Current Residents
Our current residents report that our rotations and electives, stimulating research opportunities and supportive faculty constitute a rewarding training environment.
PGY-2
Medical School: SUNY Upstate Medical University
PGY-1: University at Buffalo Internal Medicine
Email: mdecourc@buffalo.edu
Dr. DeCourcey received his bachelor of science degree with distinction in biology from Syracuse University and his medical degree from SUNY Upstate Medical University. Through undergraduate and medical school, he has collaborated on several projects studying retinal development and degeneration. While studying at SUNY Upstate, he was also a charter member of the Syracuse CVR Lions Club and led a committee that provided vision screening services to children in local city schools. He completed his preliminary medicine internship at the University at Buffalo and is excited to continue his ophthalmology training at Buffalo. In his free time, he enjoys playing soccer and basketball, along with cooking and traveling.
Medical School: Tabriz University of Medical Sciences
PGY-1: University at Buffalo Internal Medicine: Catholic Health Systems
Email: alimahda@buffalo.edu
Dr. Mahdavi Fard completed an ophthalmology residency following his graduation from Tabriz University of Medical Sciences. After graduating from residency, he completed a two-year fellowship in anterior segment and then became the primary faculty surgeon for cornea and glaucoma at Tabriz University of Medical Sciences. Since his arrival in the United States, he has worked as a research associate, studying the corneal endothelium at the Ross Eye Institute Vision Research Center and completed his preliminary medicine internship at the University at Buffalo Catholic Health System. He is well-published in the field of ophthalmology and has presented at ESCRS and ARVO meetings. In his free time, Ali enjoys spending time with family, biking and hiking, as well as listening to music.
Medical School: Midwestern University-Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine
PGY-1: Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center, Bronx, NY
Email: pshah9@buffalo.edu
Dr. Shah was born and raised in Toronto, where he completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology. While in undergrad, he developed a strong interest in leadership and was recognized as one of Canada’s top 100 student leaders. He then pursued medical school at Midwestern University in Arizona. During this time, he became involved in clinical research at the Mayo Clinic, and later pursued a dedicated research fellowship at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute between his clinical years. He hopes to build upon these interests at UB and throughout his career. Outside of medicine, he enjoys traveling, playing a variety of sports, and supporting his beloved Toronto sports teams (We The North!).
PGY-3
Medical School: Michigan State University College of Human Medicine
PGY-1: Sanford Medical Center, University of North Dakota
Email: tljuntti@buffalo.edu
Dr. Junttila received his undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan where he became heavily involved in ophthalmology research. After graduating, he spent a year at the Kellogg Eye Center as a full-time researcher studying extraocular muscle regeneration in zebrafish before attending medical school. Tyler received his medical degree from Michigan State University where he was a graduate of their Rural Physician Program which emphasized providing care to under-served populations. In his free time he enjoys camping, fishing, and playing ice hockey.
Medical School: Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University
PGY-1: Lehigh Valley Hospital
Email: bhumikin@buffalo.edu
Dr. Kinariwala completed her Bachelor of Science degree at Pennsylvania State University. She went to medical school at Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University. In medical school, she was involved in research regarding refractive prediction in myopic patients undergoing cataract surgery. Her internship was completed at Lehigh Valley Hospital. She looks forward to continuing her training at the University at Buffalo. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, baking, and exploring the city of Buffalo.
Medical School: Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University
PGY-1: Crozer-Chester Medical Center
Email: LLLibfra@buffalo.edu
Dr. Libfraind graduated with honors from Brown University with degrees in both Biology and Economics. During that time she was a member of the Brown Women’s Crew team. She went on to work at the National Institute of Child Health and Development. She completed medical school at Thomas Jefferson University, and a transitional year at Crozer-Chester Medical Center. She is looking forward to continuing her ophthalmology training in Buffalo.
PGY-4
Medical School: West Virginia University School of Medicine
PGY-1: West Virginia University School of Medicine
Email: cristyku@buffalo.edu
Dr. Ku completed a combined MD, PhD training program at West Virginia University, during which she conducted research in the pathophysiology and treatment for inherited retinal degenerations. She also completed a postdoctoral ophthalmic genetics fellowship at Oregon Health & Sciences University where she gained clinical translational research experience. Her research interests include gene therapy and novel therapeutics for inherited blindness. She is excited to continue her ophthalmology residency in Buffalo, where she is confident she will receive solid clinical training and opportunities to continue in her research interests.
Medical School: Morehouse School of Medicine
PGY-1: Emory University School of Medicine
Email: jjling2@buffalo.edu
Dr. Ling graduated from Emory University with a degree in neuroscience and behavioral biology. He later worked at the Department of Genetics at Harvard Medical School and Emory School of Medicine. He has publications involving neurodegenerative diseases, neuronal networking, and neuro-ophthalmology. He received his medical degree from Morehouse School of Medicine where he served as the regional vice chair for the medical school chapter of American Medical Association, and as the founder and president of the school’s Rotaract Club. In addition to his training in ophthalmology, Dr. Ling has an interest in patient advocacy and medical education. Outside of work, he enjoys videography, traveling, and ballroom dancing.
Medical School: University of Cincinnati
PGY-1: Riverside Methodist Hospital, OhioHealth
Email: pimpiroo@buffalo.edu
Dr. Ploysangam graduated with distinction from Boston University with a degree in Biology, where she studied signaling pathways associated with retinopathy of prematurity for her thesis. She also led an interest group in ophthalmology while in medical school at University of Cincinnati. Her internship was completed at Riverside Methodist Hospital, and she is excited to continue her training in Buffalo. During her free time, she enjoys singing and watercolor painting.