Dr. Berrocal completed her medical degree and ophthalmology residency at Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, and she received vitreoretinal surgery and uveitis training at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami. She has since remained on the faculty at Bascom Palmer, where she is a Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology and the Johnstone Horvitz Endowed Chair. She also serves as Director of the Pediatric Retina Service at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute and Jackson Memorial Hospital, as well as Vitreoretinal Fellowship Director. Dr. Berrocal is internationally recognized for her approach to pediatric retinal diseases. She has conducted extensive basic and clinical research studies in retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and has co-authored more than 300 peer-reviewed papers on the subject. In recognition of her work in ROP, Dr. Berrocal received the Bernadotte Foundation Award. Dr. Berrocal is an active member of The Retina Society, The Macula Society, and Club Jules Gonin, and she holds leadership positions in many of these organizations, including the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Society of Retina Specialists, where she serves on the Executive Committee and Council Leadership. She is also one of the founding members of the Vit-Buckle Society. She is the recipient of the ASRS Crystal Apple Award for her dedication to surgical teaching and the Bernice Z. Brown Lecture Award from the Women in Ophthalmology for her commitment to advancing women in the field.
Dr. Koh completed Fellowships in Medical Retina at Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, and the Jules Stein Eye Institute, Los Angeles. He is Past-President of the Singapore Society of Ophthalmology, member of the Executive Council of the College of Ophthalmologists, Executive Director of ESASO Asia, and Congress President of the 2010 5th APVRS. Dr. Koh is also an active member of the Macula Society and Club Jules Gonin. His areas of expertise include degenerative macular disease such as polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy, choroidal neovascularisation, retinal dystrophy, visual electrophysiology, and retinal vascular disease. Dr. Koh is the principal investigator of the EVEREST trial and Chairman of the PCV Roundtable of Experts, and he sits on several international advisory boards and steering committees.
Dr. Steel is a consultant retinal specialist at Sunderland Eye Infirmary, Sunderland, UK, and Honorary Professor of Retinal Surgery at Newcastle University, Honorary Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Sunderland and visiting Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Liverpool. He has published more than 400 peer-reviewed publications with more than 15 000 citations and supervised more than 70 trainees in a range of projects and degrees. Dr. Steel was named as the UK National Institute for Health Research and Royal College of Ophthalmologists Researcher of the Year award in 2018. He is a Past-President of the British and Eire Association of Vitreoretinal Surgeons, an elected Executive Board member of the Club Jules Gonin, and sits on the Euretina VR and Research boards. He has taken part as a chief or principal investigator in more than 50 clinical trials on all aspects of retinal disease and compiled more than 20 systematic reviews. He recently chaired the Royal College of Ophthalmologists full thickness macular holes guidelines, in collaboration with the American Society of Retina Specialists, Canadian Retina Society, and Euretina.
Dr. Schmidt-Erfurth founded the Vienna Reading Center and the Ophthalmic Image Analysis group (OPTIMA), an interdisciplinary team of computer scientists and retina experts. Her clinical expertise includes surgical and medical retina. Her scientific research focuses on innovative techniques in retinal imaging with a focus on artificial intelligence (AI) and the translational introduction of novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies in retinal disease. She holds several patents for the development of novel imaging analysis methods and has published more than 600 scientific peer-reviewed papers. She is a full member of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, the ethics board of the Federation of European Academies of Medicine (FEAM), the Macula Society, Retina Society, ASRS and the Club Gonin et al.
Dr. Kitchens completed his medical degree at the Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, his ophthalmology residency at the University of Iowa Hospital, Iowa City, and his vitreoretinal fellowship at Bascom Palmer Eye, Miami, where he was named Chief Resident. Dr. Kitchens specializes in vitreoretinal diseases and his main clinical interests are new treatments for age-related macular degeneration, diabetes and vascular disease, on which he has presented nationally and internationally. Dr. Kitchens has developed several innovative surgical techniques and has been awarded the American Society of Retina Specialists Rhett Buckler Award on 3 different occasions. He is a National Board Examiner and is listed on the OSN Retina Top 150 Innovators in Medical Surgical Retina. He is repeatedly named on the America’s Top Ophthalmologists and Best Doctors in America lists, and he is featured on the Discovery Channel’s Mystery Diagnosis.
Dr. Chaudhary is Professor of Surgery and Academic Head of Ophthalmology at McMaster University. He serves as city-wide Chief of Ophthalmology at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton and Hamilton Health Sciences. He is the current President for the Canadian Retina Society. He is the Editor-in-Chief for the Canadian Journal of Ophthalmology and medical retina Section Editor for EYE. He is Chair for the Retina Evidence and Trials INternational Alliance (R.E.T.I.N.A)
Dr Chaudhary is passionate about evidence generation in the field of retina. He has over 130 publications and has secured over $42 million in research grant funding as Principal Investigator. Dr. Chaudhary established and serves as the Principal Investigator for the International Retina Trials Consortium with 50 clinical sites globally. He established and leads the Thomas Kevill Advanced Vitreoretinal Imaging (AVI) Lab at McMaster University. He has delivered over 20 invited key-note lectures globally.
He serves on multiple clinical and medical advisory boards and global steering committees for retina endeavors spanning from basic science research to multi-national clinical trials in the field of retina. He also serves on Data Safety Monitoring Boards for multiple phase 2 and pivotal phase 3 global trials in AMD and gene therapy. He serves as expert member on international guideline development committees.
He has been awarded multiple Education, Achievement and Research Awards including the 2023 NSERC Brockhouse Canada prize for interdisciplinary research in Science and Engineering, Surgeon Scientist Mid-Career Research Award, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University (2024), the Honor and Senior Honor Award by the American Society of Retinal Specialists & the Award for Excellence in Ophthalmic Research by the Canadian Ophthalmological Society.
Dr. Hurley is a Vitreo-Retinal Surgeon and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Ottawa Eye Institute, where he also serves as Fellowship Director. He received the Teacher of the Year award in the Residency Program in 2011, 2013, and 2022, and for the Ophthalmic Medical Technology Program in 2016. Dr. Hurley completed his postgraduate medical education with a Retina fellowship at the Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he was twice awarded the Outstanding Fellow Award. He has written several chapters and has been the author or co-author of many peer-reviewed publications on topics including diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration. He has received research support from the E.A. Baker Foundation.
Dr. Koushan attended the University of Toronto for his undergraduate and medical school education, followed by his ophthalmology residency training at McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario. He subsequently went on to finish a 2-year medical/surgical retina fellowship at the University of Florida, Jacksonville. He currently holds the position of Co-Chair of the Scientific Planning Committee for the Canadian Retina Society. He is actively involved in teaching medical students and residents and is also an investigator in multiple clinical trials on diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration. He is the creator and host of the Retina Channel podcast, which is a venue for discussing new publications in retina. Dr. Koushan has presented at many scientific meetings and has published over a dozen peer-reviewed journal articles or book chapters. He is currently involved in multiple research projects and is the Principal Investigator for the DRCR network at TRI. He has been involved in multiple volunteer organizations, including Foundation Fighting Blindness, Vision Walk, and the CNIB.
Dr. Chaudhary is Professor of Surgery and Academic Head of Ophthalmology at McMaster University. He serves as city-wide Chief of Ophthalmology at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton and Hamilton Health Sciences. He is the current President for the Canadian Retina Society. He is the Editor-in-Chief for the Canadian Journal of Ophthalmology and medical retina Section Editor for EYE. He is Chair for the Retina Evidence and Trials INternational Alliance (R.E.T.I.N.A)
Dr Chaudhary is passionate about evidence generation in the field of retina. He has over 130 publications and has secured over $42 million in research grant funding as Principal Investigator. Dr. Chaudhary established and serves as the Principal Investigator for the International Retina Trials Consortium with 50 clinical sites globally. He established and leads the Thomas Kevill Advanced Vitreoretinal Imaging (AVI) Lab at McMaster University. He has delivered over 20 invited key-note lectures globally.
He serves on multiple clinical and medical advisory boards and global steering committees for retina endeavors spanning from basic science research to multi-national clinical trials in the field of retina. He also serves on Data Safety Monitoring Boards for multiple phase 2 and pivotal phase 3 global trials in AMD and gene therapy. He serves as expert member on international guideline development committees.
He has been awarded multiple Education, Achievement and Research Awards including the 2023 NSERC Brockhouse Canada prize for interdisciplinary research in Science and Engineering, Surgeon Scientist Mid-Career Research Award, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University (2024), the Honor and Senior Honor Award by the American Society of Retinal Specialists & the Award for Excellence in Ophthalmic Research by the Canadian Ophthalmological Society.
Dr. Hurley is a Vitreo-Retinal Surgeon and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Ottawa Eye Institute, where he also serves as Fellowship Director. He received the Teacher of the Year award in the Residency Program in 2011, 2013, and 2022, and for the Ophthalmic Medical Technology Program in 2016. Dr. Hurley completed his postgraduate medical education with a Retina fellowship at the Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he was twice awarded the Outstanding Fellow Award. He has written several chapters and has been the author or co-author of many peer-reviewed publications on topics including diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration. He has received research support from the E.A. Baker Foundation.
Dr. Koushan attended the University of Toronto for his undergraduate and medical school education, followed by his ophthalmology residency training at McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario. He subsequently went on to finish a 2-year medical/surgical retina fellowship at the University of Florida, Jacksonville. He currently holds the position of Co-Chair of the Scientific Planning Committee for the Canadian Retina Society. He is actively involved in teaching medical students and residents and is also an investigator in multiple clinical trials on diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration. He is the creator and host of the Retina Channel podcast, which is a venue for discussing new publications in retina. Dr. Koushan has presented at many scientific meetings and has published over a dozen peer-reviewed journal articles or book chapters. He is currently involved in multiple research projects and is the Principal Investigator for the DRCR network at TRI. He has been involved in multiple volunteer organizations, including Foundation Fighting Blindness, Vision Walk, and the CNIB.
