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 2024 Class

  • Alise Aucoin

    PGY1, Ophthalmology Resident

    Tufts University

    Louisiana State University of New Orleans

  • Ally Sun

    MS3

    UT Southwestern

  • Angela Ngo

    MS4

    MATCH: Ophthalmology Residency, University of Arizona

    Georgetown University School of Medicine

  • Anika Kumar

    MS4

    MATCH: Ophthalmology Residency, UCSF

    Med School: University of California San Francisco School of Medicine

  • Bailee Deshler

    MS4

    MATCH: Ophthalmology Residency, Henry Ford

    Lewis Katz School of Medicine (Temple University)

  • Brittany Marks

    MS4

    MATCH: Ophthalmology Residency, UCLA

    University of Colorado School of Medicine

  • Eddie Garcia Cervantez

    MS2

    UT-Tyler School of Medicine

  • Elizabeth Ransone

    MS4

    MATCH: Ophthalmology Residency, Wills Eye

    VCU Medical College

  • Isabella Yazji

    MS3

    Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine

  • Ishan Bhanot

    MS2

    University of Oklahoma College of Medicine

  • Jintong Liu (Willow)

    MS4

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

    University of Colorado School of Medicine

  • John Morse

    MS2

    University of Michigan Medical School

  • Kaersti Rickels

    MS4

    University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

  • Michelle Lin

    MS4

    University of California, Riverside School of Medicine

  • Noor Ghali

    MS4

    Case Western Reserve University

  • Shawn Khan

    MS2

    University of Florida College of Medicine

  • Susanna Yau

    MS4

    University of Maryland School of Medicine

  • Taylor Potter

    MS3

    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 the UCSF Medial Center, where he serves as Assistant Program Director for the Ophthalmology Residency. 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 15 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 is 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.