YoungMD Connect Live

May 15–17, 2026

Austin Marriott Downtown

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A forum for the future leaders in ophthalmology.

YoungMD Connect (YMDC) Live is a 3-day meeting where individuals from all places and career stages come together to discuss what's up and coming in ophthalmology. Interactive education, expert faculty guidance, and supportive networking all take center stage, powered by the electric YMDC community and exceptionally dedicated mentors. Here's to the future!

Brought to you by Bryn Mawr Communications and YoungMD Connect.

For questions, contact us at ymdc@avenuelive.com.

YMDC photo strip

Program Chairs

Julie Schallhorn, MD, MS headshot

Julie Schallhorn, MD, MS

Arsham Sheybani, MD headshot

Arsham Sheybani, MD

Jay Sridhar, MD headshot

Jay Sridhar, MD

Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, MS headshot

Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, MS

Faculty

Ore-ofe O. Adesina, MD headshot

Ore-ofe O. Adesina, MD

Masih Ahmed, MD headshot

Masih Ahmed, MD

Julio Albarracin, MD headshot

Julio Albarracin, MD

Gio Campagna, MD headshot

Gio Campagna, MD

Steven Dell, MD (Keynote Speaker) headshot

Steven Dell, MD (Keynote Speaker)

Vikram Durairaj, MD headshot

Vikram Durairaj, MD

Brent Finklea, MD headshot

Brent Finklea, MD

Remigio J. Flor, MD headshot

Remigio J. Flor, MD

Shivani Kamat, MD headshot

Shivani Kamat, MD

James Katz, MD headshot

James Katz, MD

Kyle Kovacs, MD headshot

Kyle Kovacs, MD

Courtney Kraus, MD headshot

Courtney Kraus, MD

Ella Leung, MD headshot

Ella Leung, MD

Zaiba Malik, MD headshot

Zaiba Malik, MD

Blake Matherne, MD headshot

Blake Matherne, MD

Brett Mueller, DO, PhD, PCEO headshot

Brett Mueller, DO, PhD, PCEO

Roma Patel, MD, MBA headshot

Roma Patel, MD, MBA

Jessica Randolph, MD, FASRS headshot

Jessica Randolph, MD, FASRS

I. Paul Singh, MD headshot

I. Paul Singh, MD

Ryan G. Smith, MD headshot

Ryan G. Smith, MD

Dee Stephenson, MD headshot

Dee Stephenson, MD

Kayla Unsell, MD headshot

Kayla Unsell, MD

Zarmeena Vendal, MD headshot

Zarmeena Vendal, MD

Early Career Faculty

Arsalan Ali, MD headshot

Arsalan Ali, MD

Angela Chen, MD headshot

Angela Chen, MD

Keke Liu, MD headshot

Keke Liu, MD

Harrison Marsh, MD headshot

Harrison Marsh, MD

Geoffrey Nguyen, MD headshot

Geoffrey Nguyen, MD

Esteban Peralta, MD headshot

Esteban Peralta, MD

Cason Robbins, MD headshot

Cason Robbins, MD

Aretha Zhu, MD headshot

Aretha Zhu, MD

Agenda

FRIDAY, MAY 15

2:00–8:00 PM | Registration & Badge Pickup

5:00–6:00 PM | YMDC Live Kickoff

6:00–6:30 PM | Keynote Lecture by Steven Dell, MD 

6:30–7:00 PM | Industry Collaboration Panel

Moderated by Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, MS, and Arsham Sheybani, MD

With Representatives From AbbVie, Johnson & Johnson, and Dompé 

7:00–7:05 PM | Toast From Dompé

7:05–8:00 PM | Evening Reception, Austin Marriott Downtown

Sponsored by Dompé

SATURDAY, MAY 16

7:00 AM–4:30 PM | Registration & Badge Pickup

7:00–8:00 AM | Breakfast With the Experts 

Mastering Medical School & Beyond | Arsalan Ali, MD, and Aretha Zhu, MD

Getting Real About Residency (Table 1) | Keke Liu, MD, and Harrison Marsh, MD

Getting Real About Residency (Table 2) | Estaban Peralta, MD, and Geoffrey Nguyen, MD

Finding a Fellowship Fit | Angela Chen, MD, and Cason Robbins, MD

Starting Out in Practice | Julio Albarracin, MD, and Kayla Unsell, MD 

Global Ophthalmology | Brent Finklea, MD

What’s in a KOL? | Ryan Smith, MD; Supported by Dompé

8:10–9:30 AM | Subspecialty Showcase

Moderated by the YMDC Live Program Chairs 

8:10–8:17 AM | What Your Glaucoma Colleague Wants You to Know in 2026 | I. Paul Singh, MD  

8:22–8:29 AM | What Your Cataract/Refractive Colleague Wants You to Know in 2026 | Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, MS

8:34–8:41 AM | What Your Neuro-Ophthalmology Colleague Wants You to Know in 2026 | Ore-ofe O. Adesina, MD

8:46–8:53 AM | What Your Cornea Colleague Wants You to Know in 2026 | Ryan G. Smith, MD 

8:58–9:05 AM | What Your Oculoplastics Colleague Wants You to Know in 2026 | Vikram Durairaj, MD 

9:10–9:17 AM | What Your Retina Colleague Wants You to Know in 2026 | Jessica Randolph, MD 

9:22–9:29 AM | What Your Pediatrics Colleague Wants You to Know in 2026 | Courtney Kraus, MD

9:30–9:50 AM | Clinical Development Session

Sponsored by STAAR Surgical

9:50–10:20 AM | The Art of the Patient Conversation With Brett Mueller, DO, PhD

10:20–11:40 AM | Common Cataract Complexities: To the Rhexis and Beyond

Moderated by Arsham Sheybani, MD 

10:20–10:32 AM | 10 Phaco Pearls | Roma Patel, MD, MBA

10:35–10:47 AM | All Things Rhexis | Arsham Sheybani, MD

10:50–11:02 AM | Tackling Dense Lenses | Shivani Kamat, MD

11:05–11:17 AM | Managing Weak Zonules | Gio Campagna, MD

11:20–11:32 AM | Anterior Vitrectomy for the Anterior Surgeon | Brent Finklea, MD

11:35–11:40 AM | Discussion

11:45 AM–12:45 PM | Lunch Symposium; Sponsored by Bausch + Lomb 

With I. Paul Singh, MD

12:45–1:00 PM | Break & Exhibits

1:00–2:00 PM | Ophthalmologist 2.0

Moderated by Blake Williamson, MD, MPH 

1:00–1:09 PM | Nonclinical Pathways in Ophthalmology | Zaiba Malik, MD 

1:10–1:19 PM | Experiences as an Early Adopter | I. Paul Singh, MD 

1:20–1:29 PM | Starting Your Own Practice: Soup to Nuts | Brett Mueller, DO, PhD 

1:30–1:39 PM | What to Look for in Your First (and Second) Job | Blake Matherne, MD 

1:40–1:49 PM | The Human Touch | Dee Stephenson, MD 

1:50–1:59 PM | Becoming a KOL: Expectations vs Reality | James Katz, MD 

2:00–2:20 PM | Clinical Development Session; Sponsored by Sight Sciences 

With Arsham Sheybani, MD

2:20–2:35 PM | Break & Exhibits

2:35–3:00 PM | Technology Showcase 

Featuring Johnson & Johnson, Genentech, and Sight Sciences

3:00–4:30 PM | Wet Labs & Skills Transfer

Medical Students & Research Fellows

3:30–4:30 PM | Fellowship & Job Recruitment Mixer

Residents, Clinical/Surgical Fellows, & Practitioners

Sponsored by Eye Health America and Retina Consultants of America

5:00–6:00 PM | VBS @ YMDC Live Mixer

Sponsored by Genentech  

7:00–9:00 PM | Evening Reception, Edge Rooftop at JW Marriott

SUNDAY, MAY 17

8:00–8:40 AM | Breakfast & Scholarship Recipient Poster Presentations 

8:40–10:00 AM | YMDC x VBS: Pearls From the Posterior Segment

Moderated by Jay Sridhar, MD; Supported by Genentech

8:40–8:42 AM | Faculty Introductions | Jay Sridhar, MD

8:42–8:47 AM | Why I Work in Academia | Kyle Kovacs, MD

8:47–8:52 AM | Why I Left Academia | Jessica Randolph, MD

8:52–8:57 AM | Types of Retina Jobs | Ella Leung, MD

8:57–9:25 AM | Group Discussion | Jay Sridhar, MD

9:25–9:50 AM | Case Reviews 

9:50–10:00 AM | Audience Q&A

10:00–10:15 AM | Break & Exhibits

10:15–11:45 AM | Navigating the Match – Medical Students & Research Fellows 

With Masih Ahmed, MD; Julie Schallhorn, MD; Arsham Sheybani, MD; and Jay Sridhar, MD

10:15–11:45 AM | Wet Labs & Skills Transfer

Residents, Clinical/Surgical Fellows, & Practitioners

11:45 AM | Reflections and Closing Remarks

11:45 AM–12:30 PM | Career Guidance Brunch

Small-group discussions, led by:

Julio Albarracin, MD

Vikram Durairaj, MD

Brett Mueller, DO, PhD

Julie Schallhorn, MD

Arsham Sheybani, MD

Masih Ahmed, MD

Jay Sridhar, MD

Kayla Unsell, MD

Blake Williamson, MD, MPH

12:30 PM | Meeting Adjourns

*Agenda is subject to change

Hotel

We have secured a block of rooms at the Austin Marriott Downtown over the meeting dates of May 15-17, 2026, at our discounted group meeting rate of $319/night (plus applicable taxes). This discounted hotel meeting rate of $319/night (plus applicable taxes) is available for reservations arriving within 3 days prior and leaving within 3 days after the meeting subject to availability at the time of your booking. Please note: the YMDC Live meeting dates are Friday, May 15 – Sunday, May 17, 2026.

Accommodations and reservation modifications may be made online via the link above.

All individual rooms require a one-night advance payment at the time of booking secured by a major credit card. Your reservation and any modifications must be received by Thursday, April 23, 2026, at 11:59pm CT. After this date, the hotel will release all remaining rooms for general sale and is no longer obligated to honor our group meeting rate. The hotel will determine if it can accept any further reservations based on a space- and rate-available basis at the group meeting rate.

Individuals may cancel their reservation without penalty no later than 11:59pm CT on Thursday, April 23, 2026. All reservations are non-cancelable after 11:59pm CT on Thursday, April 23, 2026. Any cancelations or no-shows after 11:59pm CT on Thursday, April 23, 2026, will result in the forfeit of the individual’s advance deposit along with the remaining cost of the entire reservation which will be charged to the individual’s credit card on file.

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WHAT A PAST YMDC LIVE ATTENDEE HAD TO SAY:

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I wasn't sure how YMDC Live could top last year's meeting but you all did it again! What a unique and remarkable meeting experience filled with education, networking, friendship, and incredible transfer of knowledge.

Camila Albo, MD

Scholarships

THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST IN YMDC LIVE 2026

YoungMD Connect (YMDC) Live would like to extend an invitation to current medical students, residents, and fellows to attend this unique meeting being held in Austin from May 15–17, 2026. To facilitate this educational opportunity, YMDC Live is offering support to applicants who qualify and submit an original research abstract to the YMDC Live Scholarship Program by Tuesday, April 14, 2026. A total of 50 spots are available, with a specific number of spots allotted to medical students, research fellows, residents, and clinical/surgical fellows.

More Information +

Submit Application

Sponsors

Platinum Sponsors
abbvie Logo
Meeting Sponsors
Amgen Logo
Bausch + Lomb Logo
Dompe Logo
Eye Health America Logo
Genentech Logo
Glaukos Logo
Johnson & Johnson Logo
Precision Ocular Network Logo
Rayner Logo
Retina Consultants of America Logo
Sight Sciences Logo
STAAR Surgical Logo
Tarsus Logo
Wifi Sponsor
AECOS Logo

Contact Us

For questions relating to the YMDC Live 2026, please contact us at ymdc@avenuelive.com.

Bryn Mawr Communications Group, LLC dba Avenue Live, LLC

1301 Virginia Drive, Suite 300

Fort Washington, PA 19034

Stay Up to Date

Follow @YoungMDConnect on social media for meeting updates and to share your experiences in Austin!