Dr. Ondeck is a clinician scientist in the glaucoma department with an interest in extended drug delivery for ophthalmic applications. Glaucoma is one of the most prevalent ophthalmologic disorders and is still a common cause of vision loss.  Topical medications and surgeries are currently available to manage glaucoma; however, complications can arise from surgery, and there can be issues with compliance and side effects from medications that can make these treatments less effective.

Dr. Ondeck is interested in developing an extended release delivery system of glaucoma medications. She has a background in materials science and biomedical engineering, nanotechnology and polymer chemistry and wishes to combine her background with her training in glaucoma to develop drug delivery techniques and/or devices that could eliminate the need for daily eye drops. Her goal is to develop a biocompatible device that can be impregnated with intraocular lowering medications, with the intention that it would be more effective than topical medications in the treatment of glaucoma. 

Education

2008: BS, with University and College Honors, Materials Science Engineering and Biomedical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University

2009: MPhil, Chemistry, University of Cambridge – Churchill College

2013: MD, Washington University at St. Louis School of Medicine

Postgraduate Training

2014: Internship, Preliminary Medicine, North Shore Medical Center, Salem, MA

2017: Residency, Ophthalmology, University of California, San Diego

2018: Fellowship, Glaucoma, Duke University

Honors

Churchill Scholar

Cambridge Overseas Trust Scholar

Starr E. Shulman MPA Fellow

AAO Advocacy Ambassador

Andrew Carnegie Society Scholar

Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, National Graduate Fellowship – Slater Fellow