President – Kimberly Winges, MD

Kimberly Winges, MD

Kimberly Mei Winges, MD, is Associate Professor of Ophthalmology and Neurology at the Casey Eye Institute/Oregon Health & Science University in Portland, Oregon. She is also the first female Assistant Chief of Surgery at the adjacent Veterans Administration Hospital, where she practices comprehensive and neuro-ophthalmology. She mentors physicians in all stages of training.

Born in San Francisco, she earned her undergraduate degree at Stanford University, studying astrobiology. Before graduating AOA from medical school at New York Medical College, she spent a year conducting multiple sclerosis (MS) translational research with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and now serves with the MS Center of Excellence West for the VA. She completed ophthalmology residency at University of California Davis and neuro-ophthalmology fellowship at the University of Iowa. Her research interests range from ocular imaging in MS and neuro-ophthalmic disease, to giant cell arteritis, to telemedicine.

Dr. Winges is dedicated to the promotion of diversity, equity, inclusion, and inspiration among future leaders in ophthalmology. She was Chair of the Women in Neuro-Ophthalmology (WIN) Committee for the North American Neuro-Ophthalmology Society (NANOS) for 4 years and continues to be an active fellow on committees for NANOS and the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO). She also volunteers with the Association of VA Ophthalmologists (AVAO) and the American Board of Ophthalmology (ABO). In 2018, she received the inaugural NANOS-sponsored Pilot Leadership Development Grant, allowing her to attend and speak at her first WIO meeting. She helped make this grant a self-perpetuating award for the promotion of equity and leadership within NANOS. She then co-founded the Oregon Chapter of WIO, where she serves as Vice President. Among recent honors, she was featured on the 2020 “VA Women Employees Making a Difference” Poster for the Federal Employee Women’s Special Emphasis Program, she has been named twice to Portland Monthly Magazine’s Top Doctors, and she was honored in 2020 with the NANOS Merit Award for exemplary service.

Past President – Purnima Patel, MD

Purnima Patel, MD

I am honored to serve as Immediate Past President of WIO and continue to contribute to the Board in this role. My work with WIO has been a cornerstone of my professional journey, reflecting my deep commitment to advancing the careers of women in our field and supporting the next generation of ophthalmologists.

Throughout my career, I’ve been privileged to serve my colleagues and our patients through numerous leadership roles across the WIO, AAO, and the Georgia Society of Ophthalmology.

Originally from Nashville, Tennessee, I earned my undergraduate degree in biomedical engineering and my medical degree from Vanderbilt University. I completed residency at Emory University and a fellowship at the University of Southern California’s Doheny Eye Institute before joining the Emory Eye Center and the Atlanta VA Medical Center in 2010. Over the past decade, I’ve trained and mentored more than 100 residents, fellows, and medical students—along with many others nationally and internationally through my work with WIO and the AAO.

My passion for education and mentorship has shaped my service through the AAO’s Young Ophthalmologist (YO) Committee, the Ophthalmic News and Education (ONE®) Network, and numerous educational programming initiatives. These experiences have deepened my belief in the power of listening, empathy, and collaborative leadership.

In 2021, I transitioned from academic medicine to open my own private practice. This leap, taken during a time of global uncertainty, was made possible through the support and guidance of many colleagues in WIO. Their encouragement has reinforced my commitment to giving back.

As Immediate Past President of WIO and a continuing Board member, I remain dedicated to supporting our strategic goals of leadership development, mentorship, and career development. I look forward to continuing to elevate and empower women across all stages of their ophthalmology careers.

President Elect –  Lejla Vajzovic, MD

Lejla Vajzovic, MD

Lejla Vajzovic, MD is an Associate Professor of Ophthalmology and the Vitreoretinal Surgical Retina Fellowship Director at the Duke Eye Center, Durham, NC. She has established an international reputation as a leader in vitreoretinal surgery, research, and teaching. She is an ophthalmologist and vitreoretinal surgeon with expertise in adult and pediatric retinal diseases and surgery. She is interested in cutting edge technologies and recovery of vision in hereditary retinal diseases with retinal implants and stem cell technology. She is a co-director of the Duke Pediatric Retina and Optic Nerve Center, and she directs the Duke Center for Artificial and Regenerative Vision, where she implants the Argus II “bionic eye” to restore vision to individuals with total blindness. An influential educator, she organizes and directs several highly successful national and international courses, including the first-of-its-kind Advances in Pediatric Retina Course at Duke and the international Duke Fellows Advances in Vitreous Surgery Course. She is director of Duke Eye Center’s Continuing Medical Education program. She has received numerous prestigious honors and awards for excellence in clinical care, research, leadership and education the field of ophthalmology: the Duke Medical Alumni Association’s Emerging Leader Award, the Women in Ophthalmology Emerging Leader Award, the Retina Society Fellowship Research Award, the Heed Ophthalmic Fellowship Award and the Society of Heed Fellows Award, the Knights Templar Eye Foundation Career Starter Research Award, the PDC’s Enhanced Academics in a Basic Laboratory Environment (ENABLE) Career Development Program Award, the American Academy of Ophthalmology Achievement Award, the American Society of Retinal Specialists Senior Honor Award and the Film Festival: Rhett Buckler Award.

Vice President – Andrea Lora Kossler, MD, FACS

Andrea Lora Kossler, MD, FACS, is Associate Professor of Ophthalmology at Stanford University School of Medicine and Director of the Oculofacial Plastic, Reconstructive Surgery and Orbital Oncology Service at the Byers Eye Institute at Stanford. Andrea specializes in aesthetic oculofacial surgery, thyroid eye disease and orbital oncology. Dr. Kossler is Co-Director of the Stanford Multidisciplinary Thyroid Eye Disease Center and Director of the Stanford Aesthetic Eye Surgery Center. Dr. Kossler’s research interests include the proteomic evaluation of ocular surface and orbital inflammation, modulation of neural reflexes via neurotization and neurostimulation, evaluating targeted therapies for cutaneous and orbital malignancy, and advancing therapies for thyroid eye disease.

Dr. Kossler has authored over 100 publications, abstracts and book chapters and is a national and international speaker on oculofacial plastic and orbital surgery. She graduated summa cum laude and valedictorian from the Georgetown School of Medicine and completed her ophthalmology residency and oculofacial plastic and orbital surgery fellowship at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute. Dr. Kossler was awarded the ASOPRS Marvin Quickert Thesis Award in 2013 and the ASOPRS Annual Research Award in 2015 for her work on neurostimulation for enhanced tear production. Andrea received the Women in Ophthalmology (WIO) 2017 Mentorship Award, the 2020 ASOPRS Outstanding Contribution Award and the 2022 WIO Emerging Leader Award. Dr. Kossler has received numerous Castle Connolly Top Doctors Awards.  She is the director for the WIO Mentorship Program, she is the Program Chair for the North American Society of Academic Orbital Surgeons (NASAOS), and on the Executive Board for the LATINOUS Society. Dr. Kossler enjoys training the next generation of oculoplastic specialists and spending time with her husband, 2 daughters, and dog Roxy

Secretary – Usiwoma Abugo, MD

Usiwoma Abugo, M.D. is an ophthalmic, plastic and facial cosmetic surgeon. Dr. Abugo received her medical degree from Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine in Maywood, Ill. She then completed her residency in ophthalmology at Howard University Hospital Center in Washington, D.C. and a transitional year residency at Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown, N.Y. After her residencies, Dr. Abugo completed a sub-specialty fellowship in neuro-ophthalmology and facial plastic and orbital surgery at Central Valley Eye Medical Group in Stockton California. She currently is on faculty at Eastern Virginia Medical School and practices at Virginia Eye Consultants.

Throughout her career, Dr. Abugo has been an avid researcher starting her career in high school doing research with the National Institutes of Health. Since then, she has published many scientific works and presented at national and international conferences. Her research and academic excellence lead her to being nominated and accepted into the Alpha Omega Alpha honor society as a senior ophthalmology resident.

Mentoring and diversity in Ophthalmology are her main passions. Through her journey to this point in her career she has never been able to forget the influence of her mentors. Because of this, Dr. Abugo has created an active social media mentoring platform under where she mentors many healthcare professionals @MentorMeMD. Dr. Abugo has mentored many high school/medical school/residents who have dreams for excellence in medicine. Her social media efforts led her to be nominated and selected to join the Communications Secretariat/Public Advisory Committee for the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Her ideas for innovation in science and research have led her to be a past Women in Ophthalmology Ambassador for the Ophthalmology Innovation Summit. Her devotion to mentorship lead her to be nominated and selected for the American Academy of Ophthalmology/Association of University Professors of Ophthalmology Minority Mentorship Program and the invited keynote speaker for the MiMentor Program.

Dr. Abugo also advocates for diversity. In the past year, Dr. Abugo led symposiums on diversity featuring leaders in the Ophthalmology community at the annual NMA, WIO, and AAO meetings. Dr. Abugo currently serves on various program committees for WIO, NMA, and AAO. In addition to this has served as the co-chair for WIO 2021 and chair for the WIO 2022 Summer Symposium with record breaking attendance.

Her efforts in promoting community and perspective during the COVID pandemic on the Communications Secretariat led her to being awarded the Secretariat Award by the American Academy of Ophthalmology in 2022.  In the past year she has been an invited chair, moderator, or speaker at AAO, ASCRS, NMA, and WIO. Finally, her passion for teaching and commitment to excellence has led her to be nominated and selected to be an Oral Board examiner for 2022 by the American Board of Ophthalmology. She also serves on various advisory boards for industry.

During her free time, she enjoys watching futbol and football. She can always be found rooting for the University of Notre Dame (Go Irish!), the Baltimore Ravens, Portuguese futbol, reading and writing poetry, creative writing and enjoying music.

Treasurer – Sophie Bakri, MD

Sophie J. Bakri, MD, MBA is Chair of the Department of Ophthalmology at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN and holds the Whitney and Betty MacMillan Professorship in Ophthalmology in Honor of Robert R. Waller, M.D.

Dr. Bakri completed a vitreoretinal surgery fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation and ophthalmology residency at Albany Medical College, New York. She graduated from the University of Nottingham Medical School, England.  She holds an MBA from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. She has authored over 200 peer-reviewed papers and 30 book chapters. She is a principal investigator on numerous multicenter clinical trials on novel drugs for retinal disease. She serves on the Editorial Board of the American Journal of Ophthalmology, Retina, Seminars in Ophthalmology and OSLI Retina. She has served on committees at the Macula Society, Retina Society and AAO, and as a Board Member of the American Society of Retinal Specialists and on the Board of Trustees of the AUPO.

She has received numerous awards, including the Ophthalmologist Top 40 under 40 award, a Senior Achievement Award from the American Academy of Ophthalmology, a Senior Honor Award from the American Society of Retina Specialists and inducted into the Retina Hall of Fame. She has also been honored with receiving the Young Investigator Award from the American Society of Retina Specialists.

Membership Director – Fasika A. Woreta, MD, MPH

Dr. Fasika Woreta is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Ophthalmology and the Eugene de Juan Professor of Ophthalmic Education at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. She received her M.D. degree from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and M.P.H. degree from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. She completed her internship in internal medicine at the Johns Hopkins Hospital, followed by an ophthalmology residency at the Wilmer Eye Institute and a corneal fellowship at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute.

Dr. Woreta currently serves as Vice Chair of Education and Director of the Eye Trauma Center at the Wilmer Eye Institute and was previously the residency program director. In addition to Women in Ophthalmology, her national leadership roles include being President of the Maryland Society of Physicians and Eye Surgeons and past president of the American Society of Ophthalmic Trauma, the National Medical Association Ophthalmology section, and the Program Directors Council of the Association of University Professors of Ophthalmology. Dr. Woreta has been the recipient of several awards including the Johns Hopkins Physician of the Year Award, the Johns Hopkins Institute for Excellence in Education Teaching Award, the Women in Ophthalmology Educators Award, the Straatsma Award for Excellence in Resident Education, and the Asia Pacific Ophthalmic Trauma Society’s Global Excellence Award. She has a passion for mentorship and has mentored over 100 high school, undergraduate, medical and graduate students and post-doctoral fellows over the past decade.

AAO Councilor – Laura Enyedi, MD

Dr. Enyedi is a Professor of Ophthalmology and Pediatrics at Duke University, where she completed her undergraduate education, residency, and fellowship training in pediatric ophthalmology and strabismus. A North Carolina native, she graduated from the University of NC School of Medicine in Chapel Hill with Distinction and with AOA Honors. Dr. Enyedi is a clinician educator, has been honored as a “Best Doctor,” and trained over 150 residents and over 50 clinical fellows. She has published more than 100 peer-reviewed articles on pediatric eye disease, including as a member of the Pediatric Eye Disease Investigator Group. She serves numerous roles in the AAO in addition to WIO Councilor including the Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus editor for the AAO’s ONE Network, the editorial board of the AAO’s EYENET, and clinical spokesperson for the AAO. She has been awarded multiple achievement awards from AAPOS, WIO, and the AAO, including two AAO Secretariat Awards. She has previously served on the WIO board of directors, has chaired the WIO membership committee, served as the 2019 Summer Symposium chair, and was awarded the WIO Mentorship award in 2019. Dr. Enyedi has 3 adult children and enjoys spending time on the NC coast with her husband, gardening, home improvement projects, and crafting.

Development Director – Judy Kim, MD

Dr. Judy E. Kim is an internationally well-known vitreoretinal specialist and a leader inophthalmology. She is currently a professor of ophthalmology with tenure, Jean and Tom Walter Distinguished Chair in Ophthalmology in honor of James P. McCulley, MD, Vice Chair of Education, and Medical Director of Clinical Research at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas. She is a graduate of the University of Chicago and Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. She completed her ophthalmology residency at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute of the University of Miami, vitreoretinal surgical and medical fellowship at Medical College of Wisconsin and Howard Hughes-NIH Research Scholar program at National Institutes of Health.

Dr. Kim has been a trailblazer in ophthalmology. She is the first Korean-American to be elected to the Board of Trustee of American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) and to become a member of American Ophthalmological Society. She is only the second woman to be the president of both American Society of Retina Specialists (ASRS) and

Macula Society. She is currently on the board of Foundation of ASRS, Academia Retina Internationales, National Alliance for Eye and Vision Research, Retina World Congress, Society for Artificial Intelligence in Vision and Ophthalmology (SAIVO), Women in Ophthalmology and Women in Retina.

She has received prestigious awards and honors for her clinical excellence, leadership, and service to organizations, including Achievement Award, Senior Achievement Award, Lifetime Achievement Award, and two Secretariat Awards from AAO, Honor Award and Senior Honor Award from ASRS, and Suzanne Veronneau-Troutman Award and Prize from Women in Ophthalmology.   She has been selected to the “2021 Most Influential Women Ophthalmologists” and “2022 Power List” of 100 most influential ophthalmologists around the world by the Ophthalmologist and included in the “Best Doctor” list annually for over two decades.

Dr. Kim has been active in research related to age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, surgical retina, imaging, artificial intelligence, social determinants of health, and clinical trials. She has published over 200 papers and has given over 400 presentations, including numerous keynote lectures. She served as a Vice-chair and national study chair of Diabetic Retinopathy Clinical Research Retina Network and has participated in over 70 clinical trials.

Dr. Kim believes ophthalmology is her calling and she hopes to improve people’s livesand society through compassionate and excellent care, education, innovation, mentoring, and service.

Director at Large – Analisa Arosemena, MD

Dr. Arosemena is a fellowship-trained glaucoma and anterior segment surgeon known for her skill, compassion, and dedication to patient-centered care. After completing residency at Tulane University in New Orleans, she pursued advanced training with Dr. Ramesh Ayyala and later spent a year in Panama providing surgical care to underserved patients—a formative experience that continues to guide her approach to medicine.

Since moving to Florida in 2006, she has performed more than 30,000 eye surgeries and is a trusted specialist for complex glaucoma and cataract cases. As one of the early adopters of Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery (MIGS), she has shared her expertise through research, publications, and presentations around the world.

Dr. Arosemena is honored to serve on the Board of Women in Ophthalmology, where she helps advance mentorship, leadership development, and opportunities for women in the field. Her philosophy centers on combining surgical excellence with empathy and a deep understanding of each patient’s unique needs.

When she isn’t caring for patients, Dr. Arosemena enjoys scuba diving and exploring the outdoors.

Director at Large – Nina Goyal, MD, FACS

Dr. Nina A. Goyal is a board-certified ophthalmologist specializing in complex cataract surgeries and the medical and surgical management of glaucoma, with expertise in Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery (MIGS) techniques. She is an Associate Professor in the department of Ophthalmology at Rush University, dedicated to resident teaching and surgical education. A Chicago native, Dr. Goyal has been a member of the Rush Ophthalmology team since 2003 and is a senior partner at University Ophthalmology Associates.

A leader in her field, Dr. Goyal is the Immediate Past President of the Illinois Society of Eye Physicians and Surgeons. She is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and a member of organizations including the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Glaucoma Society. She has received an AAO Achievement Award for her work as an instructor & course director at the national meeting and has participated in multiple surgery mission trips to Honduras. Dr. Goyal completed her Glaucoma fellowship with University Eye Specialists and her ophthalmology residency at Rush University, where she served as chief resident. She earned her medical degree from Georgetown University Medical Center and her Bachelor of Science in Biology from Benedictine University, where she was a presidential scholar and collegiate tennis player.

Director at Large – Pauline Merrill, MD

Pauline T. Merrill, M.D. specializes in diseases of the retina, with particular expertise in the treatment of
uveitis. Dr. Merrill is currently in practice at Retina Consultants of the Carolinas in Greenville, South Carolina.

A native of Memphis, Tennessee, Dr. Merrill graduated from Princeton University with an A.B. degree in biology. She earned her medical degree from the Washington School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri, where she also completed a master’s degree in biomedical sciences. Dr. Merrill completed an internship in internal medicine at Good Samaritan Hospital in Portland, Oregon, and an ophthalmology residency at Duke University Eye Center in Durham, North Carolina. She went on to complete a fellowship in vitreoretinal surgery at the Cullen Eye Institute at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. Dr. Merrill moved to Chicago to join Illinois Retina Associates and the faculty at Rush University Medical Center, where she was an Associate Professor and the Section Director for Uveitis and Inflammatory Diseases. She has been principal investigator in numerous multicenter clinical trials; she has presented the results at national and international meetings and has published in leading ophthalmic journals. She is active in several professional organizations, including the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the American Society of Retina Specialists, the Retina Society, and the American Uveitis Society. She has been a member of the AAO Ethics Committee; she currently serves as a board member of the Ophthalmic Mutual Insurance Company, and as a founding board member of Women in Retina. Dr. Merrill has received numerous honors including the AAO Achievement Award and the American Society of Retina Specialists Senior Honor Award.

After enjoying life in Chicago for over 2 decades, Dr. Merrill and her husband decided to pursue their dream of living in the Carolinas. When not working, they enjoy hiking, bicycling, golf, pickleball, boating, and travelling.

Director at Large – Anna Momont, MD

Dr. Anna Momont is an Associate Professor in the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health in Madison, and a UW Health ophthalmologist. In addition she practices at the William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital.  Her clinical practice focuses on the care of patients with cataracts and glaucoma.  She offers both medical and surgical treatment options, including minimally invasive procedures and traditional filtering surgery.  Dedicated to preserving vision and improving quality of life, she takes a patient-centered approach—listening closely to individual goals and partnering with each person to create an optimal treatment plan.

Dr. Momont serves as the Ophthalmology Residency Program Director and is deeply passionate about education and mentorship.  She finds great joy in supporting the growth and development of her trainees and coaches residents through their first cataract surgeries.  Along with her team she has developed a strong wetlab curriculum and training approach that keeps her blood pressure under control and puts patient safety first.

In addition to her clinical and educational leadership, Dr. Momont conducts research focused on emerging glaucoma therapies. A highlight of her professional career was serving as the 2024 WIO Summer Symposium Chair.

Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her family outdoors, traveling and watching her oldest son play soccer.

CEO – Lisa Nijm, MD, JD

Dr. Lisa Nijm works as a board-certified ophthalmologist and corneal specialist at Warrenville EyeCare & LASIK in Warrenville, IL and teaches part time at the renowned University of Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary in Chicago, IL. After graduating from Benedictine University, Dr. Nijm went on to pursue a post-graduate education that uniquely combined her interests in patient care and health care policy advocacy. She pursued a 6 year dual M.D., J.D. degree at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine and School of Law, a program was designed to train physicians who believe a legal education will augment their primary career goals in medicine. In medical school, Dr. Nijm decided to become an ophthalmologist, to be able to help patients however she could to improve their vision. She often quoted her father, Dr. William Nijm, a long-time internist in Warrenville, that she “will leave no stone unturned in the pursuit of curing disease and alleviating pain.”

After completing residency at the University of Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary and a top ranked corneal fellowship at the University of California at Davis, Dr. Nijm worked in underserved regions of central Illinois. She started a subspeciality clinic to serve corneal patients in Lincoln, IL and became the first surgeon in Central Illinois to perform Intralase (all laser) LASIK surgery, bringing state-of-the art care to patients in this underserved area. Dr. Nijm then decided to open her own practice in the Warrenville, to provide compassionate, expert eye care to patients in her hometown. At a time when patients are constantly being rushed through the health care system, Dr. Nijm was determined to devote the time and resources necessary to address each patient’s concerns.

Given the changing environment of health care, Dr. Nijm also pursued opportunities to help her patients out of the office, by devoting a substantial amount of time to advocate for her patients through organized medicine on a state and national level. With her unique background as an attorney as well, Dr. Nijm wished to utilize her knowledge and experience to help legislators shape health care policies that would be beneficial to patients and preserve the physician-patient relationship. In recognition of her work, she was nominated to serve as a member on the OPHTHPAC committee for the American Academy of Ophthalmology and has served as a representative from the Academy to the American Medical Association for the past several years. Locally, Dr. Nijm is the president of the Women Ophthalmologists of the Windy City, to further advance the delivery of quality eye care through professional education and networking for female ophthalmologists in the Chicago area.

Dr. Nijm has been an invited lecturer and instructor at several national ophthalmology meetings on many topics since 2006. She is a recognized expert on panels for treatment of dry eyes, risk management and instruction in performing LASIK surgery. She is also a published author in both medicine and law, having received awards for her writing in the past, several articles in peer reviewed medical and legal journals as well as several book chapters in cornea. She has received numerous honors and awards, including the American Academy of Ophthalmology Achievement Award and Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital 50th Anniversary Heroes in Medicine.

Having a deep appreciation for the dedicated professors that helped to educate her, Dr. Nijm also holds a strong commitment to teaching. She currently serves as a Clinical Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology on the faculty of the renowned Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary, Chicago, IL. Her primary duties include teaching ophthalmology residents and staffing the comprehensive eye clinic.

Further, Dr. Nijm is one of the directors of the Osler Ophthalmology Board Review course, a national board review course that helps ophthalmologists prepare for written and oral board examinations. She is the most frequent instructor requested for the course and serves as a lecturer, examiner and private tutor for students in all subjects of ophthalmology in preparation to take their boards.

In her free time, Dr. Nijm enjoys volunteering in her local community, keeping physically fit and travelling. She has volunteered at many local Catholic Church events, charitable fundraisers as well as working for the American Cancer Society at their annual Skyline Soiree.

WIO Executive Office

PO Box 1068
Warrenville, IL 60555
info@wioonline.org