarian Award
• Consuelo H. Wilkins, MD, HS’96–’99, has been named a recipient of a 2026 Distinguished Alumni Award
• Danny Benjamin, MD, HS’98-’01, PhD, has been named a recipient of a 2026 Distinguished Faculty Award
• Ronald N. Goldberg, MD, has been named a recipient of a 2026 Honorary Alumni Award
• Durga S. Borkar, MD, MMCi’21, has been named a recipient of a 2026 Emerging Leader Award

Established in 1968, the Medical Alumni Association Distinguished Awards were created to recognize those who make important contributions to the establishment and growth of the four-year medical school and to the world of medicine.

🔗 Read more: https://medschool.duke.edu/about-us/alumni/dmaa-awards

04/10/2026

Congratulations to Kyle McPherson, PhD candidate in the University Program in Genetics & Genomics and member of the Bowes Rickman Lab, on receiving a 2026 Germinator Award from the Duke Institute for Brain Sciences.

Kyle’s project investigates how “support cells” in the eye change before vision loss occurs in age‑related macular degeneration (AMD). This award provides critical support for his work, allowing him to learn new techniques and generate insights that may one day help prevent blindness.

We’re proud to see Kyle recognized among an exceptional group of graduate students and postdocs across the Duke University School of Medicine whose innovative research is shaping the future of neuroscience and vision science.

https://dibs.duke.edu/news/germinator-awards-provide-critical-support-promising-research/

04/09/2026

More Moments from the 12th Annual fAVS Course!

Thank you again to everyone who helped make the 12th Annual Duke Fellows Advanced Vitreous Surgery (fAVS) Course such a success.

We’re excited to share more photos highlighting the energy, collaboration, and hands‑on learning that make fAVS such a standout experience for fellows each year. From the wet labs to the case discussions, it’s inspiring to see the next generation of vitreoretinal surgeons learning side by side with our faculty and partners.

04/07/2026

This spring, Duke Global Ophthalmology traveled to Sierra Leone and North Macedonia to support sight‑restoring corneal surgery.

Lloyd Williams, MD, PhD and Duke Global Ophthalmology fellow Sheena Song, DO began their work in Sierra Leone, partnering closely with local physicians and nurses to share knowledge, build confidence, and empower teams to care for their own communities through corneal transplantation.

Williams then continued on to North Macedonia, where he completed 16 corneal transplants. Song remained in Sierra Leone to complete additional cases before joining him in North Macedonia for more surgical work. During their visit, they also met with the Prime Minister of North Macedonia and visited the U.S. Embassy, strengthening collaborative efforts in eye care.

We’re proud of their dedication to advancing access to vision‑saving surgery around the world.

04/06/2026

We are proud to announce Naveen Karthik, MD, and Hazem Mousa, MD, as our 2026–2027 Chief Residents!

Their leadership, dedication to patient care, and commitment to our community make this recognition well deserved. We look forward to their continued impact in the year ahead.

03/31/2026

Thank you to everyone who helped make the 12th Annual Duke Fellows Advanced Vitreous Surgery (fAVS) Course such a success!

From our faculty and fellows to our sponsors, wet lab partners, and planning team—your energy and collaboration continue to drive innovation in vitreoretinal surgery.

03/30/2026

Happy Doctors’ Day to our outstanding physicians of the Duke Eye Center. We are grateful for all that you do to protect and restore vision!

03/27/2026

Spend the day with us at the 2026 Duke Controversies in Cornea and Cataract Surgery Symposium, a full‑day educational meeting that brought together ophthalmologists, optometrists, and eye care professionals to explore current and emerging topics in anterior segment ophthalmology and beyond!

03/26/2026

We are proud to announce that three Duke Eye Center faculty members, Esen K. Akpek, MD, Sharon Fekrat MD FACS FASRS, and Goldis Malek, PhD, have been named among the Duke University’s 2026 Distinguished Professors, an honor recognizing extraordinary scholarship and contributions to advancing science and improving human health.

Esen Akpek, MD – Stephen & Frances Foster Distinguished Professor of Ophthalmology
Sharon Fekrat, MD, FASRS – Robert Machemer, MD, Distinguished Professor of Ophthalmology
Goldis Malek, PhD – Joseph A.C. Wadsworth Distinguished Professor of Ophthalmology

We are honored to celebrate their leadership and lasting contributions to ophthalmology and vision science.

Congratulations to the 22 Duke University School of Medicine faculty members named as distinguished professors in the 2026 cohort!

Distinguished professorships are awarded to faculty whose scholarship has made a significant impact on advancing science and improving human health.

🔗 Meet the new distinguished professors from the School of Medicine: https://medschool.duke.edu/news/meet-school-medicines-2026-distinguished-professors?utm_campaign=SoMnews&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook

03/24/2026

Looking to start a career in eye care? 👁️

The Duke Ophthalmic Technician Program offers hands‑on training and clinical experience in just one year.

⏰ Apply by April 30, 2026: https://dukeeyecenter.duke.edu/OpTech

03/23/2026

We’re excited to welcome Jiawen Huo, OD, MS, to Duke Eye Center of Winston‑Salem!

Dr. Huo is an optometrist who treats conditions including glaucoma, dry eye, diabetic eye disease, and other eye conditions. Dr. Huo completed a residency in Ocular Disease and Primary Care at the University of California and earned her Doctor of Optometry degree from the New England College of Optometry, as well as a Master of Science degree from Wenzhou Medical University.

Learn more: https://www.dukehealth.org/find-doctors-physicians/jiawen-huo-od-ms