BEST OF THE BEST: Our TOP DOCS of 2020
Dr. Michael Raizman, MD is truly Best of the Best. He has been nominated as an NKCF Top Doc in previous years and this year his nomination came from his patient, CF, of Westborough, MA. She wrote, “Dr. Raizman not only gave me back my life, as other doctors may have done, he also stayed by my side and comforted me through it all.”
Dr. Raizman is a graduate of the University of Michigan Medical School where he completed his residency in ophthalmology. He then spent two additional years gaining advanced training as a fellow in cornea as well as a fellow in immunology and uveitis (infections of the eye) at Mass Eye & Ear Infirmary. Following this, Dr. Raizman was awarded an NIH training grant to support his research activities as a member of the faculty at Harvard Medical School. In 1991, he was recruited by New England Eye Center / Tufts Medical School to serve as director of the cornea fellowship at that institution. He continues in that role today and also serves as the co-chief of the cornea service and Associate Professor of Ophthalmology at Tufts. He is a member of the adjunct faculty at Mass Eye & Ear Infirmary and Massachusetts General Hospital. Dr. Raizman is also a member of the prestigious private practice, Ophthalmic Consultants of Boston where he sees patients at their Boston and Waltham offices. Dr. Raizman is an international leader in clinical research and led crosslinking clinical trials for treatment of progressive KC. He is a frequent lecturer and the author of more than 100 peer-reviewed articles. He serves on several medical, advisory and editorial boards. Of his selection as NKCF Top Doc for 2020, Dr. Raizman said, “The past decade has been one of the most gratifying times in my career, providing new vision-saving treatments to patients with keratoconus. I am especially honored that my patient nominated me for this recognition.”
One name that comes up frequently when lists of keratoconus experts are compiled is Clark Chang. Dr. Chang is Director of Specialty Lenses for the cornea service at Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia. The mother of a 21-year-old patient, MR, of Bangor, PA wrote in her nomination, “My son was diagnosed with KC when he was 15; he never wore contacts so everything was completely new to him… Dr. Chang always takes his time and speaks directly to my son. Dr. Chang makes this disease bearable.” Another patient, EA, from Lincoln, RI wrote, “Dr. Chang takes the time to know his patients, their goals, their struggles and incorporates those into their care.”
Dr. Clark Chang, OD, MSA, MSc, FAAO is a graduate of the Pennsylvania College of Optometry. After graduation, he completed a year-long residency in primary care optometry and then completed another year of advanced training, this time focused on cornea and contact lenses under the mentorship of Dr. Peter Hersh, MD at the Cornea and Laser Eye Institute in Teaneck, NJ. After his fellowship, he joined the CLEI staff and participated in keratoconus-focused research and clinical trials. Dr. Chang is a fellow of the American Academy of Optometry and serves on the executive board of the International Keratoconus Academy. He lectures extensively on management of keratoconus and innovative specialty contact lens technologies. When informed of his selection as this year’s Top Doc, he told NKCF, “It is an extraordinary honor to have patients take time out to recognize the care you provide, but I am only able to leave an impression due to a team effort by the entire Cornea Service at Wills Eye Hospital. They believe, as I do, that each keratoconus patient is unique and deserves customized treatment(s). This award belongs to my entire Wills Eye family.”
In addition to these Best of the Best, 70 other doctors from 24 states were nominated by their patients. Some of the doctors are university faculty members, others are members of private practices that specialize in the care of individuals with keratoconus. Still others are primary care eye doctors who show kindness and empathy toward their patients. One quality almost universally noted in the nominations was the ability to listen to their patients and work tirelessly to save or restore vision. We salute these the Top Doc nominees for 2020.
CALIFORNIA
Anthony Aldave, MD UCLA /Jules Stein Eye Institute, Los Angeles
Brad Baggerly, OD Claremont Optometry, Claremont
Melissa Barnett, OD UC Davis Health, Sacramento
Jill Beyer, OD Stanford Univ. /Byers Eye Institute, Palo Alto
Brian Boxer-Wachler, MD Boxer Wachler Vision Institute, Beverly Hills
Annie Chang OD Southern California College of Optometry, Anaheim
Brian Chou, OD Revision Optometry, San Diego
Marjan Farid, MD UCI /Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, Irvine
Joanne Gronquist, OD Santa Barbara Optometry, Santa Barbara
John Hofbauer, MD Beverly Hills Institute of Ophthalmology, Beverly Hills
Jeanette Lee, OD 2020 Optometry of Silicon Valley, San Jose
Barry Leonard, OD Dr. Barry Leonard & Associates, Panorama City
Vicki Lin, OD i-Sight Vision Care, Fountain Valley
Somi Oh, OD Eye Boutique Optometry, Santa Clara
Donna Weiss, OD Boxer Wachler Vision Institute, Beverly Hills
Jessica Yuan, OD Rainbow Optometry, Upland
CONNECTICUT
Catherine Gelinas, OD Vision Associates of Prospect, Prospect
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Jennifer Luckie, OD Eye Doctors of Washington
Jay Lustbader, MD Georgetown Univ. /Washington National Eye Center
FLORIDA
Vasilios Diakonis, MD Eye Institute of West Florida, Largo
Stephen Heiden, OD Heiden & Heiden, Hollywood
David Leach, MD Tampa Eye Clinic, Tampa
Leticia Sandoval, OD Lake Nona Eye Care, Orlando
Justine Siergy, OD Hunter Vision, Orlando
ILLINOIS
Matt Goren, MD Goren Eye Associates, Des Plaines
Jennifer Harthan, OD Illinois College of Optometry, Chicago
Timothy McMahon, OD UIC /Illinois Eye & Ear Infirmary, Chicago
Adam Sobin, MD Gailey Eye Clinic, Decatur
INDIANA
Francis Price, MD Price Vision Group, Indianapolis
KENTUCKY
Renee Reeder, OD Univ. of Pikeville College of Optometry, Pikeville
MARYLAND
Albert Jun, MD Johns Hopkins /Wilmer Eye Institute, Baltimore
MASSACHUSETTS
Michael Raizman, MD Ophthalmic Consultants of Boston, Waltham
MICHIGAN
Leonard Silverman, OD Okemos Optometry, Okemos
MISSOURI
David Seibel, MD Vision Care Consultants, St. Louis
NEVADA
Jamison Engle, MD Nevada Eye Consultants, Reno
Stephanie Woo, OD Contact Lens Institute of Nevada, Las Vegas
NEW JERSEY
John Gelles, OD CLEI Center for Keratoconus, Teaneck
Steven Greenstein, MD CLEI Center for Keratoconus, Teaneck
NEW MEXICO
Steven Berry, OD Albuquerque Vision Care, Albuquerque
NEW YORK
Lori Arbital, OD Arbital Vision Care, Hicksville
Suzanne Bellante, OD Union Square Eye Care, New York City
Elizabeth Cohen, MD NYU /Langone Health Eye Center, New York City
Ken Dickerson, OD University of Rochester Eye Institute, Rochester
Eric Donnenfeld, MD Ophthalmic Consultants of Long Island, Garden City
Robert Eden, MD Cornea Consultants of Albany, Slingerlands
Michael Endl, MD Fichte, Endl and Elmer Eye Care, Amherst
David Libassi, OD SUNY /University Eye Center, New York City
Sharon Park, OD SUNY /University Eye Center, New York City
Susan Resnick, OD Farkas, Kassalow, Resnick & Associates, New York City
John Seedor MD Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital, New York City
Bryan Wolynski, OD Glasses on First, New York City
OHIO
Ross Collins, OD Collins Vision Care, Vandalia
Patrick Dollenmayer OD Columbus Eye Associates, Columbus
Chantelle Mundy, OD OSU /Havener Eye Institute, Dublin
Loretta Szczotka-Flynn, OD CWRU /University Hospitals, Cleveland
OREGON
Bala Ambati, MD Pacific Clear Vision Institute, Eugene
Win Chamberlain, MD OHSU /Casey Eye Institute, Portland
PENNSYLANIA
Clark Chang, OD Wills Eye Hospital, Philadelpia
Ifikhar Chaudhry MD IC Laser Eyecare Ben Salem
Laurie Ann Roba, MD UPMC Eye Center, Pittsburgh
Darin Spingola, OD Obyron Eye Associates, DuBois
SOUTH CAROLINA
Thomas Weshefsky, OD Carolina Forest Eye Care, Myrtle Beach
TEXAS
Randy Charrier, OD Family Vision Solutions, Houston
Melanie Frogozo, OD Alamo Eye Care, San Antonio
Greg Gemoules, OD Laser Fit Contact Lenses, Coppell
Linda Jackson, OD UT-Southwestern, Dallas
Maria Walker, OD U Houston College of Optometry, Houston
UTAH
Mark Mifflin, MD Univ. Utah /Moran Eye Institute, Salt Lake City
WASHINGTON
Joseph Dolezal, OD Innovations in Eye Care, Centralia
Nicholas Gubler, OD Mid-Columbia Eyecare Center, Pasco
WISCONSIN
Brad LaVallie, OD BayCare Clinic, Green Bay
WYOMING
Jamie Hazen, OD Mud Springs Vision Clinic, Wheatland
Names in BOLD have been nominated as Top Doc in a previous year.