About Retina Vitreous Consultants
Our team consists of dedicated individuals who are kind, friendly, and caring. Our staff is here to ensure a pleasant experience during your visit to our office.
Our team includes experienced and energetic people whose goal is to communicate well with our patients and provide the best care possible.
Alexander Aizman, M.D.
Dr. Aizman received his B.S. from Pace University in New York. He graduated Magna Cum Laude and was an Academic Achievement Award recipient. Dr. Aizman received his M.D. from NYU School of Medicine with honors. He completed his residency in ophthalmology at Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital- NYU Langone Medical Center. He then completed a fellowship in vitreoretinal diseases and surgery, uveitis, and ocular oncology at the University of Michigan Hospital-Kellogg Eye Center. Dr Aizman has published multiple peer-reviewed scientific articles, given presentations at local and national meetings, and was interviewed on CBS Evening News and NYU Doctor Radio. Dr. Aizman is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, Vit Buckle Society, and a Fellow of the American Society of Retina Specialists. He is certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology.
Robert L. Bergren, M.D.
Dr. Bergren received his B.S. from Indiana University and his M.D. with highest distinction from the University’s School of Medicine. He completed his residency in ophthalmology at Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia and continued at Wills with a retina fellowship. He is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the American Medical Association, and the Pittsburgh Ophthalmological Society. Dr. Bergren is certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology. He is a member of the Vitreous Society and he is also a Clinical Instructor of Ophthalmology at the University of Pittsburgh. He has published several articles on ocular disease and has been awarded Outstanding Clinical Instructor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology.
P. William Conrad, M.D., PhD.
Dr. Conrad received his B.A. from DePauw University followed by a Ph.D. in Molecular and Cellular Physiology from the University of Cincinnati. Dr. Conrad attended medical school at Case Western Reserve University where he was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha honor medical society. He completed an ophthalmology residency and fellowship in vitreoretinal surgery at the University of Michigan. Dr. Conrad is a Clinical Instructor of Ophthalmology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. He is a member of The American Academy of Ophthalmology, The American Society of Retina Specialists and the Pittsburgh Ophthalmology Society. He is certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology.
Jared E. Knickelbein, M.D., Ph.D.
Dr. Knickelbein received his BS in biochemistry from Duquesne University and both MD and PhD degrees from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine through the Medical Scientist Training Program. His ophthalmology residency was with the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, where he served as Chief Resident. He completed fellowship training in Uveitis, Ocular Immunology & Medical Retina at the National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland. Dr. Knickelbein is board certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology and is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the American Uveitis Society, the American Society of Retinal Specialists, the Society of Head Fellows, the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, and the Pittsburgh Ophthalmology Society. He also serves as Clinical Instructor for the University of Pittsburgh Department of Ophthalmology. He has published over 30 peer-reviewed scientific papers, written several book chapters, given over 50 presentations at local, national, and international meetings, and received numerous clinical and research awards. He enjoys spending time with his family as well as playing hockey and tennis.
Phoebe L. Mellen, M.D.
Dr. Mellen attended the University of Notre Dame where she received her B.S. in Science-Business. She graduated magna cum laude and was a National Merit Scholarship recipient. Dr. Mellen received her M.D. from the Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, and graduated summa cum laude as a top 10 student in her graduating class. She completed her ophthalmology residency and uveitis fellowship at Wills Eye Hospital and vitreoretinal surgery fellowship at Tufts Medical Center. Dr. Mellen is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, American Society of Retina Specialists, Women in Ophthalmology, Women in Retina. Dr. Mellen has contributed to numerous publications and book chapters in ophthalmology and retina.
Karl R. Olsen, M.D.
Dr. Olsen attended Stanford University where he was awarded Phi Beta Kappa and his B.S. degree with Honors and with Distinction. He received his MD from Northwestern University and then did a residency in ophthalmology at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute (BPEI). Following a vitreoretinal fellowship at Duke University, Dr. Olsen returned to BPEI as chief resident and then assistant professor of ophthalmology. He is now a clinical assistant professor at the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Olsen is certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology. He is past president of the Pittsburgh Ophthalmological Society and is treasurer of the Pennsylvania Academy of Ophthalmology. He is currently a councilor for the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Dr. Olsen has published over 100 papers on retinal disease. He has received the outstanding Clinical Instructor Award at the University of Pittsburgh Medical School, and has been chosen for “Best Doctors” on a regular basis. Recently he received the Humanitarian Award from the Pennsylvania Academy of Ophthalmology and the Distinguished Service Award from the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
Deepam Rusia, M.D., M.B.A.
Dr. Rusia attended the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University, where he received a BS in finance through the Business Honors Program. He pursued graduate education at Indiana University, where he was awarded a joint MD/MBA degree. Dr. Rusia then completed his residency training in ophthalmology at the University of Cincinnati and his vitreoretinal surgery fellowship at the Gavin Herbert Eye Institute at the University of California, Irvine. Dr. Rusia has authored multiple peer-reviewed publications and book chapters on ocular disease, and he is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Society of Retina Specialists.
Shripaad Y. Shukla , M.D.
Dr. Shukla attended the University of Illinois at Chicago where he was awarded his B.S. degree in Biochemistry Summa Cum Laude with Highest Departmental Distinction and Phi Beta Kappa. Dr. Shukla received his MD from the University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Medicine and then completed his Ophthalmology Residency at The University of Chicago, where he was Chief Resident. He completed his Vitreoretinal Surgery Fellowship at Dean McGee Eye Institute in Oklahoma City. Dr. Shukla is Board Certified in Ophthalmology and is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), the Pennsylvania Academy of Ophthalmology (PAO), and the Pittsburgh Ophthalmology Society (POS). Dr. Shukla has published several articles on ocular disease in peer-reviewed journals.
Avni P. Vyas, M.D.
Dr. Vyas received her B.S in Biology and graduated with highest distinction (top 3%) from the University of Michigan where she was a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society. Dr. Vyas was a cum laude graduate of the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine where she was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha honor medical society. She completed her ophthalmology residency at the Wills Eye Institute and a medical retina fellowship at Northwestern University. Dr. Vyas is a Clinical Instructor of Ophthalmology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. She is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the Pittsburgh Ophthalmology Society.