Winter 2025 Message from the Chair

InSight Newsletter Winter 2025

Message from the Chair

Welcome to the Winter 2025 edition of the Department of Ophthalmology InSight Newsletter.  

This issue's research spotlight shines on the groundbreaking research of faculty members Drs. Debarshi Mustafi and Andrew Stacey. They have developed a novel blood test for children with retinoblastoma, a rare, hereditary eye cancer, that can tell which parent’s DNA carried the disease-causing RB1 gene mutation. The new test likely will have applications for other genetic diseases in which parent-of-origin influences patients’ risk.

We also highlight the newest research faculty member, Yuzuru Sasamoto, MD, PhD, who studies cornea regeneration. We are fortunate to have him joining our Vision Science Center at South Lake Union.

Our patient care spotlight features the trauma and consult service at Harborview Medical Center under the direction of Clinical Associate Professor Jennifer Yu, MD, PhD. Our department handles about 1,500 emergency room visits a year. It is one of the few ERs to have dedicated ophthalmology space within the ER.

In Education, we are pleased to share the results of our fellowship and residency program matches for 2025-26, as we welcome five incoming residents and five fellows, including our new glaucoma fellowship.

Finally, in our philanthropy spotlight, longtime department supporters Jack and Pam Jolley have established a unique funding initiative designed to provide immediate financial support to early-stage research. This strategic approach to funding is poised to make a lasting impact, providing researchers like Assistant Professor Chris Fortenbach, MD, PhD, the inaugural fellowship holder, with the resources needed to advance innovations in ophthalmology.

For more news and updates, please visit our website at ophthalmology.washington.edu and our Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn pages.

Russell N. 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