HAUPPAUGE, N.Y. (PRWEB) November 10, 2017
With a goal of giving patients greater access to more physicians in the convenience of their local neighborhoods, New York’s fastest growing ophthalmic provider group – SightMD – today announced the newest addition to their growing medical staff, Aleksandra Michalik, DO, according to noted eye surgeon, John Passarelli, MD, President of SightMD.
“At SightMD, we’re as passionate about the training and expertise of our physicians as we are about their commitment to the quality of care we provide our patients,” said Dr. Passarelli. “Having the opportunity to add Dr. Michalik to our surgical staff is rare because of her unique background and training, her commitment to personal patient care and her passion for improving ophthalmic care through advanced research. We could not be more excited to have her join our expanding medical staff here at SightMD.”
Dr. Michalik is a former analytical chemist at Estée Lauder who went on to earn her medical degree – with honors – at he New York College of Osteopathic Medicine of NYIT. She completed her ophthalmology residency at St. John’s Episcopal Hospital, Interfaith Medical Center, Brookdale University Hospital & Medical Center, and South Nassau Communities Hospital. She also attended Cornell University, where she graduated cum laude with an undergraduate degree in Biological Sciences.
Her love of glaucoma stems from her research experience with one of the world’s foremost glaucoma specialists, Dr. Jeffrey Freedman, who helped pioneer the use of implantable devices for the surgical treatment of glaucoma. Dr. Michalik completed her glaucoma fellowship at the University of Wisconsin (UW) School of Medicine and Public Health in Madison, WI, where she was involved in the ongoing multi-center study - Macular Pigment as a Glaucoma Risk Factor in CAREDS2 (Carotenoids in AgeRelated Eye Disease Study 2, an ancillary study to the Women’s Health Initiative) -evaluating the potential effect of increased carotenoid intake on lowering the risk and progression of glaucoma. While at UW, she was also involved in the Aerie Mercury 1 Trial, a randomized, multi-center study assessing the safety and efficacy of RoclatanTM (netarsudil/latanoprost ophthalmic solution) 0.02%/0.005%, a newly developed glaucoma medication awaiting FDA approval.
Dr. Michalik’s additional past research includes Glaucoma Treatment Adherence Barriers in an Afro-Caribbean Population of Low Socio-Economic Status, a study which assessed reasons for poor compliance with glaucoma treatment in the Brooklyn-based Afro-Caribbean community, a population with one of the highest rates and with some of the most advanced cases of glaucoma. Dr. Michalik, also, conducted a study with Dr. Jeffrey Freedman, Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology at SUNY Downstate Medical Center, assessing the new design of a surgical glaucoma implant: Supra-Tenon Capsule Placement of the Molteno 3 (GS) vs. the Molteno 3 (SS) Implants in Black Patients with Refractory Glaucoma: A Single-Surgeon Experience, which was presented at the 2017 American Glaucoma Society Annual Meeting. “I’ve always had a love of research and look forward to sharing my findings with my new colleagues at SightMD,” she said.
Dr. Michalik feels fortunate to have grown up on Long Island. “Joining the medical staff at SightMD is an absolute honor because of their tradition of eye excellence on Long Island,” said Dr. Michalik. “Having grown up on Long Island, I feel fortunate to be able to able to care for the friends, family members, and neighbors I grew up with.”
As a fellowship-trained glaucoma specialist with a secondary interest in cataract removal and lens implantation, Dr. Michalik feels her expertise is a perfect complement to their growing list of comprehensive eye care service. “There is no doubt I can contribute in a number of areas to the services being provided by SightMD,” she said. “I look forward to a long and lengthy career here on Long Island.”
Dr. Michalik is a proponent of continuing research and optimization of techniques in the field of ophthalmology. She has authored articles on glaucoma management to be published in peer-reviewed journals and has served as a reviewer of glaucoma research articles submitted for publication. She has lectured at leading medical centers and has presented numerous posters of her past research across the country. She is an active member of the American Glaucoma Society, American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Osteopathic College of Ophthalmology & Otolaryngology.
As part of her past contributions to her community, Dr. Michalik has served as an emergency room volunteer for Good Samaritan Hospital, as well as, an Emergency Medical Services volunteer for the Massapequa Fire Department. In addition, Dr. Michalik has volunteered her time internationally at the Essalud Hospital in Cusco, Peru. She, also, volunteered her time in the malaria clinic in the Amazonian rainforest as an NIH research fellow, while she conducted ethnobiological research with indigenous tribes in the area, in hopes of discovering medicinal properties of the Amazonian flora and fauna.
Dr. Michalik is licensed in New York and Wisconsin. She is fluent in both English and Polish, and proficient in Spanish. When she is not volunteering at one of our local area medical centers, she enjoys travel, outdoor activities such as rockclimbing, water sports, dance, art, yoga, meditation, and cooking.
“Perhaps what I enjoy most about joining SightMD is that most of my colleagues are from right here in the greater Long Island and tri-state area,” said Dr. Michalik. “I look forward to helping continue their tradition of eye care excellence and caring for many of the friends, families, and neighbors we all grew up with.”
SightMD is New York’s fastest growing integrated ophthalmic provider group, offering patients the convenience of 23 locations from the east end of Long Island to Manhattan and access to over 50 ophthalmic surgeons and specialists. It was originally formed with the merger between North Shore Eye Care and Long Island Eye Surgical Care.
The doctors and staff of SightMD represent New York’s most established, full-service comprehensive eye care provider. SightMD is the official LASIK Provider of the New York Mets. Many of their physicians have been voted ‘TOP DOCTORS’ in the New York Metro Area by Castle Connolly and SightMD has earned ‘Best of Long Island’ honors for the past few years.
SightMD maintains offices in Amityville, Bay Shore, Brentwood, Deer Park, Garden City, Hampton Bays, Hauppauge, Hempstead, Holbrook, Huntington, Little Neck, Manhattan, Patchogue, Port Jefferson, Riverhead, Rockville Center, Sayville, Smithtown, Southampton, Southold, and West Islip. They specialize in cataract care, laser vision correction, glaucoma management, diabetic eye disease, ophthalmic plastic surgery, retinal care, and audiology. For more information about SightMD, please contact Heather Dall’Aste at 1-855-295-4144.