Roles
Professor of Ophthalmology - Pending Rank
Director of Ocular Oncology, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute
Medical Director of Echography, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute
Co-Leader, Melanoma Site-Disease Group
-
Biography
As an ocular oncologist and clinical researcher, Dr. Zelia Correa was recruited to Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center and Bascom Palmer Eye Institute of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine in 2020 as Director of the Ocular Oncology Service and Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. Previously, she was the Tom Clancy Endowed Professor of Ophthalmology at the Wilmer Eye Institute of Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and served as Director of the Ocular Oncology service. Prior to that, she served as Professor of Ophthalmology and Mary Knight Asbury Chair of Ophthalmic Pathology & Ocular Oncology at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. Dr. Correa’s specialty includes the diagnosis and treatment of eye tumors such as ocular melanoma, retinoblastoma, ocular metastasis, and choroidal hemangioma.
Through Dr. Correa’s career, she has been mostly dedicated to clinical and translational research authoring and co-authoring several manuscripts, including more than 100 peer-reviewed original scientific publications, chapters and abstracts. She has also conducted independent translational studies related to the clinical application of Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy. She has collaborated on multi-center studies with the Collaborative Ocular Oncology Group (COOG) looking at prognostic indicators for metastasis-free survival of patients with Uveal Melanoma. The overall objective of her multi-PI NCI grant # R01CA125970 (co-PI Dr. J. William Harbour) is to improve survival by developing highly prognostic tests, based on biomarkers discovered in the lab. As part of her multi-PI R01, she is conducting the COOG2 study, a prospective validation of newly discovered cell mutations that drive metastasis in this cancer. The study is closed and prospective data collection is ongoing. The COOG2 results will be the steppingstone for the upcoming competitive R01 renewal.
Her recruitment has been instrumental to the rapid expansion of the University of Miami’s Ocular Oncology program, fueling international patient referrals through her extensive professional connections in Latin America and beyond. The population of South Florida leads her team to investigate the impact of genetic ancestry in outcome of patients with uveal melanoma. Ongoing basic research includes experiments that involve single-cell sequencing, epigenetic deregulation, immune microenvironment, creation of a syngeneic mouse model for metastatic uveal melanoma. Outside of the surgical setting, Dr. Correa is an educator, both in the USA and internationally. She has taught ophthalmology residents and retina/ocular oncology fellows for more than two decades in classrooms, patient clinics, and operating rooms. Her clinical and research background provides a unique opportunity to fast-track bench research into clinical trials thus improving patient care. -
Education & Training
Education
Post Graduate Training
Licensures and Certifications
-
Honors & Awards
No result found
-
Teaching Interests
My teaching interests have been divided in 2 separate areas, one is medical student education (graduate) and the other is ophthalmology with an emphasis on ocular pathology and intraocular tumors (post-graduate). For medical student education, I believe a broad knowledge and clinical examples are essential to create the basis of their medical knowledge and differential diagnosis. I was part of the task force that in 2010-2011 reformulated the medical curriculum at the College of Medicine. Our job was to create a meaningful curriculum with measurable outcomes that focused on stimulating students to be self-directed learners. For residents and fellows, I focus on competency teaching and assessment. I have also been a champion for the inclusion of Ethics and Professionalism in order to educate well-rounded physicians who will deliver patient-centered care. -
Research Interests
I have been mostly dedicated to clinical and translational research authoring and co-authoring several manuscripts. I have focused mainly on uveal melanoma research. I have collaborated on multi-center studies (Collaborative Ocular Oncology Group) looking at prognostic indicators for metastasis-free survival of patients with Uveal Melanoma. I am currently working with a syngeneic mouse model of uveal melanoma that will allow me to investigate multiple treatments for metastatic uveal melanoma. I have also been involved with AI research in Uveal Melanoma that rendered a provision patent of an algorithm to predict prognosis-based cytology of tumor aspirates. -
Publications
Disclaimer: The information presented in this section has been consolidated using AI and machine learning technologies. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, errors may occur. If you identify any inaccuracies, please use this link to inform our data team. Your feedback is greatly appreciated and helps us improve the quality of our content.
-
Professional Activities
No result found