If viewing rounds and unable to connect through Zoom, please contact: Brandon Baksh, MD - jonathan-trejo@uiowa.edu
Tuesday, January 21, 2025
The latest issue of Iowa Vision is now available!
Celebrate another year with us!
What: Ophthalmology Holiday Party - Food, Drinks, Fun...with bar Trivia (and prizes!)
When: Friday, January 24, 2025 | 5 to 9 PM
Where: UI Athletics Hall of Fame
Please RSVP if you will be joining us!
The Stanley Museum is pioneering "Touch Tours" which are experiential tours for the visually impaired that are immersive and multi-sensory. They have extended an invitation to our department’s faculty and trainees to take this tour blindfolded to further understand patients' experiences, and to spread the word about the lovely exhibit.
These initial tours will be given on Thursdays from 4 PM to 5:30 PM on 1/30, 2/20 and 2/27. If you would like to be a part of this experience, please RSVP here.
If you have questions, you can reach out to Brian Young, Quinton Christensen and Jacob Thompson who are helping organize this.
2024 TAX DOCUMENTS NOW AVAILABLE
If you chose online delivery for your 2024 statements, you can now access your year-end forms in Employee Self-Service.
To view your W-2 and/or Affordable Care Act (ACA) 1095 forms, go to the Taxes section in the Time & Pay tile and select Year-End Tax Information.
If you opted for online delivery for each form, you can find both forms in Employee Self-Service. If not, you'll receive a paper copy by mail. Depending on your health insurance and employment status in 2024, you may only receive a W-2, as not everyone qualifies for a 1095 form.
If you have trouble printing your tax statements, please refer to the help section at the bottom of the Year-End Tax Information page.
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OPEN ENROLLMENT: VISION INSURANCE (VOLUNTARY)
Please note: University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics does not participate in any vision plans. If you or your family receive eye care through our clinic, you will be unable to use this voluntary vision insurance coverage.
2025 open enrollment for voluntary vision insurance began on January 1 and will end on February 28, 2025.
There are no plan design or rate changes for the 2025 plan year.
World Insurance Associates (World) administers our voluntary vision program. You can find more information about the vision plans and rates on the vision plan webpage. If you have questions about the plans, rates, or enrollment status, please contact World at 800-728-9620 or benefitiowa@worldinsurance.com.
Submitted by Kristin Kirpes-
Sydney Bowman
PRN Pediatric Ophthalmic Technician
Sydney Bowman started her new position as a PRN Pediatric Ophthalmic Technician on 12/16/24. Sydney is also currently a student in our Orthoptic Training Program. Welcome to the team, Sydney!
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Ethan Brandauer
Research Assistant - Drack Lab
Ethan Brandauer started a full-time position as a Research Assistant for Dr. Drack’s lab on 1/6/25. Ethan graduated with his bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from the University of Iowa in December. During his undergraduate studies, he worked as Dr. Drack’s undergraduate research assistant. Ethan’s favorite color is green. He loves to snack on wheat thins. You might find Ethan enjoying a meal at Nodo Downtown or shopping at Target. Ethan's hobbies include volunteering and games. Congratulations on your full-time role, Ethan!
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Pragati Navghane
Regulatory Coordinator, Ophthalmology Human Subjects Research
Pragati Navghane joined the department as a Regulatory Coordinator, Ophthalmology Human Subjects Research on 1/06/25. Pragati brings a wealth of knowledge to her position from experience working as a Regulatory Coordinator at Wagner Kapoor Research Institute, as well as possessing a MS in Regulatory Affairs. Her favorite color is lavender. Pragati's favorite snack is coffee, and you can find her reading in her free time. Please join us in welcoming Pragati to our team!
Submitted by Jody Troyer-
Congratulations to Ophthalmic Photographer, Mike Edrington on receiving his Certified Retinal Angiographer (CRA) certification from the Ophthalmic Photographers' Society! CRA Certification requires submission of work examples that meet established standards as well as successful completion of a written examination.
Submitted by Dr. Kanwal Matharu-
We are excited to announce that the University of Iowa now has certified Implantable Collamer Lens (ICL) surgeons! We are thrilled to share this revolutionary refractive surgery technology with our patients and trainees. This option is perfect for patients who were previously told they are poor candidates for refractive surgery. Last week, our team successfully utilized the ICL for four patients.
Submitted by Dina Blanc-
Iowa ophthalmology adds a splash of color in its 2024 Research to Prevent Blindness (RPB) Annual Report.
Photos by Kelsey Hunold
Congratulations to our faculty that were selected as 2025 Castle Connolly Top Doctors! Castle Connolly Top Doctors represent the top 7% of all U.S. practicing physicians.
“These individuals are peer-nominated and thoroughly vetted by a physician-led research team. These doctors are best-in-class healthcare providers, embodying excellence in clinical care as well as interpersonal skills.”
Submitted by Francie Williamson-
Iowa Lions Eye Bank has unveiled its updated website, which can be visited at iowalionseyebank.org.
Submitted by Dr. Kanwal Matharu-
We will be sharing updates from the work of our global ophthalmology division in this segment of our newsletter.
Please reach out to Dr. Matharu or Dr. Hendricks with any further comments or questions!
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RECENT UPDATES
Drs. Kanwal Matharu and Tahreem Mir recently met with the Chair of Aga Khan University, Dr. Karim Damji to discuss global education and strategies in crafting sandwich fellowships. The "Sandwich fellowship" is an educational model in which a fellow completes rotations at an academic institution in the developed world as well as in his or her home environment. An important component of the model is the expansion of institutional capacity at the fellow's home institution to create an enabling environment to practice newly acquired skills. The fellowship provides experience in diverse geographic and cultural contexts under the guidance of a preceptor from an institution in the developed world who teaches in both settings. Preceptors are given opportunities to continue professional growth and gain from exposure to pathology not commonly seen at home. (1)
1. Kassam F, Damji KF, Kiage D, Carruthers C, Kollmann KH. The Sandwich fellowship: a subspecialty training model for the developing world. Acad Med. 2009 Aug;84(8):1152-60. doi: 10.1097/ACM.0b013e3181acf95c. PMID: 19638787.
Submitted by Dr. Tom Oetting-
This past weekend, members of our department enjoyed a private screening of the documentary Blink at Sycamore Cinema.
Thank you to all that were able to attend and thank you to Matt Browning for organizing this opportunity!
Submitted by Simran Sarin-
This program was started to establish a contact lens recycling initiative at the University of Iowa Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences. Funded by the AAO YO Sustainability Grant and EyeSustain, this project will send contact lens waste to TerraCycle for proper recycling. Accepted recyclable materials include contact lenses, contact cases, blister packs, packaging.
TerraCycle boxes (Image A) will be stored in the contact lens dispensing room (11180B). Flyers (Image B) will be displayed in the department where appropriate. Maliq Pruitt (maliq-pruitt@uiowa.edu) is responsible for collecting and ensuring recycling materials are placed in the box located in Room 11180B. Once a box is full, Maliq will notify Simran Sarin, MS2, via email (simran-sarin@uiowa.edu) or text.
Simran is the program logistics coordinator and will handle box distribution, processing recycled materials, and organizing shipments. Filled boxes will be shipped to Priyanka Bhatnagar (pbhatnagar23@gwmail.gwu.edu, George Washington University School of Medicine) who will oversee their consolidation and recycling with TerraCycle. Shipment costs are covered by the AAO Grant and are at no cost to the department or student coordinator.
Submitted by Denise Rettig-
The Office of the Patient Experience has launched their new internal website – a dynamic platform designed to support our commitment to delivering exceptional care and fostering a culture of excellence. The site will serve as a central hub for resources that empower staff to enhance the patient experience, including tools for continuous improvement, our Professional Behavioral Standards, and a metrics page to monitor and advance our progress.
“Launching this new site is an important milestone in our journey to ensure every patient and family feels valued and respected. With features tailored to reinforce our shared vision and organizational priorities, this platform will promote collaboration, data transparency, and accountability across all levels of our healthcare system.”
Leaders, please familiarize yourself with the different reports and share performance with your staff on a routine basis. It’s important to celebrate our successes and identify ways to continuously improve as an organization. The Office of the Patient Experience team would be happy to meet with anyone who has questions about the data or our performance. Please reach out to patient-experience@uiowa.edu for assistance.
The Office of the Patient Experience
Submitted by Tonya Looker-
Kickstart a Healthy 2025 with These Exciting Wellness Opportunities!
As we welcome the new year, it's the perfect time to focus on living a healthier lifestyle. A consistent workout routine can be a great step toward better physical and mental well-being.
Did you know the Recreation Membership Incentive Program offers a 50% discount on recreation memberships?
Here’s how you can qualify:
As a member, you’ll have access to various fitness classes. To explore your options:
Take advantage of this fantastic opportunity to stay active and make your health a priority in 2025!
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Live Healthy Iowa – 10 Week Challenge
Looking for another way to keep your New Year’s resolutions? Join the Live Healthy Iowa – 10 Week Challenge, a fun, goal-based program where you can track activity minutes and/or weight loss while participating in a friendly statewide competition.
We now have 3 teams! There’s still time to join. If you’re interested in joining an ophthalmology team, please email Tonya Looker or Lisa Leavy to get started.
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We Want to Hear From You!
Did you know your health habits are often influenced by the company you keep? Surrounding yourself with people who inspire you can help you stay on track. The buddy system is a fantastic way to keep active and motivated on your health journey!
If you have creative ideas for how we can stay healthy together, we’d love to hear from you. Let’s make wellness a team effort!
Happy New Year!!
Tonya
New Ophthalmology All-Staff Distribution List
Due to no longer having the ability to manage the Ophthalmology All Staff email distribution list, HCIS has created a new mailing list for us called: Ophthalmology Staff (OphthStaff@healthcare.uiowa.edu) that will continue to be managed internally.
Please use this new email moving forward to ensure the most up to date employee list is reached.
NEW – Please use: OphthStaff@healthcare.uiowa.edu
OLD – Do not use: OphthalmologyAllStaff@healthcare.uiowa.edu
Contact Ophthalmology IT
Please use these contact methods helps us prioritize your request:
Phone: 78107
Email: OphthIT@healthcare.uiowa.edu
ESC Portal: https://service.healthcare.uiowa.edu (New to ESC? Learn how to submit a help desk ticket)
Submitted by Kristin Kirpes-
POSITIONS AVAILABLE IN THE DEPARTMENT
Clinic Services Specialist - Ophthalmology | Req #24005687
The Clinic Services Specialist schedules patient appointments/inquiries for the Department of Ophthalmology for multiple sub clinics and ensures that patients are scheduled to the right department based on their urgency. Ensures the correct visit types, provider, date, length of visit, and time are utilized. Schedules into the appropriate timeframe in alignment with requested plan of care, urgency and desired appointment date. Ensures appropriate appointment prerequisites are completed and obtained. Responsible for maintaining the Patient and Referral Work queues and assigning responsibilities among employees to ensure that these work queues are completed in a timely and accurate manner. Monitors progress of work queues and reports any issues and concerns to administration. Coordinates all necessary preparatory tests and obtains records to maximize the efficiency of the visit. Informs patient of their visit specific preparatory instructions and ensures notification about their upcoming appointments via their communication method of choice. Follows the appropriate workflows to confirm the patient is financially secured for their visit. Anticipates the needs of the patient and serves as a patient advocate. Assists and problem solves any scheduling issues that arise. Uses independent judgement in determining how to assist patient requests outside of the scope of scheduling. Upholds the department's best practices, quality, and professionalism standards and policies. Serves as a mentor, coach, role model, and service excellence ambassador for staff, co-workers, patients, and visitors. May complete special projects for the department. May attend clinic or department meetings to serve as a scheduling content expert. May perform other duties as assigned.
Clinical Trials Research Specialist - Ophthalmology | Req #24005670
The Clinical Trials Research Specialist (PRV3; 3A) oversees all aspects of the Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences’ clinical trials and supervises a team of employees supporting clinical research. Together, the specialist and team provide end-to-end support for variety of ophthalmological clinical trials sponsored by industry, the NIH, and private foundations, as well as for investigator-initiated studies. The Clinical Trials Specialist oversees the guidance of faculty and learners for IRB processes and other issues related to human subject research. Lastly, the Clinical Trials Research Specialist is responsible for overall quality assurance of the work of this group with an emphasis on timeliness, patient confidentiality, data security, and ensuring that the work product is robust to internal and external audits. The Clinical Trials Research Specialist also works closely with and is supervised by, the Grants and Contracts Manager for the department.
Medical Scribe (80%) | Req #25001199
The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences is seeking an 80% Medical Scribe (Clerk Typist III; GB62) to generate prompt documentation of patient care information/activities as dictated by assigned providers both within and outside of the clinic setting in the Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences. This position supports Dr. H. Culver Boldt and Dr. Chris Sales in the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences. Duties involve the use of personal computers, computer terminals, and a variety of software some of which may be discipline specific and conventional office equipment.
Ophthalmic Clinical Specialist I performs technical and diverse optical testing as a portion of the complete ocular exam, in addition to obtaining patient histories, meds and allergies for the supervising physician. This position will work an 8 hour shift between the hours of 8:00 am - 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday.
The Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences intends to hire at either the Ophthalmic Technician, non-COA certified classification, or Ophthalmic Clinical Specialist I, COA certified classification, based on the qualifications of the successful candidate. Please indicate in your application materials the position you wish to be considered for or indicate both.
Orthoptist ($5,000 Sign-On Incentive for hires new to UI) | Req #24005227
The Orthoptist provides direct patient care by performing sensorimotor testing, evaluating and treating eye movement disorders and binocular vision, participating in the evaluation and diagnosis of patients with amblyopia, diplopia, genetic disorders of the eye, pediatric and adult strabismus, and other eye movement conditions. The Orthoptist also assists in coordinating and educating fellows, residents, orthoptic students, and doctors who rotate through the services, participates in clinical research into eye movement disorders, diplopia, strabismus, nystagmus, and inherited eye disorders, and serves as a liaison between the ophthalmology clinics and other areas in the Department of Ophthalmology and other clinics throughout the hospital.
We are also recruiting for multiple faculty positions. Direct links to these postings are available here: https://jobs.uiowa.edu/jobSearch/faculty/
| Schedule Subject to Change | |||
| Mon | Jan 20 | HOLIDAY - NO ROUNDS | |
| Tue | Jan 21 | 7:00 AM | BCSC Oculoplastics with Dr. Keith Carter - Lacrimal Disorders |
| Wed | Jan 22 | 8:00 AM | On call Rounds |
| Thu | Jan 23 | 8:00 AM | Sammy Tadros, MD, PGY3 |
| Fri | Jan 24 | 8:00 AM | Dr. Markus Kuehn |
| Schedule Subject to Change | |||
| Mon | Jan 27 | 8:00 AM | On call Rounds |
| Tue | Jan 28 | 7:00 AM | BCSC Oculoplastics |
| Wed | Jan 29 | 8:00 AM | Brandon Baksh, MD, PGY3 |
| Thu | Jan 30 | 8:00 AM | Matthew Meyer, MD, PGY3 |
| Fri | Jan 31 | 8:00 AM | Jonathan Trejo, MD, PGY3 |
*P indicates rounds intended specifically for residents, fellows and orthoptic students
If viewing rounds and unable to connect through Zoom, please contact: Brandon Baksh, MD - jonathan-trejo@uiowa.edu
Ophthalmology Morning Rounds is held from 8:00 am - 8:45 am in the Braley Auditorium (01136), Pomerantz Family Pavilion / Zoom.
Jan 24 - Ophthalmology Holiday Party @ UI Hall of Fame
Feb 7 - Morning Rounds guest speaker: Anat Galor, MD of Bascom Palmer Eye via Zoom
Feb 27 - Ophthalmology Town Hall
Mar 21 - Clinical Conference: Glaucoma - Mansour F. Armaly Lecture
Apr 11 - Clinical Conference: Comprehensive Ophthalmology - Wolfe Lecture
Apr 12 - Ophthalmology Town Hall
June 13-14 - Iowa Eye Annual Meeting & Alumni Reunion - Department's 100th Anniversary
UI Health Care Medical Center | UI Carver College of Medicine | Institute for Vision Research
Copyright © 2019 - All Rights Reserved - The University of Iowa
CME ACCREDITATION: The University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
CME CREDIT DESIGNATION: The University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine designates this live activity for a maximum of 0.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
SPONSORED BY: The University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences.
CONTENT: Determination of educational content for this educational activity and the selection of speakers and facilitators are responsibilities of the activity director. Any commercial firms providing financial support did not have input in these areas.
DISCLOSURE POLICY: Everyone in a position to control the content of this educational activity will disclose to the CME provider and to attendees all relevant financial relationships with any commercial interest. They will also disclose if any pharmaceuticals or medical procedures and devices discussed are investigational or unapproved for use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
TARGET AUDIENCE: Faculty, residents, fellows.
EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES FOR THE ENTIRE SERIES: Upon participating in this educational series, the participant should be able to discuss interesting and challenging clinical cases in a didactic and interactive format.
CME CREDIT AND ATTENDANCE: Captured by self-texting a 5-digit activity code to 319-519-0048. The code is provided each day during Rounds. Before texting your attendance for the first time, you will need to text your Uiowa.edu email address to 319-519-0038. For questions, contact matt-browning@uiowa.edu.