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John W. Simon, M.D. John W. Simon, MD received his MD in 1976 at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, and remained at the same institution for internship in medicine and for residency under Steven Podos. He completed subspecialty training in pediatric ophthalmology and strabismus at the Wills Eye Hospital under Joe Calhoun and Robison Harley as a National Children’s Eye Care Foundation fellow. In 1981, John joined the full-time faculty of the Albany Medical College, where he was elevated through the ranks to become professor and chairman in 1992. He holds a secondary appointment as professor of pediatrics. John has had two National Eye Institute grants. His 160 publications cover a wide range of subjects in pediatric ophthalmology and strabismus, from infant vision and nystagmus to aphakic glaucoma and complications of eye muscle surgery. John was president of the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (AAPOS) in 1997-1998 and has held a variety of other positions for that association. He served on the editorial boards of the Journal of Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus its successor, the Journal of AAPOS. He was chair of the AAO’s Basic and Clinical Science Course, editing two major revisions of the Section VI manual on pediatric ophthalmology and strabismus. John and his wife Susan, a hospitalist, have two adult children. They spend as much time as possible at their camp in the Adirondacks. Johns passion is cooking, but he also enjoys international travel, scuba diving, and American history. |
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Sai B. Gandham, M.D. Sai B. Gandham, MD, is a graduate of Temple University ophthalmology residency. He went on to complete a fellowship in glaucoma at the Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia. He is the current residency program director in ophthalmology and has given an instruction course on patient education in glaucoma at the AAO annual meeting. He has gone on several medical missions including to Mexico, Myanmar and India. |
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Michael W. Belin, M.D. Michael W. Belin, MD serves as immediate past-president of the Cornea Society and has been appointed chair of the strategic planning and executive committees. His service to the Eye Bank Association of America continues as member of the board of directors, the executive committee, chairman of the Policy & Procedure committee, and member of the medical advisory board. Michael is also vice-chair of the American University Professors of Ophthalmology's Fellowship Compliance Committee and Chairman of the Fellowship Review Committee. At the Academy, he serves on the BCSC committee's refractive surgery section and has been the AAO's representative in Australia and New Zealand and is a fellow of the Royal Australia & New Zealand College of Ophthalmology. He sits on committees for the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, the FDA, and the American National Standards Institute. He also continues his service as associate examiner for the ABO. Michael has chaired the AAO's Cornea subspecialty day and will chair the upcoming World Cornea Congress. Michael also serves on steering or writing committees for three NEI grants and is co-chair of an international committee to reclassify corneal dystrophies. He was an invited speaker in Monaco, Sao Paulo, Milan, Faro (Portugal), London, Glascow, Cancun, Hong Kong, Berlin, Turkey and Sydney. Dr. Belin has published over 80 papers in peer reviewed journal and has presented over 200 talks at major national or international meetings. He is a recipient of the American Academy of Ophthalmology’s Honor Award, Senior Honor Award and Achievement Award. |
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Dale R. Meyer, MD. Dale R. Meyer, MD is Professor of Ophthalmology and Director of Ophthalmic Plastic Surgery at the Lions Eye Institute, Albany Medical Center. He specializes in the area of Oculofacial Plastic surgery, which includes functional and cosmetic surgery of the eyelids and face, as well as tear duct and orbital disorders. Dr. Meyer completed his residency training at the Greater Baltimore Medical Center-Johns Hopkins University, and completed fellowship training at WVU and Oregon Health Sciences University before coming to Albany in 1990. Dr. Meyer is actively involved in several national professional societies, including service on the American Academy of Ophthalmology's Ophthalmic Technology Assessment Committee, as chair of the Plastics and Orbital Surgery panel. He serves the American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic Reconstructive Surgery (ASOPRS), on the Education, Preceptors and Nominating committees, and chairs the Joint Programs committee. He is a scientific reviewer for several journals and past or present member of the Editorial Boards of Ophthalmic Plastic Reconstructive Surgery and Ocular Surgery News. He is an honorary advisor for the Tung Wah Eastern Hospital in Hong Kong, China and has participated in several international volunteer medical efforts. He participates in educational course programs for the Academy and ASOPRS, and has been an invited lecturer nationally and internationally. Dr. Meyer has authored over 100 papers, and received the American Academy of Ophthalmology Honor Award in 1996 and Achievement Award in 2004. |
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Robert L. Schultze, M.D. Robert L. Schultze, MD will be a recipient of an Honor Award from the AAO this year. He serves the Academy on the Eye Bank Committee and the Eye Bank Association of America as a member of the Medical Advisory Board and of the Committee on International Relations. Rob continues his service as associate examiner for the ABO and PORT item writer. He is on the writing committee for a multi-center corneal donor study grant proposal. Rob recently joined the board of directors of the Northeast Association of the Blind in Albany. Rob serves on the Medical College admissions committee and has taken on responsibility for our revamped medical student education program. He gave presentations in Hawaii and in Crete, and had three papers at ASCRS in San Diego. |
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Jitka Zobal-Ratner, MD Jitka Zobal-Ratner, MD sits on the AAPOS Professional Education Committee, serving as co-instructor of a popular update course each year at both AAPOS and the AAO. She continues to serve as associate examiner and on the Questino writing committee for the American Board of Ophthalmology for the PORT and DOCK examinations. At the Academy, Jitka was appointed to the Maintenance of Certification Committee and received the AAO honor award in 2008. She was a recipient of the AAPOS Honor Award last year. She was also appointed to the board of directors of the AMC Alumni Association. |
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VA FACULTY
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Martha G. Farber, M.D. Martha G. Farber, MD is currently president of the American Association of Ophthalmic Pathologists. She is a member of the American Board of Ophthalmology and, as chairperson of the Oral Examination Committee, directs the Board examinations each year. Marty continues her service on the Residency Review Committee (RRC) for ophthalmology and serves on the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). Marty again taught ophthalmic pathology at the Lancaster Course. She serves as associate chief of staff for education at the Albany VA. She has been the longtime chief of ophthalmology at the Albany VA and is an invaluable asset to the residency program. |
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Jaime Krepostman, M.D. Jaime Krepostman, MD has been involved with the Albany Medical College residency program for over twenty years. He completed his ophthalmology residency at Brooklyn Jewish Hospital and his fellowship in vitreoretinal surgery at Albany Medical Center. He currently serves as retina surgeon for the VA hospital where he oversees all clinic and surgical responsibilities, clinical research and regular FA conferences. Jaime was honored with the Golden Apple Award in 2007 for his long time commitment to resident education. |
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Martin Kaback, M.D. Martin Kaback, MD received his medical degree from McGill University in Montreal, Canada and completed his internship and residency in ophthalmology at the Jewish General Hospital in Montreal. He completed his glaucoma fellowship at Washington University School of Medicine. He returned to Jewish General Hospital and became the Director of Glaucoma Services before moving to Albany in 1984, at which time he was appointed Director of Glaucoma Services at Albany Medical College. He is an active member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, an associate professor of ophthalmology at Albany Medical Center and a consultant to Stratton VA Hospital. |
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Robert Brass, M.D. Robert Brass, MD graduated with a BS in chemical engineering from Clarkson University. He went on to medical school at the University of Wisconsin, residency at New York Medical College and returned to the University of Wisconsin for a corneal fellowship. In addition to his thriving practice in the Capital District, Dr. Brass oversees residents at the Albany VA and is particularly interested in the instruction of cataract surgery. His efforts in this regard earned him the Golden Apple teaching award in 2008. |
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Lynn Fraterrigo, M.D. Lynn Fraterrigo, MD received a BA in Biology from the College of Holy Cross. She went on to medical school at SUNY Upstate Medical University and residency at the University of Iowa. She works part time with her family as a general ophthalmologist and spends a significant portion of her time at the VA, where she oversees general clinic and cataract surgery, both by the third and second year resident, a practice which she initiated. She also served as acting chief of ophthalmology at the VA. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and children. |
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Peter Duffy, M.D. Peter Duffy, MD was born in Ireland, where he completed medical school. He came to Albany with his wife, where he completed residencies in both internal medicine and ophthalmology at Albany Medical Center. He has joined a busy family operated ophthalmology practice and oversees residents at the Albany VA, where he assist in general clinic and cataract surgery. He is a husband and father of three. |
