Residency Program Leadership

As an ophthalmology resident seeing patients in the Illinois Eye & Ear Infirmary, you will receive a world-class medical education from renowned leaders in the field of ophthalmology and vision science.  For over 150 years, the Illinois Eye & Ear Infirmary, the patient care and teaching center of the Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences at the University of Illinois at Chicago, has led the way in improving patient care in ophthalmology through discovery science in vision, clinical and surgical innovations, and top-ranked education programs.

Vice Chair for Education

Deepak Edward, MD, FACS, FARVO
Professor of Ophthalmology
Vice Chair for Education
Email: [email protected]

Deepak P Edward, MD, FACS, FARVO is a leading authority on the management of complex adult and pediatric glaucoma. He also has expertise in ophthalmic pathology. Dr. Edward’s research interests include glaucoma clinical trials, biomarker research, pathophysiology of glaucoma and ocular disease. His research and patient care efforts have generated more than 200 publications in peer-reviewed journals. He has been listed in the Best Doctors in America list for many years. He is the editor-in- chief of Middle East African Journal of Ophthalmology. Dr. Edward has received the American Academy of Ophthalmology Senior Achievement award, Secretariat award, serves on many national and international committees related ophthalmology; and has given many named lectures globally. Dr. Edward is board-certified in ophthalmology.

Residency Program Director

Peter MacIntosh, MD
Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology
Neuro-Ophthalmology Service
Email: [email protected]​
Dr. MacIntosh is dual-fellowship trained in neuro-ophthalmology and the American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ASOPRS).  His interests include papilledema, optic neuritis, diplopia, lacrimal, eyelid and orbital disease, as well as combined neuro-ophthalmic and oculoplastic processes including thyroid eye disease, facial paralysis and compressive optic neuropathy. Dr. MacIntosh completed his medical degree at The Chicago Medical School and his residency at John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County. Following residency, he completed two fellowships: a fellowship in Neuro-Ophthalmology at the Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary and a fellowship in Oculoplastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary. Dr. MacIntosh joined the faculty in 2015 and is board certified in ophthalmology.

Associate Residency Program Director

Pooja Bhat, MD
Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology
Co-Director, Uveitis Service
Director, Medical Student Education
Email: [email protected]
​Dr. Bhat’s primary focus is inflammatory diseases of the eye and she specializes in the diagnosis and management of infectious and non-infectious ocular inflammatory conditions such as scleritis, and anterior, intermediate and posterior uveitis.  Her areas of main interest are posterior uveitidies that include Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease, Behcet’s, and sarcoidosis, infectious retinopathies, as well as white dot syndromes such as birdshot chorioretinopathy.

Dr. Bhat has conducted research on systemic immunosuppression for various ocular inflammatory conditions as well as herpetic diseases of the eye especially herpetic scleritis. Her current research interests include seasonal variations in autoimmune diseases, disc and scleral changes in VKH, schisis in pars planitis and anterior segment and posterior segment imaging with optical coherence tomography (OCT).  Dr. Bhat spent time with Dr. C. Stephen Foster doing research in ocular immunology and inflammation and then with Dr. Frederick A Jakobiec understanding ophthalmic pathology. She was a clinical fellow under Dr. Debra A Goldstein learning diagnosis and management of ocular inflammation including treatment modalities of systemic immunosuppression, insertions of steroid eluding implants as well as surgical management of complex uveitic cataracts.  Dr. Bhat joined the faculty in 2014.

Associate Residency Program Director

Michael Heiferman, MD
Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology
Retina Service
Email: [email protected]
​
Dr. Heiferman is an Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology at the Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary at UIC and a staff physician at the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center. Dr. Heiferman is a vitreoretinal surgeon and ocular oncologist with interests in translational cancer research, retinal imaging, and medical education.

Residency Coordinator

Tamarise Maldanado
Email: [email protected]
Tammy leads the administrative support for medical education for the Department. She facilitates the resident and fellow application and interview process and helps coordinate the training program for residents, fellows and medical students. Tammy works to ensure a successful learning experience for our residents and our visiting residents, including coordination of weekly Grand Rounds.