Under the mentorship of our dedicated faculty, residents produce independent research projects each year with the goal of presenting at a national meeting and the annual VCU Health Resident and Fellow Research Day. Our residency program’s comprehensive curriculum includes academic sessions and protected research time, with an emphasis on institutional review boards, data collection, analysis and presentation.
Resident Research Guidelines
Resident: Brandon Fram, M.D.
Mentor: Evan Silverstein, M.D.
Project Description: Determine frequency of annual diabetic eye exam being marked complete in Cerner. Identify the reasons that a patient might not have their diabetic exam checked as completed. Enact an education initiative to improve the frequency of the annual diabetic exam being marked complete in Cerner. Compare information from before and after the initiative to determine if the initiative was beneficial.
Resident: Christian Mays, M.D.
Mentor: Surbhi Bansal, M.D.
Project Description: To understand what most patients know about glaucoma to improve treatment and patients’ literacy of the disease.
Resident: Daniel Holley, M.D.
Mentor: Jessica Randolph, M.D.
Project Description: To retrospectively evaluate whether patients being treated for sickle retinopathy have a higher no-show rate than the general population of ophthalmologic patients.
Resident: Elisse Park, M.D.
Mentor: Natario Couser, M.D.
Project Description: To evaluate patient demographics and diagnostic outcomes of the VCU ophthalmic genetics clinic.
Resident: Linnet Rodriguez, M.D.
Mentor: Vikram Brar, M.D.
Project Description: To identify areas and counties in Virginia that will benefit from outreach centers with non-mydriatic cameras to screen for sight-threatening conditions.
Resident: Senmiao “Mimi” Zhan, M.D.
Mentor: Nikisha Richards, M.D. F.A.C.S.
Project Description: The purpose of the study is to examine the effectiveness of oculoplastic intervention provided in the VCU hospital in the ED and inpatient setting from the patient’s perspective. Ultimately the information from the study will help guide, change and improve quality of care given in the acute setting by the ophthalmology residents and providers. The clinical outcome of this study will likely benefit the field of oculoplastics as a whole.
Resident: Sergei Dmitruk, M.D.
Mentor: The purpose of this study is to determine how much time elapses from the time of presentation and time of injury to the time that the patient undergoes surgery for open-globe injuries at VCU.
Project Description: Surbhi Bansal, M.D.
Resident: Sneha R. Konda, M.D.
Mentor: Vikram Brar, M.D.
Project Description: Descriptive study of posterior uveitis and panuveitis: Patterns (incidence, prevalence, demographics), characteristics (etiologies, likely mostly idiopathic), treatment (oral, topical, intravitreal) and outcomes (BCVA, recurrence).
Resident: Sumeet Jindal, M.D.
Mentor: Nikisha Richards, M.D. FACS
Project Description: 1) Study the mechanism behind thyroid eye disease and how teprotumumab can be effective. 2) Present data from a series of patients. 3) Evaluate risks and benefits, especially cost-savings, of this new therapy compared to surgical intervention.
To learn more about the department’s research efforts, check out our team’s Faculty Expertise Profiles.