Innovations 2023: Leading the Field

Bold and collaborative ideas are needed to face our most pressing vision health challenges. From improving residency education, to advancing biomedical imaging techniques, to celebrating the 20th anniversary of a visionary preschool vision screening program, it’s the people who are moving eye care innovations forward. 

Improved learning environment for residents

Ophthalmology resident Dr. John Placide practices in a wetlab at OHSU.

Casey Eye Institute’s ophthalmology residency program underwent some exciting changes this year, including the appointment of Daniel Tu, M.D., Ph.D., as the Residency Program Director. The residents are enjoying five new microscopes in a brand new wet lab space connected to the surgical simulation lab equipped with new EyeSi simulation devices. Together, these spaces enable our residents to progress through an individualized microsurgical curriculum.

Advancing optical coherence tomography technology

Researchers work in a lab developing ophthalmic imaging technology and devices.

Siyu Chen, Ph.D., joined the Center for Ophthalmic Optics and Lasers (COOL Lab) in 2022 as an Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology & Biomedical Engineering at OHSU. His research in ultrahigh resolution optical coherence tomography (OCT), ultrahigh-speed wide-field OCT, and functional retinal imaging reinforces the COOL Lab’s effort to advance biomedical imaging techniques.

Celebrating the 20th anniversary of Elks Preschool Vision Screening Program

A simple device can take a picture of a child's eyes to find vision problems.

The Elks Preschool Vision Screening Program celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2023. Working with Head Starts statewide, the program provides free vision screenings to about 8,000 preschool children in Oregon each year to catch vision problems early. Thanks to Joannah Vaughan and the Oregon State Elks Association for building this program over the last 20 years.