Irene C. Kuo, MD

Dr. Narang is an Assistant Professor in the Johns Hopkins Department of Radiation Oncology & Molecular Sciences. A former chief resident in the department, Dr. Narang now specializes in radiation treatment for gastrointestinal malignancies, including pancreatic cancer, colorectal cancer, hepatobiliary malignancies, and gastric cancer. Dr. Narang has an interest in expanding multi-disciplinary care for patients with gastrointestinal malignancies.Make A Gift

Everardo Hernandez-Quintela, M.D., M.Sc., F.A.C.S. is an accomplished cataract and cornea surgeon at the Wilmer Eye Institute’s locations in Baltimore and Lutherville, Maryland. He specializes in both refractive surgery (LASIK and PRK) and corneal transplant. Dr. Hernández-Quintela is the medical director for Wilmer's Patient Access Center for the Eye (PACE). Prior to joining Johns Hopkins Medicine, Dr. Hernandez Quintela was a professor of ophthalmology at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México where he led the course on research methodology in ophthalmology and the advanced course on cornea and refractive surgery. He is the founder of the international chapter of the Association of Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) in Mexico, known as Colegio Nacional de Investigación en Ciencias Visuales (MARVO).Dr. Hernández-Quintela is a peer review editorial member of the Journal of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the International Journal of Ophthalmology among other prestigious journals. He held a clinical academic position as head of cornea and refractive surgery services, and head of research at the Asociación para Evitar la Ceguera en México Hospital in Mexico City, which is one of the largest eye hospitals in Latin America.Dr. Hernández-Quintela began his career at Universidad La Salle and Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico in Mexico City. He performed his residency training at the Asociación para Evitar la Ceguera en México Hospital, in Mexico City, and completed his fellowships at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary at Harvard Medical School in the United States with professor Dimitri Azar, and at the Hôtel Dieu Hospital, at Université Paris in France with Professor J.M. Legeais and Prof. Yves Pouliquen.Dr. Hernández-Quintela holds a Master in Science from the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, School of Medicine.

Sezen Karakus, M.D., is an assistant professor of ophthalmology specializing in corneal and external eye diseases, with a particular focus on ocular surface conditions in patients with autoimmune and inflammatory disorders such as Sjögren's syndrome and ocular rosacea. Her expertise also extends to corneal diseases involving abnormal sensory nerves, such as neurotrophic keratitis and neuropathic corneal pain. She is skilled in performing routine and complex procedures, including cataract and intraocular lens surgeries, refractive surgeries, corneal transplants, ocular surface reconstructions and amniotic membrane transplantations.At the Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins Medicine's Ocular Surface Diseases and Dry Eye Clinic, she plays an integral role as a team member, providing her clinical insights and expertise. Additionally, she serves as an ophthalmologist in the Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) program at Hopkins. This unique position allows her to address dysautonomia-related neuropathic eye pain and ocular surface diseases in patients with POTS, combining her eye specialization with a focus on this specific medical condition. As a clinician-scientist, her research revolves around ocular surface diseases. Dr. Karakus is actively investigating the role of the ocular surface microbiome in the pathogenesis of ocular rosacea. Her involvement in the NIH U24 Ocular Surface Microbiome Consortium allows her to collaborate with fellow experts in the field to standardize research methrods and develop validated protocols for studying the ocular surface microbiome.Another area of research interest for Dr. Karakus involves serological and tear biomarkers in Sjögren's disease. Through a longitudinal study, she aims to determine the utility of tissue-specific autoantibodies for early diagnosis of Sjögren's disease in patients with dry eyes. Understanding the broader impact of Sjögren's disease on the peripheral and central nervous systems is crucial, as it can manifest as severe ocular surface disease with diminished corneal sensation (neurotrophic keratitis) or intense eye pain without significant ocular surface disease (neuropathic corneal pain). Her clinical expertise and research contributions have earned Dr. Karakus recognition regionally and nationally, as evidenced by her role as a consultant in complex dry eye and ocular surface diseases. She takes pride in her dedication to advancing the understanding of ocular surface conditions and providing the best possible care for patients. By combining her specialization in corneal and external eye disease with her involvement in the POTS program and cutting-edge research on ocular surface diseases, Dr. Karakus strives to make a significant impact on patient care and contribute to the advancement of ophthalmology and related fields.