Current Fellow
Aigerim Saulebayeva MD (2021 – 2023)
Dr. Aigerim Saulebayeva is excited to return to Reno for her fellowship in vitreo-retinal diseases and surgery. She worked at Sierra Eye Associates with Dr. Khanani before going to her residency in Ophthalmology. She graduated from Kazakh National Medical University in Kazakhstan. She completed her internship at Blake Medical Center in Bradenton FL followed by her ophthalmology residency in at LSU Health Sciences Center in Shreveport LA.
She is excited to be able to provide vitreo-retinal care to the residents of Northern Nevada and California, as well as to be a part of the research team as a sub-investigator in the numerous clinical trials at Sierra Eye Associates.
Past Fellow
Dr. Ryan Constantine
Dr. Constantine grew up just outside of Plattsburgh, New York on the shores of Lake Champlain, adjacent to the Adirondack Mountains, where he spent much of his free time. He completed his undergraduate degree in Biochemistry at Middlebury College in Middlebury, VT graduating cum laude. It was during his undergraduate education where he began to develop his research interests. Dr. Constantine completed his undergraduate thesis using nuclear magnetic resonance to study how certain organic ligands can stereo-chemically control palladium-catalyzed chemical reactions.
Upon graduating from Middlebury College, Dr. Constantine moved to Oakland, California and worked as a medicinal chemist for Chiron Corporation synthesizing numerous small organic molecules to be used as potential anti-cancer therapies. His work resulted in him being named on four patents. Despite his enthusiasm for basic science research Dr. Constantine found that he missed the immediacy of treating patients.
Hoping to combine his love for basic science and improving human health, Dr. Constantine spent nine years earning both his MD and PhD at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. It was during his graduate training that he began to develop his love of ophthalmology and more specifically the retina. Dr. Constantine’s graduate thesis focused on using structural methods, specifically x-ray crystallography, and a multitude of biochemical techniques to elucidate the role of UNC119, a lipid-binding protein necessary for protein trafficking and light/dark adaptation in rod and cone photoreceptors.
Upon completion of his medical school and graduate school training, Dr. Constantine completed his intern year in internal medicine at the University of Utah. He then transitioned to Durham, North Carolina where he completed his ophthalmology residency at the highly regarded Duke Eye Center. Dr. Constantine brings his diverse background and research based experience to Sierra Eye Associates to complete his fellowship training under the tutelage of renowned vitreoretinal surgeon, Dr. Arshad Khanani. Additionally, Dr. Constantine is excited to expand his research experience by participating in the numerous clinical trials that Sierra Eye Associates has to offer its retina patients and to provide compassionate care to the residents of northern Nevada and California.