EYE CARE GROUP - Key Persons
Dr. Ando specializes in comprehensive eye exams and contact lens evaluations with a particular interest in the diagnosis and management of diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, macular degeneration, refractive and cataract surgery post-operative care. Born and raised in southern California, she completed her undergraduate studies at the University of California Los Angeles with degrees in Neuroscience and Japanese. She graduated from University of Southern California with a Master of Science in Global Medicine, and obtained her Doctor of Optometry degree at the New England College of Optometry. She then completed her optometry residency at the Newington Veterans Affairs hospital. Dr. Ando is a member of the American Academy of Optometry and Connecticut Association of Optometrists. She has worked closely with corneal, retinal, and glaucoma specialists during her academic and residency training. She also has experience in specialty contact lenses.
Dr. Nguyen is a board-certified ophthalmologist that specializes in the medical and surgical management of glaucoma, cataract surgery, and premium intraocular lens implantation. He grew up in West Palm Beach, Florida and went to undergraduate college at the University of Florida. He attended medical school at Washington University in St. Louis and completed his residency in ophthalmology at Yale University. He then went on to complete fellowship training in glaucoma at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute. He is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the American Glaucoma Society, and the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery. He has published numerous papers in several internationally recognized journals.
Dr. Levada is a pediatric ophthalmologist with an interest in adult eye muscle disorders. He came to Connecticut following his residency in Ophthalmology and Fellowship in Pediatric Ophthalmology at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute. He graduated with a degree in Physics from Princeton University and attended Harvard Medical School. Dr. Levada is a Fellow of the American Board of Ophthalmology, the American College of Surgeons, and the American Academy of Pediatrics and a Diplomate of the American Board of Internal Medicine. He is a member of the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus and the American Academy of Ophthalmology. He is past president of the Connecticut Society of Eye Physicians and has served as Section Chief of Ophthalmology at St. Mary's Hospital.
Dr. Levada was the first investigator in New England to use Botox® which was pioneered to treat eye muscle problems. As an Associate Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology at the Yale Department of Ophthalmology, he trained ophthalmology residents for many years. He was a founding member of the Pediatric Eye Disease Investigator Group participating in a number of National Eye Institute multi-center trials designed to advance the state-of-the-art of strabismus and lazy eye treatment.
Job Titles:
- Associate Clinical Professor at the Yale University School of Medicine
Dr. Aron Rose is an Associate Clinical Professor at the Yale University School of Medicine and the Yale University School of Nursing. He Chairs the Bioethics Committee for Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment in sub-Saharan Africa, a White House Initiative, and teaches at the Yale Interdisciplinary Center for Bioethics.
Dr. Rose has lectured and taught throughout the United States, Europe, Central Asia, India, the Far East, and Africa. He was the youngest invited faculty member of the prestigious international flying eye hospital Project Orbis in1989. He then served as Director of Residency Training at the Yale Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, where he designed and implemented the surgical training curriculum. He also has served as section editor for Techniques in Ophthalmology, published widely in the peer review literature, consulted for emerging surgical technology, and served as primary investigator for numerous clinical research projects.
Dr. Rose graduated cum laude from Brown University, earned his medical degree at New York Medical College, and his specialty training at The Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City. His peers and patients have repeatedly honored him with inclusion in Best Doctors in Connecticut, Best Doctors in America, and Marquis' Who's Who in the World.
Job Titles:
- Billing and Third Party Administration
Dr. Craig Sklar, a specialist in diseases and surgery of the retina and vitreous, received his undergraduate degree from Haverford College where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. He is a graduate of the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine. After completing his residency in the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science at Yale University School of Medicine,
Dr. Sklar pursued advanced training in vitreoretinal diseases and surgery at Harvard University, the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, and the Joslin Clinic. He has since lectured extensively on retinal disease. Dr. Sklar has been listed as one of the "Best Doctors in America" for over 10 years and has been recognized by the New York Eye Bank for his work in establishing an eye donation program.
Dr. Sklar is an Associate Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology at Yale University School of
Medicine. He is president of both the Connecticut Retina Association and the Yale Alumni in
Ophthalmology Association. Dr. Sklar has also served on the Executive Committee of the Connecticut Society of Eye Physicians. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Medical Association and a member of the American Society of Retina Specialists.
Dr. Sklar is an avid Mets, Knicks and Jets fan. He serves on the Boards of several charitable organizations. He enjoys family life with his wife, grown children, and rescue dog.
Job Titles:
- Director Patient Services
Dr. Danielle Rudich is a board certified ophthalmologist who specializes in neuro-ophthalmology as well as comprehensive ophthalmology. A native of Fairfield, Connecticut, she graduated summa cum laude from Barnard College, and is a graduate of The University of Connecticut School of Medicine. She completed her ophthalmology residency at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York, followed by a subspecialty fellowship in neuro-ophthalmology at Columbia University Medical Center. She has authored multiple peer-reviewed articles and textbook chapters, and is a member of both the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the North American Neuro-Ophthalmology Society.
Job Titles:
- Fellow of the American Board of Ophthalmology
Dr. Cinthia Covey is a board-certified ophthalmologist practicing general ophthalmology with a particular interest in small incision cataract surgery and the treatment of glaucoma. She received her undergraduate degree with honors from Harvard University and then graduated from Yale University School of Medicine, where she was elected to the medical honor society, Alpha Omega Alpha. She completed her ophthalmology residency at the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science at Yale. Dr. Covey joined The Eye Care Group in 2008.
Dr. Covey is a fellow of the American Board of Ophthalmology and a member of the Connecticut Society of Eye Physicians.
Job Titles:
- Director Clinical Operations
Job Titles:
- Director Surgical Department
Job Titles:
- Fellow of the American Academy of Ophthalmology
Dr. Joel Geffin is a Board Certified ophthalmologist and fellowship trained in both corneal surgery and refractive surgery. Dr. Geffin's special surgical skills include LASIK, corneal transplantation, and cataract surgery. Dr. Geffin received his undergraduate degree with honors from the University of Chicago and his medical degree from the University of Pittsburgh. He completed his ophthalmology residency training at Boston University School of Medicine. Dr. Geffin then went on to California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco where he specialized in corneal and refractive surgery during his fellowship.
Dr. Geffin is a fellow of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and a member of the Connecticut Society of Eye Physicians. He is a past President and currently on the Board of the New England Ophthalmological Society. Dr. Geffin continues to do extensive research in dry eye disease and has published academic papers on the subject. He also authored a chapter in a major ophthalmic textbook.
Job Titles:
- Fellow of the American Academy of Ophthalmology
- Specialist
Dr. Silbert, a specialist in plastic and reconstructive surgery of the eyelids, orbits, face and lacrimal system, grew up in the St. Louis area. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of California, Berkeley in 1990 and returned to St. Louis where he obtained a combined medical and master's degree from Washington University in 1995. Subsequently, he completed his internship and Ophthalmology residency at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. He went on to complete a fellowship in oculoplastic and reconstructive surgery at the University of Oklahoma Dean A. McGee Eye Institute prior to joining The Eye Care Group in 2002.
Dr. Silbert is a fellow of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and has regularly participated as an Oculoplastic course instructor at the Academy's annual meeting. He is a member of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology and the Connecticut Society of Eye Physicians. Since 2002, Dr. Silbert has also been a Clinical Instructor in the Yale Department of Ophthalmology, and for the last 10 years, he has been Section Chief of the Department of Ophthalmology at St. Mary's Hospital in Waterbury.
Dr. Andrews specializes in pediatric eye care, adult motility disorders, and comprehensive ophthalmology. Laura was raised in Upstate New York and received her undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan. After graduating Magna Cum Laude from SUNY Upstate Medical University, she completed her residency in ophthalmology at the University of Maryland. Her ophthalmology training was followed by a fellowship in Pediatric Ophthalmology and Adult Strabismus at Children's National Medical Center in Washington, D.C. Dr. Andrews is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Academy of Pediatric Ophthalmology and Adult Strabismus. She is a knowledgeable physician and skilled surgeon who strives for excellence in her patient care.
Job Titles:
- Clinical Studies Administrator
Dr. Kim specializes in cornea as well as comprehensive ophthalmology. She has a particular interest in the treatment of dry eye and performing cataract surgery. A native of Ridgewood, NJ, she received her undergraduate degree from Columbia University and her medical degree from George Washington University School of Medicine. After completing ophthalmology residency training at Brown University's Warren Alpert Medical School, she went on to pursue fellowship training in Corneal, Cataract, and Refractive Surgery at Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York City. Dr. Kim is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery and Women in Ophthalmology.
Dr. Peter Branden joined The Eye Care Group in 1991. He specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma and also has a significant practice focus on routine and complex cataract surgery, particularly in the presence of glaucoma.
He is an Assistant Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology at Yale and Attending Consultant at the Glaucoma Clinic at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in West Haven, CT, where he has been teaching Yale residents for over 25 years.
He is a founding member of the Connecticut Glaucoma Society, former member of the Executive Board of the Connecticut Society of Eye Physicians and is a board-certified fellow of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, AMA, and American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery. Dr. Branden has volunteered in Nigeria with Orbis International, teaching local ophthalmologists techniques of glaucoma diagnosis and medical and surgical treatments.
He graduated with honors from Johns Hopkins University, received his medical degree at Columbia University, completed his ophthalmology residency at George Washington University Medical Center in Washington, D.C. and pursued advanced subspecialty glaucoma fellowship training at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute in Miami. Dr. Branden is consistently recognized by his peers yearly as one of the Best Doctors in America and Top Doctors in Connecticut.
Dr. Lesser obtained his medical degree from Weill Cornell University Medical College and his Bachelor of Science degree from Queens College, City University of New York. He completed his ophthalmology residency at Yale University in the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science and did additional training in Neuro-Ophthalmology at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute in Miami, Florida. He is a Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Science and Neurology at Yale and Clinical Professor of Neurology and Neurosurgery at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine.
Dr. Lesser was on the editorial board of the Journal of Neuro-Ophthalmology and is the former Chief of Neuro-Ophthalmology at Yale. He is a recipient of the American Academy of Ophthalmology Honor and Senior Honor Award and has been listed in many different publications as one of the "Best Doctors in America." He has written and published many articles and textbook chapters and continues to speak at various meetings across the country. Dr. Lesser is a fellow of the North American Neuro-Ophthalmology Society, the American Academy of Ophthalmology and former president of Yale Alumni in Ophthalmology. He has received the Excellence in Clinical Teaching Award from the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science at Yale four separate times.
Dr. Hersh joined the Eye Care Group after completion of training in Ophthalmology at Yale New Haven Hospital. Dr. Hersh is an honors graduate of Chicago Medical School and is an Assistant Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology at Yale University School of Medicine. He is pastdirector of the Yale Residents Glaucoma Clinic at the West Haven Veteran's Medical Center. Dr. Hersh is former Chief of Ophthalmology at both Waterbury and St. Mary's Hospital. His specialties include glaucoma and comprehensive Ophthalmology. Dr. Hersh is board certified by the American Academy of Ophthalmolgy and is a member of the national medical honor society, Alpha Omega Alpha. He is past President of the Yale Alumni in Ophthalmology. He consistently appears on the Best Doctor list in Connecticut and the USA.
Job Titles:
- the Eye Care Group in 1992 As a Specialist
Dr. Stephanie Sugin joined The Eye Care Group in 1992 as a specialist in medical and surgical diseases of the retina and vitreous. She received her undergraduate degree from Northwestern University's Honors Program in Medical Education. She went on to graduate with honors from Northwestern University Medical School, after which she completed an ophthalmology residency at Northwestern. She went on to pursue advanced subspecialty training in vitreo-retinal diseases and surgery at the Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital where she was awarded a Heed Fellowship. Dr. Sugin is a board certified fellow of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and a fellow of the American Medical Association.
Dr. Steven Thornquist is a board certified ophthalmologist practicing pediatric ophthalmology and adult strabismus (eye turns). He received his undergraduate degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and then graduated from the University of Arizona College of Medicine, where he was elected to the medical honor society, Alpha Omega Alpha. He completed an internal medicine residency at Yale-New Haven Hospital and an ophthalmology residency at the Scheie Eye Institute of the University of Pennsylvania. His pediatric fellowship training was completed at Temple University/St. Christopher's Hospital for Children in Philadelphia.
Dr. Thornquist was recertified by the American Board of Ophthalmology in 2017, and is a fellow of the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO). He recently served as Associate Secretary for State Governmental Affairs at the AAO and is current Legislative Co-Chair of the Connecticut Society of Eye Physicians. He is a past president of the CSEP, and has long been involved with the Connecticut State Medical Society, serving as President in 2017 and 2018. He is a Clinical Instructor at Yale School of Medicine.
Dr. Cronin specializes in pediatric eye care and adult motility disorders in addition to comprehensive ophthalmology. Raised in Madison, Connecticut, she graduated from Yale University in 2000 and completed her medical school and ophthalmology residency training at the University of Pittsburgh. She joined The Eye Care Group in 2009 after completing a fellowship in pediatric ophthalmology and adult strabismus at the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh. Dr. Cronin is a board-certified member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and is a member of the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus and the Connecticut Society of Eye Physicians. As a Clinical Instructor at the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science at Yale University, she enjoys teaching the ophthalmology residents. Dr. Cronin studies the treatment of common childhood eye conditions as an investigator with the Pediatric Eye Disease Investigator Group, and has published her research on nystagmus in the Journal of the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus. She brings a warm bedside manner to her blend of diagnostic and surgical skills.
Dr. Thomas Berenberg, a board-certified ophthalmologist specializing in diseases and surgery of the retina and vitreous, received his undergraduate degree from Duke University. He completed a research award fellowship at the National Institutes of Health, studying cancer treatment vaccines before going on to receive his medical degree at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. After completing his residency in the Department of Ophthalmology at Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York City, he stayed on at Weill Cornell to pursue advanced fellowship training in vitreoretinal diseases and surgery.
Dr. Berenberg has a particular interest in the diagnosis, management, and treatment of diabetic retinal diseases, macular degeneration, epiretinal membranes, macular holes, retinal vascular disease, retinal tears, and retinal detachments. He has authored numerous peer-reviewed articles and presented his work at multiple national meetings. In addition, Dr. Berenberg has volunteered internationally in China, South America, and India, educating local physicians on medical and surgical care.
Job Titles:
- Clinical Instructor at Yale University School of Medicine
Dr. Kostina is a board-certified ophthalmologist who specializes in neuro-ophthalmology, comprehensive ophthalmology, cataract surgery, and administration of Botox® for medical and cosmetic procedures. She graduated with honors from the Medical Academy of Moscow, Russia and completed her residency in ophthalmology at SUNY Health Science Center in Brooklyn, New York.
Dr. Kostina is a Clinical Instructor at Yale University School of Medicine in the Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Science. She lectures to ophthalmology residents on various topics related to neuro-ophthalmology. Dr. Kostina is a fellow of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, and a member of the North American Neuro-Ophthalmology Society, the New England Ophthalmological Society, and the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery. She was nominated as one of America's Top Ophthalmologists in 2015 and was selected by her peers as a Best Doctor in New Haven Living Magazine for 2015-2016.