DR. PAUL T. FINGER

Dr. Paul T. Finger, MD, FACS, is an ophthalmologist, who has specialized in ocular oncology (ocular tumor, orbital disease and ophthalmic radiation therapy). A Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology at the New York University School of Medicine, he is also the director of The New York Eye Cancer Center and Ocular Tumor Services at The New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mt. Sinai. He consults for Northwell Health Complex of affiliated Hospitals including Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital. Founding The Eye Cancer Foundation, Dr. Finger has directed this charity to support international multicenter cooperation and outreach to underserved and underserved countries. As a foundational element to his international work, he has served two terms as Chair of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) Ophthalmic Oncology Task Force (OOTF) that under his guidance developed the first consensus staging system for ocular cancers which has been adopted by the Union International for Cancer Control (UICC). Similarly, Dr. Finger was invited to Chair and thus formed an OOTF for The American Brachytherapy Society (ABS) and American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) that provided international consensus guidelines for ophthalmic plaque brachytherapy for choroidal melanoma and retinoblastoma. In recognition of his expertise in ophthalmic radiation therapy and medical physics, Dr. Finger was the first ophthalmologist to ever serve on an AAPM Task Group-129 (TG-129) that produced both dosimetry and quality assurance standards for plaque brachytherapy. Read More

Recognizing the need to address the relatively unchecked worldwide mortality associated with the most common intraocular malignancy in children, Dr. Finger's has dedicated his time and support to develop fellowship programs directed at providing retinoblastoma specialists for underserved and unserved countries. Toward this aim, The Eye Cancer Foundation has funded fellowship education programs around the world. Confronted by the COVID-19 epidemic impeding this work, Dr. Finger and The Eye Cancer Foundation Board reached out to Dr. Yacoub Yousef to lead the International Retinoblastoma Comprehensive Course. Email: Pfinger@eyecancer.com

DR. YACOUB A. YOUSEF

Dr. Yacoub A. Yousef has created the leading ocular oncology training service in the Middle East, supported (in part) by The Eye Cancer Foundation, Dr. Yousef heads the Retinoblastoma Service and the Ocular Oncology Unit at King Hussein Cancer Center (Amman, Jordan). He completed his basic medical education from The University of Jordan, and The Higher Specialization in Ophthalmology from The Jordan University Hospital. He completed his fellowship in Ocular Tumor, Orbital Disease and Ophthalmic Radiation Therapy at The New York Eye Cancer Center (NY, USA) followed by a fellowship in Retinoblastoma and Ocular Oncology at University of Toronto (Canada) under supervision of the world leaders in the field Dr. Paul Finger and Dr. Brenda Gallie. Since, 2012, Dr. Yousef has been caring for eye cancer patients, teaching and publishing research as faculty at King Hussein Cancer Centre. Read More

In collaboration with The Eye Cancer Foundation and the ICO, he established the first ocular oncology fellowship program at the King Hussein Cancer Center and subsequently trained ophthalmologists interested in retinoblastoma from previously unserved and underserved countries all over the middle east. Dr. Yousef's research interests have included retinoblastoma, ocular melanoma, and ocular surface neoplasia. At the time of this writing, Dr. Yousef has published 65 peer-reviewed journal publications, has delivered more than 50 conference lectures, and multiple educational courses. Dr. Yousef appreciated the need for a consensus retinoblastoma course that could serve as a foundational element for subsequent clinical training, he has formed and directed the International Retinoblastoma Comprehensive Course Email: Yyousef@khcc.jo

DR. SWATHI KALIKI

Dr. Swathi Kaliki is an internationally recognized Ocular Oncologist. She currently heads the Operation Eyesight Universal Institute for Eye Cancer and the Ophthalmic Plastic Services at LV Prasad Eye Institute, India. She completed her basic medical education from Rajiv Gandhi University of Medical Sciences, Bangalore and M.S. Ophthalmology from NTR University of Health Sciences, Hyderabad. She completed her fellowship in Oculoplasty at LV Prasad Eye Institute in 2010. She was later trained in Ocular Oncology by the World leaders, Dr Jerry Shields and Dr Carol Shields at Wills Eye Institute, Philadelphia, USA in 2011. She was also trained in Ocular pathology by the World-renowned ocular pathologist Dr Ralph Eagle Jr at Wills Eye Institute, Philadelphia, USA in 2012. She then joined as a faculty at LV Prasad Eye Institute since 2013. Read More

She is a recipient of many prestigious awards, and she has contributed extensively to the field of ocular oncology along with description of new conditions such as nodulo-ulcerative ocular surface squamous neoplasia. Her areas of research include retinoblastoma, ocular surface squamous neoplasia, and sebaceous gland carcinoma among many other ocular and periocular tumors. She is an Ocular Oncology Section Editor for 3 International journals and a reviewer for 20+ major journals. At the time of this writing, she has to her credit 212 publications in peer-reviewed journals and has delivered 256 conference lectures including 3 keynote addresses. She has conducted 17 instruction courses and has been honored by 16 national and international awards. Email: swathikaliki@lvpei.org

DR. SAIMA AMINE

Dr. Saima Amin, MD is recognized as a Pediatric Ophthalmologist in Pakistan. She is heading the department of Pediatric Ophthalmology and Pediatric Ocular Oncology services at the Layton Rehmatullah Benevolent Trust Karachi, Pakistan. Saima completed her basic Ophthalmology training and fellowship in Pediatric Ophthalmology by the College of Physician and Surgeon Pakistan. She further underwent fellowship training (supported by The Eye Cancer Foundation and the International Council of Ophthalmology) in Ocular Oncology at the King Hussein Cancer Center, Jordan. Saima is the first recognized ocular oncologist in Pakistan, and is offering pediatric ocular oncology services to all the major governmental and nonprofit organizations. Email: ophthalmologist2016@gmail.com

DR. ANKIT S. TOMAR

Dr. Ankit Singh Tomar is an Ocular Oncology and Oculoplastics specialist from India. He has completed his medical degree from Seth G. S. Medical College, Mumbai, and Ophthalmology residency from All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi. He has completed two ophthalmic oncology fellowships, first in Oculoplastics and Ocular Oncology at the Center for Sight under Dr. Santosh Honavar, Hyderabad, India and the Ocular tumor, Orbital disease and Ophthalmic radiation therapy at The New York Eye Cancer Center under Dr. Paul T. Finger, New York. His research work with the American Joint Committee on Cancer - Ophthalmic Oncology Task Force on the multicenter international registry has improved retinoblastoma staging and answered important questions about the diagnosis and management of retinoblastoma. Email: atomar@eyecancer.com

DR. IDO DIDI FABIAN

Dr. Ido Didi Fabian received his MD from the Technion, Israel. He trained in ophthalmology at Sheba Medical Center, where he now serves as a consultant ocular oncologist. In 2014, he joined the London Ocular Oncology Service for a three-year eye cancer fellowship program. Dr. Fabian is also affiliated to the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, and serves as the principal investigator of the Rb-NET. He founded in 2017 the Global Retinoblastoma Study Group with nearly 500 collaborators from 130 countries, and initiated the Rb-NET MDT Project in 2020, to assist retinoblastoma treatment centers from low- and middle-income countries. Email: didi@didifabian.com

DR. SONAL P. YADAV

Dr Sonal P. Yadav is a consultant ophthalmic plastic surgeon, orbit and ocular oncologist working in PBMA’s H. V. Desai Eye Hospital, Pune, India. She has completed her fellowship in ocular tumor, orbital diseases and ophthalmic radiation therapy at The New York Eye Cancer Center, New York, USA (2016-17) after completing a fellowship in ophthalmic plastic surgery and ocular oncology at the Centre For Sight Super-Specialty Eye Hospital, Hyderabad (2015-16). She graduated with M.B.B.S. from Seth G. S. Medical College and K.E.M. Hospital, Mumbai in 2010 and then received her post-graduate training in Ophthalmology (M.S.) at the Govt. Medical College and Hospital, Aurangabad, where she was ranked 3rd in Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (M.U.H.S.) in 2013. Read More

Her areas of specialty include management and clinical research in intraocular tumors with special interest in retinoblastoma and uveal melanoma, ocular surface, eyelid, and orbital tumors as well as functional ophthalmic plastic surgery and diseases of lacrimal apparatus. She has published in numerous articles in peer reviewed journals and authored chapters in reference textbooks. She has also presented many papers at various national and international conferences where her work has been well appreciated. She has been the editor and co-author of recently published book titled ‘Surgical Ophthalmic Oncology- A Collaborative Open Access Reference’- Springer. She was awarded the prestigious ‘Ophthalmic Hero of India’ award for her international accolades at the 75th All India Ophthalmology Conference (AIOC) in 2017. She has been a recipient of Tano Yusuf travel grant for young ophthalmologists by Annual Asia-Pacific Association of Ophthalmology (APAO) Conference in 2016 as well as The Eye Cancer Foundation (ECF) travel grant for presentations at International Society of Ocular Oncology (ISOO) meetings in Paris (2015) and Sydney (2017). Email: sonal.yadav@hvdeh.org

DR. SAMEH SOLIMAN

Dr. Sameh Soliman is an Associate Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Alexandria, Egypt. After completing his ophthalmology residency in Alexandria Egypt in 2007, he was interested in pediatric ophthalmology with major focus on retinoblastoma. He embarked a professional improvement journey spanning across Egypt, Switzerland and Canada under the supervision of well-known worldwide mentors including Dr. Brenda Gallie, Dr. Francis Munier and Dr. Nihal Elshakankiry. He obtained both master’s degree and Ph.D. in Ophthalmology in 2007 and 2012 respectively. He has conducted clinical research throughout his career, studying meticulously his outcomes from different angles and setting guidelines on how to proceed efficiently leading to many research projects and over 35 peer reviewed publications. Email: samehelsayedsoliman@yahoo.com