EYE INSTITUTE OF WEST FLORIDA - Key Persons
Amy Z. Martino, MD, completed her glaucoma fellowship at the world-renowned Bascom Palmer Eye Institute of the University of Miami Health System and School of Medicine, the #1 eye hospital and vision research center in the country. She is board-certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology.
She was the first doctor in Hillsborough County to implant the Hydrus microstent for glaucoma and one of the first surgeons in Florida selected to implant the glaucoma iStent® device, the world's smallest medical implant. Her surgical talents include glaucoma lasers and specialized glaucoma surgeries (such as trabeculectomies and glaucoma drainage devices). Dr. Martino also performs some of the newest glaucoma surgeries including the Xen gel stent, Omni surgical system and Durysta ocular implant.
Dr. Martino served as a staff physician at the James A. Haley Veterans Hospital in Tampa, where she cared for those who have served our country. As a graduate of the University of South Florida, she enjoys giving lectures to the current ophthalmology residents. She volunteers her time through the Eye Care America program and Catholic Charities Medical Missions to help underprivileged patients receive eye care.
She is the co-author of a book entitled Eye Was There. She has presented her research at various scientific meetings across the globe, and her research has been published in the Journal of Glaucoma. Dr. Martino is currently a Principal Investigator for nation-wide multicenter prospective, randomized phase III clinical trial for a novel glaucoma eye drop.
Brandon C. Clair, M.D., is a board-certified, fellowship-trained ophthalmologist specializing in oculoplastic, orbital, and reconstructive surgery. After growing up outside of Philadelphia, PA, Dr. Clair completed medical school in New York at SUNY Upstate Medical University. He then went to Baltimore, MD for his internship at the University of Maryland Medical Center, where he met his wife.
Afterward, he returned to New York for his ophthalmology residency at the University of Buffalo Medical Center, where he was selected as chief resident. Dr. Clair then pursued additional training through fellowships in orbital, oculoplastic, and reconstructive surgery, as well as neuro-ophthalmology. All of his fellowships were completed at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.
Throughout his training and career, Dr. Clair has been a steady member of the scientific community, with broad research interests across different medical, surgical, and ophthalmologic specialties and subspecialties producing many peer-reviewed publications in various
medical journals. His desire to pursue research and scientific innovation has also culminated in his presence on the scientific advisory boards of several biotechnology corporations focusing on ophthalmologic and oncologic disease.
Dr. Clair's current research and innovative interests are within cosmetic, functional, and reconstructive periorbital surgery. He resides in Clearwater with his wife, son, and dog. He spends his spare time with his family and pursuing his hobbies of basketball, watersports, and enjoying the Tampa area beaches with his family.
Job Titles:
- Cataract Specialist
- Cornea Specialist
Chad D. Hummel, M.D. is a board-certified ophthalmologist specializing in cataract and refractive surgery, including the light adjustable lens procedure. Dr. Hummel received his bachelor's degree in Liberal Studies (Medical Scholars Program) from the University of Delaware. He received his medical degree from Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. Dr. Hummel completed his residency training in ophthalmology at the University of Florida - Jacksonville. Dr. Hummel trained under Dr. Robert Weinstock and Dr. Neel Desai as their first Cornea, Cataract, and Refractive Surgery fellow.
Dr. Hummel is a member of several professional societies including the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery.
David K. Talley, O.D., F.A.A.O. is certified by the National Board of Examiners in Optometry and by the American Board of Optometry. He is a member of numerous professional associations and has many publications in the medical management of ocular disease. He has trained optometric externs and residents for 20 years and has given over one thousand professional presentations in areas of primary eye care, ocular disease, and practice management. Dr. Talley has twice received Optometrist of the Year by the Tennessee Association of Optometric Physicians and the Commitment Award by the Tennessee Center for Performance Excellence. His areas of interest include diabetic eye disease, glaucoma, macular degeneration, and new technology in eye care.
Dr. Lewis Apter has been practicing general ophthalmologist for 36 years and has an equal number of years as a Pinellas County resident. He is a board-certified ophthalmologist with extensive medical and surgical experience.
He joined The Eye Institute in 2007. Dr. Apter acquired his medical degree from The University of Geneva, Switzerland before attending the University of Miami, School of Medicine Surgery Internship.
Esther Mannix, OD comes from the state of Pennsylvania, where she completed both her undergraduate at the University of Pittsburgh and her Doctor of Optometry from the Pennsylvania College of Optometry in Philadelphia.
Her interest in eye care stems from seeing how providing quality eye care can have such a meaningful impact on a person's life. After falling in love with Florida during her time as an intern at the James A. Haley Veterans Hospital, Dr. Mannix decided to continue living in Florida and complete her ocular disease residency training at Nova Southeastern University.
She is very excited to relocate to Tampa to continue providing eye care at The Eye Institute of West Florida.
James A. Roberts, MD grew up in St. Petersburg, FL. He went to the University of Florida to receive his bachelor's degree in Chemistry and obtained his doctorate of medicine from East Tennessee State University in 1984. After his internship and Ophthalmology residency in Tennessee, Dr. Roberts moved back to Pinellas County.
He spent 31 years practicing Ophthalmology for a large primary and specialty care medical group in Pinellas. He is proud to be joining The Eye Institute of West Florida and looks forward to working with a team of eye care professionals. In his spare time he enjoys the outdoors and his rescue greyhound.
Janie Ho, M.D. is a board-certified ophthalmologist, fellowship-trained in medical and surgical vitreoretinal diseases such as macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and retinal tears and detachments. She has been educated at some of America's finest institutions. She received her Bachelor of Arts from Harvard University and her medical degree from Duke University.
She went on to ophthalmology residency at the University of California, San Francisco. Following residency, Dr. Ho continued on to a fellowship in vitreoretinal diseases at the prestigious Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary of Harvard Medical School. Dr. Ho has participated in angiogenesis research, investigating causes and treatment for common retinal disorders.
Her experience is in the most advanced diagnostic and treatment techniques of all diseases of the retina, macula and vitreous, including the use of Eylea©, Lucentis©, and Avastin©, and retinal surgery. During the initial years of her career, she provided her retinal expertise to communities in Massachusetts then joined The Eye Institute of West Florida in 2016.
She and her husband, a renowned parathyroid surgeon, live with their two sons in Tampa. She enjoys spending time with her family skiing, hiking and being outdoors.
Jill M. Marrotte, OD received her Bachelor of Science Degree with Honors in Neuroscience from the University Of Rochester. She graduated with her Doctor of Optometry degree from the New England College of Optometry in Boston, Massachusetts.
Dr. Marrotte holds Board Certification as an Optometric Physician in both Florida and Massachusetts. She has been a member of the American Optometric Association, the Florida Optometric Association, and the Massachusetts Optometric Association. Dr. Marrotte also had the honor of serving as a Trustee of the Broward County Optometric Association.
Practicing for over 20 years in Florida, Dr. Marrotte has extensive experience in seeing patients who have had laser vision correction, cataract surgery, and anterior segment disease. Her care philosophy of putting patients first makes her the perfect addition to The Eye Institute of West Florida team.
When Dr. Marrotte is not seeing patients, she can be seen traveling, baking, and crocheting.
Joshua Roe, MD is a fellowship-trained, board-certified ophthalmologist specializing in cornea and refractive surgery. He continues to be active in the field academically publishing both research and review articles.
He spent the first part of his career in the Air Force where he was the Director of the Cornea & Refractive Surgery services at Madigan Army Medical Center. There, he received multiple teaching awards and performed hundreds of corneal transplants and thousands of refractive surgery procedures.
Job Titles:
- Pediatric Ophthalmology, Adult & Pediatric Strabismus
Julia M. Byrd, MD, is a fellowship trained pediatric ophthalmologist and surgeon specializing in amblyopia, strabismus (both pediatric and adult), lacrimal disorders, pediatric cataracts, retinopathy of prematurity, pediatric uveitis, pediatric ocular trauma, congenital eye disorders, and more.
Dr. Byrd received her bachelor's degree at Vanderbilt University in 2008 and her medical degree in 2013 from the University of New Mexico School of Medicine. After her internship at University of Utah, she completed her ophthalmology residency at John A. Moran Eye Center in Salt Lake City. Dr. Byrd then completed a clinical and surgical fellowship in pediatric ophthalmology and strabismus at Children's National Hospital in D.C.
Justina M. Jacob, OD, a New Jersey native, completed her graduate degree from the Pennsylvania College of Optometry. Following optometry school, she completed a residency in ocular disease at the VA Hospital in East Orange, NJ, which is an affiliate of the SUNY College of Optometry in NYC.
Her extensive training in ocular disease has given her the skills to diagnose a wide range of diseases including dry eyes, uveitis, glaucoma, and several corneal and retinal disorders. Dr. Jacob has a passion for managing ocular health which is why she joined The Eye Institute of West Florida.
Now a Tampa resident, Dr. Jacob enjoys going to different beaches and traveling the world with her husband. She has a passion for volunteering and has done medical mission trips to Bolivia and Haiti.
Leonard S. Kirsch, MD is a fellowship-trained vitreous and retina specialist. He is internationally known for the numerous papers and lectures he has presented here and abroad. Dr. Kirsch is currently an active participant in ongoing research to find new treatments for diseases of the retina. His expertise in the most advanced diagnostic and treatment techniques of all diseases of the retina, macula, and vitreous make Dr. Kirsch one of the elites in his field.
In the Tampa Bay area, Dr. Kirsch pioneered the use of Photodynamic Therapy with Visudyne©, and intravitreal Macugen©, Lucentis©, and Avastin© for the treatment of age-related macular degeneration. Dr. Kirsch was also among the first surgeons in Florida to perform 25 gauge "no-stitch" vitrectomy in 2001. He is certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology and is a fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Canada.
Dr. Kirsch lives in Dunedin with his wife and their two daughters. We are proud to have Dr. Kirsch as part of our team of caring experts at The Eye Institute of West Florida.
Mary Lou Smith, OD completed her undergraduate studies at the University of South Florida in Tampa before graduating cum laude from Southern College of Optometry, Memphis, Tennessee in 1991.
Dr. Smith has been providing comprehensive eye care for families in Pinellas County for 20 years. She has the training and experience necessary to initiate diagnostic testing and treatment for virtually all eye and vision conditions and abnormalities, in addition to custom fitting for contact lenses.
She was certified by the National Board of Optometry and the Florida Board of Optometry at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute in Miami, Florida in 1992.
During the course of a comprehensive eye examination, should Dr. Smith diagnose the presence of an eye condition requiring the services of a specialist, an appropriate Fellowship-Trained, Board-Certified ophthalmologist is available for consultation - all here at The Eye Institute of West Florida.
Melinda L. Gruszka, O.D. settled in Florida after completing her Doctor's Degree in Optometry in 2009. Her experience and expertise with post-operative patient care and clinical studies made her a great candidate for The Eye Institute of West Florida. We are proud to have Dr. Gruszka join our group of caring physicians.
Dr. Gruszka works closely with our corneal specialist, Dr. Desai managing post-op patients and treating dry eye/ocular surface disease. She also specializes in the fitting of scleral contact lenses.
She enjoys teaching and mentoring optometric students. She is an affiliated professor at Ferris State College of Optometry, University of Missouri St. Louis College of Optometry, and The Inter American University of Puerto Rico College of Optometry.
Job Titles:
- Cataract & Cornea Specialist
Neel R. Desai, MD is a fellowship-trained, board-certified, ophthalmologist strictly specializing in LASIK, cataract and corneal diseases of the eye. Dr. Desai is a top graduate of the Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine and completed his fellowship in cornea, cataract and refractive surgery at the Wilmer Eye Institute at Johns Hopkins University.
He is recognized throughout the country and internationally as one of only 100 surgeons able to perform advanced corneal transplants and another complex cataract, corneal and refractive procedures. He holds pending patents to new surgical products and advanced cornea surgical procedures of his own design.
Additionally, Dr. Desai has authored many book chapters in his field of study and continues to write articles in peer review journals.
Nora L. Cothran, O.D., FAAO is a board-certified optometric physician specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma and neurological eye disease.
Upon graduation from the University of Michigan, Dr. Cothran was commissioned as an Intelligence Officer in the United States Air Force. She actively participated in the Global War on Terror and was selected to serve as the Director of Intelligence for America's first combat-capable F-22 Raptor squadron. Thereafter, her contributions to national security continued as a contracted Intelligence Analyst for the Department of Defense.
Compelled to pursue a career in healthcare, Dr. Cothran earned her Doctor of Optometry from the Southern College of Optometry, located in Memphis, TN. She graduated with accolades that include The David P. Sloan Memorial Award, Presidency of the Gold Key International Honor Society, and a National Eye Institute (NEI) travel grant to present her research findings to The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO). She went on to complete her residency in Ocular Disease at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine in Miami, FL.
In addition to clinical care, Dr. Cothran is actively involved in FDA Clinical Trials and enjoys providing continuing medical education to her peers and colleagues. She is a Fellow in the American Academy of Optometry and is a Trustee of the Pinellas Optometric Association.
Dr. Cothran lives in St. Petersburg, FL. As an avid technical diver, she often spends the weekends exploring the vast network of underwater cave systems within the Sunshine State.
Dr. Priti Panchal completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Georgia in Athens before graduating from the University of Alabama, School of Optometry, Birmingham in 2009.
Dr. Panchal has experience in providing comprehensive eye care. She has the training and experience necessary to initiate diagnostic testing and treatment for virtually all eye and visual conditions, abnormalities, in addition to ocular surface diseases, injections, and sutures.
She was certified by the Florida Board of Optometry and is a member of the American Optometric Association.
During the course of a comprehensive eye examination, should Dr. Panchal diagnose the presence of an eye condition requiring the services of a specialist, an appropriate Fellowship-Trained, Board-Certified ophthalmologist is available for consultation - all here at The Eye Institute of West Florida.
Richard J. Hairston, MD, FACS, is a vitreous and retina specialist. He joined The Eye Institute in June 2001 coming to us from a busy retina practice in Washington, DC. Dr. Hairston graduated from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and did his residency at the Wilmer Ophthalmological Institute at Johns Hopkins University.
He completed a fellowship in diseases and surgery of the retina and vitreous at The Center for Retina Vitreous Surgery, Memphis, Tennessee. He is certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology. Dr. Hairston enjoys an international reputation as an outstanding retina and vitreous surgeon.
He then served as Assistant Chief of Service in Ophthalmology and Director of the Ocular Trauma Service at Johns Hopkins Hospital. Most recently he was Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology at Johns Hopkins University.
After serving at Johns Hopkins, Dr. Hairston relocated to Florida with his family and enjoys playing golf in the Florida sun.
Robert J. Weinstock, M.D. is a board certified ophthalmologist and fellowship trained cataract and refractive surgeon. After completing his residency in 2001, he continued his training with a refractive and cataract fellowship under his father Stephen M. Weinstock, M.D. at The Eye Institute of West Florida. Dr. Weinstock currently serves as the Director of Cataract and Refractive Surgery at The Eye Institute of West Florida and the Weinstock Laser Eye Center. He is also the Medical Director of the Largo Ambulatory Surgery Center and is an associate clinical professor at the University of South Florida's Department of Ophthalmology. Dr. Weinstock is also the Fellowship Director of the Refractive Surgery Fellowship Program at The Eye Institute of West Florida.
Dr. Weinstock is a world leader and innovator in cataract surgery. He has performed over 30,000 cataract and refractive procedures and has pioneered revolutionary technologies such as microincisional cataract instrumentation, accommodative implants, intraoperative aberrometry, femtosecond laser cataract surgery and 3D surgical visualization/guidance. He supervises the Research Department at The Eye Institute, which is continually involved in FDA phase III and IV clinical studies. Dr. Weinstock has received the American Academy of Ophthalmology Senior Achievement Award, and he serves on the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery Cataract Clinical Committee. He has authored over 10 book chapters, has written over 200 published articles and has given more than 300 lectures internationally.
Other leadership roles include the Chief Medical Editor for the journal Cataract and Refractive Surgery Today and a member of the editorial board for the journal Ophthalmology Management. He is a former board member of Outpatient Ophthalmic Surgery Society and the CEDARS/ASPENS organization. Dr. Weinstock is a key opinion leader and serves on the medical advisory board of many large and small ophthalmic companies. He lives in Tampa Bay with his wife and 3 sons. He enjoys fishing, freediving, spearfishing, snowboarding and watching his children play competitive basketball.
Ryan Sacksteder, OD graduated from the University of North Carolina Wilmington with a degree in Marine Biology and a Chemistry minor before attending the Illinois College of Optometry in Chicago, IL where he obtained his Doctor of Optometry degree.
Dr. Sacksteder has been living in St Petersburg since 2012 and enjoys working closely with the great physicians at the Eye Institute of West Florida. His extensive training has allowed him to help manage ocular diseases including dry eyes, diabetic eye disease, glaucoma, macular degeneration, keratoconus, cataracts and more.
He works closely with surgical ophthalmologists and co-manages patients' post-operative and long-term care after cataract, retina, or glaucoma surgeries. Dr. Sacksteder is also able to treat refractive conditions with the use of prisms, specialty hard contact lenses, and soft contacts for those with astigmatism and presbyopia (loss of reading vision).
When not at work, Dr. Sacksteder spends time with his wife and two children enjoying all the outdoor activities that St Petersburg has to offer.
Sejal Shah, MD received her medical degree from the University of South Florida. She began her postgraduate training with an internship in medicine at UCLA, followed by ophthalmology training at the University of South Florida. She went on to complete a fellowship at the prestigious Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of retinal disorders. Dr. Shah also earned a B.S. degree with honors in Nutritional Science from the University of Florida.
Dr. Shah brings her expertise as a medical retinal specialist with skills in managing and treating vitreoretinal pathology which including age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy.
Her research has appeared in publications such as Ophthalmic Surgery, Lasers, and Imaging Retina; Clinical Ocular Oncology; Survey of Ophthalmology; International Ophthalmology Clinics; and Survey of Ophthalmology.
In her spare time, she enjoys spending quality time with her family and friends, traveling, and trying to keep up with her twin boys.
Stacia H. Goldey, M.D., F.A.C.S., received her undergraduate from the University of Central Florida, Summa Cum Laude, and her medical degree with honors from the University of Florida.
She served her residency at Shands Teaching Hospital at the University of Florida, followed by a fellowship in Ophthalmic Plastic and Orbital Surgery at the Jules Stein Eye Institute at the University of California, Los Angeles.
Dr. Goldey is board-certified in Ophthalmology and a member of the prestigious American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons, American College of Surgeons, American Academy of Ophthalmology and American Medical Association.
Dr. Goldey is on the National Education Faculty for BOTOX® Cosmetic. She has published several articles about Oculoplastic Surgery.
Stephen M. Weinstock, MD, FACS, is a refractive cataract and LASIK specialist. He founded The Eye Institute of West Florida in 1974, pioneering sub-specialty eye care in Pinellas County. Today, as President and Medical Director, Dr. Weinstock is recognized as a world renowned refractive cataract and LASIK surgeon. He teaches the latest techniques, such as "no-stitch, no-patch" cataract extraction and implantation of premium intraocular lenses (IOLs), here and abroad.
Dr. Weinstock is also very proud of being the first ophthalmologist to introduce the excimer and YAG lasers to Pinellas County. In 1999, Dr. Weinstock was honored with the "VISX Star Surgeon" award and placed in the top 5% of refractive surgeons nationwide. He is one of the only surgeons in the country who has been certified by the American Board of Eye Surgery in both cataract and LASIK surgery. Dr. Weinstock is also an associate clinical professor of ophthalmology at the University of South Florida.
Winston T. Cope, M.D. is a Pinellas County native, but after high school, he left for Ohio to receive his BA degree in Chemistry at Oberlin College. He returned to Florida to receive his M.D. degree from the University of Florida in 1972.
Following medical school, he took his internship at the University of Miami School of Medicine and then completed his residency at Duke University. Dr. Cope returned to Pinellas County, Florida in 1978 to begin his career in ophthalmology. His mother and father were physicians practicing ophthalmology in St. Petersburg in the 1940s, where ophthalmology was barely present.
After 36 years in private practice, Dr. Cope joined the eye care professionals at The Eye Institute of West Florida. The physicians and staff welcome Dr. Cope and his lovely wife, Candace.