Faculty—The MedStar Health—Georgetown / Washington Hospital Center Residency Program in Ophthalmology

Physician Executive Director, MedStar Health Ophthalmology
Chairman, Department of Ophthalmology, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital
and MedStar Washington Hospital Center
Professor and Chairman, Department of Ophthalmology, Georgetown University School of Medicine
President, Washington National Eye Center

Jay M. Lustbader, MD, has been a member of the medical staff at Washington Hospital Center since 2005, and on the faculty at Georgetown University since 1992. Dr. Lustbader serves as chairman for the departments of ophthalmology at both MedStar Washington Hospital Center and MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. He served as director of the Georgetown University Hospital ophthalmology residency program from 2001 through 2004 and of the MedStar Georgetown University Hospital/MedStar Washington Hospital Center ophthalmology residency from 2003 to 2010. Dr. Lustbader is also professor of clinical ophthalmology and director of cornea and refractive surgery for the department of ophthalmology at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital.

Training, Education and Research

Dr. Lustbader received his medical degree from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in 1984. He completed an internship at Greater Baltimore Medical Center in 1985, and joined the ophthalmology residency program at Johns Hopkins University's Wilmer Eye Institute. After completing his residency training in 1988, he did a one-year fellowship in cornea and external disease at Georgetown University Hospital's Center for Sight.

Honors, Awards and Society Memberships

Dr. Lustbader is a member of many professional societies, including the Association of University Professors of Ophthalmology, American Academy of Ophthalmology, American Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgery, Washington D.C., Metropolitan Ophthalmological Society, Wilmer Residents’ Association and Washington Academy of Ophthalmology. He served for ten years on the medical executive committee of MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, and currently serves as a permanent member of the board of directors of Washington National Eye Center, Inc..

Dr. Lustbader is an associate examiner for the American Board of Ophthalmology,, reviewer for Archives of Ophthalmology and the American Journal of Ophthalmology and is a member of the Medical Board of the Prevention of Blindness Society of Metropolitan Washington, D.C., Dr. Lustbader has given more than 40 invited lectures, authored or co-authored more than 40 original papers and abstracts and written 6 book chapters.

Dr. Lustbader has been honored repeatedly for his achievements and excellence in the practice of ophthalmology. He received the achievement award from the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the Georgetown Star and Caring Star awards from Georgetown University Hospital, and has been recognized as a “Top Doctor” by Washingtonian Magazine. Dr. Lustbader is also an eleven- time consecutive recipient of an Alcon Educational grant.

Credentialed Areas
American Board of Ophthalmology, November, 1989

Practice Focus
His clinical and research interests include refractive surgery, infectious keratitis, corneal transplant and cataract surgery, contact lens fitting and complications, and general cornea and external disease.

Program Director, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital/Washington Hospital Center Ophthalmology Residency Program
Attending Physician, Washington Eye Institute
Attending Physician, Washington National Eye Center, Inc.

Reena A. Garg, MD, has been a member of the medical staff at MedStar Washington Hospital Center since 2019, where she also served as Associate Program Director from August, 2019 to August, 2020. Dr. Garg currently serves as Program Director of the MedStar Georgetown University Hospital/Washington Hospital Center Ophthalmology Residency Program. Prior to her arrival in the DC area, she was an Attending Physician at Georgia Eye Partners in Atlanta, and prior to that, she was Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology, Division of Glaucoma at New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai in New York.

Training, Education and Research

Dr. Garg received her medical degree from Drexel University School of Medicine in Philadelphia in 2009. She completed a one-year internship at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in 2010, followed by her ophthalmology residency at the University Hospitals Eye Institute at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine from 2010-2013. During her senior year of residency she served as chief resident. She also completed a one month Short Term Clinical Fellowship at the LV Prasad Eye Institute in Hyderabad, India. Following that, she completed a glaucoma fellowship at the Edward S. Harkness Eye Institute, Columbia University Medical Center in New York. Since she completed her training, she has been involved in many clinical trials both medical and surgical.

Honors, Awards and Society Memberships

Dr. Garg is a member of many professional societies, including the Association of University Professors of Ophthalmology, American Academy of Ophthalmology, American Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgery, American Glaucoma Society, Women in Ophthalmology, and Association for research in Vision and Ophthalmology. Dr. Garg is a Diplomate of the American Board of Ophthalmology, and holds licenses to practice medicine in Maryland and Washington, DC.

Dr. Garg is an able champion of ophthalmology and the ophthalmology residency program. She was honored with the Gold Humanism award during her residency, an award given to only one resident per year. She was selected as a “Top Doctor” by Washingtonian Magazine.

Publications and Presentations

Dr. Garg has given 8 invited lectures, authored or co-authored 17 original papers and abstracts, presented 13 posters and written 3 book chapters. She has participated in numerous public service media presentations and community outreach events. She currently is faculty co-chair of the MedStar Health Resident Recruitment and Retention Subcommittee of the MedStar Health Academic Affairs Working Group on Racial Justice.

Practice Focus

Her research and clinical interests include the medical, laser, and surgical management of glaucoma.