Otana Jakpor, M.D., M.Sc.
2023-2024 Heed Fellows FOUR KELLOGG TRAINEES WERE APPOINTED TO THE PRESTIGIOUS 2023-2024 CLASS OF THE SOCIETY OF HEED FELLOWS, OUT OF A TOTAL OF 24 FELLOWS NATIONWIDE. NEW MEMBERS OF THE SOCIETY RECEIVE A MERIT AWARD FOR POSTGRADUATE STUDIES IN OPHTHALMOLOGY. Otana Jakpor, M.D., M.Sc., who has also been named a Global Ophthalmology Fellow at Kellogg for the 20232024 academic year, plans to apply her award to an upcoming study of factors associated with the incidence of cataracts in pediatric patients in the African nation of Ghana. She is developing the research project in collaboration with colleagues at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) in Accra, Ghana. “Pediatric cataracts can result from a number of factors, including genetics, metabolic conditions, infections and trauma,” she explains. “The pediatric ophthalmologists at KBTH want a deeper understanding of which of these causes are most strongly associated with cataract development in their patient population, and the role each may play in determining patient outcomes.” Dr. Jakpor hopes to augment that analysis by assessing the impact of pediatric cataracts on quality of life, in both patients and their caregivers. “We would like to highlight the importance of addressing pediatric cataracts, not only for children’s physical health, but also for their overall well-being,” she says. 22
Olivia Killeen, M.D., M.S.
Young children don’t know if they have vision problems. That’s why pediatricians and primary care providers should make vision screening a standard component of every preschooler’s annual check-up. Yearly vision testing is critical at ages three, four and five, and incrementally after that, flagging any abnormalities for referral to an ophthalmologist. Failure to do so could mean missing the development of conditions like amblyopia which can result in permanent vision loss. Former Kellogg ophthalmology resident Olivia Killeen, M.D., M.S., A Research Fellow in the National Clinical Scholars Program, dedicates her research to improving vision health and eliminating avoidable blindness by addressing barriers to eye care and strengthening the delivery of ophthalmic services. For a snapshot of the real-world challenges of pediatric vision screening, Dr. Killeen piloted a study within the U-M Health System, combining a medical records review and interviews with providers at 17 clinics. Screening rates did vary from clinic to clinic. Interviews revealed instances where high screening levels were linked to devoting resources to improved equipment, and where lower screening levels could be connected with Covid-19-associated staffing shortages. In summer 2023, Dr. Killeen began a one-year pediatric ophthalmology fellowship at Duke University. Before departing Kellogg, she was named a 2023/2024 Heed Fellow. She plans to apply her Heed award to replicating the U-M study at Duke. “Learning from an additional site will test my theory that the issues we identified are not unique to Michigan,” she says, “but rather, signposts that point to a national public health issue.”
