The class of 2025 is no stranger to Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins Medicine. In fact, they’ve already made a bit of history. They each spent part of the last year interning in ophthalmology as part of a new initiative: The Integrated Residency Program in Ophthalmology. The program allows incoming residents to gain ophthalmic clinical experience and skills a year before residency actually begins. We caught up with Wilmer’s newest residency class to learn a little more about them and their hopes for their Wilmer experience.
Chris Cho
Before Wilmer: I attended Yale University for my undergraduate degree and subsequently completed my M.D./Ph.D. at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
Biggest area of interest: I’m interested in investigating the molecular genetics of ophthalmic diseases to help guide and advance new therapies.
What I’m most excited about: I’m thrilled to join the collaborative, caring, and intellectual community of faculty, staff and residents at Wilmer. To be immersed in this culture of excellence is truly a privilege.
Nur Cardakli
Before Wilmer: I completed my undergraduate degree in neuroscience at Duke University, and I have been in Baltimore for the past several years both for medical school at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and as a part of the inaugural class of the Integrated Residency Program in Ophthalmology at The Johns Hopkins Hospital.
Biggest area of interest: I’m looking forward to exploring all the subspecialties within ophthalmology during my residency and continuing to develop my clinical and surgical skills. My research interests in medical school and during my internship have focused on clinical and surgical outcomes in glaucoma, and I am excited to continue this work in my residency. I’m also passionate about medical education and mentorship, and I look forward to working with colleagues at a variety of stages in their training.
What I’m most excited about: Through medical school and my internship, I have already been incredibly impressed by the faculty and residents at Wilmer. I’m excited to continue to learn from my peers and mentors, who are not only at the cutting edge of the research field, but also excellent and compassionate clinicians and thoughtful educators, while serving the East Baltimore community.
Anupam Garg
Before Wilmer: I was born and raised in Beaverton, Oregon. I studied bioengineering at the University of Washington and then joined the Medical Scientist Training Program at University of California San Diego.
Biggest area of interest: My interests in ophthalmology are evolving. My prior research has focused on retinal imaging as well as processing of visual information in the brain. I look forward to exploring and learning about the various subspecialties within ophthalmology at Wilmer.
What I’m most excited about: Being a resident at Wilmer and Johns Hopkins opens the door to collaborating with a wide variety of specialists across disciplines to provide outstanding patient care. I look forward to working with the faculty, staff and my co-residents at Wilmer to learn and serve the community.
Shahriyar Majidi
Before Wilmer: I was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri. I completed my M.D. and Ph.D. training at Washington University School of Medicine.
Biggest area of interest: I’m eager to deeply explore all ophthalmic subspecialties during my residency. Meanwhile, I hope to identify gaps in our understanding of ophthalmic disease with the ultimate aim of advancing therapeutics for patients.
What I’m most excited about: I’m looking forward to joining a community of lifelong learners in ophthalmology at Wilmer. I’m most excited to learn how to provide my patients with the highest standard of ophthalmic care.
Elise V. Mike
Before Wilmer: I was born in the Bronx, NY and raised on the beautiful island of St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands. I completed my B.S. in Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology at Emory University. I completed my M.D./Ph.D. training at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx, NY. My Ph.D. research was focused on the role of neuro-inflammation in the pathogenesis of neuropsychiatric lupus. I was also heavily involved in diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts at Einstein.
Biggest area of interest: I’m interested in infusing antiracism into medical education for students, residents, and faculty to create an equitable learning environment for trainees and provide care that is contextualized by the history of systemic racism in medicine. I’m also passionate about increasing representation of [minorities] in ophthalmology.
What I’m most excited about: I'm most excited about collaborating with and learning from leaders in ophthalmology research and patient care, and I feel like the possibilities that I have here at Wilmer are endless. I am ready to finally make my dreams of becoming an ophthalmologist come true!