The Cleveland Ophthalmological Society

Yasemin Sozeri, MD

President

Biography

Clinical Assistant Professor, CWRU School of Medicine

Yasemin Sozeri, MD, received her undergraduate degree from The Ohio State University where she graduated summa cum laude. She remained at Ohio State for medical school, after which she completed her residency in Ophthalmology at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee. During her final year, she was selected by her supervisors and peers to serve as chief resident for the program. She went on to complete an intensive one-year fellowship in Glaucoma at Indiana University in Indianapolis. In the summer of 2019, Dr. Sozeri returned to her hometown of Cleveland, Ohio, to join the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and University Hospitals Eye Institute as a glaucoma and cataract specialist.

Clinical Interests

Dr. Sozeri has a passion for improving patients’ quality of life and helping them maintain their independence by caring for the medical and surgical conditions that affect their sight. Throughout her career, her empathetic and caring demeanor as well as her clinical and surgical acumen have earned her numerous accolades from both colleagues and patients. In dealing with glaucoma, Dr. Sozeri believes it’s particularly important to relate to her patients’ conditions and circumstances and tailor the medical and surgical treatment of their disease accordingly. She is well-versed in all medications, lasers and surgeries (both traditional and newly available procedures) employed in the treatment of glaucoma. Dr. Sozeri also performs routine and complex cataract surgery and has knowledge of specialized surgical techniques and different lens options available to patients.

Education and Research

Before Dr. Sozeri wanted to become a physician, she wanted to be a teacher. She is thrilled to be at an academic institution where she can marry her passions of patient care and education. Dr. Sozeri has been active in training the next generation of ophthalmologists in the classroom, wet lab, clinic and operating room. Dr. Sozeri also recognizes the importance of research in advancing the field of ophthalmology and improving her patients’ lives. She has participated numerous clinical and surgical research projects and has published papers in peer reviewed journals.

Personal Background and Interests

Dr. Sozeri grew up on the east side of Cleveland in the communities she now serves. While Dr. Sozeri and her husband enjoyed their time living in different places around the Midwest, they are ecstatic to be back in their native Ohio. They enjoy the outdoors and on weekends often explore the Cleveland Metroparks with their dog. In the fall, they enjoy watching college football and cheering on their alma mater, Ohio State. They also love to travel and explore other cultures and foods.

Rony R. Sayegh, MD

President-Elect

Biography

Rony R. Sayegh, MD is a staff ophthalmologist at the Cole Eye Institute of the Cleveland Clinic, and a Clinical Associate Professor of Ophthalmology at the Lerner College of Medicine of the Case Western Reserve University, with a joint appointment in the Quantitative Health Sciences in the Lerner Research Institute. He is a cornea specialist with a focus on ocular surface diseases and surgeries.

Education and Research

Dr. Sayegh earned his medical degree from the American University of Beirut, followed by residency training at the University of Maryland, and a two-year fellowship in Cornea & Refractive Surgery at the Massachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary. His research focuses on dry eye, specifically the ocular neuropathic pain component. He is part of the Dry Eye Assessment and Management (DREAM) Study group, Tear Film Ocular Surface (TFOS) society, and the NEI Ocular Surface Innervation consortium. He was the first to describe neuromodulation techniques for the treatment of the recalcitrant form of ocular pain in collaboration with the neurosurgery and pain medicine, and continues to work on developing better ways of diagnosing and treating dry eye and ocular neuropathic pain.

Kimberly A. Cingle, MD

Vice President

Education & Training

Residency - Emory University
Atlanta, GA USA

Doctor of Medicine - Case Western Reserve University
Cleveland, OH USA

Certifications

Board-Certified, American Academy of Ophthalmology
Fellow, American College of Surgeons

Specialty Interests

Comprehensive ophthalmology (including the evaluation and treatment of glaucoma, macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy), cataract surgery (including laser and specialty cataract surgery), glaucoma and laser surgeries

Awards and Accomplishments

- Recognized in Best Doctors in America
- Recognized in Cleveland Magazine Top Docs
- Vice-President, Cleveland Ophthalmological Society
- Assistant Professor of Surgery at Northeast Ohio Medical University
- Teacher of the Year, Summa Health Systems Department of Ophthalmology
- Past Chair of the Department of Ophthalmology, Metro Health Medical System
- Senior Instructor of Ophthalmology, Case Western Reserve University Medical School

About Dr. Cingle

Kimberly A. Cingle, MD, has been recognized in Best Doctors in America and as a Cleveland Magazine Top Doc. A skilled cataract surgeon, Dr. Cingle also specializes in treating patients with macular degeneration, glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy.

A multiple award winner of the Summa Health Systems Department of Ophthalmology “Teacher of the Year,” Dr. Cingle is committed to training other ophthalmologists in medical and surgical techniques. She also serves as Senior Instructor of Ophthalmology at Case Western Reserve University Medical School.

A leader in the area, Dr. Cingle is a past president of the Cleveland Ophthalmological Society and currently serves as its vice-president.

Married with two children, Dr. Cingle enjoys running, traveling, the cinema and spending time with family. She resides in Brecksville.

Philip R. Shands, MD

Treasurer

Education & Training

Fellowship - Tulane University
Cornea/External Disease
New Orleans, LA USA
1990

Residency - (CWRU) University Hospital of Cleveland
Cleveland, OH USA
1989

Internship - Riverside Hospital
Columbus, OH USA
1985

Medical School - Ohio State University
Columbus, OH USA
1984

Undergraduate - Williams College
Williamstown, MA USA
1974

Current Affiliations

Metrohealth
Cleveland Veterans Administration.

Shelly Seme

Executive Director

Cleveland Ophthalmological Society