UTMB Health Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences (OVS) Alumni Association

04/07/2026

We are proud to share that, in recognition of her hard work and dedication to the UTMB Ophthalmology Residency and Retina Fellowship programs, Briana Soto Uribe has been promoted to Program Manager. 👏

In this expanded role, Briana will continue supporting the residency program while taking on greater leadership in program operations, strategic planning, and accreditation oversight. Her work will further enhance resident education, streamline processes, and strengthen collaboration across our faculty, trainees, and partners.

Briana’s commitment to excellence has made a lasting impact on our programs, and this promotion is a true reflection of her contributions.

Please join us in congratulating Briana on this well-deserved achievement!

04/02/2026

We’re proud to share a recent feature highlighting the impactful work of Dr. Aishat Adebayo and the difference cataract surgery continues to make in our patients’ lives. This story and accompanying video offer a meaningful look at how advances in ophthalmology are restoring vision and improving quality of life every day.

It’s always inspiring to see the dedication of our faculty and the continued strength of our program reflected in patient care, education, and innovation.

We invite you to take a moment to read and watch—and to celebrate the work being done across our community.

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03/15/2026

Officially done with OKAP 2026! Congratulations to this brilliant group of eye enthusiasts! We enjoyed a beautiful day admiring the beauty of the island at our program directors home. Thank you for hosting us Dr. Loucks 🌊☀️⛱️🏝️

03/03/2026

Today we recognize and celebrate Dr. Kevin Merkley on his retirement from UTMB. His leadership, dedication, and commitment to excellence have left a lasting impact on our department and clinical staff, our trainees, and the patients we serve. We are deeply grateful for his years of service and wish him the very best in this next chapter.

At the same time, we welcome Dr. Fredericus van Kuijk as Interim Chair of the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences. We look forward to his leadership and continued commitment to advancing our mission of education, research, and patient care.

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Merkley and welcoming Dr. van Kuijk into his new role!

02/14/2026

Aesthetics wet lab! Thank you Dr. Thompson for your guidance! Our residents really do look younger every year 😉🧐

01/30/2026

It’s our favorite day of the year!!! Happy match day to all who celebrate 🥳
We’ve got our sights set on 2030 today and are excited to introduce you all to our incoming class!
Many congratulations to these four, we can’t wait to have you!

01/08/2026

We’re excited to introduce our LinkedIn page—another great way to stay connected with UTMB Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences! 💼👁️

Follow us for department updates as we continue to share the work happening across our program.

Be sure to follow us on Instagram too: 📸✨
https://www.instagram.com/utmbeyeland/

We’re excited to connect with our community! Follow UTMB Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences across our social media platforms for resident education, team spotlights, community outreach, optical shop promotions, and department updates. Our Instagram page is focused on resident education, don’t miss...

12/17/2025

UTMB ophthalmology is very proud to announce this year’s fellowship match! We are thrilled to see these stars succeed and can’t wait to see all they will accomplish after graduation! 👏🏽🎉🎊

Is it possible to miss them already?

12/03/2025

11/20/2025

We are back from Belize!
Dr. Phillip Keys (PGY2) and Dr. Misha Syed (glaucoma faculty) spent a week in Belize providing ophthalmic care. We are humbled to be able to provide care to this community and are excited to restart our global initiatives! 👁️🌎

10/25/2025

An incredibly weekend at AAO 🤩 Our senior class had a great time learning, connecting, presenting, and adventuring! They came home inspired by the wealth of knowledge and the environment of curiosity in Orlando 🤓🎡🎢

In their seniors absence, the PGY3s stepped up to take on a day of cataract surgery and glaucoma clinic!

10/24/2025

While attending the AAO meeting, Dr. Loucks, OVS Residency Director and Residency Program Manager, Briana, visited the VA facility where our residents shine during their external clinical rotation. We’re so proud of our program and partnerships that support outstanding training!

During their visit, they toured the clinic and surgical center, met with staff.

They participated in a “A Day in the Life of a Resident,” offering valuable insights into the program experience. Briana Gapsis serves as the Site-Director, with Dr. Naazli Shakh also contributing to the team as a faculty member.