Highlights: Sustaining Excellence in Microsurgical Education

Since 2016, the Jorge N. Buxton, MD and Douglas F. Buxton, MD Microsurgical Educational Foundation has raised over $2.5 million, fueled by the generosity of patients, family, and friends. These contributions have empowered the Foundation to significantly enhance ophthalmic education, provide world-class training resources, and support global outreach through cataract surgery missions.

Empowering Future Surgeons

  • CME Educational Travel Support:
    The Foundation provided travel grants to support educational enrichment, including:
    • Residents are  sponsored to attend a cataract surgery conference “Telling it like it Is” in Florida—a tradition now being expanded with plans to now send residents to the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS) annual conference each year.  ASCRS 2025 took place in April 2025 in Los Angeles and ASCRS 2026 will take place in April in DC. 
    • An annual educational grant benefiting the NYEE Department of Ophthalmology.
  • Graduation Gift of Surgical Instruments:
    Continuing a decade-old tradition, all graduating third-year residents of NYEE at Mount Sinai receive cataract and retina surgical instruments, enhancing their professional readiness and reinforcing NYEE’s stature as a world-class teaching institution.
  • Provision of Advanced Tools:
    2nd year residents receive surgical loupes and simulation training 
  • International Fellowships & Global Outreach

Sponsored 3 international research fellows:

  • Jorge S. Andrade Romo - from Guadalajara, Mexico—who completed residency with the Class of 2023 and will be sharing space at Buxton Eye starting in Fall 2025. 
  • Maria Castanos from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic—graduated with the Class of 2024.
  • Oscar Otero – from Bogota, Columbia – who will graduate with the class of 2026 
  • Performed over 1000 cataract surgeries in underserved communities in Zimba, Zambia and Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.  

Technology & Simulation Advancements

  • EyeSI Surgical Simulator:
    Continued support for this virtual reality microsurgical training platform, enabling residents to practice techniques in a risk-free environment.
  • Surgical Training Course Support:
    Ongoing funding of:
    • The Annual Advanced Phacoemulsification Course
    • The Introduction to Phacoemulsification & Intraocular Lens Implant Wet Lab
    • Femtosecond Laser Training for second-year residents
  • Software & Hardware Upgrades:
    • Funded a major software upgrade to the EyeSI Surgical Simulator.
    • Upgraded all station cameras in the Jorge N. and Douglas F. Buxton Microsurgical Center. This December 2024 upgrade allows real-time streaming and recording via smartphone.
    • Updated 10 OR recording stations with the Sony Nucleus System—a critical investment in audiovisual training infrastructure.
    • Provides surgical loupes and simulation to second-year residents.
    • Supported upgrades to the Optical Refractive Analysis platforms, improving cataract surgery outcomes and elevating the training experience for both attendings and residents.

Looking Ahead to 2025 and beyond

The Foundation is committed to continuing and expanding its support for educational excellence. In the coming years, we aim to:

  • Expand resident participation in national surgical conferences
  • Fully fund and implement cutting-edge video and simulation training technologies
  • Continue supporting international fellows and global cataract surgical missions
  • Enhance resident education through sustained investment in surgical tools, software, and curriculum enrichment