Rohan Jalalizadeh, MD

Ophthalmologist

Specialties: Ophthalmology, Retina and Vitreous Surgery

Rohan Jalalizadeh, M.D. graduated summa cum laude as valedictorian of his class from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri in 2012 with a degree in Biomedical Engineering.  He attended medical school at Washington University in St. Louis, graduating in 2016.  He conducted his medical internship at St. Louis University before moving to Ann Arbor, Michigan, where he completed his residency at the University of Michigan W. K. Kellogg Eye Center, consistently ranked among the best ophthalmology training programs in the country.  He returned to St. Louis, Missouri, for his 2-year fellowship in vitreoretinal surgery at The Retina Institute.

During his time at Washington University in St. Louis, Dr. Jalalizadeh co-founded and led Sling Health®, a national medical engineering incubator based in universities around the United States that educates and trains the next generation of innovators in medical technology solutions.

Publications:

Kim TN, Aaberg MT, Li P, Davila JR, Bhaskaranand M, Bhat S, Ramachandra C, Solanki K, Myers F, Reber C, Jalalizadeh R, Margolis TP, Fletcher D, Paulus YM.
Comparison of automated and expert human grading of diabetic retinopathy using smartphone-based retinal photography. Eye (Lond). 2021 Jan;35(1):334-342. doi: 10.1038/s41433-020-0849-5. Epub 2020 Apr 27. PMID: 32341536; PMCID: PMC7852658.
• Cross-sectional study comparing sensitivity and specificity data of automated versus human grading of diabetic retinopathy using a smartphone device.

Nolan KW, Lee MS, Jalalizadeh RA, Firl KC, Van Stavern GP, McClelland CM.
Optic nerve head drusen: The relationship between intraocular pressure and optic nerve structure and function. J Neuroophthalmol. 2018 Jun;38(2):147-150. doi: 10.1097/WNO.0000000000000587.
• Retrospective multicenter study investigating correlation between visual field mean deviation, retinal nerve fiber layer thickness, and intraocular pressure in adults with optic disc drusen.

Badiyan SN, Markovina S, Simpson JR, Robinson CG, DeWees T, Tran DD, Linette G, Jalalizadeh R, Dacey R, Rich KM, Chicoine MR, Dowling JL, Leuthardt EC, Zipfel GJ, Kim AH, Huang J.
Radiation therapy dose escalation for glioblastoma multiforme in the era of temozolomide. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2014 Nov 15;90(4):877-85. doi: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2014.07.014. Epub 2014 Sep 23. PMID: 25257812.

In Progress:

• Characterization and diagnosis of retinoschisis and schisis detachments using spectral domain optical coherence tomography.
  Retrospective, cross-sectional, descriptive study detailing clinical and SD-OCT characteristics of peripheral retinoschisis, macular retinoschisis, schisis detachments, and combined macular and peripheral retinoschisis.
  Collaborators: Jalalizadeh R, Smith BT.

• Characterization of Choroidal Thickness in Acquired Macular and Peripheral Retinoschisis using Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography.
  Retrospective, cross-sectional, descriptive study demonstrating significant differences in central choroidal thickness in macular versus peripheral retinoschisis.
  Collaborators: Jalalizadeh R, Smith BT.

• White dot syndrome associated with COVID-19 vaccination. Case report.
  Collaborators: Jalalizadeh R, Joseph D.

• Characteristics and natural history of lamellar macular holes: A quantitative analysis.
  Retrospective, longitudinal cohort study examining progression rates of lamellar holes with OCT data analysis and risk factors.
  Collaborators: Jalalizadeh R, Hyde R, Thomas M, Durrani A, Xu G, Higgins S, Huang Z, Johnson MW.

• Satellite clinics in academic ophthalmology departments: physician satisfaction, expectations, and financial factors.
  Physician questionnaire exploring the role of ophthalmology satellite clinics.
  Collaborators: Jalalizadeh R, Pan W, Devisetty L.

• Peer Review of Textbook, American Academy of Ophthalmology Basic and Clinical Science Course Section 9: Uveitis and Intraocular Inflammation, 2022-2023.

OTHER PUBLICATIONS

• Jalalizadeh R, Durrani A. Fundus autofluorescence update and clinical applications. Retinal Physician. 2021 Jan; Vol. 18, issue Jan/Feb: 24-26, 28, 30, 31.

• Jalalizadeh R, Krummenacher T. Bear track CHRPE. Case of the Month. The Retina Institute, St. Louis. 2022 Feb.

• Jalalizadeh R, Durrani A. Leukemic retinopathy. Case of the Month. The Retina Institute, St. Louis. 2021 July.

• Jalalizadeh R, Joseph D. White dot syndrome secondary to COVID vaccine. Case of the Month. The Retina Institute, St. Louis. 2021 Apr.

• Jalalizadeh R, Shah G. Gyrate atrophy. Case of the Month. The Retina Institute, St. Louis. 2021 Jan.

• Jalalizadeh R, Krummenacher T. Myelinated retinal nerve fibers. Case of the Month. The Retina Institute, St. Louis. 2020 Sept.

Awards:

• Received the Langsdorf Fellowship at Washington University in St. Louis

• Awarded a full tuition merit scholarship

• Earned the McKelvey Undergraduate Research Scholarship for dedication to research

• Honored with the Antoinette Frances Dames Award for Academic Excellence

• Finalist in the Ophthalmology Times Research Scholar Honoree Program (2019)

• Won top prize at the annual Fellows Forum senior vitreoretinal fellows competition (2022)

• Recognized as a member of the Kairos Top 50 entrepreneurs under 25 for medical device development (2014)

• Recipient of local business awards in St. Louis, including I2P (Idea to Product) and Arch Grants

• Authored numerous articles in peer-reviewed ophthalmology journals

• Edited academic texts in ophthalmology

• Presented research at national retina conferences

• Active sub-investigator in clinical trials at RCA for:

  • Age-related macular degeneration

  • Diabetic retinopathy

  • Diabetic macular edema

  • Stargardt’s disease

  • And other retinal conditions

Honors:

• American Society for Retina Specialists, Fellow-in-Training member, 2020 – present

• American Academy of Ophthalmology, member, 2016 – present