InSight Newsletter Winter 2026
Welcome to the Winter 2026 edition of the Department of Ophthalmology InSight Newsletter.
This issue's research spotlight is on George and Martina Krem Associate Professor Ram Sabesan’s recently published study establishing the utility of a new technology developed in his lab, called optoretinography. This precision engineering method has emerged as a tool that can predict the course of degenerative retinal disease earlier than any conventional diagnostic method.
Our Patient Care Spotlight welcomes a new pediatric ophthalmologist and a new optometrist to the faculty: Assistant Professor Jeannette Stallworth, MD and Jeff Dabundo, OD.
Dr. Stallworth completed her pediatric ophthalmology fellowship with us in 2024, and we are delighted to have her back on the team at Seattle Children’s.
Dr. Dabundo will serve in a new role as a triage optometrist at the Eye Institute, providing urgent eye care to patients with new-onset ocular symptoms and appropriately referring them to ophthalmology specialty care, as needed.
In Education, we are proud to announce our new class of fellows for 2026-27, and our class of 2030 residents. We will have seven fellows joining us in July, including new fellowships in neuro-ophthalmology and ocular oncology. Our residency class has expanded to include a sixth position.
Finally, in our philanthropy spotlight, learn more about a transformational gift from Dawn’s Light Foundation to create a purpose-built clinical trials center in the South Lake Union F Building. Opening this summer, the new facility will house up to 10 staff members and optimize patient care, study coordination, and research activities. This enhanced infrastructure will ensure that Ophthalmology’s clinical trials program can continue to pursue cutting-edge discoveries and bring emerging therapies to patients more efficiently.
Russ Van Gelder, MD, PhD,
Boyd K. Bucey Chair, UW Medicine Department of Ophthalmology
Director, Roger and Angie Karalis Johnson Retina Center
Director, Vision Science Center