Research

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Research Day Agenda

Friday, June 19, 2026

7:30 a.m.Registration and breakfast
7:55 a.m.Welcome and opening remarks
8:00 a.m.

"Neuroprotective Functions of the Vitreous"

Kyle Freeman, MD
Federico Gonzalez-Fernandez, MD, PhD, Preceptor

8:30 a.m.

"UMMC Review of Success Rates for the Ahmed tube shunts versus Baerveldt tube shunts"

Chase Warren, MD
Jay Craddock, MD, Preceptor

9:00 a.m.

"Determinants of Adherence to Follow-Up Care after Receiving an Ophthalmology Consult"

Laura Nussdorf, MD
Kimberly Crowder, MD, Preceptor

9:30 a.m.

"Xenopus Laevis and Tropicalis as Systems to Understand the Role of IRBP/RBP3 in the Interphotoreceptor Matrix (IPM)"

Claire Holmes, MD
Federico Gonzalez-Fernandez, MD, PhD, Preceptor

10:00 a.m.

 BREAK

10:15 a.m.

"Role of Autoimmune Disease in Normal Tension Glaucoma"

Kayla Taylor, MD
Jay Craddock, MD, Preceptor

10:45 a.m.

"The Effects of Blast-like injury on RPE and the Retina Interface"

Andrew Burks, MD
Federico Gonzalez-Fernandez, MD, PhD, Preceptor

11:15 a.m.

"Predicting Visual Outcomes After Open Globe Injury: A Retrospective Validation of the Ocular Trauma Score"

Stanton Heydinger, MD
Kevin Mays, MD and William Watkins, MD Preceptors

11:45 a.m.

"Experimental Myopia and the Role of Retinal Signaling in Cornea Curvature and Eye Size"

Zachary Wiley, MD
Federico Gonzalez-Fernandez, MD, PhD and Bo Huang, MD, PhD, Preceptors

12:15 p.m.

LUNCH / All Dept. Staff Picture and Faculty only Picture

Presentations of Posters (Medical Students)

1:00 p.m.

PROFESSOR SAMUEL B. JOHNSON MEMORIAL LECTURE: 

"Direct Translation of Spike-Timing-Dependent Plasticity to Treat Amblyopia "
Eric Gaier, M.D, PhD
Neuro-Ophthalmologist, Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology, Site Director of Ophthalmology Residency Training, Harvard Medical School / Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA

2:00 p.m.

"Integrating DAX Copilot into an Academic Ophthalmology Practice"

Joshua "Hunter" Aultman

Kimberly Crowder, MD, Preceptor

2:30 p.m.

"Inner Limiting Membrane Peeling during Vitreoretinal Surgery Effects on Refractive Calculations"

Christian Karam, MD
Albert Lin, MD, Preceptor

3:00 p.m.

"Comparing Resident-Led Cataract Surgery Outcomes to Standards Set by IRIS Registry"

Daniel Salvador, MD
Kevin Mays, MD, Preceptor

3:30 p.m.

"Detection of Posterior Vitreous Detachment (PVD) in Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) by Artifical Intelligence (AI) in Ophthalmic Medicine"

Katie Webb-Pongetti, MD
Albert Lin, MD, Preceptor

4:00 p.m.

Evaluations

4:30 p.m.Adjourn

As mandated by ACCME, all faculty participating in this continuing medical education program are expected to disclose to the program audience any real or apparent conflict related to the content of their presentation.  Every effort has been made by the University of Mississippi Medical Center, Division of Continuing Health Professional Education to convey this to participating faculty.

No planners or speakers have any relevant financial relationships. Any potential conflicts of interest have been mitigated through an attestation that he will not present recommendations regarding the use of drugs or devices from companies with which he has a financial relationship.

CREDIT

AMA - The University of Mississippi School of Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing

Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

 

The University of Mississippi School of Medicine designates this live activity for a maximum of 7.25 AMA PRA

Category 1 Credit(s) TM. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their

participation in the educational activity.

 

CEUs - This activity is approved by the University of Mississippi Medical Center Division of Continuing Health

Professional Education for a maximum of 7.25 hours (0.725 CEUs) continuing education units.

 

Overall Objective

Upon completion of this seminar, participants should be able to discuss and critically evaluate current ophthalmology research projects and case studies at the basic and clinical science level.