Sotiria Palioura OPTHALMOLOGIST

• 2010 – “RNA-Dependent Selenocysteine Biosynthesis in Eukaryotes and Archaea”
• Under the guidance of Drs. Dieter Söll and Thomas A. Steitz, the 2009 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry
• Full scholarship, distinction and awards (MD/PhD Thesis Award, Farr Scholar Excellence in Research Award), YALE UNIVERSITY MEDICAL SCHOOL, USA (2003 – 2010)

Board Member

• American Academy of Ophthalmology
• Cornea Society (American Society for Cornea Specialists)
• American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS)
• EuCornea (European Society of Cornea Specialists)
• European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ESCRS)
• Hellenic Society of Intraocular Implant and Refractive Surgery (HSIOIRS)
• Hellenic Ophthalmological Society

Editorial Boards/ AD-HOC REVIEWER for peer-reviewed international journals

• American Journal of Ophthalmology
• Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery
• British Journal of Ophthalmology
• Journal of Refractive Surgery
• Cornea
• Journal of Ophthalmology
• BMC Ophthalmology
• Digital Journal of Ophthalmology
• PLoS One

• Visiting Professor of Ophthalmology, UNIVERSITY OF BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (2020 – present)
• Consultant, Hygeia Group of Hospitals (2019 – present)
• Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology, YALE UNIVERSITY MEDICAL SCHOOL, USA (2019 – present)
• Medical Affairs Associate for Europe, Middle East and Asia, Alcon S.A. (2019 – present)
• Consultant, Athens Vision Eye Institute (2017 – 2020)
• Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology, BASCOM PALMER EYE INSTITUTE, USA (2015 – present)
• Instructor of Ophthalmology, BASCOM PALMER EYE INSTITUTE, USA (7/2014 – 7/2015)
• Attending Surgeon in Ophthalmology, BASCOM PALMER EYE INSTITUTE, ΗΠΑ (2014 – present)

Hospital Appointments:

• Hygeia Hospital, Athens, Greece
• Mitera Hospital ,Athens, Greece
• Bascom Palmer Eye Institute/Anne Bates Leach Eye Hospital, FL, USA
• University of Miami Hospital, FL, USA
• Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center – University of Miami Health System, FL, USA
• Massachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary, MA, USA
• Massachusetts General Hospital, MA, USA
• Brigham & Women’s Hospital, MA, USA
• Boston Children’s Hospital, MA, USA
• Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard University Boston, MA, USA
• Jamaica Plain VA Medical Center, MA, USA
• Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, NY, USA
• Yale New Haven Hospital, CT, USA
• West Haven VA Medical Center, CT, USA
• Bridgeport Hospital – Yale New Haven Health System, CT, USA

Education Experience

• Clinical supervisor and research mentor for graduating medical students from YALE UNIVERSITY MEDICAL SCHOOL (2019 – present)
• Research mentor for graduating medical students from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (2017 – present)
• Clinical and surgical instructor for trained ophthalmologists during their Cornea and External Disease fellowship, BASCOM PALMER EYE INSTITUTE, USA (2015 – present)
• Clinical and surgical instructor for ophthalmology residents, BASCOM PALMER EYE INSTITUTE, USA (2014 – present)
• Laboratory project supervisor for undergraduate students, YALE UNIVERSITY, USA (2007 – 2008)
• Teaching Assistant for the course: “Medical Impact of Basic Science”, YALE UNIVERSITY, USA (2006)
• Anatomy Teaching Program for high school students, YALE UNIVERSITY MEDICAL SCHOOL, USA (2004 – 2005)

Clinical Interest:

• Cataract Surgery with Implantation of Monofocal, Multifocal and Extended Depth of Focus Intraocular Lenses (IOLs)
• Cornea Transplantation: Penetrating Keratoplasty (PKP), Deep Anterior Lamellar Keratoplasty (DALK), Endothelial Transplantation (DSAEK, ultra-thin DSAEK, DMEK)
• Refractive Surgery: Laser Correction of Myopia and Astigmatism
• Cornea/Collagen Crosslinking: Management of Keratoconus and Corneal Ectasias
• Surgical Management of Pterygium with Conjunctival Autograft and the P.E.R.F.E.C.T. Technique
• Surgical and Medical Management of Ocular Surface Tumors: Ocular Surface Squamous Neoplasia (OSSN)/Conjunctival Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Conjunctival Melanoma, Conjunctival Lymphoma, Primary Acquired Melanosis, Conjunctival Nevus, Conjunctival Papilloma
• Limbal Stem Cell Transplantation
• Management of Ocular Surface Autoimmune and Inflammatory Conditions: Ocular Cicatricial Pemphigoid/Mucous Membrane Pemphigoid, Sjogren’s Syndrome, Peripheral Ulcerative Keratitis, Episcleritis, Scleritis, Graft-versus-Host Disease, Stevens-Johnson Syndrome
• Management of Severe Allergic Keratoconjunctivitis in Children (Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis) and Adults (Atopic Keratoconjunctivitis)
• Management of Herpetic Keratitis and Herpes Zoster Ophthalmicus
• Management of Infectious Keratitis and Corneal Ulcers (Bacterial, Fungal, Acanthamoeba, Microsporidia)

Research Interest: 

• Clinical research on the use of autologous serum tears for the management of severe dry eye disease due to autoimmune inflammatory conditions of the ocular surface (e.g. Sjogren’s syndrome, ocular cicatricial pemphigoid/mucous membrane pemphigoid, graft-versus-host disease, Stevens-Johnson syndrome)
• Clinical research on the use of topical chemotherapeutic agents for the management of ocular surface squamous neoplasia/conjunctival squamous cell carcinoma
• Clinical research on the medical management of ocular cicatricial pemphigoid/mucous membrane pemphigoid
• Clinical research on the use of advanced technology intraocular lenses in cataract surgery for the correction of presbyopia

• 2020 – Best Surgical Video Award (“Ultra-Thin Descemet Stripping Endothelial Keratoplasty in a Patient with Axenfeld-Rieger Syndrome and a Pars Plana Glaucoma Tube”) at the 36th Annual Congress of the Hellenic Society of Intraocular Implant and Refractive Surgery, Athens, Greece
• 2019 – Clinical Research Scholar Award from the Principles & Practice of Clinical Research Course at the HARVARD SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH
• 2019 – Best Surgical Video Award (“Combined Simple Limbal Epithelial Transplantation and Glaucoma Tube Placement in a Monocular Patient with Advanced Glaucoma and Limbal Stem Cell Deficiency”) at the 52nd Annual Congress of the Hellenic Ophthalmological Society, Athens, Greece
• 2015 – The Eye Bank Association of America Travel Grant
• 2015 – The “Spyros Georgaras” fellowship from the Hellenic Society of Intraocular Implant and Refractive Surgery
• 2014 – The Claes Dohlman Fellowship Award from the Claes Dohlman Society and the HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL Cornea Center of Excellence
• 2014 – Ophthalmology Resident Excellence Award by the Association of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS) Foundation
• 2013 – Best Resident Research Award in Cornea and Refractive Surgery by the HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL Cornea Center of Excellence
• 2013 – The New England Ophthalmological Society Best Clinical Poster Award
• 2013 – Selected by the Association of University Professors in Ophthalmology in the United States to Participate in the Heed Ophthalmic Foundation Residents Retreat
• 2012 – The Massachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary Alumni Meeting Award for Best Poster Presentation in Clinical Research
• 2012 – The Joseph M. and Eula C. Lawrence Travel Grant by the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) Foundation
• 2011 – Performance Improvement Award in Recognition to Commitment for Improving Patient Care from the MEMORIAL SLOAN-KETTERING CANCER CENTER
• 2010 – Doctor of Medicine (M.D. degree) with distinction Cum Laude (awarded to the top 5% of the graduating class) from YALE UNIVERSITY MEDICAL SCHOOL
• 2010 – The MD/PhD Thesis Prize from YALE UNIVERSITY MEDICAL SCHOOL
• 2010 – The Farr Scholar Excellence in Research Award from YALE UNIVERSITY MEDICAL SCHOOL
• 2009 – Graduate Affiliate for the YALE World Fellows Program
• 2007 – Selected to participate (among 4000 applicants) in the 57th Lindau Meeting of Nobel Laureates in Medicine, Lindau, Germany
• 2007 – Excellence in Teaching Award from the Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, YALE UNIVERSITY
• 2007 – The Robert Macnab Memorial Prize from the Department of Molecular Biophysics & Biochemistry, YALE UNIVERSITY
• 2003 – 2010 Full Scholarship by the YALE UNIVERSITY MEDICAL SCHOOL (MD/PhD Program)
• 2003 – Elected in the Phi Beta Kappa (ΦΒΚ) Honor Society of Excellent College Graduates
• 2003 – Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) and Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry with distinction Magna Cum Laude (top 10% of the class), YALE UNIVERSITY
• 2002 – Acceptance in the B.Sc./M.Sc. Combined Degree Program due to Academic Excellence (top 2% of the class) at YALE UNIVERSITY

Chapters in greater than 10 international ophthalmology books and atlases, including the following:

• 2020
  Gkiala A., Palioura S. Conjunctival Tumors. In Digital Bibliography at the University of
  Buenos Aires Master’s in Ophthalmology, ed. Chiarada, P. Buenos Aires, Argentina.  
• 2018
  Palioura S., Alfonso E.C. Chapter 3. Classic signs, symptoms, classification and differential
  diagnosis of pterygium. In Pterygium Surgery, ed. Gulani, A.C. Thieme Publishers, New York, NY, USA.
• 2017
  Palioura S., Amescua G. Chapter 9. Environmental impact on dry eye disease. In Dry Eye 
  Disease: An Up-to-Date Practical Guide, eds. Mah, F., Rhee, M. Slack Inc Publishers, Thorofare, NJ, USA.
• 2016
  Perez V.L., Palioura S., Kim S. Ocular graft-versus-host disease. In Cornea, eds. Mannis, M., Holland, E. Elsevier Publishers, London, United Kingdom.
• 2015
  Yoo S.H., Palioura S., Diakonis V.F. IOL refractive surprises. In Intraocular Lens Surgery: Selection, Complications, and Complex Cases, eds. Randleman, B., Ahmed, I., Thieme Medical Publishers, New York, NY, USA.
• 2014
  Palioura S., Ginat D.T., Ashrafzadeh A., Chodosh J. Imaging after cornea surgery. In Post-treatment Imaging of the Orbit, eds. Ginat, D.T., Freitag, S., Springer Science, Heidelberg, Germany.
• 2014
  Palioura S., Ginat D.T., Farrokh-Siar L., Yanoga F., Chodosh J. Imaging after cataract and intraocular lens implant surgery. In Post-treatment Imaging of the Orbit, eds. Ginat, D.T., Freitag, S., Springer Science, Heidelberg, Germany.
• 2013
  Palioura S., Chodosh J. Keratoprosthesis. In Expert Techniques in Ophthalmic Surgery, eds. Spaeth, G., Ichhpujani, P., and Yanoff, M. JP Medical Publishers, London, UK.
• 2013
  Palioura S., Chodosh J. Boston Keratoprosthesis Type II: indications, techniques, outcomes, and management. In Keratoprostheses and Artificial Corneas: Fundamentals and Surgical Applications, eds. Cortina, S., de la Cruz, J., Springer Science, Heidelberg, Germany.

More than 50 publications in international peer-reviewed scientific journals, including the following:

• 2020, Gkiala A., Palioura S.
  Conjunctival melanoma: update on genetics, epigenetics and targeted molecular and immune-based therapies.
  Clinical Ophthalmology (in press)
• 2020, Lu L., Palioura S.
  Management of stromal herpes simplex virus keratitis with epithelial ulceration using optical coherence tomography-generated corneal thickness maps.
  Cornea (in press)
• 2020, Venkateswaran N., Amescua G., Palioura S.
  Perioperative management of dense cataracts.  
  International Ophthalmology Clinics 60(3):51-60.
• 2019, Marmalidou A., Palioura S., Dana R., Kheirkhah A.
  Medical and surgical management of conjunctivochalasis.
  The Ocular Surface 17(3):393-399.  
• 2018, Palioura S., Relhan N., Leung E., Chang V., Yoo S.H., Dubovy S.R., Flynn H.W. Jr. Delayed-onset Candida parapsilosis cornea tunnel infection and endophthalmitis after cataract surgery: histopathology and clinical course.
  American Journal of Ophthalmology Case Reports 11:109-114.
• 2017, Palioura S., Colby K.
  Outcomes of Descemet Stripping Endothelial Keratoplasty (DSEK) using Eye Bank-prepared pre-loaded grafts.
  Cornea 36(1):21-25.
• 2017, Sayed-Ahmed I.O., Palioura S., Galor A., Karp C.L. (2017)
  Diagnosis and medical management of conjunctival squamous neoplasia.
  Expert Review in Ophthalmology 12(1):11-19.
• 2016, Palioura S., Henry C.R., Amescua G., Alfonso E.C.
  Role of steroids in the treatment of bacterial keratitis.
  Clinical Ophthalmology 10:179-86.
• 2016, Atallah M., Palioura S., Perez V.L., Amescua G.
  Limbal stem cell transplantation: current perspectives.
  Clinical Ophthalmology 10:593-602.
• 2015, Palioura S., Galor A., Karp C.L.
  Management of ocular surface tumors: excision vs. topical treatment.
  Panamerican Journal of Ophthalmology 13:86-89.