Resident & Fellow Graduation
A great day was had on June 16th as around 100 people came to Casa Larga Vineyards in Fairport, to celebrate the graduation of our senior residents and fellows. We bid farewell to four residents in the 2023 class and celebrated three fellows who completed their training.
Two graduating residents received awards during the event. Russell “RJ,” Marchese, MD, was the recipient of the Humanitarianism in Ophthalmology Award. The award goes to the resident that exemplifies unwavering dedication to patient care, advocacy, and health equity. Marchese will travel to New Jersey, where he will begin practicing Comprehensive Ophthalmology. The other graduating resident to receive an award was Yiyun Zhou, MD, PhD. Zhou was recognized with the Surgeon’s Knife Award, which goes to a senior resident who has shown excellence in ophthalmologic surgery. She will be heading to Maryland, and, like Marchese, will be working in Comprehensive Ophthalmology.
Our two other residents who graduated were Randy Igbinoba and Kyle Green. Igbinoba, will be heading back to his home state of Texas to join a multi-specialty group and begin practicing comprehensive ophthalmology. Meanwhile, Green will be heading to the University of Iowa, where he will be completing a Vitreoretinal Surgery Fellowship.
Graduating residents RJ Marchese, Yiyun Zhou, Kyle Green, Randy Igbinoba and Program Director Rachel Wozniak, MD, PhD (center)
Other standout residents in our program were also honored at the event. Daniel Savage, MD, PhD, who will be starting his third year in residency, received the Emerging-Clinician Scientist Award. This award recognizes the resident who demonstrated a commitment to academic pursuits, that advance understanding of ophthalmic disease. One of our newest residents, Joseph Okudolo received the Rookie of the Year award, recognizing the junior resident who demonstrated commitment to learning, exemplary work ethic, and support of their colleagues.
Our graduating fellows also have exciting plans. Retina fellow Mona Camacci, MD, is heading to Hilton Head South Carolina and will be joining a private practice. Cornea Fellow Lorena Montalvo-Toledo, MD, will be heading home to Puerto Rico. There she will join begin practicing with her father who is also an ophthalmologist. Natalie Brossard, MD, is remaining at the Eye Institute and will join the neuro-ophthalmology service in October.
(left) Mona Camacci (center) Lorena Montalvo & Scott MacRae (right) Natalie Brossard, David Diloreto & Zoe Williams
A special thank you to those who traveled to attend the event, especially family members and Flaum alumna Matilda Chan, MD, PhD, who is now a professor at The University of San Francisco. Chan gave a guest presentation earlier in the day, during a science day event where residents also presented their yearlong research studies. We are so proud of our graduating residents and know they will do great things in their eye care careers.
Matilda Chan
Stephen Kofron | 6/28/2023
