Arlene Rosenberg-Henick, MD

Tongalp H. Tezel, MD is the Chang Family Endowed Professor of Ophthalmology and the Director of the Vitreoretinal Service and Fellowship Program at the Department of Ophthalmology. Dr. Tezel is an internationally known clinician-scientist and a leader in the management of vitreoretinal diseases. Dr. Tezel received his medical degree and initial ophthalmology training in Ankara, Turkey at Hacettepe University, School of Medicine, and completed his ophthalmology residency at Washington University School of Medicine. He later trained under Dr. Stanley Chang and received his fellowship in vitreoretinal surgery here at Columbia University. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, American Society of Retina Specialists, the Macula Society, The Retina Society, and the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology. He has received numerous honors, including the Fellow of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (FARVO), American Academy of Ophthalmology's Achievement Award, Alpha Omega Alpha Faculty Membership; Honor Award of the American Society of Retina Specialist, and several Awards for Excellence in Teaching. He is listed on the Best Doctors of America and Castle Connolly's Top Doctor Directory. Dr. Tezel's research laboratory focuses on investigating the molecular mechanisms of various retinal diseases. His main research interests include gene therapy for age-related macular degeneration, inherited retinal diseases, retinal stem cell transplantation, angiogenesis, pharmacologic vitreolysis, and tissue engineering. He has developed several techniques used for tissue engineering and retinal cell replacement therapies, awarded numerous patents for his contributions. Recently, he has embarked on gene treatment and tissue engineering trials for macular degeneration. Dr. Tezel is an ad-hoc reviewer for several journals in his field and has been contributing to the development of the vitreoretinal field with several publications, presentations, and invited lectures.

Dr. Naikhoba Munabi graduated from Stanford University with a BA in Human Biology. She then obtained her MD at Columbia University's Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons where she was elected into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society. After medical school, Dr. Munabi completed her integrated plastic and reconstructive surgery residency training at the University of Southern California (USC). She went on to complete a fellowship in craniomaxillofacial and pediatric plastic surgery at Children's Hospital Los Angeles, one of the largest craniofacial surgery programs in the country. In addition to learning advanced surgical techniques across 9 different clinical sites in Los Angeles, Dr. Munabi spent an additional two years during residency earning a MPH from USC and working as a Global Surgery Fellow with Operation Smile. During that two-year period, she initiated programs to improve surgical education and conducted research on surgical capacity building and health systems strengthening in sub-Saharan Africa. She helped develop a landmark Women in Medicine surgical program for the non-profit, which was featured in an editorial by Forbes. Dr. Munabi is the author of over 40 peer-reviewed publications and has presented her research at numerous national and international plastic surgery conferences. She was awarded the Peter J. Gingrass Memorial Award for the best research presentation by a trainee at the Plastic Surgery Research Council and the Warren L. Garner, MD Resident Research Award for excellence in research and scholarly activity from USC. Dr. Munabi is well trained in the full breadth of plastic and reconstructive surgery, with a particular interest in cleft lip, cleft palate, craniosynostosis, hypertelorism, frontal facial advancement, orthognathic surgery, rhinoplasty, and MEDPOR ear reconstruction for microtia. She also specializes in adult aesthetic and reconstructive surgery of the head and neck. Her current research interests include cleft and craniofacial surgical outcomes, improving disparities in access to craniofacial surgery, and global surgical education and capacity building.

Srilaxmi Bearelly, MD, MHS is a retina specialist with expertise in the evaluation and treatment of age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, retinal vascular occlusions, choroidal neovascularization and macular disorders. Her experience in the treatment of retinal diseases started with a seven-year tenure on the Vitreoretinal Service at Duke University Eye Center in North Carolina (2003 to 2010). Since then, she joined Columbia’s faculty in 2010. She has treated thousands of patients, and helped patients and their families through their treatments. She has also volunteered her medical expertise in underserviced areas, such as El Salvador and rural United States. Dr. Bearelly received her undergraduate degree from Northwestern University, received her M.D. from Northwestern University Medical School, and a Masters of Health Sciences from Duke University School of Medicine. Following her ophthalmology training at Northwestern University, she completed her fellowship training in diseases of the retina and vitreous at Duke University Eye Center. She has written 70 articles, chapters and abstracts, and frequently presents at scientific and professional conferences both nationally and abroad. Currently, Dr. Bearelly is a collaborator on a Columbia University clinical study of retinal changes in preeclamspia (a disease of pregnancy). She is recognized as a Castle Connolly Top Doctor in Ophthalmology, and with Castle Connolly’s Exceptional Women in Medicine award. She received several research awards, including an NIH/NEI K12 and K23 Mentored Research Career Award, and a Young Investigator Award by Retinal Degenerations Symposium at the International Congress of Eye Research Meeting in China. Dr. Bearelly has been certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology and is a fellow of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. She is an active member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO), and the American Society of Retina Specialists (ASRS).