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The American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (AAPOS) announces the third cohort of the highly competitive Pediatric Ophthalmology Mentorship (POM) program. Co-founded by Dr. Rupa Wong and Dr. Julius Oatts, POM provides aspiring pediatric ophthalmologists with specialized guidance and career support. Twenty-one students from medical schools nationwide were selected based on their demonstrated commitment to pursuing careers in pediatric ophthalmology.  

• Taylor Aaserud (‘27) from Cooper Medical School of Rowan University 

• Iya Abdulkarim (‘27) from the University of Minnesota Medical School 

• Claire Abraham (‘28) from Albert Einstein College of Medicine 

• Bailee Alonzo (‘28) from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center 

• Ryan Berry (‘28) from Tulane University School of Medicine 

• Anne Chu (‘28) from Georgetown University School of Medicine 

• Alexis Duffy (‘28) from Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University 

• Wendee Duong (‘27) from Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Georgia 

• Flo Ebem (‘28) from the University of California of San Francisco 

• Amal Hamed (‘27) from the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Medicine 

• Mary Grace Hamlin (‘28) from the University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences 

• Ava Herzog (‘28) from Albany Medical College 

• Emily Ho (‘28) from the University of California, Riverside 

• Jadyn Lee (‘28) from the University of California of San Francisco 

• Rebecca Moiseyev (‘27) from Penn State College of Medicine 

• Madeline Rocks (‘26) from George Washington University 

• Daniela Spies (‘27) from Florida International University Herbet Wertheim College of Medicine 

• MacKenzie Toliver (‘27) from Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine 

• Jennifer Vu (‘26) from the University of California, Los Angeles, David Geffen School of Medicine 

• Keenan Wilson (‘27) from Upstate Medical University 

• Iza Zabaneh (‘27) from TCU Burnett School of Medicine  

“High-quality mentorship shapes future leaders," said Oatts, co-founder of POM and associate professor of ophthalmology at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. "These candidates demonstrated genuine passion and commitment to pediatric ophthalmology. We're excited to welcome them and invest in their professional development." 

 "Through career planning, networking, and one-on-one mentorship, POM helps medical students cultivate the skills to advance children's eye health and adult strabismus," said Wong, co-founder of POM, managing partner of Honolulu Eye Clinic and clinical associate professor at the University of Hawaii School of Medicine. "With a critical shortage of pediatric ophthalmologists nationwide, these emerging professionals will help fill that need."