The Path to Deanship

Finding Your Niche

Finding Your Niche with Dr. Soledad Cortina and Dr. Sarah Nehls How do you find your niche in academic medicine? Does it happen through careful planning, mentorship, unexpected opportunities, or simply following your passion? In this episode of the Women Professors of Ophthalmology (WPO) Podcast, hosts Dr. Cat Burkat and Dr. Thasarat Vajaranant sit down with two accomplished leaders in ophthalmology, Dr. Soledad Cortina and Dr. Sarah Nehls, to explore the journey of building a meaningful and fulfilling academic career. Together, they discuss how their professional paths evolved, how they developed expertise in highly specialized areas of cornea and ocular surface disease, and the importance of staying open to opportunities that may unexpectedly shape your career. Dr. Cortina shares her experience building one of the nation's leading keratoprosthesis (artificial cornea) programs at the University of Illinois Chicago, while Dr. Nehls reflects on her transition from private practice to academic medicine and her role in advancing complex corneal care and education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The conversation highlights the rewards and challenges of developing a niche, collaborating across disciplines, mentoring future ophthalmologists, and finding confidence as a leader and expert in your field. Whether you're a medical student, resident, fellow, junior faculty member, or an established academician considering your next chapter, this episode offers valuable insights on career development, mentorship, collaboration, and the power of pursuing work that truly inspires you. In This Episode: * How Dr. Soledad Cortina and Dr. Sarah Nehls found their professional niches * The role of mentorship, collaboration, and opportunity in career growth * Building expertise in keratoprosthesis and complex corneal disease * Transitioning from private practice to academic medicine * Overcoming imposter syndrome and finding your voice as a leader * Why collaboration is essential for success in academic medicine * Advice for trainees and junior faculty searching for their own niche * The importance of following your interests and passions throughout your career

The Path to Deanship

Podcast Episode Description: In this inspiring episode of Journey Into Academia, hosts explore the path to institutional leadership with two accomplished leaders in ophthalmology and medical education: Dr. Susan Culican and Dr. Misha Syed. Together, they share candid stories about navigating academia, overcoming challenges, building mentorship networks, and stepping into influential leadership roles at the institutional level. From residency program leadership to serving in dean-level positions, the conversation dives into the realities of academic medicine, the importance of advocacy and innovation, and how ophthalmologists can shape the future of medical education beyond their specialty. Dr. Culican and Dr. Syed also discuss the power of mentorship, the challenges women leaders continue to face in medicine, and why understanding your own strengths is key to building a meaningful leadership journey. Whether you are an aspiring educator, residency leader, department chair, or future dean, this episode offers valuable insight into leadership growth, institutional impact, and creating lasting change in academic medicine.

Bridging Vision: Building Global Research Partnerships

In this inspiring episode of Women Professors of Ophthalmology: Journey Into Academia, Dr. Shannon Merbs shares her extraordinary two-decade journey leading international research partnerships to combat trachoma, the world's leading infectious cause of blindness. What began with a simple knock on her office door evolved into groundbreaking surgical innovation, NIH-funded clinical trials in Tanzania, and collaborations spanning ministries of health, NGOs, epidemiologists, and global health organizations. Dr. Merbs offers a candid look at the realities of conducting surgical trials in resource-limited settings, from language barriers and transportation challenges to developing new surgical techniques and training local surgical technicians. She discusses the importance of adaptability, creativity, and interdisciplinary collaboration while balancing scientific rigor with real-world conditions in some of the world's most underserved regions. Listeners will gain valuable insight into global ophthalmology research, innovation in patient care, and the power of saying "yes" to unexpected opportunities. This episode is a compelling reminder that impactful careers are often built by embracing uncertainty, following curiosity, and remaining open to where medicine can lead. Topics Covered: * Global ophthalmology and trachoma research * Building international clinical trial partnerships * Surgical innovation in resource-limited settings * NIH-funded research in Tanzania * Challenges of global health collaboration * Lessons in leadership, adaptability, and mentorship

Amplifying Impact: How to Harness Social Media and Virtual Platforms

What if your research, mentorship, and impact didn't stop at the clinic or classroom? In this episode of Journey into Academia, we explore how social media and virtual platforms are transforming academic medicine—expanding education, amplifying research, and creating powerful new pathways for mentorship and connection. Join Dr. Sharon Fekrat (Duke University) and Dr. Rukhsana Mirza (Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine)—two nationally recognized leaders in ophthalmology—as they share how platforms like LinkedIn, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram are helping physicians and educators extend their reach far beyond traditional academic spaces. From showcasing trainee accomplishments to building global professional networks, this conversation dives into: * How doctors are using social media to grow influence and visibility * The best platforms for academic medicine and professional networking * Practical strategies for sharing research and educational content * How virtual communities are reshaping mentorship and collaboration * Why authenticity and purpose matter more than perfection online Whether you're a physician, researcher, educator, or student, this episode offers actionable insights on how to harness digital platforms to elevate your voice and impact in academic medicine. Follow, subscribe, and share to stay connected with more insights from leaders shaping the future of medicine.

Vision to Venture: Turning Academic Discovery Into Real-World Eye Care Innovation

In this episode of WPO – Journey Into Academia, we welcome Dr. Lama Al-Aswad, a national leader at the intersection of ophthalmology, technology, and population health. Dr. Al-Aswad is a glaucoma specialist, professor of ophthalmology and engineering at the University of Pennsylvania, and a pioneer in teleophthalmology, artificial intelligence, and innovative care delivery models designed to prevent blindness and improve access to eye care. Her career bridges academic medicine, technology innovation, and entrepreneurship, bringing groundbreaking ideas from research to real-world impact. In this conversation, Dr. Al-Aswad shares how frustration with late-stage glaucoma diagnoses sparked a mission to transform how eye care is delivered. Through mobile screening programs, telemedicine initiatives, and eye care technology startups, she has worked to empower patients and improve early detection of vision-threatening diseases. The discussion explores how clinicians can turn scientific discovery into scalable solutions that improve patient outcomes worldwide. Key Takeaways * What inspired Dr. Al-Aswad to pursue academic medicine * The challenges of glaucoma detection and why patients often present too late * How teleophthalmology and AI are reshaping eye care delivery * The role of entrepreneurship in accelerating medical innovation * Building successful teams and bringing collaborators along your journey * How academic rigor and startup agility complement one another * Training the next generation through ophthalmology innovation fellowships * Why the future of medicine will require clinicians to understand AI, big data, and digital health