The 2024 ophthalmology residency class for the Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins Medicine, is a dynamic one. This is the second class in Wilmer’s 99-year history to be comprised of all women. During their residency, these trailblazing women have been recognized both at Wilmer and nationally for their leadership, patient advocacy and work in the field.

For example, in both 2023 and 2024, Sidra Zafar, M.D., was awarded Wilmer’s House Staff Teaching Award for her work assisting Wilmer’s residents, and last month, Hannah Schultz, M.D., was recognized with the Wilmer Resident Patient Advocacy Award. In 2023, Anu Sopeyin, M.D., was honored by the National Medical Association as the Robert A. Copeland Jr., M.D., Fellow for her work to grow the number of minorities in both ophthalmology and the medical field at large. That same year, Moon Lee, M.D., was a recipient of the first Visionary in Eye Care Resident Recognition Award at the EyeCon conference.

Before their graduation, I caught up with the women of the class of 2024 to discuss what they learned during their time at the institute, their most notable experience and what’s next for them in their career.

Moon Lee, M.D.

What is something you learned at Wilmer?

Among countless other things, Wilmer has taught me the importance of lifelong learning and curiosity. To become the best ophthalmologist I can be, I will continue to ask questions and learn from my patients and fellow physician-scientists.

What most impressed you about Wilmer?

I was most impressed by how dedicated the faculty was in the personal and professional growth of trainees. Despite their numerous commitments to patient care and research, all my clinical, surgical and research mentors have been incredibly invested in helping me grow and become a better ophthalmologist. The mentors I’ve found at Wilmer will undoubtedly serve as lifelong mentors and role models.

What was your best experience at Wilmer?

My best experience was the ability to care for my patients longitudinally in the resident continuity clinic. I’ve learned an immense amount from my patients on not only complex ophthalmic conditions, but also on how to be a better, more empathetic physician. The opportunity to help improve patients’ vision through surgery and witnessing the profound impact it had on their lives was extremely rewarding.

What’s next for you?

I am excited to start my glaucoma fellowship at Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

What will you miss about Wilmer?

The people! From my co-residents to the faculty and OR and clinic staff, I will miss working with this unique group of incredibly driven, compassionate and supportive people.

Hannah Schultz, M.D.

What is something you learned at Wilmer? 

I have learned so much at Wilmer that it’s hard to pick just one! However, I am most proud to have learned how to go above and beyond to advocate for my patients.

What impressed you about Wilmer?

Not only am I inspired by the dedication of Wilmer faculty to excellent patient care and advancing research, but also its commitment to resident education. We have the privilege to learn from leaders of the field, who are deeply committed to teaching us the complexities of eye pathology as well as how to be compassionate clinicians. I am grateful that they have taught me how to provide excellent care for our future patients. 

What was your best experience at Wilmer?

Some of my best memories are the bonds I formed in the resident community clinic. We have the unique opportunity to care for the same patients over the course of our training, and I have known many of my patients since my first days of residency. It has been incredibly rewarding to learn not only about my patients’ eyes, but also about their families and lives. I am supremely grateful to them for entrusting me with their vision care.

What’s next for you?

I am excited to start my American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery fellowship in oculoplastics surgery in the Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences.

What will you miss about Wilmer? 

The people. My mentors, the chiefs, the staff and, most importantly, my co-residents. They are the most brilliant, motivated, caring and fun group of individuals I have met. They have supported me unconditionally throughout the highs and lows of residency and have kept me laughing even during the more challenging times. They have become my second family, and I am so grateful they will be my close colleagues throughout our careers.

Anu Sopeyin, M.D.

What is something you learned at Wilmer?

In addition to mastering how to diagnose and treat a range of ophthalmological conditions, I learned the importance of taking responsibility for the care of patients, with particular care taken to ensure that they had access to the appropriate follow-up care. 

What most impressed you about Wilmer?

The number of resources available across the different subspecialties in clinical, surgical and academic ophthalmology is one of the most laudable aspects of Wilmer. 

What was your best experience at Wilmer?

My favorite moments at Wilmer were centered around patients who had received life-enhancing care due to vision-restoring clinical and surgical treatment.

What’s next for you?

I’m headed on to a medical and surgical retina fellowship here at Wilmer!

What are you most looking forward to while staying at Wilmer?

Easy access to a wide range of colleagues in other ophthalmology subspecialties is invaluable. What makes it even more special is when those colleagues are prominent figures in their respective areas of expertise.

Sidra Zafar, M.D.

What is something you learned at Wilmer?

Being at Wilmer was a wonderful experience. While there were many different things this place taught me, one thing that will stay with me is taking ownership of your patients and going the extra mile for them to ensure they receive the care they need.

What most impressed you about Wilmer?

So many things! But the highlight must be the cordiality of my colleagues, the faculty and the staff. Also, the faculty members’ curiosity to continue learning despite all the incredible accomplishments they have made throughout their careers also made a strong impression on me.

What was your best experience at Wilmer?

I think just being able to help patients see better, especially following surgery. It was often incredibly rewarding to see the joy on my patients’ faces, and you feel that you have made a small contribution in their lives.

What’s next for you?

I will be going for a two-year vitreoretinal fellowship at Wills Eye Hospital before returning to Wilmer as assistant chief of service.

What will you miss about Wilmer?

The people — everyone from my coresidents, the staff and faculty.