Physicians and Faculty

Full-time faculty for the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences

Interim Chairman
Harry M. Engel, MD

Professors
Ronald M. Burde, MD(Emeritus), Neurological Surgery*, Neurology*
Ales Cvekl, PhD, Molecular Genetics*

Associate Professors

Assistant Professors

Associate Clinical Professor
Simeon Lauer, M.D.
Christian Wertenbaker, M.D., Neurology* 

Assistant Clinical Professors

* Joint appointments within the Albert Einstein College of Medicine.

Clinical Faculty
Harry M. Engel, M.D., Interim Chair and Residency Program Director.  Dr. Engel, a graduate of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and New York Medical College, completed his residency in ophthalmology at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.  He was a fellow in ophthalmic pathology at the Wilmer Institute of the Johns Hopkins University and then trained in vitreo-retinal diseases at the Washington University School of Medicine. Before joining our faculty, Dr. Engel directed the Retina Service at the University of Florida in Gainesville from 1984-1988.

Dr. Engel brings to the Department considerable experience in retinal and vitreous diseases, including retinal detachment surgery, vitrectomy and laser photocoagulation.  He has published widely on the mechanism of disease in retinal infections and degenerations.  His special interests lie in retinal-vascular disease, diabetic retinopathy and the rehabilitation of traumatized eyes.  Dr. Engel was elected to the Retina Society in 1987 and has served as program director since 1989.  Dr. Engel directs the Retina Service and teaches ophthalmic pathology.

Edward Baron, M.D., Chief of Ophthalmology, Jacobi Medical Center.  Dr. Baron, a graduate of SUNY Binghamton and the SUNY Downstate Medical Center, completed residency training in ophthalmology at the Affiliated Programs of New York Medical College.  He was a fellow in neuro-ophthalmology at Pennsylvania Hospital, the Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center, and the University of Pittsburgh.  Dr. Baron was a fellow in eye plastic and reconstructive surgery at the University of Cincinnati.  He oversees eye care and residency education in ophthalmology at the Jacobi Medical Center.

Daniel Chechik, M.D., Assistant Professor, Retina Service.  Dr. Chechik attended the Julliard School of Music and Yeshiva University before matriculating at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine.  After completing residency and fellowship training at the Montefiore Medical Center, he directed the Retina Service at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center in 2002 and 2003.  Dr. Chechik supervises resident training in medical and surgical diseases of the retina and vitreous.  He has special interest in the pharmacological management of diabetic retinopathy.

Ilana B. Friedman, M.D., Director, Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus.  Dr. Friedman, a graduate of Yeshiva University and the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, completed residency training in ophthalmology at the Montefiore Medical Center and fellowship training at the Manhattan Eye and Ear Infirmary.  Dr. Friedman has special interest in the management of vertical and non-comitant deviations.  Her area of expertise is strabismus and pediatric cataract surgery.  Residents assist with surgery once a week as well as spending 3 days a week in clinic.

John J. Kim, M.D., Assistant Program Director, Co-director, Cornea Service. 
Dr. Kim attended Columbia University for Post baccalaureate Premed program before matriculating at SUNY Downstate Medial Center. He completed residency training at the Bronx Lebanon Hospital and fellowship training at the Wilmer Eye Institute of the Johns Hopkins Medical Center in cornea, external diseases and refractive surgery.  Dr. Kim also holds a Master’s degree in Computer Science.

As an accomplished surgeon, Dr. Kim supervises residents and cornea fellow in advanced clinical and surgical training for cataracts and diseases of the anterior segment.  Dr. Kim’s areas of interest include complex cataract surgery, artificial corneal transplant (keratoprosthesis), and anterior segment reconstruction.  Dr. Kim is responsible for the resident and medical student education.

Gerald S. Kolbert, M.D., Associate Professor.  Dr. Kolbert has served in our department continuously since he came on staff in March 1970, with devoted attention to his teaching activities and administrative responsibilities.  Dr. Kolbert, former Clinic Chief, was instrumental in introducing modern techniques of intraocular lens implantation at Montefiore.  Dr. Kolbert oversees the Department’s quality assurance and compliance program.

Kim S. Landzberg, M.D., Assistant Clinical Professor.  After graduating Harvard University and the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Dr. Landzberg completed residency training in ophthalmology at Montefiore and fellowship training in glaucoma at the Mount Sinai Medical Center.  Dr. Landzberg is a core member of the teaching faculty, meeting with residents each Friday afternoon to review problem clinical cases and the residents’ basic course of study.  Her special expertise is in the management of complicated cataracts and narrow angle structures.

Simeon Lauer, M.D., Associate Clinical Professor, Director, Oculoplastics Service.  Dr. Lauer received his medical degree from the SUNY at Downstate and completed his ophthalmology residency at Montefiore.  After fellowship training in oculoplastics and reconstructive surgery in 1989-1990 at Louisiana State University, Dr. Lauer joined our faculty, and has since been a core member of the teaching faculty.  Dr. Lauer has special interest in Graves’ disease, skin and orbital tumors, and orbital surgery.

Assumpta A. Madu, M.D., Assistant Professor, Glaucoma Service.  Dr Madu received her baccalaureate and doctor of pharmacy degrees from the SUNY at Buffalo before graduating from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine.  She completed residency training in ophthalmology at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and fellowship training in glaucoma at the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary and has recently received an MBA at Pace College.  Dr. Madu also serves on the staff of the Bronx-Lebanon Hospital where she is Program Director of residency training in ophthalmology.  Her specialty interests are in residency education and early diagnosis of glaucoma.

Harvey Mandel, M.D..  Assistant Clinical Professor.  Dr. Mandel, a member of the senior faculty, provides oversight of residency education and training.  He plays a primary role in the residency selection and review process.  Dr. Mandel supervises junior residents on a weekly basis.

Martin Mayers, M.D., Associate Professor and Co-director, Cornea and External Disease Service.  Dr. Mayers, a graduate of Yeshiva University and the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, was a resident in ophthalmology at the Downstate Medical Center in New York and a fellow in corneal and external disease at the Francis I. Proctor Foundation in San Francisco. Dr. Mayers has researched the treatment of herpetic eye disease with recombinant interferon.  His current laboratory and clinical research focuses on the early diagnosis of bacterial endophthalmitis and excimer laser therapy of corneal scars.  Dr. Mayers has been the Director of the Cornea Service of Montefiore Medical Center since 1985.  He is Chairman of the Department of Ophthalmology at the Bronx-Lebanon Hospital.

Umar K. Mian, M.D., Assistant Professor, Retina Service.  Dr. Mian, a graduate of the Aga Kahn Medical College in Pakistan, completed residency training at the Bronx-Lebanon Hospital and vitreo-retinal surgical fellowship training at the Montefiore Medical Center.  He directed the Retina Service for Bronx Lebanon Hospital and for the New York Medical Group (Bronx Division) from 1997-2000.  He joined the Department’s attending staff in 2000.  Dr. Mian has special interests in the physiology of the vitreo-retinal interface and macular edema, and new techniques in retinal surgery.  As a member of the Retina Service, he has an active role in resident education and research projects as well as clinical practice.

Jeffrey S. Schultz, M.D., Associate Professor, Director, Glaucoma Service.  Dr. Schultz is a graduate of Clark University and the Mount Sinai School of Medicine. After residency at the Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, he was selected as the Harold G. Scheie Fellow at the University of Pennsylvania. His glaucoma fellowship training under Dr. Theodore Krupin emphasized the use of setons and anti-metabolites in complex filtering surgery.

Dr. Schultz brings to our Department expertise in both the diagnosis and treatment of complicated glaucomas. His recent research has focused on the significance of static perimetry in the early diagnosis and progression of glaucoma. Dr. Schultz’s special clinical interest is the management of glaucoma with thermal and photodisruptive laser techniques.

Judith E. Gurland, M.D., Associate Professor, Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus.  Dr. Gurland received her medical and residency training at the State University of New York Downstate Medical Center. After fellowship training in neuro-ophthalmology and pediatric eye disorders, she organized the pediatric ophthalmology department at the Long Island College Hospital, one of the first such pediatric eye centers in the City of New York. She subsequently organized the pediatric low vision service at the Lighthouse (New York Association for the Blind) to aid children with visual deficits in the tri-state area. After joining the clinical staff of the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary and entering private practice, she became the Director of the Low Vision Service at the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary.

In her return to full-time academic medicine, Dr. Gurland co-directs the Pediatric Ophthalmology Services at the Montefiore Medical Center, the Bronx-Lebanon Hospital and the Kennedy Center for Developmental Disabilities. She has been the consultant ophthalmologist for the New York Foundling Hospital and the Shield Institute. Dr. Gurland is also Assistant Director of the Department of Ophthalmology at the Bronx-Lebanon Hospital.

Lanny Binstock, O.D., Assistant Clinical Professor, Director, Low Vision Services.  Dr. Binstock graduated from the Pennsylvania College of Optometry and trained at the Optometric Center of New York. He has been on staff at the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary and was Chief of Optometric Services at two Health Insurance Plan (HIP) Centers. Dr. Binstock is a New York State Board Certified Low Vision Specialist and a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry.

He has been on staff at Montefiore Medical Center and the Albert Einstein College of Medicine since 1981. Currently he is Director of Low Vision Services at Montefiore and at the Kramer Low Vision Center in Yonkers. Dr. Binstock is also an optometric consultant at the Beth Abraham Hospital and Roni Taylor Nursing Home.

Marjorie J. Strelzyn, O.D., Assistant Clinical Professor and Director, Contact Lens Service.  Dr. Strelzyn graduated with honors from the State University of New York-Binghamton (Harpur College) and obtained her optometric degree at the State University of New York-College of Optometry. She has been an instructor in optometry at the Optometric Center of New York. Dr. Strelzyn is a fellow of the American Academy of Optometry, an Optometric National Board Examiner, a low vision consultant at the Mt. Lavelle School for the Blind and Visually Handicapped and an active member of the Retinitis Pigmentosa Foundation.

She has been on staff at Albert Einstein College of Medicine/Montefiore Medical Center since 1986 where she is presently Director of the Contact Lens Service.

Scott I. Afran, M.D., Assistant Clinical Professor.  Dr. Afran specializes in pediatric ophthalmology and strabismus. A graduate of the Boston University School of Medicine, he completed his residency at Montefiore Medical Center and a fellowship in pediatric ophthalmology and adult strabismus at Northwestern University.

Dr. Afran supervises the resident pediatric ophthalmology and motility clinic at the Jacobi Medical Center on a bi-weekly basis. His main interests are the management of pediatric and adult strabismus, nasolacrimal duct obstruction, and congenital cataract. Dr. Afran participates in the ophthalmology-training program on a part-time basis and also maintains a private practice in Westchester County.

Christian Wertenbaker, M.D., Associate Clinical Professor, Director, Neuro-ophthalmology.    Dr. Wertenbaker attended Harvard College and received his medical degree from the New York University School of Medicine.  He completed residency training in both neurology and ophthalmology at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine/Montefiore Medical Center and fellowship training in neuro-ophthalmology at Columbia University.  Dr. Wertenbaker, a renowned expert, supervises training and the clinical service in neuro-ophthalmology.

Basic Science Faculty

Ales Cvekl, Ph.D., Professor.  Dr. Cvekl received his Ph.D. in 1987 from the Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences and performed post-doctoral research at the National Institute of Health.  His major works have elucidated transcription factors that control lens and anterior segment development of the eye.  His recent work has dealt with crystalline organization and the Pax-6 domain producing lens opacification and mechanisms of cataractogenesis.

Scott Nawy, Ph.D., Associate Professor.  Dr. Nawy earned his Ph.D. in 1988 from the University of California, San Francisco, studying mechanisms of synaptic transmission in the neural retina. He then continued his research in the retina, earning a National Research Award to work at the Vollum Institute in Portland, Oregon. Dr. Nawy joined the Department in 1992, establishing a research laboratory at the Kennedy Center, where he has continued to pursue his interest in neurotransmitters and their mechanisms of action on neurons in the visual system.