The Achievement Rewards for College Scientists (ARCS) Foundation of Utah is supporting two incoming John A. Moran Eye Center residents with research scholarships for 2024-2025.
ARCS awarded $15,000 each to the honorees to pursue research during residency, hoping they will choose careers that continue their scientific investigations. Moran matches the award for the following two years of residency, providing a total of $45,000.
Nadim Azar, MD, received the Might Family Foundation Award in memory of Bertrand T. Might; Chase Paulson, MD, received the Mark and Kathie Miller Award in honor of Moran CEO Randall J Olson, MD.
The scholars were honored at an event in May.
Azar graduated with high distinction from the American University of Beirut with a bachelor of science in biology in 2017; he earned his medical degree from the American University in 2021. He then completed a postdoctoral research fellowship at Duke Eye Center.
At Duke, he focused on research in ocular immunology, including the therapeutic and preventive potential of peptides. His clinical research has focused on applying artificial intelligence in ophthalmology and pioneering innovative methodologies for detecting dry eye disease.
As a Moran resident, Azar plans to expand his research. Paulson completed his bachelor of science at Brigham Young University while playing collegiate lacrosse. He earned his medical degree from the University of Utah.
Under the mentorship of Moran’s Barbara Wirostko, MD, he has worked on projects and publications in the field of pseudoexfoliation syndrome and glaucoma. Working with Moran’s Global Outreach Division, he has conducted research in Guatemala and has studied these conditions across Utah, including the Navajo Nation.
At Moran, he plans to utilize unique database resources and conduct research to optimize high-quality care locally, regionally, and globally.
