George Florakis, M.D., Chair

George J. Florakis, M.D., is a Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology at Columbia University Medical Center and Director of the Cornea Clinic of the Edward S. Harkness Eye Institute in New York. His areas of expertise are in cornea and external eye diseases, including cornea transplants; dystrophies and degenerations; ectasias (keratoconus); infectious diseases, such as herpetic (viral) and bacterial keratitis; anterior segment trauma and reconstruction. A graduate of Columbia College, Columbia University in New York, Dr. Florakis earned his medical degree from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York. He completed his residency at the Edward S. Harkness Eye Institute at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center and his research fellowship, in in cornea and external eye diseases, at the University of Iowa with Dr. Jay Krachmer.

Leela Raju, M.D., Secretary

Dr. Raju is Chief of Ophthalmology at Bellevue Hospital and Associate Professor at the Langone Medical Center/New York University, specializing in cornea, anterior segment and refractive surgery. Previously, she served as Assistant Professor and Medical Director/Vice Chair of the Charles T. Campbell Microbiology Laboratory at the University of Pittsburgh, Medical Center. Dr. Raju graduated from Brown University with a B.A. in Biology and received her medical degree from Marshall University in West Virginia. Her post-doctoral work includes studies in eye pathology at Johns Hopkins University, an internship in Internal Medicine at Mercy Medical Center, training in Ophthalmology at the University of Pittsburgh, and studies in Cornea and External Diseases at Baylor College of Medicine. She is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons.

Michelle K. Rhee, M.D., Medical Director

Dr. Michelle Rhee is currently Associate Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (ISMMS), and Associate Director of Ophthalmology at Elmhurst Hospital Center, where she serves as a Surgical and Clinical Preceptor for the ISMMS Ophthalmology Residency Program. After graduating summa cum laude from Princeton University, Dr. Rhee earned her M.D. from ISMMS, where she was part of the Humanities and Medicine Program which offered early acceptance to a selected group of undergraduates. She completed her Ophthalmology Residency at the Eye and Ear Institute of Pittsburgh and attended the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary to complete her fellowship in Cornea, External Disease and Refractive Surgery. Currently, Dr. Rhee is the scientific program chair and accreditation board co-vice chair for the Eye Bank Association of America.

Priti Batta, M.D.

Dr. Batta is the Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology, Director of Medical Student Education and Assistant Director of Comprehensive Ophthalmology Service at New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai. Earning a BA from Swarthmore College and her medical degree from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, she went on to complete her internship at the NYU Lagone Medical Center. She followed her time at NYU with a residency in ophthalmology at Tufts Medical Center, New England Eye Center and a Cornea & Refractive Surgery fellowship at the University of Illinois in Chicago, Illinois Eye & Ear Infirmary. Her professional society memberships include the American Board of Ophthalmology, the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, the Cornea Society, the New York State Ophthalmological Society and the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Jessica B. Ciralsky, M.D.

Dr. Ciralsky is an Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology at Weill Cornell Medicine. She received her undergraduate education from Brown University and then attended John Hopkins University School of Medicine for her medical degree. Later, she completed her internship at St. Joseph Hospital in Chicago and an ophthalmology residency and cornea fellowship with the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary in Boston. Currently, Dr. Ciralsky is an Assistant Attending Ophthalmologist at New York Presbyterian Hospital. She is an active member of The American Academy of Ophthalmology, the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, Millennial Eye, the New York Academy of Medicine, the Cornea Society University and the Contact Lens Association of Ophthalmologists.

Robert Cykiert, M.D.

Dr. Cykiert is a Clinical Associate Professor of Ophthalmology at the NYU School of Medicine. Additionally, he serves as an attending surgeon at the New York Eye & Ear Infirmary of Mt. Sinai Medical Center and the Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital of Northwell Health. After graduating from New York Medical College, Dr. Cykiert completed an internship in internal medicine at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York, a residency in Ophthalmology at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York and a fellowship in Cornea and External Disease at the Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia. His memberships include the American Academy of Ophthalmology as well as the Ophthalmic Laser Surgical & Imaging Society.

Beverly Forsyth, M.D.

Dr. Forsyth currently serves as Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Hospital. She is also an Assistant Professor in the Medical Education Department and serves as the Director of the Morchand Center for Clinical Competence and the Director of Medical Student Electives. Previously, Dr. Forsyth was the Medical Director of the Care Coordination Program at the Jack Martin Fund Clinic at Mount Sinai Hospital. A graduate of Cornell University with a B.A. in Biology and Society, Dr. Forsyth received her medical degree from the University of Vermont in Burlington. She interned and completed her residency at Montefiore Medical Center Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Her fellowship in infectious diseases was conducted at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai where she was awarded the Nicolas A. Rango HIV Clinical Scholarship.

Himani Goyal, M.D.

Dr. Goyal is part of the Faculty Group Practice of NYU Langone Health, in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. A graduate of The College of New Jersey, she received her medical degree from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. She completed an internship in internal medicine at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital followed by an ophthalmology residency at SUNY Downstate Medical Center. Later, she completed a cornea and refractive surgery fellowship at the Belmont Eye Center/NYU Medical Center. Dr. Goyal is currently an attending ophthalmologist at Coney Island Hospital and VA NY Harbor Healthcare System as well as a Clinical Assistant Professor in Ophthalmology at NYU Langone Health. She is an active member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the Cornea Society and the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery.

David Haight, M.D.

David Haight, M.D. is Chief Coordinating Investigator for the Excimer Laser Study Program and Chief of the Contact Lens Clinic I at Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital in New York. Prior academic appointments at this institution include Associate Attending Surgeon, Residency Coordinator and Resident Instructor in Ophthalmology. A graduate of Brown University, Dr. Haight completed his medical degree at John Hopkins University’s School of Medicine. He interned at Hartford Hospital and completed his residency training at Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital. His fellowship in refractive keratoplasty was conducted in Bogota, Columbia, with Jose Barraquer, and another fellowship to investigate cornea and anterior segment surgery was conducted at Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital with R.C. Troutman.

Alexandra Herzlich, M.D.

Dr. Herzlich is currently in private practice in Scarsdale and a Clinical Instructor of Cornea and External Diseases at the Jacobi Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine. A graduate of Georgetown University with a B.S. in Biology and Spanish, Dr. Herzlich received her medical degree from the Georgetown University School of Medicine. Her post-doctoral work includes an internship at Georgetown University Hospital and training in ophthalmology at Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Her fellowship was completed at the Flaum Eye Institute at the University of Rochester in cornea and external eye disease. Dr. Herzlich is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, and the New York State Ophthalmological Society.

Joann Kang, M.D.

Dr. Kang serves as Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology and Attending Physician for Cornea and External Diseases at Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City. Her undergraduate degree in Human Biology, with distinction and honors, is from Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, with a medical degree from Columbia University, College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY. Dr. Kang completed an internship at Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn, NY, and residency training at the University of Illinois, Chicago. She completed a fellowship at New York Eye and Ear Infirmary in New York City focusing on Cornea and External Diseases. Dr. Kang has co-authored several peer-reviewed articles and is a member of various organizations including the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

John J. Kim, M.D.

Dr. Kim is currently in private practice in Manhattan and an Assistant Clinical Professor in Ophthalmology at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Prior academic appointments at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine/Montefiore Medical Center include Director of the Ophthalmology Residency Program, Director of Refractive Surgery, and Director of Cornea. Dr. Kim received his B.S. in Computer Science from the University at Albany, his M.A. in Computer Science from Queens College, and his medical degree from the SUNY Health Science Center at Brooklyn. He completed his residency at the Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine and fellowship at the Wilmer Eye Institute at the Johns Hopkins College of Medicine. Dr. Kim is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery.

Edward C. Lai, M.D.

Dr. Lai is Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology and Director of Comprehensive Service at Weill Cornell Medical Center/New York Presbyterian. He is a graduate of Brown Univeristy, with a B.A. in Biology and received his medical degree from Tufts University School of Medicine. He completeted two residencies in ophthalmology at George Washington University Hospital and New York University/Manhattan Eye & Ear Hospital and a cornea, anterior segment and refractive surgery fellow at Weill Cornell Medical Center/New York Presbyterian.

Douglas R. Lazzaro, M.D.

Douglas R. Lazzaro, M.D., F.A.C.S., FAAO, was recently appointed permanent Chairman of the Department of Ophthalmology at the State University of New York (SUNY) Downstate Medical Center and Chairman of the Department of Ophthalmology at Long Island College Hospital in Brooklyn. Dr. Lazzaro is also Director of Ophthalmology at Kings County Hospital Center. A graduate of New York University, Dr. Lazzaro received his medical degree from SUNY, Downstate Medical Center. His residency in internal medicine was completed at Staten Island University Hospital and in ophthalmology at SUNY Downstate Medical

Sid Mandelbaum, M.D.

Dr. Mandelbaum is in private practice on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. A graduate from Columbia University, he received his medical degree from Yale University School of Medicine and later completed an ophthalmology residency at Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center. This was followed by a fellowship in cornea diseases and surgery at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami, where he remained on-staff for four years before returning to NYC in 1986. Dr. Mandelbaum is on the staff of New York Eye and Ear Infirmary, Manhattan Eye, Ear & Throat Hospital and LIJ Medical Center; he also is an Associate Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Ophthalmology, a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and an active member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Richard Najac, M.D., F.A.C.S.

Dr. Najac is currently in private practice in Queens and an Associate Attending at New York Eye and Ear Infirmary. He is an Assistant Attending at St. Vincent Catholic Medical Center, where he is also the Director of the Cornea Service for the Brooklyn and Queens Division. He graduated from Amherst College and received his medical degree from Cornell University Medical College. Dr. Najac completed both his Ophthalmology Residency and Fellowship in Cornea, External Disease and Refractive Surgery at New York Eye and Ear Infirmary. He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.

David Ritterband, M.D.

David C. Ritterband MD, FACS, is Professor of Ophthalmology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and is currently System Director of Refractive Surgery at the Mount Sinai Health System. He is also Director of the Laser Vision Correction Center and Surgeon Director at the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai. Dr. Ritterband received his undergraduate degree from Duke University and his doctorate from New York Medical College where he completed his residency training in ophthalmology. He completed his Corneal and External disease fellowship at The Eye and Ear Institute of the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Medicine. A nationally recognized physician-scientist and surgeon, Dr. Ritterband dedicates his time to clinical ophthalmic care, surgery, research and teaching. His clinical interests include ocular infections, corneal transplantation, cataract surgery and laser refractive surgery. He has published more than 65 peer-reviewed manuscripts; several book chapters, and more than 150 research abstracts.

Kimberly Sippel, M.D.

Kimberly Sippel, M.D. is Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology at Weill Cornell Medical Center and New York Presbyterian Hospital. Prior to joining Weill Cornell, Dr. Sippel worked with Cornea Consultants/Laser Eye Consultants of Boston and taught at Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary. Dr. Sippel’s clinical interests include laser vision correction surgery, corneal transplantation and conjunctival tumors with research interest in keratoprosthesis or artificial corneal transplantation surgery. A graduate in Biochemical Sciences from Harvard College in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Dr. Sippel received her medical degree from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City. She completed her ophthalmology residency training at Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School and her research fellowship at Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Department of Cornea and External Disease.

Laurence T.D. Sperber, M.D.

Dr. Sperber is the Director of the Cornea Service, Associate Chair for Education and a Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology at New York University School of Medicine. A graduate of Harvard University with a B.A. (Honors) in Biology, Dr. Sperber earned his medical degree from Boston University School of Medicine. He completed his internship in internal medicine at the Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston and his ophthalmology residency at the Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital in New York and was then selected for a fellowship in cornea and external disease at the Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia. Dr. Sperber specializes in Cataract, Cornea and Refractive Surgery and has a private practice in New York City and is a part of the Faculty Group Practice at the NYU Langone Eye Center.

Danielle Trief, M.D.

Dr. Trief is an Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. She specializes in adult and pediatric cornea. She completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Pennsylvania and was awarded a fellowship to study neuroscience at Oxford University where she graduated with honors. Dr. Trief completed medical school at Columbia University, College of Physicians and Surgeons and her ophthalmology residency at Harvard Medical School/Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary. Subsequently, she pursued a cornea and refractive surgery fellowship at the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary. She is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the Cornea Society, the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology and the American Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgery.

Angie E. Wen, M.D.

Dr. Wen is Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology at New York Eye & Ear Infirmary at Mount Sinai Health System in New York, NY, and serves at the Department of Veteran’s Affairs in Brooklyn, NY. She completed a combined undergraduate and medical honors program at Northwestern University in Evanston, IL, with residency training at both the Summa Health System in Akron, OH, and the Kresge Eye Institute at Wayne State University in Detroit. Dr. Wen’s fellowship was in Cornea, Anterior Segment and Refractive Surgery at the Edward S. Harkness Eye Institute at Columbia University where she served as Clinical Instructor. Currently she is the Medical Director of Columbus Circle Satellite Practice. She is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery among others.

Jules Winokur, M.D.

Dr. Winokur is an Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology at the Hofstra University, North Shore – Long Island Jewish (NS-LIJ) School of Medicine in New York. He is the Program Director for the Ophthalmology Residency at the NS-LIJ Health System and is on staff at both NS-LIJ Eye Center in Great Neck, NY and Manhattan Eye, Ear & Throat Hospital. Dr. Winokur graduated from the Sackler School of Medicine and completed his internship at Montefiore Medical Center in New York. He was a resident in ophthalmology at the NS-LIJ Health System before completing a fellowship in cornea, refractive and external disease at the Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary at the University of Illinois in Chicago. Dr. Winokur’s professional memberships include the American Academy of Ophthalmology, New York State Ophthalmologic Society, the American Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgery and the American College of Surgeons.

Gerald W. Zaidman, M.D.

Dr. Zaidman is Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology, Director of the Cornea Service, and Vice-Chairman and Director of the Department of Ophthalmology at the New York Medical College/Westchester Medical Center. A graduate of Queens College, Dr. Zaidman earned his medical degree from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. He completed his ophthalmology residency training at Beth Abraham Hospital and Lenox Hill Hospital and his research fellowship in corneal and external disease at the Eye and Ear Hospital in Pittsburgh. Dr. Zaidman has received both an honor award and a senior honor award from the American Academy of Ophthalmology. In addition, he is a member of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, and the New York State Ophthalmology Society.