Flaum Eye Institute Well Represented At Annual AAO Meeting

The Flaum Eye Institute was well represented at the annual Academy of Ophthalmology meeting. Hosted in Orlando Florida this year, the AAO meeting brings together the best and brightest in Ophthalmology from around the world.

The Conference is widely considered the world’s largest annual clinical ophthalmology meeting.

It routinely draws approximately 20,000 plus physicians, allied health professionals, and exhibitors from around the world to network, learn new skills, present research, and view the newest technical innovations across the industry.

The four-day meeting includes educational sessions and lectures across all the ophthalmology subspecialties, surgical skills training and more than 500 exhibitors showcasing medical instrumentation, diagnostic devices, and pharmaceuticals.

Flaum faculty, residents, and alumni made the trip, to both listen to and present the latest developments in eye care.

Several attendees with Flaum connections highlighted the conference, including Seth Pantanelli, MD, resident class of ’13, who presented multiple times and is a rising thought leader about anterior segment surgery.

Former AAO President Daniel Briceland, MD, a graduate of the ’89 resident class, took part in an important symposium related to interactions between the government and private practice ophthalmology.

At the surgical skills lab, class of ’03 resident Cat Burkat, MD, provided hands-on training in oculoplastics from residents to experienced clinicians.

University of Rochester medical school graduates were also on hand and played an important role at the conference, including ’01 grad Sophie Deng, MD, PhD.

She dispensed surgical pearls about cornea transplant and accepted the Eye Institute’s invitation to deliver a keynote presentation at the 70^th annual Rochester Ophthalmology Conference on June 12, 2026.

FEI Associate Chair of Education, Rachel Wozniak, MD, PhD, resident ’16 and fellow ’17, updated attendees about the latest trends in ocular viral infections and their associated complications.

All totaled 20 present and past members of the University of Rochester delivered or took part in more than 40 presentations during the meeting. The group represented classes from all decades spanning the 70s through today. After the event, more than 30 Flaum alumni gathered at a private reception to discuss the field of ophthalmology, their own, careers, and to catch up with old friends, mentors, or colleagues.

Flaum faculty and alumni will reconvene again for next years AAO conference, as the meeting shifts to New Orleans Louisiana.

Zachary Laird | 10/24/2025