Each August, the Ronald G. Michels Fellowship Foundation award winners are announced. Known informally as “The Michels,” this award is bestowed upon a select number of second year vitreoretinal fellows who embody the values of Dr. Ron Michels. This year’s winners will undoubtedly continue to advance the field of vitreoretinal surgery with too many accomplishments to list. Without further ado, here is a bit more about the background of this year’s winners of Michels fellows, Drs. Charles DeBoer and Hasenin Al-khersan.
Dr. Charles DeBoer
Stanford Eye Institute
I was born in Boston, grew up in Madison, Wisconsin and Omaha, Nebraska, met the love of my life in college in Los Angeles, and have since remained in California. I studied physics and mechanical engineering at Occidental College and Caltech and continued to complete my clinical training in the MD/PhD program at USC/Caltech, where I focused on micro-electromechanical systems to develop a fluid filled biomimetic intraocular lens as a therapy for presbyopia. My interests lie in developing new medical and implantable devices. In my free time, I like to explore the great outdoors by hiking and biking.
Dr. Hasenin Al-khersan
Bascom Palmer Eye Institute
I am humbled to have received a Michels Fellowship Foundation award! I owe this privilege to the support of many great mentors and my family. My story begins in Iraq where I was born. I then moved to New Zealand and subsequently spent most of my childhood in Michigan. After medical school at the University of Chicago, I completed both my residency and vitreoretinal fellowship at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute where I am currently Chief Resident. My interests in ophthalmology include novel imaging techniques, particularly in diabetic retinopathy and AMD. When I’m not working, I love to travel abroad.
