Duke Eye Center

We are excited to share that Dr. SriniVas Sadda will join Duke Health as Chair of Ophthalmology this November!

A world-renowned physician-scientist, Dr. Sadda has led groundbreaking work in retinal imaging and brings a passion for innovation, education, and patient care. His leadership will help continue Duke Ophthalmology’s tradition of excellence while expanding access to care and advancing new discoveries.

We also thank Dr. Edward G. Buckley for his outstanding leadership and dedication over the past decade, his impact on Duke Ophthalmology has been extraordinary.

Please join us in welcoming Dr. Sadda to our Duke community!
Duke University School of Medicine

https://medschool.duke.edu/news/srinivas-sadda-join-duke-chair-department-ophthalmology

Welcome Dr. Sadda!

SriniVas Sadda, MD, FARVO, has been appointed chair of the Department of Ophthalmology at Duke University School of Medicine, effective November 10, 2026.

An internationally recognized leader in ophthalmology, Dr. Sadda has advanced the field through innovations in retinal imaging, data science, and clinical care. He currently serves as the A. Ray Irvine, Jr., MD, Endowed Chair in Clinical Ophthalmology and professor at the Doheny Eye Institute and the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. A highly accomplished physician-scientist, his research focuses on automated retinal image analysis, retinal substructure assessment, and advanced imaging technologies.

In his new role, he will guide strategy and growth across the Eye Center research, clinical care, and education mission.

Proud to share this powerful story from Duke Health CEO Dr. David Zaas about how surviving leukemia shaped his approach to patient‑centered leadership.

How surviving leukemia changed Duke Health CEO's approach to patient care A life-threatening leukemia diagnosis forced Dr. David Zaas to experience healthcare from the other side of the hospital bed. Now, the new Duke University Health System CEO says those lessons are guiding his approach to patient care and the future of Duke Health.

Duke Eye Center residents, fellows, faculty, and research trainees gathered on June 5 to share new discoveries and clinical insights during this year’s Trainee Day Scientific Sessions. The program featured a keynote from Mark S. Humayun, MD, PhD, on retinal implants and the future of vision restoration, along with recognition of outstanding trainee achievements, including the Machemer Resident Research Award lecture delivered by Irene Song, MD.

Congratulations to this year’s award recipients for their contributions to advancing research in ophthalmology.

https://dukeeyecenter.duke.edu/news/duke-ophthalmology-trainee-day-highlights-research-excellence-and-honors-2026-award-recipients

New research from Duke team, including Cynthia Toth, MD, is highlighting how imaging the eye may provide valuable clues about early brain development in preterm infants.

At Duke Eye Center, we see every day how resilience and expert care can shape a child’s future. One shining example is Alexander Dodds, featured in our 2026 VISION magazine and honored as the Scheyer Family Kid Captain.

Born with X‑linked juvenile retinoschisis, Alexander gradually lost his sight by age nine. Thanks to the dedicated care of Sharon Freedman, MD, and Cynthia Toth, MD, he developed visual memories that continue to help him navigate the world, a powerful reminder of the impact of early, specialized pediatric eye care.

Read: https://heyzine.com/flip-book/0fa2e7615b.html /33

In the latest issue of VISION magazine, we reflect on the impact of Edward Buckley, MD.

After more than a decade as chair, his leadership has helped shape the growth of Duke Ophthalmology across clinical care, education, and research. He will step down later this year while continuing his work with patients and Duke-NUS Medical School.

Read the full story in VISION: https://heyzine.com/flip-book/0fa2e7615b.html /4

Duke Eye Center was well represented at the 2026 Annual Meeting in Denver, with more than 70 Duke‑led presentations.

We’re proud to celebrate Catherine Bowes Rickman, PhD and Vadim Arshavsky, PhD for being inducted into the ARVO Fellows Class of 2026, recognizing their sustained contributions to global vision research.

It was also announced that W. Daniel Stamer, PhD, FARVO been elected the next Executive Vice President of ARVO, an exceptional acknowledgment of his leadership in the field.

Proud of all who represented Duke Eye Center on this international stage!

Read more: https://dukeeyecenter.duke.edu/news/duke-arvo-2026

Duke Eye Center is launching the first large-scale, AI-powered diabetic retinopathy screening program, bringing fast, convenient eye screening directly into endocrinology clinics. Led by Majda Hadziahmetovic, MD, in collaboration with Duke endocrinology leaders David D’Alessio, MD, PhD, and Jyothi Rao, MD, this innovative program uses FDA-cleared AI technology to detect vision-threatening disease in seconds during a routine visit.

Made possible by generous support from The Robert M. Sinskey, M.D. Foundation, this program reflects Duke’s leadership in advancing patient care through innovation. Duke University School of Medicine Duke Endocrinology

Duke Launches First Large-Scale AI-Powered Diabetic Retinopathy Screening Program Duke Eye Center will launch its first organized, institution-wide implementation of AI-powered diabetic retinopathy (DR) screening in May 2026, marking a major milestone in the integration of artificial intelligence into routine clinical care. Supported by The Robert M. Sinskey, M.D. Foundation, the...