Our Vision
We aim to transform the standard of care in ophthalmology with innovative, game-changing imaging tools that will enable doctors and patients unprecedented insight into the origins and treatment of blinding diseases.
Board Members
Chair of the board, Co-Founder
Hao F. Zhang, Ph.D.
Professor of biomedical engineering and ophthalmology at Northwestern University and co-inventor of Opticent Health’s core technologies. As one of the R&D leads, he is responsible for coordinating the team's efforts in novel ophthalmologic imaging research and product development. Hao received the NSF CAREER award and NIH Director’s Challenge Award in 2010, the NIH IMPACT award in 2015, the SPIE Translational Research Award in 2016, and the US National Academy of Sciences Cozzarelli Prize in 2017 and brings extensive experience in biomedical optics, including optical coherence tomography, to the team. ​ Hao received his undergraduate and Master's degree from Shanghai Jiao Tong University in China in 1997 and 2000, respectively. Dr. Zhang went on to earn his Ph.D. from Texas A&M and serve as a post-doctoral fellow at Washington University in St. Louis
Co-Founder
Cheng Sun, Ph.D.
Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Northwestern University and co-inventor of Opticent Health’s core technologies. As one of the Opticent R&D leads and over 10 years in optics and advanced manufacturing, Dr. Sun is responsible for coordinating the team's efforts in ophthalmic imaging research, product development, and grant funding. Dr. Sun received his Ph.D. in Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering from Pennsylvania State University. Alongside his work at Opticent, he conducts nanophotonics research at Northwestern University primarily funded by the NSF and private foundations.
Jeffrey Goldberg, MD, Ph.D.
Professor and Chair of Ophthalmology at the Byers Eye Institute at Stanford University, and a member of the National Academy of Medicine. His clinical effort is focused on patients in need of medical or surgical intervention for glaucoma and other retinal and optic nerve diseases, as well as cataract. His research is directed at neuroprotection and regeneration of retinal ganglion cells and the optic nerve, a major unmet need in glaucoma and other optic neuropathies, and his laboratory is developing novel stem cell and nanotherapeutics approaches for eye repair. Dr. Goldberg received his B.S. magna cum laude from Yale University, and his M.D. and Ph.D. from Stanford University where he made significant discoveries about the failure of optic nerve regeneration.
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Nicholas J. Volpe, MD
Professor and Chairman of the Department of Ophthalmology at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine. He competed residency, fellowship and Chief Residency at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School. Prior to relocating to Northwestern, he was Professor of Ophthalmology and Neurology at the Scheie Eye Institute, University of Pennsylvania. At Northwestern he has successfully lead the Department to be one of the nation’s premier, research intensive and education focused Departments while providing the highest quality eye care and surgery in the region. His own clinical interests are in neuro-ophthalmic disorders particularly optic nerve disease and adult strabismus surgery. Research interests include new diagnostic technologies, including pupillometry and visible light optical coherence tomography, imaging abnormalities in neurodegenerative diseases, surgical education of ophthalmology residents, adult strabismus surgery and clinical trials for optic nerve disease. He is a member of the American Ophthalmological Society, a Director of the Heed Foundation and on the Board of the Northwestern Medical Group, the Illinois Society for Prevention of Blindness, and the Chicago Ophthalmology Society. He has served on the Board of the North American Neuro-ophthalmology Society, several AAO committees and the AUPO Fellowship Compliance Committee. He continues to lead the transformation of the Department of Ophthalmology at Northwestern Medicine.
Joel S. Schuman, MD
Professor Schuman leads the Advanced Ophthalmic Imaging Laboratory (AOIL), which consists of a team of ophthalmologists, engineers, software specialists, statisticians, and medical and engineering trainees. He and his colleagues focus primarily on the study of glaucoma, a leading cause of blindness in the world. They develop advanced imaging tools to diagnose this debilitating disease, monitor its progression, and investigate its pathogenesis.