PEDIATRIC OPHTHALMOLOGY MENTORSHIP (POM) PROGRAM

Pediatric Ophthalmology Mentorship Program

Thank you for your interest in the Pediatric Ophthalmology Mentorship Program. This program is currently for U.S. medical students and the application period is CLOSED.

This program is designed to offer in-depth, one-on-one virtual mentorship, aiming to support and cultivate the next generation of specialists. We sincerely encourage applications only from those who are genuinely committed to pursuing a long-term career in pediatric ophthalmology, to ensure every participant truly benefits from this specialized guidance.

Please sign up for the email list below to receive an email when applications reopen later this year for the 2026 class.

Meet the POM Mentees

  • Adanna Okere

    Matriculated 2023

    Kansas City University

  • Alise Aucoin

    PGY1, Ophthalmology Resident

    Tufts University

    Louisiana State University of New Orleans

  • Ally Sun

    Matriculated 2022

    UT Southwestern Medical School

  • Anam Ahmed

    Matriculated 2023

    University of Miami Medical School

  • Angela Ngo

    MATCH: Ophthalmology Residency, University of Arizona

    Georgetown University School of Medicine

  • Anika Kumar

    MATCH: Ophthalmology Residency, UCSF

    Med School: University of California San Francisco School of Medicine

  • Bailee Deshler

    MATCH: Ophthalmology Residency, Henry Ford

    Lewis Katz School of Medicine (Temple University)

  • Brigid Devine

    Matriculated 2023

    Northeast Ohio Medical University

  • Brittany Marks

    MATCH: Ophthalmology Residency, UCLA

    University of Colorado School of Medicine

  • Eddie Garcia Cervantez

    Matriculated 2023

    UT-Tyler School of Medicine

  • Elizabeth Ransone

    MATCH: Ophthalmology Residency, Wills Eye

    VCU Medical College

  • Felicia Fong

    Matriculated 2022

    Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine

  • Hannah Walsh

    MATCH: University of Miami, Bascom Palmer

  • Isabella Yazji

    Matriculated 2022

    Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine

  • Ishan Bhanot

    Matriculated 2023

    University of Oklahoma College of Medicine

  • Jacob Nydegger

    Matriculated 2024

    University of Alabama at Birmingham

  • Jintong Liu (Willow)

    MATCH: Ophthalmology Residency, Norwell-Manhattan Eye, Ear & Throat Hospital

    University of Colorado School of Medicine

  • John Morse

    Matriculated 2023

    University of Michigan Medical School

  • Julia Moore

    Matriculated 2022

    Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine - Louisiana Campus

  • Kaersti Rickels

    MATCH: University of Wisconsin

    University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

  • Kevin Lopez

    Matriculated 2023

    Charles Drew School of Medicine

  • Manya Kidambi

    Matriculated 2024

    UMass Chan School of Medicine

  • Michelle Lin

    Matriculated 2021

    University of California, Riverside School of Medicine

  • Muhammad Abidi

    Matriculated 2023

    Harvard Medical School

  • Nadia Abass

    Matriculated 2022

    Case Western Reserve Medical School

  • Noor Ghali

    Matriculated 2021

    Case Western Reserve University

  • Sarah Jong

    Matriculated 2022

    University of Arkansas School of Medicine

  • Shawn Khan

    Matriculated 2023

    University of Florida College of Medicine

  • Shreya Nagajothi

    Matriculated 2024

    NYU School of Medicine

  • Susanna Yau

    MATCH: University of Maryland School of Medicine

    University of Maryland School of Medicine

  • Taylor Potter

    Matriculated 2022

    Meharry Medical College

  • Ayra Khan

    MS2

    Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University

POM Leadership Team

  • Founder

    Dr. Julius Oatts is a pediatric ophthalmologist and an associate professor of Ophthalmology at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Scheie Eye Center, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. He is involved in numerous clinical trials and has published hundreds of articles ranging from pediatric glaucoma to workforce issues.

    Dr. Oatts belongs to the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus, American Academy of Ophthalmology, Pediatric Eye Disease Investigator Group, Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, and Frederick C. Cordes Eye Society, an association of UCSF alumni.

    He is a member of the AAO’s Leadership Development Program Class of 2024.

  • Founder

    Dr. Rupa Wong is an Ivy League trained board certified pediatric ophthalmologist, wife, mom to 3 kids, entrepreneur, and the managing partner of Honolulu Eye Clinic for the past 17 years. She has been featured on the Best Doctors Lists since 2010 and serves as a Clinical Associate Professor at University of Hawaii School of Medicine.

    She serves on the Foundation Advisory Board for the American Association of Pediatric Ophthalmologists & Strabismus, as well as the Recruitment Task Force and as Vice-Chair of the Digital Education Committee.

    She serves a Clinical Spokesperson for the AAO and is on the Communications Committee. Dr. Wong was a member of the AAO’s Leadership Development Program Class of 2024. Read more about Dr. Wong here

  • Advisor

    Dr. Christie Morse is a pediatric ophthalmologist in Concord, NH. She is the current Executive Vice President of AAPOS and CEF of AAPOS, a Board member with the Ophthalmic Mutual Insurance Company, the immediate past chair of the Advisory Board of the Foundation of the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), and the past chair of the AAO Ethics Committee.

    She has served as a member of the AAO Board of Trustees, the EyeNet editorial advisory board and is the current chair of the EyeCare America Steering Committee. She is a past member of the Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus Practicing Ophthalmology Curriculum, the AAO representative to the American Academy of Pediatrics ophthalmology section, and a past President of Women in Ophthalmology and of AAPOS. She is a member of the AAO’s Leadership Development Program Class of 2003.