Research
Resident Research Day
The UMMC Ophthalmology Resident Research Day and Samuel B. Johnson, MD, Memorial Lecture is the annual conference to showcase resident and faculty research projects as well as hear lectures from a leader in the field on ophthalmic research.
Each Department of Ophthalmology resident is responsible for one clinical or basic science research project every year. Results of their projects are presented with their faculty preceptors at Resident Research Day. In addition, there is a guest lecturer present to give the featured lecture in honor of Dr. Samuel B. Johnson, the first UMMC Department of Ophthalmology chair.
The June 20, 2025 Resident Research Day guest lecturer will be Janice C. Law, MD. Dr. Janice Law is a vitreo-retinal surgeon at Vanderbilt Eye Institute (VEI) and is a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Alpha Omega Alpha Honor societies. She completed her ophthalmology residency in 2007 at Kresge Eye Institute/Wayne State in Detroit, MI where she served as chief resident and was the recipient of the Gold Apple Teaching Award given to residents. She then completed 2 years of vitreo-retinal surgery fellowship at Vanderbilt Eye Institute in Nashville, TN. She joined Vanderbilt’s faculty in 2009 as a full time vitreo-retinal surgeon and Associate Program Director. Dr. Law is the 3-time recipient of the VEI Bridge Award chosen by residents to outstanding faculty educators and mentors.
In 2016, Dr. Law pivoted to serve as the Director for Medical Student Education and has received numerous awards in that role including the AAO/AUPO Medical Student Educator Award in 2021 and Vanderbilt’s R. Michael Rodriguez Award for excellence in teaching students, resident and fellows. In 2021 she became the Vice Chair for Education and oversees the growth of the education enterprise for ophthalmology and holds the Gloria M. Sternberg Directorship in Ophthalmology.
On a national level, since 2012, she has been committed to her work with the AAO Young Ophthalmologists (YO) committee and is now the immediate past chair. She has helped the committee develop programming and engagement opportunities for members-in-training and YOs in practice around the world. She has been honored with multiple AAO Secretariat awards and the Senior Achievement award. Dr. Law is also a graduate of the American Academy of Ophthalmology Leadership Development Program Class XVII and continues to serve the AAO as a member of the Membership Secretariat and Communications Secretariat.
Her lecture is titled "Redefining Success: Navigating Detours with Purpose and Resilience."
From left to right, medical students Tal Redhead, Balie Crim, Nathan Thomas, Anna Robertson, and Anna Clare Colson, and Research Fellow Oliver Liu MD stand in front of their hallway research posters at Resident Research Day 2024. Not Pictured: Virginia Gammon
For more information about details of the program, contact our Ophthalmology chair, Dr. Kimberly Crowder.
To register, click here. For questions, email Ophthalmology Department.