Ophthalmologic Emergencies
Learning Objectives
- Hot to perform a detailed ocular exam and approach to ophthalmologic emergencies
- Understanding how to apply clinical decision rules
This course equips healthcare professionals with the skills needed to assess and manage acute ophthalmologic emergencies. Participants will learn how to perform a detailed ocular examination, recognize sight-threatening conditions, and initiate appropriate interventions. The course also emphasizes the application of clinical decision rules to enhance diagnostic accuracy and optimize patient management. Through case-based discussions and hands-on practice, learners will develop a structured approach to evaluating eye-related emergencies while improving their clinical reasoning in high-stakes scenarios.
Sharon Chekijian, MD, MPH
Dr. Chekijian joined the Yale School of Medicine faculty in 2007 where she works full-time as an Associate Professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine. She is faculty member in the Section of Global Health and International Emergency Medicine as well as in the Section of Administration. She has served as the inaugural Medical Director of patient experience since 2011. She is also the Medical Director of the Physician Assistant and Nurse Practitioner group in the Department of Emergency Medicine. Dr. Chekijian is a seasoned educator and is the founding Medical Director of the APP residency program which admitted its 1st cohort in 2015. She completed the Yale Medical Education Fellowship in 2014. Her research interests lie in global emergency medicine and include emergency care systems' development in low and middle-income countries, unintentional injury prevention in low and middle-income countries, as well as stroke and cardiac care in low and middle-income countries. Dr. Chekijian has led and participated in projects in the Republic of Armenia, Uganda, and Iraq. She has consulted for the World Bank and the US Department of State. She is an active member of the Stroke Initiative Advisory Task-Force for Armenia (SIATA). Dr. Chekijian was awarded a Fulbright in 2020 for her work to improve emergency care in Armenia by the establishment of a new emergency medicine residency program in cooperation with the National Institutes of Health of Armenia and supported from a research standpoint by the School of Public Health at the American University of Armenia. She is deeply committed to patient experience, communication and humanism in medicine. Dr. Chekijian co-produced a film that addresses human rights as it relates to the Armenian Genocide of 1915 under the working title “The Hidden Map” that premiered at the Toronto Pomegranate Film Festival in 2019.
Dr. Silva Boyajian
Dr. Silva Boyajian is a board-certified Emergency Medicine specialist with a robust academic background and clinical expertise. She earned her Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree from Creighton University School of Medicine in May 2016. Following her medical degree, Dr. Boyajian completed a rigorous residency in Emergency Medicine at Kern Medical Center, where she trained from July 2016 to June 2020. Her comprehensive training and dedication have equipped her to handle a wide range of emergency medical situations with precision and care.
