Cecilia Vaughan Memorial Postdoctoral Research Program

Program Accomplishments

Cecilia Vaughan
Memorial Program

Specialized training in uveitis and medical cornea for ophthalmologists who have gone on to faculty and leadership positions at academic institutions across Asia and the Pacific.

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9Alumni
3Countries
12Years
2012First cohort

Program Overview

The Cecilia Vaughan Memorial Program provided specialized training in uveitis and medical cornea to ophthalmologists who have since gone on to faculty positions at leading academic institutions worldwide. The program was designed to develop outstanding clinicians into future leaders in ocular infectious and inflammatory eye disease, with a particular focus on supporting specialists from countries with a critical need for expanded cornea and uveitis expertise.

Note: Visiting ophthalmologists observed clinical care but could not assume direct responsibility for patient care or perform surgical procedures.

Important Notice

This program is not currently accepting applications.

We welcome established ophthalmologists through professional referrals and institutional partnerships only.

For inquiries about future training opportunities or institutional partnerships, please contact Sarah Lopez, OD at [email protected].

Martin Dionson

2023-2024Philippines

Martin M. Dionson, MD, DPBO

Medical Specialist II and Assistant Training Officer, Department of Ophthalmology

Current appointments

  • Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC), Cebu — Medical Specialist II; Assistant Training Officer, Department of Ophthalmology

Titles and training

  • Board-certified Ophthalmologist, Philippine Board of Ophthalmology
  • Ophthalmology
  • Medical education

2022-2023Thailand

Punyanuch Pisitpayat, MD

พญ. ปุณยนุช พิสิฐพยัต

Attending Ophthalmologist

Current appointments

  • Sukumvit Hospital, Bangkok — Eye Care Center
  • Vichaiyut Hospital, Bangkok — outpatient clinic, Medical Center Building
  • Cornea
  • Uveitis

2019-2020Thailand

Plern Sutra, MD

พญ. เพลิน สุตรา

Attending Ophthalmologist — Vitreoretinal and Medical Cornea Specialist

Current appointments

  • Praram 9 Hospital, Bangkok — attending physician, Eye Center
  • Phyathai 2 Hospital, Bangkok — regular outpatient hours, Eye Center
  • Samitivej Chinatown Hospital — vitreoretinal specialty clinic rotations
  • Ladprao General Hospital — consultant practice in retina care

Titles and training

  • Chulalongkorn University, MD
  • Khon Kaen University, Residency and specialist training
  • Retina and vitreous
  • Uveitis
  • Medical cornea
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2018-2019Taiwan

Hwang De-Kuang, MD

黃德光

Section Chief, Uveitis and Oculoplasty Division, Taipei Veterans General Hospital

Current appointments

  • Taipei Veterans General Hospital — full-time lead specialist, Department of Ophthalmology, Beitou District
  • National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University — teaching and research, School of Medicine
  • Taipei Municipal Guandu Hospital — affiliated part-time attending specialist

Titles and training

  • Associate Professor of Ophthalmology, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University
  • Supervisor, Taiwan Retina Society
  • Executive Director, Taiwan Ocular Inflammation Society
  • Uveitis
  • Oculoplasty
  • Retina

2017-2018Thailand

Taniya Bhoopat, MD

ธนิยา ภู่พัฒน์

Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology, Naresuan University

Current appointments

  • Naresuan University Hospital, Phitsanulok — attending eye surgeon and consultant, tertiary referral centre
  • Faculty of Medicine, Naresuan University — medical educator, Department of Ophthalmology

Titles and training

  • Chiang Mai University, MD; internship and ophthalmology residency
  • King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Bangkok — fellowship in cornea and refractive surgery
  • Cornea and refractive
  • Uveitis

2015-2016Thailand

Wipada Laovirojjanakul, MD

รองศาสตราจารย์ แพทย์หญิง วิภาดา เหล่าวิโรจนกุล

Associate Professor of Ophthalmology; Head, Ocular Inflammatory Disease Unit

Current appointments

  • Srinagarind Hospital, KKU Eye Center — Head of the Ocular Inflammatory (Uveitis) Unit; senior consultant, Retina and Vitreous Unit
  • Ratchaphruek Hospital — weekend private clinic, Retina and Vitreous Clinic
  • Bangkok Hospital Khon Kaen — outpatient consulting, retinal medical and surgical care

Titles and training

  • Chulalongkorn University, MD
  • Khon Kaen University, medical internship
  • KKU Eye Center, Khon Kaen University — ophthalmology residency and retina fellowship
  • Uveitis
  • Retina and vitreous

2014-2015Thailand

Weeraya Pimolrat, MD

พญ. วีรยา พิมลรัฐ

Attending Ophthalmologist — Retinal and Ocular Immunology Surgeon

Current appointments

  • Bangkok Hospital Headquarters, Soi Soonvijai — senior attending specialist, Bangkok Eye Center
  • Retina and vitreous
  • Uveitis
  • Medical cornea

2013-2014Thailand

Thanapong Somkijrungroj, MD

นพ. ธนาพงษ์ สมกิจรุ่งโรจน์

Head, Ocular Immunology and Inflammation Unit, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital

Current appointments

  • King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital — Head, Ocular Immunology and Inflammation Unit; senior medical instructor
  • MedPark Hospital, Bangkok — senior consulting surgeon, Eye Care Center
  • Samitivej Hospitals Group — Sukhumvit Hospital Eye Clinic; Chinatown Retina and Uveitis Institute
  • Synphaet Srinakarin Hospital — advanced vitreoretinal consultation clinics

Titles and training

  • Founder, Chula-KKU-Proctor-UCSF (CKPU) international alliance network
  • Established Thailand's dedicated clinical uveitis training fellowship programme in 2017
  • Chair, Information Technology Division, Royal College of Ophthalmologists of Thailand
  • Board Officer, Asia-Pacific Association of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons
  • Pramongkutklao College of Medicine, MD; Rajavithi Hospital, ophthalmology residency; King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, retina fellowship
  • Vitreoretinal surgery
  • Uveitis
  • Complex cataract

2012-2013Thailand

Waroonchat Issariyapat, MD

พญ. วรฉัตร อิสริยาภัทร์

Attending Ophthalmologist — Cornea and Refractive Surgery Specialist

Current appointments

  • Nonthavej Hospital, Bangkok — attending specialist, Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Center
  • Praram 9 Hospital, Bangkok — sub-specialty consulting, Eye Center
  • Bangkok Eye Hospital — consulting for corneal disease evaluations

Titles and training

  • Mahidol University, MD
  • Songklanagarind Hospital, medical internship
  • Ramathibodi Hospital, ophthalmology residency
  • Mahidol University, cornea and refractive surgery fellowship
  • Cornea and refractive
  • Dry eye
  • Neuropathic ocular pain