Lejla Vajzovic
MD
Lejla Vajzovic has established an international reputation as a leader in vitreoretinal surgery, research, and teaching. She is an ophthalmologist and vitreoretinal surgeon with expertise in adult and pediatric retinal diseases and surgery. She is interested in cutting edge technologies and recovery of vision in hereditary retinal diseases with retinal implants and stem cell technology. She is a co-director of the Duke Pediatric Retina and Optic Nerve Center, and she directs the Duke Center for Artificial and Regenerative Vision, where she implants the Argus II “bionic eye” to restore vision to individuals with total blindness. An influential educator, she organizes and directs several highly successful national and international courses, including the first-of-its-kind Advances in Pediatric Retina Course at Duke and the international Duke Fellows Advances in Vitreous Surgery Course. She is director of Duke Eye Center’s Continuing Medical Education program. She has received numerous prestigious honors and awards for excellence in clinical care, research, leadership and education the field of ophthalmology: the Duke Medical Alumni Association’s Emerging Leader Award, the Women in Ophthalmology Emerging Leader Award, the Retina Society Fellowship Research Award, the Heed Ophthalmic Fellowship Award and the Society of Heed Fellows Award, the Knights Templar Eye Foundation Career Starter Research Award, the PDC’s Enhanced Academics in a Basic Laboratory Environment (ENABLE) Career Development Program Award, the American Academy of Ophthalmology Achievement Award, the American Society of Retinal Specialists Senior Honor Award and the Film Festival: Rhett Buckler Award.