Medical School                         University of Michigan

Ophthalmology Residency         University of Michigan

Vitreoretinal Fellowship             Associated Retinal Consultants

Tarek S. Hassan, M.D., received his medical and undergraduate degrees at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, and subsequently completed his residency in ophthalmology at the University of Michigan in 1992. He completed his vitreoretinal surgery fellowship at Associated Retinal Consultants in Royal Oak, Michigan, and joined the practice in 1994.

He is a board certified ophthalmologist specializing in all aspects of vitreoretinal disease.  He has been named to The Best Doctors in America and The Best Doctors in the Midwest, and is currently Clinical Assistant Professor of Biomedical Sciences at Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan. He has authored many papers in peer-reviewed journals and a number of book chapters for medical texts.  He is a scientific reviewer for the leading journals within ophthalmology. 

Dr. Hassan is actively involved in a wide array of both basic science and clinical vitreoretinal research studies, including being a principal investigator and co-investigator in many national clinical trials, notably in the areas of macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and retinal vein occlusions. He has been a leader in the areas of retinal detachment repair, diabetic retinopathy, and macular degeneration, and has lectured extensively nationally and internationally for many years.

Dr. Hassan founded two international vitreoretinal societies, serves as the President of the Club Vit, and is a member of the Board of Directors of the American Society of Retina Specialists where he is a Committee Chairman.  Dr. Hassan is actively involved in fellow and resident education as Co-Director of the Vitreoretinal Fellowship Program, and is a member of the American Society of Retina Specialists, the Retina Society, American Academy of Ophthalmology, Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, Club Vit, American Medical Association, Michigan State Medical Society, Oakland County Medical Society, and the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society.

Medical School                        Wayne State University

Ophthalmology Residency    University of Illinois Eye Infirmary

Vitreoretinal Fellowship        Mayo Clinic

Following completion of his fellowship training Dr. Garretson was the Chief Resident and Training Director for Ophthalmology at the University of Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary. Dr. Garretson worked in Chicago until 1993 with Illinois Retina Associates and was an Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology at Rush-Presbyterian St. Luke's Medical Center. He joined Associated Retinal Consultants in 1993.

Dr. Garretson has a special interest in retinal detachment and age-related macular degeneration. He has authored several articles in peer-reviewed medical journals and is actively involved in clinical research including trials sponsored by the National Institute of Health and National Eye Institute.  He has been named to The Best Doctors in the Midwest, and The Best Doctors in America.

Dr. Garretson is a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society and is currently a member of the American Medical Association, American Academy of Ophthalmology, American Society of Retina Specialists, Michigan Ophthalmological Society, and Oakland County Medical Society.

Medical School                        Wayne State University

Ophthalmology Residency    Henry Ford Hospital

Vitreoretinal Fellowship        Associated Retinal Consultants

Dr. Margherio specializes in all aspects of vitreoretinal disease. He has a special interest in vitreoretinal complications of cataract surgery, retinal detachment, age-related macular degeneration, ocular photodynamic therapy, subfoveal surgery, and diabetic retinopathy.  He has authored several papers in peer-reviewed medical journals and has spoken at numerous national and international ophthalmologic meetings. He is actively involved in clinical research and continues to contribute to the medical literature.

Dr. Margherio is an active member of the American Society of Retina Specialists, American Academy of Ophthalmology, Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, Michigan Ophthalmologic Society, American Medical Association, and Michigan State Medical Society.

Medical School                          University of Michigan

Ophthalmology Residency      Duke University

Vitreoretinal Fellowship          Associated Retinal Consultants

Dr. Dass served as Clinical Associate in vitreoretinal surgery and Chief Resident at Duke University Medical Center following his fellowship training, supervising resident education and surgery. He joined Associated Retinal Consultants in 1996. He is a Clinical Assistant Professor of ophthalmology at Michigan State University.

Dr. Dass’ interests include retinal detachment, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and pediatric retinal diseases.  He has authored several papers in peer-reviewed medical journals and has spoken at numerous national and international ophthalmologic meetings. He is actively involved in clinical research and continues to contribute to the medical literature.

Dr. Dass is currently a member of the American Medical Association, American Academy of Ophthalmology, American Society of Retina Specialists, and Michigan Ophthalmologic Society.

Medical School                         University of Michigan

Ophthalmology Residency   Northwestern University

Vitreoretinal Fellowship       Washington University

Dr. Ruby received his undergraduate and medical degree with high honors from the University of Michigan. In his residency he served as Chief Resident of the Department of Ophthalmology at Northwestern University. He was a Heed Fellow during his retinal fellowship training at Washington University.  Dr. Ruby is currently Clinical Assistant Professor of Biomedical Science at Oakland University.

Dr. Ruby has a special interest in diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration. He is actively involved in a wide array of both basic science and clinical vitreoretinal research studies, and currently serves as principal investigator for multiple NEI studies.

Dr. Ruby  has been named to The Best Doctors in America  is actively involved in fellow and resident education. He  is a member of the American Society of Retina Specialists, Retinal Society, Michigan Ophthalmological Society, American Academy of Ophthalmology, Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, American Medical Association, Michigan State Medical Society, and Oakland County Medical Society, and is a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society. 

Medical School                       Rush University

Ophthalmology Residency       Rush University Medical Center

Vitreoretinal Fellowship            University of California

Dr. Raphaelian was elected to Alpha Omega Alpha Honors Medical Society during his medical school training at Rush University Medical School in Chicago, Illinois.   Dr. Raphaelian has been in active practice in the treatment of patients with vitreoretinal diseases since 1993 and joined Associated Retinal Consultants in July of 1999. Currently an Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology at Michigan State University, he is involved in medical student and resident training at our Grand Rapids office.

Dr. Raphaelian’s interests are diverse and include the treatment of diabetic retinopathy and other retinal vascular disease, age-related macular degeneration, and macular holes and pucker.  He is actively involved in national clinical research trials, and contributes to medical publications.

Dr. Raphaelian is board certified in ophthalmology, and re-certified in 2004.  He is a member in many professional societies including the American Academy of Ophthalmology, Michigan Ophthalmologic Society, American Society of Retina Specialists, Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, and the Michigan State Medical Society.

Medical School                                           Brown University

Ophthalmology Residency                      University of Pittsburgh

Vitreoretinal Fellowship                           Emory University

Dr. Capone joined the faculty at Emory University at the conclusion of his fellowship training in Vitreoretinal Surgery and Disease.  While at Emory he was an Associate Professor of Ophthalmology and Director of the Vitreoretinal Fellowship Training Program.

Dr. Capone joined ARC in 2000.  He is a Clinical Associate Professor of Biomedical Sciences at Oakland University, Co-Director of the ARC Vitreoretinal Fellowship Training Program, and Director of the Vision Research Foundation.

Dr. Capone is an internationally recognized clinician, surgeon and educator.  His special interests include pediatric retina, complicated retinal detachment, ocular oncology and macular disease (age-related macular degeneration and diabetes). He has authored or co-authored over 200 publications in peer-reviewed medical journals, book chapters, and publications from national clinical trials. His research interests encompass both pediatric and adult retinal disorders, including participation in industry-sponsored and National Eye Institute-sponsored trials. He has been actively involved in resident and fellowship education for more than 15 years.  He serves on the Ophthalmology Knowledge and Assessment Program Committee for the American Academy of Ophthalmology, and as an examiner for the American Board of Ophthalmology.

Dr. Capone has been named to America's Who's Who in Medicine, The Best Doctors in America, and The Best Doctors in the Southeast. He is a member of many professional organizations, including the American Academy of Ophthalmology, American College of Surgeons, American Society of Retina Specialists (Member, Executive Committee), Macula Society, Retina Society (Member, Executive Committee), Club Jules Gonin, Association for Research in Vision in Ophthalmology, and International Society for Eye Research.

Medical School                         Michigan State University

Ophthalmology Residency     Detroit Osteopathic Ophthalmology Consortium

Vitreoretinal Fellowship         Kresge Eye Institute

In addition to vitreoretinal subspecialty training, Dr. Yedavally has completed both a clinical research fellowship in Neuro-Ophthalmology at Michigan State University, and a Neuro-Ophthalmology fellowship at the Will's Eye Hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Doctor Yedavally has been in active practice since this time and joined Associated Retinal Consultants in December of 2000.

Dr. Yedavally has a special interest in the management of medical retinal diseases, including diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration. She is also an expert in the treatment of neuro-ophthalmologic disorders, including optic neuritis, and has presented several papers on this subject. She is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and America Osteopathic Association, and is Board Certified by the American Osteopathic Board of Ophthalmology and Otorhinolaryngology.

Medical School                            University of Pennsylvania

Ophthalmology Residency    Northwestern University

Vitreoretinal Fellowship              Northwestern University

Dr. Noffke received multiple awards throughout her training, including a Heed Ophthalmic Foundation Fellowship in 1999.  She joined Associated Retinal Consultants in July of 2001 as a Medical Retina specialist.

Dr. Noffke has several publications in peer-viewed medical journals and has a special interest in the treatment of medical diseases of the retina, including age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and retinal vascular occlusion.  She is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, and the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.

Medical School                      Northwestern University

Doctorate                                 Northwestern University

Ophthalmology Residency         Northwestern University

Vitreoretinal Fellowship        Associated Retinal Consultants

Dr. Sarrafizadeh has had a very distinguished academic career, having received a Ph.D. in Neurophysiology with highest distinction from Northwestern University in 1993.  He has received numerous academic honors and awards, including being a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Tau Beta Pi, the National Engineering Honor Society at Johns Hopkins University.  He began as a member of Associated Retinal Consultants following completion of his fellowship training in 2001.

Dr. Sarrafizadeh specializes in all aspects of vitreoretinal disease, including retinal detachment repair, diabetic retinopathy, and macular degeneration.  He has many publications in peer-viewed journals and has spoken at numerous national and international ophthalmologic meetings.

Dr. Sarrafizadeh is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, American Medical Association and the Association in Research of Vision and Ophthalmology.

Medical School                        University of Florida

Doctorate                                 University of Florida

Ophthalmology Residency    UCLA Jules Stein Eye Institute

Vitreoretinal Fellowship        Associated Retinal Consultants

Dr. Drenser has had a distinguished academic career, having received a Ph.D. in Molecular Genetics & Microbiology in addition to her medical degree from the University of Florida, Gainesville.  She completed her post-doctoral work at UC San Francisco in 1999, and has received numerous academic honors and awards. She has been with Associated Retinal Consultants since completion of her fellowship in 2005.

Dr. Drenser’s special interest is in translating laboratory science into practical treatments for retinal diseases.  She established and serves as Director of the Pediatric Retinal Disease Molecular Genetics Laboratory on the Royal Oak campus.  She has authored co-authored a number of peer-reviewed publications and book chapters, and has spoken at numerous national and international ophthalmologic meetings.

Dr. Drenser is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, American Medical Association and the Association in Research of Vision and Ophthalmology.