Faculty
Director, Ophthalmology Emergency Services
Massachusetts Eye & Ear
Harvard Medical School
Dr. Armstrong has fostered an interest in ophthalmic telemedicine and healthcare technology innovation and entrepreneurship since medical school. He is focusing his research endeavors on instituting tele-ophthalmology at Mass Eye and Ear and beyond. He has served as an advisor for various health technology startups. In his role as founder of Ocular Technologies, he has been working with collaborators in Boston and across the United States in the design of novel telemedicine and artificial intelligence technologies in the field of ophthalmology for which he won the 2020 MIT 100k Entrepreneurship Award.
Dr. Armstrong has published more than 16 peer-reviewed publications, multiple book chapters, and presented research and lectures at multiple national and international conferences. Dr. Armstrong’s clinical research in ophthalmology has focused on novel ophthalmic multimodal imaging techniques for a variety of eye diseases, as well as epidemiologic studies of eye trauma presenting to emergency departments across the United States. Recently, he has focused on novel tele-ophthalmic models of care and has an interest in the application of artificial intelligence to improve access to care. Prior to beginning his residency at Harvard Ophthalmology, Dr. Armstrong was elected to Alpha Omega Alpha and the Gold Humanism Honor Society and completed his transitional year internship at HMS-affiliated Cambridge Health Alliance in Cambridge, MA.
Retina Associates of Cleveland Inc
Clinical Senior Instructor
Case Western Reserve University
Joseph Coney, a highly respected vitreoretinal surgeon and a managing partner at Retina Associates of Cleveland, Inc., has advanced the field of ophthalmology through various leadership positions within the National Medical Association (NMA), the Cleveland Ophthalmological Society (COS), the Ohio Ophthalmological Society (OOS), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO).
A passionate advocate for education and protecting the integrity of ophthalmology, Dr. Coney served as past president of the OOS and remains a current executive board member and state councilor to the AAO. Since he graduated from the AAO Leadership Development Program (X), he frequently attends the Mid-Year Forum in D.C. and the Ohio Statehouse to lobby for physicians and the communities he serves and protects. He served on the AAO Knowledge Base Subcommittee for the Retina/Vitreous Panel and co-moderated a joint symposium with the NMA on the current state of healthcare at the AAO annual meeting in Chicago to keep his colleagues informed about new therapies in ophthalmology and how health policies affect patients. His leadership extends to numerous committees, and he was recently appointed to serve on the Nominating Committee for the State Section of the Council, the Surgical Scope Fund Committee, and the Academy’s Awards Committee. In these roles, he participates on a subcommittee to address state member engagement and retention. Additionally, he serves as an executive committee member for the National Medical Fellowship and on the advisory medical board for Blackdoctors.org. He participated in the Academy’s Young Ophthalmologist Committee and Secretariat for State Affairs as a panelist for the Leadership session of the L.E.A.P. Program and the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Annual Legislative Conference.
Dr. Coney’s unwavering commitment to mentorship is evident in his active role in several mentoring initiatives, including the American Academy of Ophthalmology’s Minority Ophthalmology Mentoring Program and the American Society of Retina Specialists DEI committee. He has been a driving force in the NMA as an Executive Committee Member since 2005 and as past Chair of the ophthalmology section. He has moderated and participated in numerous DEI Advisory Boards for the American Society of Retina Specialists (ASRS), the Retina World Congress, Allergan, Genentech, and Novartis. He serves as a volunteer examiner for the American Board of Ophthalmology (ABO) and extends his work globally in Haiti, where he mentors and trains ophthalmologists to become retina specialists.
In 2023, he was honored with the Brandon Hall Award for his video on eye-related conditions impacting at-risk populations. His contributions have also earned him numerous accolades, including the LEO Award, Special Recognition Awards, Services Awards and the Achievement Award from the AAO. He has consistently been recognized as one of the top ophthalmologists in the nation by Castle Connolly and Cleveland Magazine. He was also named a 2024 recipient of the Youngstown Best Business Rate and a Vitals Patients’ Choice Award winner and has been selected by his peers as one of the Best Doctors in America and top retina specialists. Dr. Coney has been the principal investigator in numerous trials, including the Phase IV Elevatum clinical research trial, which is addressing inclusivity and health barriers for minorities with diabetic retinopathy. His commitment to improving patient care extends beyond research, as he has published articles on implicit bias in healthcare and the need for greater diversity in retina subspecialty training. Additionally, he works on social media content aimed at raising awareness of social determinants of health.
Through his work, leadership, and dedication to mentoring and research, Dr. Coney continues to shape the future of ophthalmology with a focus on inclusivity, excellence, and patient-centered care.
Ophthalmologist, Vitreoretinal Surgeon & Partner
Retina Associates of Kentucky/Eye Care Partners
Dr. John Kitchens is a nationally and internationally recognized vitreoretinal surgeon based in Lexington, Kentucky. He completed his residency in ophthalmology at the University of Iowa and went on to complete a prestigious vitreoretinal fellowship at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute in Miami, where he also served as Chief Resident. Since joining Retina Associates of Kentucky in 2005, Dr. Kitchens has been at the forefront of advancements in retinal surgery, developing innovative surgical techniques and contributing extensively to research in age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic retinopathy, and retinal vascular diseases. His dedication to the field has earned him numerous accolades, including repeated recognition as one of America’s Top Ophthalmologists and inclusion in the Best Doctors in America list.
A prolific educator and speaker, Dr. Kitchens is frequently invited to present at major national and international ophthalmology conferences. He has played a vital role in shaping the future of retinal surgery through his involvement in various advisory boards, including the Bayer Global Retinal Advisory Board and the Surgical Care Affiliates Medical Executive Board. As a co-founding member of the Digital Ophthalmology Society, he has helped lead the integration of digital technology into modern ophthalmic practice. Dr. Kitchens has also served as a faculty member for the Alcon Fellows Retina Institute, where he helps train the next generation of vitreoretinal specialists.
Beyond his clinical and academic pursuits, Dr. Kitchens has a deep passion for photography and videography. He has been honored three times with the Rhett Buckler Award from the American Society of Retina Specialists for his exceptional surgical video contributions. His expertise and engaging teaching style have made him a sought-after mentor in the field of retina. Dr. Kitchens resides in Lexington, Kentucky, with his wife Sarah and their children, enjoying an active lifestyle that blends his professional excellence with a love for technology and creativity.