As touchOPHTHALMOLOGY approaches 20 years of providing education for busy ophthalmologists, we are looking to the future—and it certainly looks bright!
This year, we are celebrating our inaugural touchOPHTHALMOLOGY Future Leaders to recognize the outstanding talent that has entered our field in recent years. These individuals are set to innovate and transform ophthalmology in the years to come.
Selected by our expert Editorial Board and contributing faculty, we are proud to highlight their achievements so far and explore what the future holds for them. We had the pleasure of learning about their unique journeys, career motivations, and the inspirations that have shaped their paths. They also shared their perspectives on the most exciting advancements in ophthalmology today and their hopes for the future of the field.
Congratulations to all our touchOPHTHALMOLOGY Future Leaders, and thank you for sharing your stories, insights and ambitions with us!
Alessandro Arrigo
IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute and Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
“Always passionate about technology, I found in ophthalmology a fertile ground where I can express all my creative potential towards innovation.”
Read our Q&A with Dr Arrigo here
Angeline Nguyen
Children’s Hospital Los Angeles/University of Southern California, LA, USA
“It’s been such a privilege to give back in this way and to be part of such a close-knit, supportive community in ophthalmology.”
Read our Q&A with Dr Nguyen here
Dagny Zhu
NVISION Eye Centers in Rowland Heights, CA, USA
“Ophthalmology offers an incredible balance of clinic and surgery, allowing for long-term patient relationships while also performing transformative procedures. The technology in this field is constantly evolving, making it an exciting and innovative specialty to be part of.”
Damien Gatinel
Anterior and Refractive Surgery Department, Rothschild Foundation, Paris, France
“I’m always drawn to technological breakthroughs grounded in solid science. Right now, we’re seeing a surge in artificial intelligence that is reshaping the medical world—ophthalmology included”
Read our Q&A with Dr Gatinel here
Emilio Torres-Netto
ELZA Institute, Zurich, Switzerland
“The blend of cutting-edge technology in diagnostics and treatment captivated me, and I realized that restoring vision could significantly enhance patients’ lives.”
Read our Q&A with Dr Torres-Netto here
Jelena Potic
University Eye Clinic, Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia and Jules-Gonin Eye Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
“Education is also a cause close to my heart. Everyone deserves access to the right knowledge and opportunities for professional growth, regardless of geographical or political barriers.”
Read our Q&A with Dr Potic here
Jorge L Alió del Barrio
Vissum (Miranza Group)/Universidad Miguel Hernández Medical School, Alicante, Spain
“It is surprising how such a small organ can justify one of the widest specialties in every single hospital, and each subspecialty it’s very different from the others, so there is a field to every taste.”
Read our Q&A with Dr Alió del Barrio here
Laura Maubon
Surgical educator and Locum Consultant Ophthalmologist at Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, UK
“There is such a range of opportunities should you embark on an ophthalmic career, whereby individuals can showcase their individual uniqueness and flourish.”
Read our Q&A with Dr Maubon here
Maria Vittoria Cicinelli
Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
“Stay open-minded and adaptable; it’s the key to growth and making a difference.”
Read our Q&A with Dr Cicinelli here.
Marina Roizenblatt
Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Brazil
“Aspiring ophthalmologists in Brazil find themselves making meaningful contributions from the outset, whether through community outreach, patient education, or surgical interventions, even in resource-limited settings.”
Read our Q&A with Dr Roizenblatt
Melinda Chang
Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, LA, USA
“I am excited about the possibility of AI enhancing or streamlining our ability to perform more mundane tasks, so that we can spend more time on human-centric activities, like connecting with patients.”
Read our Q&A with Dr Chang here
Riccardo Vinciguerra
Humanitas San Pio X, Milan, Italy
“I hope to leave a legacy of meaningful contributions that improve patients’ lives and inspire and empower my colleagues through teaching and shared knowledge.”
Read our Q&A with Dr Vinciguerra here
Yousif Subhi
Department of Ophthalmology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
“One day, my friend Xiao asked me to help with a research project involving the retinas of medical students. That moment was a true eye-opener! It gave me a glimpse into a world where I could blend medicine with technology.”
Read our Q&A with Dr Subhi here
Opening soon!
Nominations for touchOPHTHALMOLOGY Future Leaders 2026
We are excited to announce that nominations for the touchOPHTHALMOLOGY Future Leaders 2026 will open soon, and we invite the ophthalmology community to share their suggestions for exceptional individuals who are shaping the future of ophthalmology through innovation and excellence in patient care.
Register below to hear about nominations as soon as they open!
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