Up Close and Personal with 2019 Award Winners

Natalia F. Callaway, MD, MS

I am honored and humbled to join the Michels Foundation Fellowship family. After completing my fellowship at Stanford University Byers Eye Institute, I joined Roche Genentech, where I lead clinical trials primarily focused on the Port Delivery System and durable anti-VEGFs. Concomitantly, I maintain my vitreoretinal practice at Stanford University. The balance of clinical work and big-picture research pursuits that move our field forward and improve patient care energizes me. I'm grateful to have a hybrid industry-academic career.

My initial interest in ophthalmology research and retinal disease stemmed from my undergraduate labwork at Wilmer Eye Institute where I studied age-related macular degeneration. I then attended Stanford School of Medicine, where I obtained a Master's in Epidemiology and started working in clinical research and big data analysis. I completed my residency at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute and then returned to Stanford for my vitreoretinal surgical training. During my fellowship I had the opportunity to pursue the Roche Genentech ophthalmic fellowship where I was introduced to product development and clinical trial design ultimately leading to my current role at the company.

Outside of medicine, I spend my time with my husband and two daughters, running, or reading.

Tomasz R. Stryjewski, MD

I am grateful to be a member of the amazing Michels Fellowship community. I continue to split my time between seeing patients and trying to advance innovation in ophthalmology. Clinically, I see patients and operate as a vitreoretinal surgeon with Tallman Eye Associates, a small private practice north of Boston near the New Hampshire border.

In addition to clinical practice, I serve in a leadership role in multiple companies in which I was a cofounder: Pykus Therapeutics, Helio Vision (acquired by Aldeyra Therapeutics, Nasdaq: ALDX), and EyeCool Therapeutics. It has been a great adventure to lead translational development programs, from first-in-human trials to late stage Phase 3 registration studies. I also serve as an ad-hoc consultant or advisor to many other ophthalmic drug and device companies.

My wife (Katie) and son (Luke) live in the Prospect Hill neighborhood of Somerville. We enjoy spending the weekends hiking, swimming, sailing, and skiing in the beautiful outdoors of New England.

Nicolas A. Yannuzzi, MD

Following fellowship, I joined the vitreoretinal surgery service at Bascom Palmer where I have continued for the past four years. My research interests include cost-utility analysis of various vitreoretinal procedures, endophthalmitis, and retinal imaging. I have also participated in a number of prospective clinical trials and conducted several engineering studies on vitrectomy instrumentation. I am excited to be working on new surgical simulations for trainees.

I enjoy spending time with my wife and three children, tennis, and cooking. I am honored to have received this fellowship and thank the Michels Foundation for its support.