New Faculty
Jules Stein Eye Institute Welcomes New Faculty Physicians
Alexander Huk, PhD, Joins Neuro-Ophthalmology Division
We welcomed Alexander Huk, PhD, to the UCLA Department of Ophthalmology in July 2022 from the University of Texas, where he was the Director for the Center for Perceptual Systems. We share Dr. Huk’s recruitment with the Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, but at his heart he is a vision scientist. Dr. Huk’s lab studies vision in the primate cortex, with a focus on mechanisms of motion processing and binocular integration.
Judy Chen, MD, Joins Cornea and Uveitis Division
We welcomed Judy L. Chen, MD, to the faculty of the UCLA Department of Ophthalmology in September 2022. Dr. Chen sees patients with uveitis and other inflammatory eye diseases at the UCLA Stein Eye Institute Westwood and at the Doheny Eye Centers-UCLA Pasadena, Fountain Valley, and Arcadia. Dr. Chen also sees patients with various forms of glaucoma at Doheny Eye Centers-UCLA Pasadena, Fountain Valley, and Arcadia.
Dr. Chen graduated with honors from the University of Southern California with a double major in Neuroscience and Biological Sciences and a minor in Piano Performance. She went on to receive her medical degree from the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. During medical school, she was selected to participate in the UCLA Department of Ophthalmology Medical Student Research Program, during which she spent a year in the laboratory of Anthony J. Aldave, MD, investigating the implications of ZEB1 genetic mutation for the pathogenesis of posterior polymorphous corneal dystrophy, type 3. Following medical school, Dr. Chen completed her ophthalmology residency at the University of Illinois / Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary in Chicago, where she was elected Chief Resident and received the Guy H. Chan Resident Award in recognition of her teaching abilities, integrity, and character. She then pursued clinical fellowships in uveitis and inflammatory eye diseases at UCLA and in glaucoma at UC Davis. As a faculty member, Dr. Chen will develop clinical and research programs focused on glaucoma as a complication of uveitis. She has an emphasis on long-term outcomes of uveitic glaucoma among children with chronic anterior uveitis related to juvenile idiopathic arthritis.
Appointments can be scheduled with Dr. Chen at the UCLA Stein Eye Institute by calling (310) 825-5440 and at the Doheny Eye Centers-UCLA in Pasadena by calling (626) 817-4747, in Fountain Valley by calling (714) 963-1444, and Arcadia by calling (626) 254-9010.
Greg Field, PhD, Joins Joins Neuro-Ophthalmology Division
We welcomed Greg Field, PhD, to the faculty of the UCLA Department of Ophthalmology in January 2023. Dr. Field leads a laboratory working on the biology of retinal ganglion cells in health and in disease. His laboratory has developed the key expertise of multi-electrode array recordings to evaluate the activity of all the retinal ganglion cells in a patch of retinal tissue.
Dr. Field attended Puget Sound University, where he majored in Physics and completed his PhD at the University of Washington Department of Physiology and Biophysics with Fred Rieke, publishing two seminal papers in Neuron on the processing of single-photon responses in the retina. It was postdoctoral training with EJ Chichilnisky at the Salk Institute that shaped Dr. Field’s current expertise. His work helped to develop the high density multielectrode array as a tool for retinal ganglion cell characterization and culminated with a paper in Nature mapping the connections of every cone photoreceptor to a retinal ganglion cell in the primate retina.
Dr. Field’s first faculty position was in the Department of Neurobiology at the USC Keck School of Medicine before leaving for the Department of Neurobiology at Duke University in 2014. At Duke, Dr. Field expanded on his expertise to include work on retinal ganglion cell biology during retinal degeneration, while continuing to develop new paradigms for understanding how visual information is encoded in the retina.
Amanda Lu, MD, Joins Comprehensive Division
We welcomed Amanda Lu, MD, MBA, to the UCLA Department of Ophthalmology as a faculty member in the Comprehensive Ophthalmology Division in September 2023. Dr. Lu provides primary ophthalmic care at UCLA Stein Eye Institute Westwood. Dr. Lu graduated from Harvard in Organismic and Evolutionary Biology with a minor in Global Health. Following her passion for environmental interactions and health, she was awarded the Trustman Fellowship to study ethnobotany in Peru. Dr. Lu went on to Yale School of Medicine where she graduated with honors. As part of her interests in healthcare systems she earned her MBA from the Quantic School of Business. Dr. Lu completed her internship at Manchester Memorial Hospital. Inspired by a visiting medical student rotation at the UCLA Stein Eye Institute, Dr. Lu joined UCLA for her ophthalmology residency training. Her academic interests include studying perioperative cataract outcomes and factors driving healthcare costs.
Appointments can be scheduled with Dr. Lu at UCLA Stein Eye Institute Westwood at (310) 825-3090.
Jayanth Sridhar, MD, Joins Olive View Hospital Faculty
We welcomed Jay Sridhar, MD, to the UCLA Department of Ophthalmology as a non-compensated faculty member in the Division of Ophthalmology at Olive View-UCLA Medical Center in January 2024. Dr. Sridhar is currently the Chief of Ophthalmology for the Olive View Hospital, an important teaching site for the UCLA Stein Eye Institute residency program in ophthalmology. He came to this position after serving as an Associate Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology for 3 years at the University of Miami School of Medicine and the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, and previous to that he served there as an Assistant Professor for 6 years. Additionally, he recently became an Associate Program Director for the UCLA Stein Eye Institute Integrated Internship.
Dr. Sridhar is a retinovitreal surgeon who has been recognized for his professional competence by being inducted into the prestigious Macula Society in 2023 and Retina Society in 2020. He has been invited to speak on a number of panels at national meetings to discuss difficult surgical retina situations. In addition, he is an internationally known as an educator. He created and hosts a popular podcast covering topics in vireoretinal surgery. He also co-created and hosts the official podcast of the American Academy of Ophthalmology which comes out weekly and covers a broad range of topics in ophthalmology.
Reza Alizadeh, MD, Joins Glaucoma Division
We welcomed Reza Alizadeh, MD, to the UCLA Department of Ophthalmology as a faculty member in the Glaucoma Division in April 2024.
Dr. Alizadeh specializes in the medical and surgical treatment of glaucoma and refractive cataract surgery. Dr. Alizadeh was a board-certified ophthalmologist in his home country of Iran before completing a two-year glaucoma research fellowship at the UCLA Stein Eye Institute. He then completed his ophthalmology residency at the University of Arizona, where he served as chief resident and went on medical missions to rural Mexico. He completed his fellowship at the Havener Eye Institute at Ohio State University, receiving advanced training in glaucoma surgery, including laser and minimally invasive glaucoma surgery. Dr. Alizadeh is an avid supporter of scientific advancements in improving outcomes, and he is excited to share his expertise with his patients. He has authored dozens of peer-reviewed articles and has presented his work at scientific meetings. He is an active member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Glaucoma Society.
Appointments can be scheduled with Dr. Alizadeh at UCLA Stein Eye Institute Westwood at (310) 794-9442, UCLA Stein Eye Center Santa Monica at (310) 829-0160, and UCLA Stein Eye Center Calabasas (818) 431-4414.
Clémence Bonnet, MD, PhD, Joins Cornea and Uveitis Division
We welcomed Clémence Bonnet, MD, PhD, to the UCLA Department of Ophthalmology as a faculty member in the Cornea Division in April 2024.
Dr. Bonnet is fellowship-trained cornea specialist with advanced expertise in corneal transplantation, including endothelial keratoplasty (such as DMEK and DSAEK), DALK (Deep Anterior Lamellar Keratoplasty), and PKP (Penetrating Keratoplasty). She is committed to helping patients regain clear vision and comfort through the most modern and effective surgical techniques. She earned her medical degree from Paris Descartes University, a master’s in surgical sciences from Université Paris Créteil, and completed a highly competitive international fellowship in corneal diseases and surgery at UCLA. She also holds a PhD in cell biology from Paris Cité Université and UCLA, graduating summa cum laude. She has published over 40 peer-reviewed articles advancing the understanding of limbal stem cell biology and corneal imaging.
Dr. Bonnet offers the full range of corneal transplant procedures—from the most minimally invasive options like DMEK to full-thickness transplants like PKP, tailoring each surgery to the specific condition and needs of her patients. Her clinical expertise also includes cataract and refractive surgery, allowing her to offer comprehensive care for a wide range of vision problems.
In addition to patient care, Dr. Bonnet leads cutting-edge research focused on ocular surface and limbal stem cell regeneration. She is developing non-invasive imaging tools and tear biomarkers to monitor corneal health and guide future treatments in regenerative medicine.
Appointments can be scheduled with Dr. Bonnet at UCLA Stein Eye Institute Westwood at (310) 206-7202 and UCLA Stein Eye Center Santa Monica (210) 829-0160.
Aya Barzelay Wollman, MD, PhD, Joins Retina Division
We welcomed Aya Barzelay Wollman, MD PhD, to the UCLA Department of Ophthalmology as a faculty member in the Retina Division in July 2024. Dr. Barzelay sees patients at the retina clinic and performs surgeries for patients with vitreo-retinal eye diseases at the UCLA Stein Eye Institute Westwood. She also sees trauma patients with ruptured globe injuries from the Ronald Regan Hospital.
Dr. Barzelay graduated from Tel Aviv University with a PhD in Stem cell and gene therapy. She went on to receive her medical degree from the Technion institute of technology in Israel. Following medical school, Dr. Barzelay completed her ophthalmology residency in the Orion program, for stellar clinician researchers at Tel Aviv Medical Center Israel. During her residency, she established her own lab dedicated for the development of stem cell therapy for retinal degeneration. After completion of her residency Dr. Barzelay then pursued clinical fellowships in vitreo-retinal surgery and in retinal eye diseases at Sheba Medical Center Israel, followed by an assistant professor position in Tel Aviv Medical Center. She then pursued a second fellowship in vitreo-retinal surgery and in retinal eye diseases at Jules Stein Eye Institute.
Dr. Barzelay is a key investigator at the Intraocular Robotic Interventional Surgical System (IRISS) at the UCLA Department of Ophthalmology, developing automated intraocular robotic surgery for cataract and retina applications. As a faculty member, Dr. Barzelay continues to drive forward her clinical and research programs, with a primary focus on stem cell therapy for retinal degeneration and advancements in robotic surgery.
Appointments can be scheduled with Dr. Barzelay at the UCLA Stein Eye Institute by calling (310) 206-7474.
Alexander Fein, MD, Joins Neuro-Ophthalmology Division
We welcomed Alexander Fein, MD, to the UCLA Department of Ophthalmology as a faculty member in the Neuro-Ophthalmology division in August 2024. Dr. Fein provides neuro-ophthalmologic care at UCLA Stein Eye Institute Westwood and Doheny Eye Center-UCLA Pasadena.
Dr. Fein graduated from the University of Maryland with a Bachelor’s degree in biology and earned his medical degree from SUNY Upstate Medical University, where he first developed his interest in neuro-ophthalmology. After his internship at Mount Sinai Morningside-West hospitals, he completed his neurology residency at New York University, where he was a chief resident for education. Dr. Fein stayed on at NYU for his fellowship in neuro-ophthalmology. During his training, he became particularly interested in optic neuropathies, eye movement disorders and nystagmus. Before pursuing his medical career, Dr. Fein earned a master’s degree in science education at Columbia University Teachers College.
Appointments can be scheduled with Dr. Fein at UCLA Stein Eye Institute Westwood (310) 825-4344, and Doheny Eye Center Pasadena (626) 817-4747.
Daniel Sand, MD, Joins Comprehensive Division
We welcomed Daniel Sand, MD, to the UCLA Department of Ophthalmology as a faculty member in the Comprehensive Ophthalmology Division in September 2024. Dr. Sand serves as the Chief of the Comprehensive Ophthalmology Division and provides care at the UCLA Stein Eye Institute in Westwood.
Dr. Sand graduated with honors from UCLA with a bachelor’s degree in Physiological Science and a minor in German. He attended medical school at Case Western Reserve University where he was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society. He completed his internship at Olive View-UCLA and his residency at the Doheny Eye Institute/University of Southern California. He did his cornea, external disease and refractive surgery training as a Heed Ophthalmic Foundation Fellow at the University of Michigan, Kellogg Eye Center. There he also completed an eye banking fellowship as the inaugural Eversight Eye Bank Fellow. Dr. Sand most recently was in private practice in West LA and taught the USC residents weekly in surgery and clinic. Prior to transitioning to private practice, Daniel directed the cornea and refractive surgery service for a multi-specialty group serving several million members regionally. Under his directorship, the clinic became the regional referral center for Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty and the first active corneal cross-linking center in the network. Dr. Sand performs all types of corneal transplantation surgery and enjoys helping patients with dry eyes. Given his subspecialty training, he also offers corneal and lens based refractive surgery.
Appointments can be scheduled with Dr. Sand at UCLA Stein Eye Institute in Westwood at (310) 825-3090.
Mona Fayad, MD, Joins Pediatric Ophthalmology Division
We welcomed Mona Fayad, MD, to the UCLA Department of Ophthalmology as a faculty member in the Pediatric Ophthalmology Division in September 2024. Mona will provide pediatric ophthalmic care at the UCLA Stein Eye Institute in Westwood and Doheny Eye Centers-UCLA Pasadena and Fountain Valley. Dr. Fayad received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan, doctorate of medicine at Wayne State University and completed her internship and ophthalmology residency at Mount Sinai and its New York Eye and Ear Infirmary. Ultimately, Dr. Fayad completed a fellowship in pediatric ophthalmology and strabismus at the UCLA Stein Eye Institute. During fellowship, Dr. Fayad distinguished herself as a knowledgeable, hard-working, and compassionate pediatric ophthalmologist who always took the time to teach. During her medical training, Dr. Fayad has been a leader in her undergraduate student senate and made a humanitarian medical mission to Mexico.
Appointments can be scheduled with Dr. Fayad at UCLA Stein Eye Institute Westwood at (310) 206-7479 and Doheny Eye Center-UCLA Pasadena at (626) 817-4747 and Doheny Eye Center Fountain Valley at (714) 963-1444.
Vivian Qin, MD, Joins Glaucoma Division at Doheny
We welcomed Vivian Qin, MD, to the UCLA Department of Ophthalmology as faculty in September 2024. Dr. Qin will provide comprehensive and glaucoma care at the Doheny Eye Centers-UCLA Pasadena and Arcadia. Dr. Qin graduated from Princeton University with a degree in Molecular Biology and a Certificate in Global Health and Health Policy and graduated from medical school at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. She completed her intern year at Lankenau Hospital and ophthalmology residency at Scheie Eye Institute at the University of Pennsylvania. She completed a fellowship in glaucoma at the University of California, San Francisco, and is excited to be bringing her passion for glaucoma care and medical education to UCLA.
Appointments can be scheduled with Dr. Qin at Doheny Eye Center Pasadena at (626) 817-4747 and Doheny Eye Center Arcadia at (626) 254-9010.
Michael Kapamajian, MD, Joins Harbor-UCLA Medical Center Faculty
We welcomed Michael Kapamajian, MD, to the UCLA Department of Ophthalmology as a non-compensated faculty member in the Division of Ophthalmology at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center in September 2024.
After completing medical school at the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, Dr. Kapamajian did his residency training at the University of Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary before returning the UCLA Department of Ophthalmology for fellowships in uveitis and glaucoma. For more than a decade, Dr. Kapamajian has been an attending physician at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center and in April 2024 was selected as Chief of Ophthalmology at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. As Chief, Dr. Kapamajian is responsible for the daily operations of the eye clinic at Harbor-UCLA, staffing clinic, staffing in the OR, and all administrative responsibilities associated with Harbor-UCLA. In addition, Dr. Kapamajian works closely with the residents during their rotations at Harbor-UCLA, playing an integral part in their training.
Homayoun Tabandeh, MD, Joins Harbor-UCLA Medical Center Faculty
We welcomed Homayoun Tabandeh, MD, to the UCLA Department of Ophthalmology as a non-compensated faculty member in the Division of Ophthalmology at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center in September 2024.
Dr. Tabandeh is an internationally recognized clinician, scientist and surgeon specializing in the medical and surgical treatment of diseases of the retina and vitreous. He has authored over 150 papers, book chapters, and abstracts and has extensive experience in the field of retina disorders. He completed his residency in ophthalmology at the Johns Hopkins Wilmer Eye Institute and spent three years in retina fellowships at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute in Miami and Moorfields Eye Hospital in London, England. Dr. Tabandeh previously served as the director of the Retina Service, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Florida, Gainesville where he performed complex vitreoretinal surgeries and trained numerous residents and fellows. Dr. Tabandeh has also been an active teacher within the UCLA hospital system. For the past 10 years he has served as volunteer faculty at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. Dr. Tabandeh also contributes to the field in the context of journal review in many top ophthalmology journals, including serving in leadership roles for the Los Angeles Society of Ophthalmology and the American Society of Retina Specialists.
Mark Volpicelli, MD, Joins Harbor-UCLA Medical Center Faculty
We welcomed Mark Volpicelli, MD, to the UCLA Department of Ophthalmology as a non-compensated faculty member in the Division of Ophthalmology at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center in September 2024.
Dr. Volpicelli completed his residency at the University of Texas Medical Branch and completed his fellowship in Cornea & External Disease & Uveitis at the University of California, San Francisco. For several years, Dr. Volpicelli served as a Volunteer Clinical Faculty at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center.
Ronald Smith, MD joins the West Los Angeles Veteran’s Affairs (V.A.) Medical Center
Ronald Smith, MD, began his position in the UCLA Department of Ophthalmology as faculty in the Division of Ophthalmology at the West Los Angeles Veteran’s Affairs (V.A.) Medical Center in September 2024 . Dr. Smith is also a faculty member at the UCLA Stein Eye Center Santa Monica, seeing patients for comprehensive and cornea care.
Since 1996, Dr. Smith has been a diplomat of the American Board of Ophthalmology. In his role at the VA, he takes on the complex cases, including DMEK, DSEK, corneal transplants, and IOL exchange. His exemplary interaction with patients was recognized with an “Excellence in Patient Centered Care” from the Los Angeles V.A. Dr. Smith’s primary scholarly work have been to advance surgical techniques and evidence-based surgical training for cataract surgery. This focus led to development of several national and international courses encompassing these topics, two grants to develop methods to evaluate surgical technique, and two publications in the Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery to disseminate the information. Dr. Smith then sought to improve these tools by incorporating computer vision and artificial intelligence to provide more consistent and reproducibly evaluations. This latest work was disseminated as a film presentation at the ASCRS 2015 Film Festival. Dr. Smith also has published 27 manuscripts, 17 as first or senior author.
Ekjyot Gill, MD, Joins Olive View-UCLA Medical Center Faculty
We welcomed Ekjyot Gill, MD, to the UCLA Department of Ophthalmology as a non-compensated faculty member in the Division of Ophthalmology at Olive View-UCLA Medical Center in September 2024.
Dr. Gill received his medical degree from the University of Maryland School of Medicine in 2017, completed residency in ophthalmology at the State University of New York Downstate Medical Center in 2021, and fellowship in cornea, external disease, and refractive surgery at the Roski Eye Institute, Keck School of Medicine, USC in 2022. He has been active as an attending physician in cornea/anterior segment surgery for resident teaching at UCLA Olive View Medical Center since August of 2022. He already has an outstanding teaching record there, having received the UCLA Department of Ophthalmology Faculty Teaching Award in his first year on staff in 2023.
Julie Kwon, MD, Joins Olive View-UCLA Medical Center Faculty
We welcomed Julie Kwon, MD, to the UCLA Department of Ophthalmology as a non-compensated faculty member in the Division of Ophthalmology at Olive View-UCLA Medical Center in September 2024.
Dr. Kwon received her medical degree from Robert Wood Johnson Medical School at Rutgers, did a Research Fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania, a Preliminary Internship in Internal Medicine at Mt. Sinai School of Medicine, an Ophthalmology Residency at Hofstra Northwell School of Medicine, and a Medical Retina Fellowship at the Roski Eye Institute at the University of Southern California. Dr. Kwon has published two peer-reviewed articles and contributed to three book chapters. Dr. Kwon is currently providing Medical Retina care at Olive View-UCLA Medical Center.
Aaron Savar, MD, Joins West Los Angeles Veterans Affairs (V.A.) Medical Center Faculty
We welcomed Aaron Savar, MD, to the Department of Ophthalmology as a non-compensated faculty member in the Division of Ophthalmology at the West Los Angeles Veterans Affairs (V.A.) Medical Center in September 2024.
Dr. Savar received his medical degree at the Boston University School of Medicine, completed his residency at Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary/Harvard Medical School, and completed his fellowship in Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Dr. Savar has been an Assistant Clinical Professor specializing in plastic and reconstructive surgery at the UCLA Stein Eye Institute since 2015. He is currently Assistant Clinical Professor in Surgery and the clinical chief of the Division of Ophthalmology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. He is active in the plastic and reconstructive surgery field of ophthalmology and has acted as an oral examiner for the board.
Bruce Becker, MD, Joins Olive View-UCLA Medical Center Faculty
Bruce Becker, MD, to the Department of Ophthalmology as a non-compensated faculty member in the Division of Ophthalmology at the Olive View-UCLA Medical Center
We welcomed Bruce Becker, MD, to the Department of Ophthalmology as a non-compensated faculty member in the Division of Ophthalmology at the Olive View-UCLA Medical Center in September 2024.
Dr. Becker earned his medical degree from the University of Texas Medical Branch. He trained as an intern and resident in internal medicine at Presbyterian Hospital in Denver. He subsequently completed a residency in ophthalmology at Baylor University in Houston, Texas. Following that, Dr. Becker received his fellowship training in ophthalmic plastic and reconstructive surgery with Dr. Pierre Guibor in New York. He teaches the UCLA residents every week in ophthalmic plastic and reconstructive surgery. Dr. Becker has been in private practice for many years. Throughout, he has been extremely active in teaching and has in fact has had premedical students rotate through his private office. Dr. Becker has extensive clinical experience especially in the area of oculoplastics. He has established himself as a national resource for several surgical approaches in oculoplastics. In particular, he has made contributions and has demonstrated creativity with new minimally invasive techniques in lacrimal surgery particularly through the use of a balloon catheter dilation of the lacrimal system. Dr. Becker has served as Instructor at Olive View UCLA Medical Center/UCLA Stein Eye Institute for many years where he has done a great deal of training of residents and fellows in oculofacial plastic surgery. This training has in fact led to his having received the UCLA Stein Eye Institute teaching award.
Boris Malyugin, MD, PhD, Joins Cornea Division
We welcomed Boris Malyugin, MD, PhD, to the faculty of the UCLA Department of Ophthalmology in September 2024. Dr. Malyugin will provide cataract and refractive and cornea care at the UCLA Stein Eye Institute in Westwood and UCLA Stein Eye Center Santa Monica.
Dr. Malyugin is an internationally known corneal and cataract surgeon and medical device developer. He is a member of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences and is the recipient of numerous international awards including “Distinguished Scientist of Russian Federation” of the Russian State in 2018 and International Ophthalmologist Education Award in 2018 by the American Academy of Ophthalmology. The most remarkable aspect of his career is the 180 patents that he holds in Russia and the 9 patents that he holds in the US for devices that are used by surgeons around the world for corneal and cataract surgery. The “Malyugin Ring” is the de facto method for expanding the pupil for intraocular surgery, which is taught worldwide to all ophthalmic surgeons. Dr. Malyugin was recently the Deputy Director General of the leading eye health services center in Russia, the S. Fyodorov Eye Microsurgery Complex Federal State Institution. He has held leadership roles in multiple international professional societies including President of the Russian Ophthalmology Society. He serves on the editorial board for seven journals including Chief Medical Editor of a Russian Journal of Ophthalmic Surgery, Chief Medical Editor of Modern Technologies in Ophthalmology.
Appointments can be scheduled with Dr. Malyugin at UCLA Stein Eye Institute in Westwood at (310) 206-7202 and UCLA Stein Eye Center Santa Monica at (310) 829-0160.
Joel Zylberberg, PhD, Joins Neuro-Ophthalmology Division Research Lab
We welcomed Joel Zylberberg, PhD, to the faculty of the UCLA Department of Ophthalmology January 2025. Dr. Zylberberg leads a laboratory in computational neuroscience of vision. His laboratory has developed expertise in applying artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and information theory, to understand how retinal ganglion cells communicate with downstream brain regions. Dr. Zylberberg completed his BSc at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, Canada. He completed his PhD at the Redwood Center for Theoretical Neuroscience at UC Berkeley before moving to the University of Washington for postdoctoral training with applied mathematician Eric Shea-Brown. At Washington, Dr. Zylberberg participated in a collaborative project with retinal neuroscientist Fred Rieke that led to a Neuron paper on how correlations between retinal ganglion cells reduce the impacts of neuronal variability on visual signaling. Dr. Zylberberg’s first faculty position was at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. In 2019 he was recruited to the role of Canada Research Chair at York University in Toronto. In this role, his lab increasingly focused on AI and machine learning methods applied to visual neuroscience, including a 2024 Nature Communications paper on incorporating models of photoreceptor biophysics into AI models to improve their ability to predict stimulus-evoked retinal ganglion cell activations. Dr. Zylberberg’s research successes have been recognized by several awards, including a Fulbright Scholarship, a Sloan Research Fellowship, and a Google Faculty Research Award.
Emma Lessieur-Contreras, MD, PhD, Joins Doheny Eye Institute Retina Research Faculty
We welcomed Emma Lessieur-Contreras, MD, PhD, to the faculty of the UCLA Department of Ophthalmology in May 2025. Dr. Lessieur-Contreras will serve as a principal investigator at the Doheny Eye Institute. Dr. Lessieur-Contreras earned her MD from the Universidad Autónoma de Tamaulipas in Mexico and her PhD from Case Western Reserve University, with expertise in retinal genetics and physiology. Her postdoctoral research at UC Irvine focused on diabetic retinopathy, supported by a prestigious K99/R00 grant from the National Eye Institute. Her work explores how extracellular vesicles mediate communication between photoreceptors and the immune system in early diabetic retinopathy. Dr. Lessieur-Contreras will continue this groundbreaking research at Doheny Eye Institute.
Michael Gilhooley, MD, PhD, Joins Neuro-Ophthalmology Division
We are delighted to welcome Michael Gilhooley, MD, PhD, to the UCLA Department of Ophthalmology as a faculty member in the Neuro-Ophthalmology Division in June 2025. Dr. Gilhooley will provide neuro-ophthalmology care at the UCLA Stein Eye Institute Westwood, Doheny Eye Center-UCLA Pasadena, and consults at UCLA Santa Monica Hospital.
Dr. Gilhooley, a clinician scientist with a special interest in inherited optic neuropathies, is the 2025 recipient of the North American Neuro-Ophthalmology Society (NANOS) Thomas and Susan Carlow Young Investigator Award.
Originally from the west coast of Scotland, Michael studied at the University of Cambridge, where he completed both his undergraduate and medical degrees and first discovered his passion for neuro-ophthalmology. He deepened this interest during his PhD at the University of Oxford, focusing on optogenetic gene therapies for inherited retinal degenerations, particularly those involving melanopsin—the photopigment found in intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs). He went on to complete the integrated clinical-academic residency program at Moorfields Eye Hospital, where he also conducted postdoctoral research on ipRGCs and their remarkable resilience compared to other retinal ganglion cells in the context of inherited optic neuropathies. In addition, he has completed clinical fellowships in adult strabismus in London and in neuro-ophthalmology at the University of Colorado.
Appointments can be scheduled with Dr. Gilhooley at UCLA Stein Eye Institute Westwood at (310) 825-4344 and Doheny Eye Center-UCLA Pasadena at (818) 817-4747.
David Lozano Giral, MD, Joins Retina Division and Harbor-UCLA Medical Center Faculty
We are delighted to welcome David Lozano Giral, MD, as full-time faculty in the UCLA Department of Ophthalmology Retina Division in July 2025.
Dr. Lozano as he has been a Health Sciences Clinical Instructor in the Retina Division since 2023, seeing patients in Westwood. Dr. Lozano went to medical school at Universidad Anahuac in Mexico City, where he also received a master's degree in Medical Science. During that time, he was a member of the research committee at the university and joined the Genetics research department at the Instituto de Oftalmologia Conde de Valenciana where he completed his thesis, working on genetic polymorphisms and mutations related to Ophthalmologic athologies. In 2017, he began his Ophthalmology residency at the Instituto de Oftalmologia Conde de Valenciana; and from 2020-2022 completed his Retina and Vitreous clinical and surgical fellowship training at the same institute. Dr. Lozano came to the UCLA Stein Eye Institute as an International Fellow in the Retina Division after completing his residency and surgical retina and vitreous fellowship training in Mexico City. Throughout his time in the Department, Dr. Lozano has provided excellent care to his patients. In addition, Dr. Lozano has served as the Department’s first Ocular Trauma Service Director. In this role, Dr. Lozano has worked to develop and refine protocols to ensure the timely and appropriate evaluation, management and care coordination of ocular trauma patients presenting to the UCLA Ronald Regan Medical Center. He will continue to see patients at the UCLA Stein Eye Institute and Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, where he is actively engaged in residents and fellow training.
Appointments can be scheduled with Dr. Lozano at UCLA Stein Eye Institute Westwood at (310) 206-7474.
Moritz Pettenkofer, MD, Joins Retina Division
We are delighted to welcome Moritz Pettenkofer, MD, as full-time faculty in the UCLA Department of Ophthalmology Retina Division as a medical retina specialist in July 2025.
Dr. Pettenkofer as he has been a member of the retina division as a Health Sciences Clinical Instructor since 2022, seeing patients at the UCLA Stein Eye Institute Westwood, UCLA Stein Eye Centers Santa Monica, and Calabasas. Dr. Pettenkofer came to the department as an International Fellow for Vitreoretinal Diseases after completing his residency in Germany at the Technical University of Munich. Throughout his time in the department, Dr. Pettenkofer has consistently demonstrated excellence in his clinical practices.
In addition to his clinical interests, Dr. Pettenkofer is the Principal Investigator of 5 Clinical Trials and has been a Sub-Investigator of several retina division multicenter clinical trials. He is the author of several manuscripts in highly regarded journals.
Appointments can be scheduled with Dr. Pettenkofer at UCLA Stein Eye Institute Westwood at (310) 206-5004, UCLA Stein Eye Center Santa Monica at (310) 829-0160, and UCLA Stein Eye Center Calabasas at (818) 431-4414.
Ronald Mancini, MD, Joins Oculoplastics Division Faculty
We are delighted to welcome Ronald Mancini, MD, FACS, who will be joining the UCLA Department of Ophthalmology in July 2025 as clinical faculty.
Dr. Mancini will be joining the Orbital and Ophthalmic Plastic Surgery Division at UCLA Stein Eye Institute Westwood and UCLA Stein Eye Center Calabasas. Dr. Mancini was a UCLA Stein Eye Institute oculoplastics fellow 20 years ago. After his fellowship, he joined the UCLA Department of Ophthalmology faculty for several years before being recruited to the UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, where he was a Fellowship Director and Professor built a renowned program. His reputation for clinical excellence, compassionate care, and surgical skill has blossomed nationally and internationally, creating a wide referral base of challenging cases. In particular, he has published and presented innovative work in small incision and minimally invasive oculofacial surgical techniques which have moved our Discipline forward. Ron is a widely admired educator who is a highly sought-after speaker for national and international meetings, a perennial favorite teacher of the medical students and residents and has been honored with his own ASOPRS fellowship.
Appointments can be scheduled with Dr. Mancini at UCLA Stein Eye Institute Westwood at (310) 206-8250 and UCLA Stein Eye Center Calabasas (818) 431-4414.
Adrian Au, MD, PhD, Joins Retina Division
We are delighted to welcome Adrian Au, MD, PhD, as full-time faculty in the UCLA Department of Ophthalmology Retina Division in July 2025.
Dr. Au completed his residency with the UCLA Department of Ophthalmology as an EyeSTAR Resident, received his PhD in Molecular, Cellular, Integrative Physiology, and completed his vitreoretinal surgery fellowship. Throughout his training, Dr. Au has consistently demonstrated excellence, receiving numerous prestigious awards. These include the Jules Stein Eye Institute Predoctoral Fellow Research Award, recognizing his exceptional research capabilities, and the UCLA Excellence in Teaching with Humanism Residents and Fellows Award, a medical student body nominated award acknowledging Dr. Au’s exemplary behavior towards medical students and other members of the health care team. Furthermore, Dr. Au was awarded the UCLA Resident Teaching Award for his outstanding mentorship and educational contributions. As a fellow, Dr. Au received the Ronald G. Michels Fellowship Foundation Award which provides a financial grant to support the awardee’s research during their second year of vitreoretinal fellowship. In addition to his clinical interests, his research includes leveraging large databases, genetics, and advanced multimodal imaging to identify novel therapeutic targets for common retinal disorders. He has over 50 published manuscripts in highly regarded journals and has 4 patents.
Appointments can be scheduled with Dr. Au at UCLA Stein Eye Institute Westwood at (310) 206-7474.