Fall 2026 Departmental Achievements

The Department of Ophthalmology is proud to recognize faculty and trainee accomplishments from Fall 2026. These achievements reflect our department’s ongoing commitment to advancing patient care, scientific discovery, medical education, and community engagement. We congratulate all faculty members and residents whose work is highlighted below.

Michael Cusick, MD, MHSA

Assistant Professor

Community Engagement

• Presenter at UVA Mini-Medical School on the topic of diabetic eye disease. September 23, 2026.
• Presenter for the UVA Family Nurse Practitioner Program on the topic of primary care ophthalmology. September 22, 2026.

Research Presentations

• Robinson E, Cotton C, Leone A, Cusick M. Completion Rates of In-Person Ocular Evaluation after Remote Screening for Diabetic Retinopathy at Rural Primary Care Sites Across Virginia. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Virginia Society of Eye Physicians and Surgeons (VSEPS). Virginia Beach, Virginia. June 26-27, 2026.
• Hom GL, Venkat AG, Cusick M. Social Deprivation and Ocular Complications Following Retinal Detachment: A Propensity-Matched National Cohort Study. Oral presentation at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. October 9, 2026.

Awards and Recognition

• Research featured by UVA Today in “Q&A: Could Your Eye Exam Save More Than Your Sight?” highlighting work on identifying hypertension in patients with diabetes during routine eye examinations.

URL: https://news.virginia.edu/content/qa-could-your-eye-exam-save-more-your-sight

• Poster presentation was awarded Best Resident Research Presentation at VSEPS.

Publications

• Tran TM, Duong RT, Oley MA, Cusick M. Demographic Variations in Presentation, Treatment, and Outcomes in Patients With Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachments. J Vitreoretin Dis. 2026 Apr 3:24741264261421794. doi: 10.1177/24741264261421794.

URL: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41943723/

• Samayamanthula S, Williams J, Markowski A, Nguyen C, Wan C, Mallepally A, Yates PA, Cusick M. Blood Pressure Assessment in Ophthalmology Clinics for Patients With Diabetes. JAMA Ophthalmol. 2026 Jun 25:e262245. doi: 10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2026.2245.

URL: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42348192/

• Burton E, Gemperline T, Wan C, Grundvig C, Harrelson H, Kim C, Cusick M. Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Eye-Related Emergency Department Encounters at an Academic Safety-Net Health System. Journal of Academic Ophthalmology. 2026;18(2):15. doi: 10.62199/2475-4757.1365.

URL: https://www.aupojournal.org/jao/vol18/iss2/15

Shao-bin Wang, PhD

Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology

Awards and Recognition

• Received a 2026 research award from CCXDP at Massachusetts General Hospital.

Publications

• Corresponding author of “The Nucleoside Analog Kamuvudine-9 Shows Protective and Therapeutic Efficacy in a Mouse Model of Multiple Sclerosis,” published in Science Translational Medicine.

URL: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/scitranslmed.aei2870

Arthi G. Venkat, MD, MS

Associate Professor

Research Presentations

• Hom GL, Venkat AG, Cusick M. Social Deprivation and Ocular Complications Following Retinal Detachment: A Propensity-Matched National Cohort Study. Oral presentation at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. October 9, 2026.

Srimathy A. Jain, MD

Assistant Professor

Community Engagement

• Participated in the First Zion Baptist Church Annual Health Fair, providing community vision and eye health outreach alongside Erika T. Robinson, MD. September 26, 2026.

Grant L. Hom, MD – PGY-3 Resident

Research Presentations

• Hom GL, Venkat AG, Cusick M. Social Deprivation and Ocular Complications Following Retinal Detachment: A Propensity-Matched National Cohort Study. Oral presentation at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. October 9, 2026.

Sedona Rosenberg, MD – PGY-3 Resident

Research Presentations

• Use of Artificial Intelligence in the Selection of Ophthalmology Residency Applicants for Interview. Women in Ophthalmology Conference. Monterey, California. August 2026.
• Accepted for presentation at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. New Orleans, Louisiana. October 2026.

Awards and Recognition

• Recipient of the UVA Department of Ophthalmology Resident Service Award.

Erika T. Robinson, MD – PGY-3 Resident

Community Engagement

• Participated in the First Zion Baptist Church Annual Health Fair, providing community vision and eye health outreach alongside Srimathy A. Jain, MD. September 26, 2026.