William Gahl is a Medical Genetics specialist and a Pediatrics provider in Bethesda, Maryland. Dr. Gahl is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Coloboma. His top areas of expertise are Oculocutaneous Albinism Type 2, Hermansky-Pudlak Syndrome, Oculocutaneous Albinism Type 1, Oculocutaneous Albinism, and Deep Brain Stimulation.

Dr. Nara Lygia De Macena Sobreira is an assistant professor at the McKusick-Nathans Department of Genetic Medicine at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Her area of expertise is rare Mendelian phenotypes, analysis of next-generation sequencing, and functional testing of candidate causative variants. She earned her M.D. at the University of Pernambuco in Brazil. She finished her Ph.D. in Human Genetics at Johns Hopkins followed by a one-year postdoc also at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. During her Ph.D., she worked with Dr. David Valle using next-generation sequencing to elucidate the molecular basis of rare Mendelian phenotypes and in 2010 she discovered PTPN11 as the gene responsible for metachondromatosis by using whole-genome sequencing. She completed residencies in clinical genetics at both Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo and Johns Hopkins. Her main clinical and research focus is on identifying the genetic bases of rare phenotypes, mainly, phenotypes associated with cartilage tumors and vascular anomalies (including Ollier disease and Maffucci syndrome), and on understanding the physiopathology of these phenotypes to identify pharmacological strategies to treat them. She has worked extensively on developing strategies to better analyze the variants identified by next-generation sequencing and on novel strategies for data sharing. She participated on the development of PhenoDB, a phenotypic and genomic database, and created PhenoDB Variant Analysis Tool used worldwide. She is also one of the creators of GeneMatcher, VariantMatcher, and one of the co-founders of the Matchmaker Exchange, all intended to share next-generation sequencing data. She has also worked extensively on functional studies that evaluate the possible pathogenic effects of the candidate causative variants. Recent News Articles and Media Coverage Living the Hopkins Mission Honorees, Johns Hopkins Medicine Successes in Characterizing Genes through GeneMatcher with Nara L. M. Sobreira, MD, PhD, Ambry Genetics (April 30, 2018) Enfermedades raras: el desafio es encontrar otros pacientes que tienen el mismo mal, Lun (26 de septiembre de 2019) 2021 Science Writers' Boot Camp, Johns Hopkins Medicine (June 7, 2021) Making the Perfect Match, Johns Hopkins Medicine (February 1, 2020). Dr. De Macena Sobreira is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Coloboma. Her top areas of expertise are Spondyloepimetaphyseal Dysplasia Strudwick Type, Greenberg Dysplasia, Blepharophimosis, and Early Infantile Epileptic Encephalopathy.

Dr. Couser obtained his bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia and his Medical Doctorate from the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine (VCU SOM). Dr. Couser’s ophthalmology residency was completed at Howard University where he served as co-chief resident in the last year of his residency. He received fellowship training in pediatric ophthalmology and adult strabismus at Emory University. Dr. Couser received a master’s degree in biotechnology from the Johns Hopkins University and completed a residency in clinical genetics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is one of only a few individuals currently board-certified by both the American Board of Ophthalmology and the American Board of Medical Genetics and Genomics. CV https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/-/media/wilmer/documents/cvs/couser-cv Research Summary My primary research focus involves the identification and management of genetic eye diseases including rare inherited disorders affecting the eyes. Research and scholarly activities have been an integral component of my career path. I have been the principal investigator on 10 clinical trial/IRB studies and a co-investigator on others, participated with several committees or advisory panels related to research activities. I have been credited with over 120 book chapter, journal article and abstract publications. In addition, I served as the primary author/sole editor for a textbook titled Ophthalmic Genetic Diseases: A Quick Reference Guide to the Eye and External Ocular Adnexa Abnormalities, 1st Edition, published by Elsevier in 2018, which is one of only a few textbooks published in this subject area. I also served as a grant review panelist for the National Eye Institute Career Development Awards. Selected Publications *Couser NL, Masood MM, Strande NT, Foreman AKM, Crooks K, Weck KE, Lu M, Wilhelmsen KC, Roche M, Evans JP, Berg JS, Powell CM. 2015. The phenotype of multiple congenital anomalies- hypotonia-seizures syndrome 1: Report and review. Am J Med Genet Part A 9999A:1–6 *Couser NL, Lambert SR. Botulinum toxin: A treatment of consecutive esotropia in children. Strabismus 2012; 20(4):158-161 Couser NL, Lenhart PD, Hutchinson AK. Augmented Hummelsheim procedure to treat complete abducens nerve palsy. J AAPOS 2012;16(4):331-5 *Natario L. Couser, Maheer M. Masood, Arthur S. Aylsworth, and Roger E. Stevenson. Ocular manifestations in the X-linked intellectual disability syndromes. Ophthalmic Genet. 2017, Jan 23:1-12 *Couser NL, Brooks BP, Drack AV, Shankar SP. The evolving role of genetics in ophthalmology. Ophthalmic Genet. 2021 Jan 12:1-4. doi: 10.1080/13816810.2020.1868011. Dr. Couser is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Coloboma. His top areas of expertise are Epicanthal Folds, Strabismus, Brown Syndrome, and Hypotonia.

Emily Li, M.D., is an oculoplastic and reconstructive surgeon at the Wilmer Eye Institute’s locations in Water’s Edge, White Marsh and Baltimore, Maryland. Dr. Li specializes in functional and cosmetic surgeries of the eyelids, forehead and face. She also performs surgeries of the tear drainage system, surgeries in the eye socket and endoscopic procedures. She has experience treating patients of all ages, ranging from children to adult patients having oculoplastic surgery. After earning undergraduate and medical degrees from the eight-year combined baccalaureate-medical Program in Liberal Medical Education (PLME) at Brown University, Dr. Li completed ophthalmology residency training at Yale University. She subsequently underwent subspecialty training by completing the American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ASOPRS) fellowship at the University of Washington. Dr. Li is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Coloboma. Her top areas of expertise are Orbital Cellulitis, Periorbital Cellulitis, Ptosis, Eyelid Drooping, and Tissue Biopsy.

Ashley Behrens, M.D., is the Edward St. John Professor in Ophthalmology and chief of the comprehensive ophthalmology division at the Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins Medicine. He specializes in the medical and surgical management of cataracts and corneal diseases, including corneal transplantation techniques for Fuchs’ dystrophy and keratoconus, as well as LASIK, PRK and refractive lens exchange. Dr. Behrens received his medical degree from the Universidad Central de Venezuela in Caracas, and completed his ophthalmology residency and fellowship training at the Francisco Risquez Hospital. He completed additional fellowships at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg in Germany, where he obtained his German Doctorate with Magna Cum Laude Distinction, and then at the University of Southern California and the University of California, Irvine. Dr. Behrens joined the Wilmer faculty in 2003, and served as executive medical director at the King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital (KKESH), Wilmer’s affiliate hospital in Saudi Arabia, from July 2010 through August 2014. Dr. Behrens is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Coloboma. His top areas of expertise are Interstitial Keratitis, Cataract, Optic Atrophy Type 1, Vitrectomy, and Cataract Removal.

Lan Chang is an Ophthalmologist in Kensington, Maryland. Dr. Chang is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Coloboma. Her top areas of expertise are Strabismus, Esotropia, Amblyopia, and Epicanthal Folds.

Irene Maumenee is an Ophthalmologist in Lutherville, Maryland. Dr. Maumenee is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Coloboma. Her top areas of expertise are Knobloch Syndrome, Micropthalmia Associated with Colobomatous Cyst, Leber Congenital Amaurosis, and Microphthalmia.

Kimberly Neutze-Heaney is an Ophthalmologist in Baltimore, Maryland. Dr. Neutze-Heaney is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Coloboma. Her top areas of expertise are Amblyopia, Strabismus, Astigmatism, and Nearsightedness. Dr. Neutze-Heaney is currently accepting new patients.

Gonzalo Vicente is an Ophthalmologist and a Pediatrics provider in Chevy Chase, Maryland. Dr. Vicente is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Coloboma. His top areas of expertise are Strabismus, Esotropia, Amblyopia, and Isolated Duane Retraction Syndrome. Dr. Vicente is currently accepting new patients.

Mark Preslan is an Ophthalmologist in Glen Burnie, Maryland. Dr. Preslan is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Coloboma. His top areas of expertise are Strabismus, Amblyopia, X-Linked Infantile Nystagmus, and Esotropia. Dr. Preslan is currently accepting new patients.

Arturo Betancourt is an Ophthalmologist in Glen Burnie, Maryland. Dr. Betancourt is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Coloboma. His top areas of expertise are Cataract, Dry Eye Syndrome, Glaucoma, Blepharitis, and Cataract Removal. Dr. Betancourt is currently accepting new patients.

Jonathan Solomon is an Ophthalmologist in Bowie, Maryland. Dr. Solomon is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Coloboma. His top areas of expertise are Astigmatism, Cataract, Dry Eye Syndrome, Cataract Removal, and Iridectomy. Dr. Solomon is currently accepting new patients.

Sidney Schechet is an Ophthalmologist in Baltimore, Maryland. Dr. Schechet is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Coloboma. His top areas of expertise are Age-Related Macular Degeneration (ARMD), Late-Onset Retinal Degeneration, Diabetic Retinopathy, Retinal Detachment, and Vitrectomy. Dr. Schechet is currently accepting new patients.

Janet Alexander is an Ophthalmologist and a General Surgeon in Baltimore, Maryland. Dr. Alexander is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Coloboma. Her top areas of expertise are Congenital Cataract, Retinopathy of Prematurity, Amblyopia, Trabeculectomy, and Cataract Removal. Dr. Alexander is currently accepting new patients.

Pim Suwannarat is a Medical Genetics specialist and a Pediatrics provider in Frederick, Maryland. Dr. Suwannarat is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Coloboma. Her top areas of expertise are Triple X Syndrome, Classic Galactosemia, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), and Chromosome 10q Deletion. Dr. Suwannarat is currently accepting new patients.

Joseph Mekhail is an Ophthalmologist in Greenbelt, Maryland. Dr. Mekhail is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Coloboma. His top areas of expertise are Keratoconus, Cataract, Meibomianitis, Pterygium, and Corneal Transplant. Dr. Mekhail is currently accepting new patients.

Alisa Thavikulwat is an Ophthalmologist in Glenn Dale, Maryland. Dr. Thavikulwat is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Coloboma. Her top areas of expertise are Geographic Atrophy, Age-Related Macular Degeneration (ARMD), Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) Syndrome, Late-Onset Retinal Degeneration, and Cataract Removal. Dr. Thavikulwat is currently accepting new patients.

Daniel Sarezky is an Ophthalmologist in Rockville, Maryland. Dr. Sarezky is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Coloboma. His top areas of expertise are Glaucoma, Blepharitis, Cataract, Vitrectomy, and Corneal Transplant. Dr. Sarezky is currently accepting new patients.

Sunil Bellur is an Ophthalmologist in Greenbelt, Maryland. Dr. Bellur is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Coloboma. His top areas of expertise are Uveitis, Geographic Atrophy, Late-Onset Retinal Degeneration, Age-Related Macular Degeneration (ARMD), and Vitrectomy. Dr. Bellur is currently accepting new patients.

Jana Friedman is an Ophthalmologist in Baltimore, Maryland. Dr. Friedman is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Coloboma. Her top areas of expertise are Strabismus, Amblyopia, Esotropia, and Epicanthal Folds. Dr. Friedman is currently accepting new patients.