معرفی
Rachel A. F. Wozniak, M.D., Ph.D., is an Associate Professor in the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry (SMD), with joint appointments in the Center for Visual Science (A&S) and the Department of Microbiology and Immunology (SMD). She is a cornea specialist at the Flaum Eye Institute, specializing in hereditary and infectious corneal diseases, anterior segment injuries, cataract surgery, and ocular surface disorders. Her clinical work combines compassionate care with cutting-edge surgical techniques, and she collaborates across subspecialties to enhance patient outcomes.
Dr. Wozniak earned her M.D. and Ph.D. in Genetics from Tufts University School of Medicine (2012). She completed her ophthalmology residency and a Heed Foundation-funded fellowship in Cornea and External Disease at the University of Rochester’s Flaum Eye Institute.
Her research focuses on the pathogenesis of bacterial corneal infections and development of novel antimicrobial therapies. Key projects include studying Staphylococcus aureus virulence mechanisms, optimizing antibiotic combinations, and leveraging CRISPR tools to identify drug targets. She leads NIH-funded studies on antimicrobial drug discovery and has pioneered patents for polymyxin B/trimethoprim-based therapeutics.
Dr. Wozniak has authored over 30 peer-reviewed publications and holds grants from NIH, Research to Prevent Blindness, and industry partnerships. Her awards include the ASCRS Foundation Research Award and Snell Resident Investigator Award. She is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, Women in Ophthalmology, and the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery.
Her lab at the Flaum Eye Institute explores three core areas: antimicrobial drug development, pathogenesis of keratitis, and high-throughput drug screening tools. Collaborators include Paul Dunman (Dunman Lab) and others in microbiology and ophthalmology. She actively mentors trainees in translational research linking basic science to clinical applications.
