Rebecca Rojas, OD

Royce Chen, MD, is the Jean Sheng Associate Professor of Ophthalmology, Vice Chair of Education, and Residency Program Director for the Department of Ophthalmology at Columbia University Irving Medical Center. He is also an Attending Ophthalmologist at Harlem Hospital Center. Dr. Chen is a board-certified ophthalmologist who specializes in the surgical and medical management of vitreoretinal disease and uveitis. Dr. Chen graduated from Yale University with a B.A. in Music where he sang at Mory's every week with the Yale Whiffenpoofs. He received his M.D. from Tufts University School of Medicine before performing his ophthalmology residency at Columbia University, where he served as Chief Resident. This was followed by a 2-year vitreoretinal surgical fellowship at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute at the University of Miami, where he served as a Clinical Instructor in Ophthalmology.He has received numerous honors, including the John Martin Wheeler Resident Teaching Award at Columbia, the Heed Foundation Fellowship, American Academy of Ophthalmology Achievement Award, selection into the New-York Presbyterian Leadership-Academy (LEAD), and recognition as a NYC Super Doctor. Dr. Chen has a wide range of research interests, ranging from retinal imaging, to artificial intelligence, to innovation in clinical and surgical education. In addition to his roles at Columbia, Dr. Chen also serves on the Board of Trustees and as Vice President of Trainee Mentorship for the Vit Buckle Society and as Planning Group Member for the National Eye Institute Health Education Program.

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.