CURRICULUM VITAE
Iris S. Kassem MD, PhD
Iris S. Kassem MD, PhD
Associate Professor
Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences
Division of Pediatric Ophthalmology
Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences
Division of Pediatric Ophthalmology
OFFICE ADDRESS: |
Eye Institute |
925 N 87 St |
Milwaukee, WI 53226 |
EDUCATION: |
08/1993 - 05/1997 BS, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY |
08/1998 - 05/2006 MD, PhD, State University of New York at Stony Brook, Stony Brook, NY |
POSTGRADUATE TRAINING AND FELLOWSHIP APPOINTMENTS: |
07/01/2006 - 06/30/2007 Intern, Internal Medicine, State University of New York at Stony Brook, Health Science Center, T16, Room 020, Stony Brook, NY 11794-8160 |
07/01/2007 - 06/30/2010 Resident, Ophthalmology, North Shore - Long Island Jewish Health System, 600 Northern Boulevard, Suite 107, Great Neck, NY 11021 |
07/01/2009 - 06/30/2010 Chief Resident, Ophthalmology, North Shore - Long Island Jewish Health System, 600 Northern Boulevard, Suite 107, Great Neck, NY 11021 |
07/09/2010 - 07/08/2011 Fellow, Ophthalmology, Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1855 W Taylor Street, MC 648, Chicago, IL 60612 |
FACULTY APPOINTMENTS: |
07/09/2011 - 06/30/2015 Assistant Professor, Ophthalmology, Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1855 W Taylor Street, MC 648, Chicago, IL 60612 |
07/01/2015 - Present Assistant Professor, Ophthalmology, secondary appointment in Cell Biology, Neurobiology, and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, 925 N 87th Street, Milwaukee, WI 53226 |
ADMINISTRATIVE APPOINTMENTS: |
2011 - 2015 Admissions Committee Member, Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612 |
2012 - 2015 Liason, Faculty Academic Advancement Committee, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612 |
EDUCATIONAL ADMINISTRATIVE APPOINTMENTS: |
07/01/2017 - Present Resident Research Director, Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Medical College of Wisconsin |
HOSPITAL STAFF PRIVILEGES: |
08/2015 - Present Ophthalmology, Froedtert Hospital, Milwaukee, WI |
08/2015 - Present Ophthalmology, Pediatric Ophthalmology, Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI |
09/2015 - Present Waukesha Memorial Hospital, Waukesha, WI |
12/2015 - Present St. Joseph’s Hospital, West Bend, WI |
03/2016 - Present Columbia St. Mary Hospital, Milwaukee, WI |
SPECIALTY BOARDS AND CERTIFICATION: |
Board Certified | Issue Date | Expiration |
Ophthalmology | 2014 | 2024 |
AWARDS AND HONORS: |
06/2020 Ambulatory Patient Experience Recognition, Children's Hospital of Wisconsin |
2020 - Present Regional Top Doctor, Castle Connolly |
2020 - Present Outstanding Graduate School Educator Award, Medical College of Wisconsin |
MEMBERSHIPS IN HONORARY AND PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES: |
2007 - Present American Academy of Ophthalmology |
2009 - Present The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology |
2011 - Present American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus |
2016 - Present Women in Ophthalmology |
2019 - Present Human Proteome Organization |
EDITORSHIPS/EDITORIAL BOARDS/JOURNAL REVIEWS: |
Editorial Board |
01/17/2019 - Present Journal of Pediatric Ophthalmology & Strabismus |
Journal Review |
01/18/2017 - 01/16/2019 Journal of Pediatric Ophthalmology & Strabismus |
Ad-Hoc Reviewer |
11/21/2018 - Present Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science |
NATIONAL ELECTED/APPOINTED LEADERSHIP AND COMMITTEE POSITIONS: |
2011 - 2015 Legislative Committee, American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus |
2011 - 2014 Preschool Screening, American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus |
2015 - Present Research Committee, American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus |
2016 - Present Legislative Committee, American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus |
2018 - Present Ambassador, Loan Repayment Program, National Institutes of Health |
RESEARCH GRANTS/AWARDS/CONTRACTS/PROJECTS: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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INVITED LECTURES/WORKSHOPS/PRESENTATIONS: |
Local |
Iris Kassem, Steroids and the eye: an ophthalmologist’s perspective, Northwestern Department of Allergy and Immunology Lecture Series, Chicago, Illinois, 07/2011 |
Yi Pang and Iris Kassem, Updates from the Pediatric Eye Disease Investigator Group (PEDIG), Illinois College of Optometry Updates in Eye Care, Chicago, Illinois, 10/27/2014 |
Ocular Findings in Fabry Disease: More than Just Cornea Verticillata, Eye Institute Grand Rounds, Milwaukee, WI, 12/04/2019 |
National |
Iris Kassem, Juvenile rabbit animal model of lensectomy to evaluate therapeutic interventions for postoperative inflammation and fibrosis, Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology Conference,, Baltimore, Maryland, 07/14/2014 - 07/16/2014 |
Tarcy-Hornoch K, Binenbaum G, El-Dairi MA, Felius J, Jin J, Kassem IS, Nallasamy S, Pineles SL, Wang J, The Tools of Data Analysis: Matching the Hammer to the Nail, American Association of Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus Annual Meeting, New Orleans, Louisiana, 03/27/2015 |
Overcoming Adversity, Women in Ophthalmology, Williamsburg, Virginia, 08/12/2016 |
YO ARVO: Navigating a Career as a Clinician-Scientist, American Academy of Ophthalmology Annual Meeting, Chicago, Illinois, 10/16/2016 |
Gil Binenbaum, Brian P. Brooks, Steven E. Brooks, Alejandra de Alba Campomanes, Fatema Ghasia, Judith Gurland, Gena Heidary, Iris Kassem, Stacy Pineles, Bahram B. Rahmani, Michael Yang, Evaluating the evidence: AAPOS Research Committee Analyses of what's hot in pediatric ophthalmology, American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus, Washington, DC, 03/20/2018 |
Findings in Persistent Retinopathy of Prematurity, ROP Hot Topics 2018, Chicago, Illinois, 11/01/2018 |
Gil Binenbaum, Alejandra de Alba Campomanes, Steven E. Brooks, Brian Forbes, Fatema Ghasia, Iris Kassem, Stacy Pineles, Evaluating the Evidence: AAPOS Research Committee In-depth Analyses of What's New in Pediatric Ophthalmology, American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus, San Diego, California, 03/29/2019 |
Ocular and Neurological Complications of COVID-19 Infection, Abbvie, 12/07/2020 |
International |
Iris Kassem, Ocular trauma and amblyopia management, Argentinian Center of Strabismus (CAE) and the Argentinian Society for Pediatric Ophthalmology (SAOI), Buenos Aires, Argentina, 10/29/2015 |
Iris Kassem, Pediatric Ocular Trauma, Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus, Wankaner, India, 01/24/2016 |
COMMITTEE SERVICE: |
Medical College of Wisconsin |
08/29/2019 - Present Member, Research Oversight, Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Medical College of Wisconsin |
MEDICAL COLLEGE TEACHING ACTIVITIES: |
Resident and Fellow Education |
07/2017 - Present Strabismus Wet Lab Teaching |
MCW STUDENTS, FACULTY, RESIDENTS AND CLINICAL/RESEARCH FELLOWS MENTORED: |
Graduate Students |
PhD Students Advised |
Jonathon Young, Medical College of Wisconsin, 07/15/2015 - 03/01/2021 hanisms and Treatments for Fibrin Formation and the Immune Response after Intraocular Surgery in a Rabbit Animal Model |
EXTRAMURAL STUDENTS, FACULTY, RESIDENTS, AND CLINICAL/RESEARCH FELLOWS MENTORED: |
Graduate Students |
PhD Committees |
Farah J Shareef, University of Illinois at Chicago, 2013 - 05/2015 Light Attenuating Artificial Iris: Implantable and Contact Lens Designs |
PhD Students Advised |
Joseph D Bogaard, University of Illinois at Chicago, 2014 - 05/20/2015 Evaluation of Therapeutic Interventions for the Treatment of Eye Disorders |
Clinical/Research Fellows |
Katherine Hare, University of Illinois at Chicago, 07/2011 - 07/2012 Clinical Fellow, Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus |
Senem Salar, University of Illinois at Chicago, 07/2012 - 07/2013 Clinical Fellow, Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus |
Maya Bitar, University of Illinois at Chicago, 07/2013 - 07/2014 Clinical Fellow, Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus |
COMMUNITY SERVICE ACTIVITIES: |
09/15/2016 AEVR Emerging Vision Scientists Day on Capitol Hill |
GLOBAL HEALTH ACTIVITIES: |
01/15/2016 - 01/26/2016 Wankaner, India Eye Mission Trip |
BIBLIOGRAPHY |
Refereed Journal Publications/Original Papers |
1. Wade PR, Chen J, Jaffe B, Kassem IS, Blakely RD, Gershon MD. Localization and function of a 5-HT transporter in crypt epithelia of the gastrointestinal tract. J Neurosci. 1996 Apr 01;16(7):2352-64. PMCID: PMC3327288 |
2. Evinger C, Bao JB, Powers AS, Kassem IS, Schicatano EJ, Henriquez VM, Peshori KR. Dry eye, blinking, and blepharospasm. Mov Disord. 2002;17 Suppl 2:S75-8. PMCID: PMC3327285 |
3. Kassem IS, Evinger C. Asymmetry of blinking. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2006 Jan;47(1):195-201. PMCID: PMC3327295 |
4. Kassem IS, Kodsi SR. Marcus Gunn jaw winking with trigemino-oculomotor synkinesis of the inferior division of the oculomotor nerve. J AAPOS. 2009 Jun;13(3):315-6. |
5. Kassem IS, Rubin SE, Kodsi SR. Exotropia in children with high hyperopia. J AAPOS. 2012 Oct;16(5):437-40. PMCID: PMC3479442 |
6. Gremida A, Kassem I, Traish A. Anterior capsular rupture following blunt ocular injury. Digit J Ophthalmol. 2011;17(4):66-8. PMCID: PMC3516173 |
7. Prickett AL, Salar S, Chow CC, Traish AS, Leiderman YI, Chau FY, Kassem IS. Traumatic eye injuries from collapsible wire laundry hampers. Pediatrics. 2013 Aug;132(2):e522-5. PMCID: PMC3727671 |
8. Kassem IS, Miller MT, Archer SM. One Year of Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus Research in Review. Asia Pac J Ophthalmol (Phila). 2013 Nov-Dec;2(6):388-400. PMCID: PMC6839686 |
9. Feinstein E, Traish AS, Aakalu V, Kassem IS. A Case Report of Ablepharon-Macrostomia Syndrome with Amniotic Membrane Grafting. Case Rep Ophthalmol. 2015 Sep-Dec;6(3):366-72. PMCID: PMC4649710 |
10. Shareef FJ, Sun S, Kotecha M, Kassem I, Azar D, Cho M. Engineering a Light-Attenuating Artificial Iris. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2016 Apr 01;57(4):2195-202. PMCID: PMC4849870 |
11. Kinori M, Wehrli S, Kassem IS, Azar NF, Maumenee IH, Mets MB. Biometry Characteristics in Adults and Children With Marfan Syndrome: From the Marfan Eye Consortium of Chicago. Am J Ophthalmol. 2017 May;177:144-149. PMCID: PMC5648325 |
12. Warren CC, Young JB, Goldberg MR, Connor TB, Kassem IS, Costakos DM. Findings in Persistent Retinopathy of Prematurity. Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina. 2018 07 01;49(7):497-503. PMCID: PMC6196355 |
13. Yu FPS, Sajdak BS, Sikora J, Salmon AE, Nagree MS, Gurka J, Kassem IS, Lipinski DM, Carroll J, Medin JA. Acid Ceramidase Deficiency in Mice Leads to Severe Ocular Pathology and Visual Impairment. Am J Pathol. 2019 02;189(2):320-338. PMCID: PMC6412726 |
14. Bogaard JD, Young JB, Movahedan A, Kassem IS. Use of a Juvenile Rabbit Animal Model to Evaluate Therapeutic Interventions for Postoperative Inflammation and Fibrin Formation After Lensectomy. Transl Vis Sci Technol. 2019 Jan;8(1):5. PMCID: PMC6327344 |
15. Han DP, Skumatz C, Besharse JC, Kassem IS. Sustained Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Activity of Aflibercept (Eylea) After Storage in Polycarbonate Syringes Used for Intravitreal Injection: A Pathway to Safety and Efficiency. J Ocul Pharmacol Ther. 2019 06;35(5):278-282. PMCID: PMC6588124 |
16. Dikopf MS, Machen LA, Hallak JA, Chau FY, Kassem IS. Zone of retinal vascularization and refractive error in premature eyes with and without spontaneously regressed retinopathy of prematurity. J AAPOS. 2019 08;23(4):211.e1-211.e6. PMCID: PMC6778011 |
17. Miller JJ, Aoki K, Reid CA, Tiemeyer M, Dahms NM, Kassem IS. Rats deficient in α-galactosidase A develop ocular manifestations of Fabry disease. Sci Rep. 2019 06 28;9(1):9392. PMCID: PMC6599056 |
18. Dotan G, Kassem I, Weaver D, Wagner RS. Managing a Slipped Muscle Following an Adjustable Suture Medial Rectus Recession. J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus. 2019 07 01;56(4):209-211. |
19. Evinger C, Kassem IS. Animal models of benign essential blepharospasm and hemifacial spasm Movement Disorders. 2005:253-263. |
20. Young JB, Keppel TR, Waas M, Salmon AE, Buchberger AR, Skumatz CMB, Gundry RL, Kassem IS. Quantitative proteomic analysis of aqueous humor after rabbit lensectomy reveals differences in coagulation and immunomodulatory proteins. Mol Omics. 2020 04 01;16(2):126-137. |
21. Young JB, Buchberger AR, Bogaard JD, Runquist M, Skumatz CMB, Kassem IS Tissue plasminogen activator effects on fibrin volume and the ocular proteome in a juvenile rabbit model of lensectomy. Transl Vis Sci Technol. (under revision) |
22. Low SWY, Connor TB, Kassem IS, Costakos DM, Chaurasia SS. Small leucine-rich proteoglycans (Slrps) in the retina International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2 July 2021;22(14). |
Books, Chapters, and Reviews |
1. Kassem IS (2015) Amblyopia. MedLink Neurology (Goodwin J Ed) San Diego: MedLink Corporation. Available at www.medlink.com. |
2. Evinger C, Kassem IS (2005) Animal models of benign essential blepharospasm and hemifacial spasm. Animal Models of Movement Disorders (M LeDoux, Ed) Academic Press/Elsevier. |
Editorials, Letters to Editor, Other |
1. Dotan G, Kassem I, Weaver D. Managing a slipped muscle following an adjustable suture medial rectus recession. Journal of Pediatric Ophthalmology & Strabismus 2019;56(4):209-211. |
Abstracts |
1. Kassem IS, Evinger LC. Do humans exhibit eyelid dominance? Program No. 71.30. Society for Neuroscience General Meeting, San Diego, CA (2001).
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2. Kassem IS, Evinger C. Effects of chronic facial nerve stimulation on the development of hemifacial spasm. Program No. 463.1. Society for Neuroscience General Meeting, Orlando, FL (2002).
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3. Evinger C, Kassem IS. Origin of blink oscillations. Program No. 391.5. Society for Neuroscience General Meeting, New Orleans, LA (2003). |
4. Kassem IS, Evinger C. Chronic facial nerve stimulation modifies the reflex blink. Program No. 391.4. Society for Neuroscience General Meeting, New Orleans, LA (2003).
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5. Evinger C, Kassem IS, Ronneburger A, Dauvergne C. Rearranging the face – reorganizing trigeminal control of reflex blinks. Program No. 881.1. Society for Neuroscience General Meeting, San Diego, CA (2004).
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6. Kassem IS, Evinger C, Pomeranz H. Dry eye, blinking, and hemifacial spasm. Program No 4037. ARVO Annual Meeting, Ft Lauderdale, FL. (2009).
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7. Kassem IS, Rubin SR, Kodsi SR. Exotropia in children with high hyperopia. Program No. 14. AAPOS Annual Meeting, Seattle, WA. (2010).
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8. Wehrli S, Mets M, Kassem IS, Fawzi AA, Azar NF, Maumenee IH. Biometric characteristics of the Marfan eye. Program No 5709. ARVO Annual Meeting, Ft Lauderdale, FL. (2013).
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9. Movahedan A, Kassem IS, Traish AS. Effect of intraocular enoxaparin on postoperative fibrosis in a juvenile rabbit model of lensectomy. ASCRS Annual Meeting, Boston, MA. (2014) - Award: "Poster of Interest"
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10. Wubben TJ, Khan A, Yasar K, Leiderman YI, Chau FY, Royston TJ, Kassem IS Ocular injuries from the impact of collapsible laundry hamper wires. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci.. 2014; 55(13):5486. |
11. Kassem IS, Oltra EZ, Salar S. Visual outcomes in pediatric open globe trauma with early amblyopia therapy. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2014; 55(13):804.
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12. Shareef F, Szlachta D , Contreras G, Chen A, Kassem IS, Azar DT, Cho M Designing a Photo-Responsive Contact Lens. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci.. 2015; 56(7 ):6102. Award: MIT Outstanding Poster
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13. Bogaard JD, Kassem IS. Evaluation of therapeutic interventions for postoperative inflammation and fibrosis in a juvenile rabbit model of lensectomy. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci.. 2015; 56(7):3217. Hot Topic Presentation
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14. Dikopf M, Kassem IS, Chau FY. Vascularization patterns and refractive error in retinopathy of prematurity. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci.. 2015; 56(7):966.
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15. Bogaard JD, Young J, Kassem IS. Tissue Plasminogen Activator for the Treatment of Fibrin After Lensectomy with Intraocular Lens Insertion in a Juvenile Rabbit Model. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2016. |
16. Young JB, Conklyn D, Bogaard JD, Whiteley H, Kassem IS. Inhibition of Fibrin and Inflammation with Enoxaparin and Triamcinolone in a Juvenile Rabbit Model of Lensectomy. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2016. |
17. Kassem IS, Miller JJ, Aoki K, Murphy CA, Young J, Tiemeyer M, Dahms NM. Early ocular manifestations of Fabry disease in alpha-galactosidase A-deficient rats. ARVO Annual Meeting, Baltimore, MD (2017). |
18. Vogel R, Kassem IS, Han DP, Costakos D. Conjunctival bacterial flora and antiseptic effect of povidone-iodine for infants in the intensive care unit screened for retinopathy of prematurity. ARVO Annual Meeting, Baltimore, MD (2017). |
19. Young J, Jin S, Skumatz C, Kassem IS. Aqueous humor protein changes after rabbit lensectomy with intraocular lens insertion. ARVO Annual Meeting, Baltimore, MD (2017). |
20. Jhaj G, Costakos DM, Laurenti K, Kassem IS. Clinical Course and Treatment Rates of Retinopathy of Prematurity in Extremely Premature Infants. AAPOS Annual Meeting, Washington, DC. (2018). |
21. Young JB, Bogaard J, Arpinar VE, Skumatz C, Runquist M, Nencka A, &Kassem IS. Magnetic Resonance Imaging(MRI)ofanterior chamberfibrosis to evaluate therapeutic interventions after lensectomy with intraocular lens(IOL)insertion in a rabbit animal model. Imaging in the Eye. Honolulu, HI (2018). |
22. Han D, Skumatz C, Besharse J, Kassem I. Sustained anti-VEGF activity of aflibercept (EyleaTM) after storage in polycarbonate syringes used for intravitreal injection: a pathway to safety and efficiency in high volume clinics providing intravitreal therapy. ARVO Annual Meeting, Honolulu, HI (2018) Hot Topic Presentation. |
23. Young J. Keppel T, Skumatz C, Gundry R, Kassem I. Aqueous humor protein changes in response to the different portions of lensectomy with intraocular lens (IOL) implantation in the juvenile rabbit. ARVO Annual Meeting, Honolulu, HI (2018). |
24. Kassem I, Miller J, Reid C, Dahms N. Ocular Vascular Manifestations of Fabry Disease in alpha-galactosidase A-deficient Rats. ARVO Annual Meeting, Honolulu, HI (2018). |
25. Young, Bakhshinejad A, Skumatz C, Runquist M, Kassem IS. Quantification of fibrin volume in a juvenile rabbit model of lensectomy using 9.4 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging. ARVO Annual Meeting, Vancouver, BC (2019). |
26. Desai S, Vogel R. Kassem IS, Costakos DM. Conjunctival Ocular Flora Before and After Povidone Iodine in Neonates. AAPOS Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA. (2019). |
