Leadership

 

  • CEO – Lisa Nijm, MD, JD

    When she is not advocating for her patients in Washington D.C., Dr. Lisa Nijm works as a board-certified ophthalmologist and corneal specialist at Warrenville EyeCare & LASIK in Warrenville, IL and teaches part time at the renowned University of Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary in Chicago, IL. After graduating from Benedictine University, Dr. Nijm went on to pursue a post-graduate education that uniquely combined her interests in patient care and health care policy advocacy. She pursued a 6 year dual M.D., J.D. degree at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine and School of Law, a program was designed to train physicians who believe a legal education will augment their primary... Read More

    President – Purnima Patel, MD

    Dr. Patel is an Associate Professor of Ophthalmology. She joined the Ophthalmology Section of the VA Medical Center in 2010. She is a board certified in ophthalmology and specializes in medical retina and comprehensive ophthalmology. Dr. Patel is skilled in the treatment of medical retinal disease such as macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, inherited retinal diseases, and uveitis as well as modern cataract surgery. Dr. Patel has a special interest in teaching Emory University ophthalmology residents in the management of medical retinal disease and cataract surgery. She is an active member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, Women in Ophthalmology, and the American Medical Association. In 2014, Dr. Patel was elected... Read More

    Past President – Christina Weng, MD, MBA

    Christina Y. Weng, MD, MBA is Professor of Ophthalmology and the Vitreoretinal Diseases & Surgery Fellowship Program Director at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. She has a faculty appointment at the Level 1 trauma center, Ben Taub General Hospital. Dr. Weng was a prior recipient of the Dan B. Jones Teaching Award. Dr. Weng graduated cum laude from Northwestern University and then went on to medical school at the University of Michigan where she was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) Medical Society. While in Ann Arbor, she pursued an MBA degree from the University of Michigan-Ross School of Business and graduated with high distinction. Dr. Weng... Read More

    President Elect – Kimberly Winges, MD

    Kimberly Mei Winges, MD, is Associate Professor of Ophthalmology and Neurology at the Casey Eye Institute/Oregon Health & Science University in Portland, Oregon. She is also the first female Assistant Chief of Surgery at the adjacent Veterans Administration Hospital, where she practices comprehensive and neuro-ophthalmology. She mentors physicians in all stages of training. Born in San Francisco, she earned her undergraduate degree at Stanford University, studying astrobiology. Before graduating AOA from medical school at New York Medical College, she spent a year conducting multiple sclerosis (MS) translational research with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and now serves with the MS Center of Excellence West for the VA. She completed ophthalmology... Read More

    Vice President –  Lejla Vajzovic, MD

    Lejla Vajzovic, MD is an Associate Professor of Ophthalmology and the Vitreoretinal Surgical Retina Fellowship Director at the Duke Eye Center, Durham, NC. She has established an international reputation as a leader in vitreoretinal surgery, research, and teaching. She is an ophthalmologist and vitreoretinal surgeon with expertise in adult and pediatric retinal diseases and surgery. She is interested in cutting edge technologies and recovery of vision in hereditary retinal diseases with retinal implants and stem cell technology. She is a co-director of the Duke Pediatric Retina and Optic Nerve Center, and she directs the Duke Center for Artificial and Regenerative Vision, where she implants the Argus II “bionic eye” to... Read More

    Secretary –  Nataliya Danylkova, MD, MBA

    Dr. Danylkova is a comprehensive ophthalmologist and a Division Chair at Mankato Clinic, MN. After receiving her medical degree and finishing an ophthalmology residency from Ternopil Medical Academy, Ukraine, she completed an ophthalmology residency at Northwestern University, Chicago. She is the President elect of the Minnesota Academy of Ophthalmology. She serves as a Medical Director and a Board Chair of the Mankato Surgery Center. She is passionate about providing ophthalmic surgery and eye care to an underserved population of remote areas in Africa. She dedicates her free time to international ophthalmic mission trips to Kenya with the humanitarian organization KenyaRelief.org.... Read More

    Treasurer – Usiwoma Abugo, MD

    Usiwoma Abugo, M.D. is an ophthalmic, plastic and facial cosmetic surgeon. Dr. Abugo received her medical degree from Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine in Maywood, Ill. She then completed her residency in ophthalmology at Howard University Hospital Center in Washington, D.C. and a transitional year residency at Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown, N.Y. After her residencies, Dr. Abugo completed a sub-specialty fellowship in neuro-ophthalmology and facial plastic and orbital surgery at Central Valley Eye Medical Group in Stockton California. She currently is on faculty at Eastern Virginia Medical School and practices at Virginia Eye Consultants. Throughout her career, Dr. Abugo has been an avid researcher starting her career... Read More


    Membership Director – Andrea Lora Kossler, MD, FACS

    Andrea Lora Kossler, MD, FACS, is Associate Professor of Ophthalmology at Stanford University School of Medicine and Director of the Oculofacial Plastic, Reconstructive Surgery and Orbital Oncology Service at the Byers Eye Institute at Stanford. Andrea specializes in aesthetic oculofacial surgery, thyroid eye disease and orbital oncology. Dr. Kossler is Co-Director of the Stanford Multidisciplinary Thyroid Eye Disease Center and Director of the Stanford Aesthetic Eye Surgery Center. Dr. Kossler’s research interests include the proteomic evaluation of ocular surface and orbital inflammation, modulation of neural reflexes via neurotization and neurostimulation, evaluating targeted therapies for cutaneous and orbital malignancy, and advancing therapies for thyroid eye disease. Dr. Kossler has authored over... Read More

    AAO Councilor – Laura Enyedi, MD

    Dr. Enyedi is a Professor of Ophthalmology and Pediatrics at Duke University, where she completed her undergraduate education, residency, and fellowship training in pediatric ophthalmology and strabismus. A North Carolina native, she graduated from the University of NC School of Medicine in Chapel Hill with Distinction and with AOA Honors. Dr. Enyedi is a clinician educator, has been honored as a “Best Doctor,” and trained over 150 residents and over 50 clinical fellows. She has published more than 100 peer-reviewed articles on pediatric eye disease, including as a member of the Pediatric Eye Disease Investigator Group. She serves numerous roles in the AAO in addition to WIO Councilor including the... Read More

    Development Director – Sophie Bakri, MD

    Sophie J. Bakri, MD, MBA is Chair of the Department of Ophthalmology at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN and holds the Whitney and Betty MacMillan Professorship in Ophthalmology in Honor of Robert R. Waller, M.D. Dr. Bakri completed a vitreoretinal surgery fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation and ophthalmology residency at Albany Medical College, New York. She graduated from the University of Nottingham Medical School, England.  She holds an MBA from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. She has authored over 200 peer-reviewed papers and 30 book chapters. She is a principal investigator on numerous multicenter clinical trials on novel drugs for retinal disease. She serves on the Editorial Board of... Read More

    Director at Large – Analisa Arosemena, MD

    Bio coming soon!... Read More

    Director at Large – Cynthia Bradford, MD

    After serving 35 years, Dr. Bradford is retired professor of ophthalmology of the department of ophthalmology at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center in Oklahoma City.  In 2022 became clinical faculty at Dean McGee Eye Institute continuing practice of comprehensive ophthalmology.  A native of Texas, she received her undergraduate training at Texas A&M University (magna cum laude) and medical degree with high honors from the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. She moved to Oklahoma and completed her ophthalmology training at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. Dr. Bradford has been active in teaching medical students and primary care residents throughout her career. She has authored modules... Read More

    Director at Large – Lori Provencher, MD

    Dr. Lorraine (Lori) M. Provencher, M.D. is a board-certified ophthalmologist, cataract surgeon, and glaucoma specialist. Dr. Provencher graduated summa cum laude from Indiana University with a Bachelor of Science in Biology. She then went on to receive a Medical Doctorate from the Indiana University School of Medicine. She completed ophthalmology residency at the top-ranked University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics followed by a glaucoma and complex anterior segment fellowship at the University of Michigan Kellogg Eye Center. She is in private practice at Vance Thompson Vision in Omaha, NE. Dr. Provencher is passionate about peer education and mentorship. She is on the editorial board of Ophthalmology as the Senior Social... Read More

    Director at Large – Fasika A. Woreta, MD, MPH

    Bio coming soon!... Read More