BronxCare Health System
OPHTHALMOLOGY RESIDENCY
PGY-4
Chunyu Guo, M.D.
Dr. Guo grew up in a small town on the east coast of northern China and obtained her medical degree from Qingdao University College of Medical Science. She then pursued a Master’s degree in Ophthalmology at Beijing Tongren Hospital, followed by a Ph.D. in Ophthalmology at Shanghai Jiaotong University’s affiliated Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital. Her professional journey is deeply rooted in Ophthalmology, particularly in Glaucoma and its underlying mechanisms. Dr. Guo has contributed to two major population-based ocular epidemiological studies and has published multiple articles in prominent journals, including AJO and BMJ. Along with her clinical training, she is passionate about research, especially in advancing an understanding of eye diseases. Outside of medicine, Dr. Guo enjoys painting, watching movies, and listening to music. She also cherishes spending time with her family and exploring new hobbies.
Andrew Tawfik, M.D.
Dr. Tawfik was born in Brooklyn, New York, but moved to Staten Island at a young age. He earned his B.S. in Psychology, graduating summa cum laude from Drexel University in Philadelphia. Dr. Tawfik then pursued his medical education at Drexel University College of Medicine, where he engaged in various research areas, including Neurobiology, Otolaryngology, and Ophthalmology. Dr. Tawfik's passion for ophthalmology developed during his clinical rotations in the final two years of medical school. He was thrilled to match with BronxCare's Ophthalmology Residency Program, enabling him to return to New York City. It is also noteworthy that Dr. Tawfik is published in the Journal of Voice, the Journal of Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery, and the Journal of Ophthalmic Epidemiology. Dr. Tawfik also participated in medical missions to Bolivia. In his spare time, he enjoys playing basketball, traveling, spending time with family and friends, and exploring new restaurants in New York City. Dr. Tawfik looks forward to serving the Bronx community and training in a field he loves.
PGY-3
Manuel Quiroga Garza, M.D.
Dr. Quiroga Garza earned his medical degree from Tecnológico de Monterrey in Mexico, where he developed a passion for Ophthalmology while working with the university’s ophthalmology research group. He then pursued a research fellowship at Duke University’s Foster Center for Ocular Immunology, engaging in bench-to-bedside projects on ocular surface disorders such as ocular GVHD, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, and complications of penetrating keratoplasty. Continuing his ocular surface disorder research at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute under Dr. Victor Perez, he used innovative methods to study corneal innervation, including in vivo confocal microscopy and non-contact corneal esthesiometry. Outside the hospital, he prioritizes spending quality time with his partner, friends, and family, in addition to unwinding with video games and a good book.
Zhongmou Sun, M.D.
Born in Shanghai, Dr. Sun studied at Wesleyan University. He then spent three years in Boston conducting Ophthalmology research at Mass Eye and Ear before starting medical school at the University of Rochester. Outside the hospital, Dr. Sun enjoys exploring new places, experimenting in the kitchen, writing an occasional poem, or rallying on the tennis court. He describes himself as “always chasing clarity—in vision, and in life.”
PGY-2
Aakash Gupta, M.D.
Dr. Gupta graduated from Boston University with a B.S. in Biology and a minor in Spanish Language. He attended medical school at Northwestern University, where he also received a Master’s in Business Administration. Dr. Gupta’s father is a plastic surgeon and his mother a family medicine practitioner. He has one younger sister. Within Ophthalmology, he is interested in diabetic eye disease from a preventative health perspective. He is also interested in the ophthalmology field's technological and pharmaceutical innovations. His hobbies include racket sports and dance, as well as exploring the arts and culture of New York City.
Jonathan Shakibkhou, M.D.
Dr. Shakibkhou graduated summa cum laude from UCLA, where he completed an interdisciplinary degree integrating human biology, genetics, and the societal determinants of health. He earned his medical degree from Wayne State University School of Medicine and completed a general surgery internship at NewYork-Presbyterian Queens.
His interest in ophthalmology began prior to medical school while shadowing a glaucoma specialist, an experience that shaped his commitment to translational research. Dr. Shakibkhou studied the safety and efficacy of Excimer Laser Trabeculostomy (ELT) and is currently involved in research focused on AI-guided, goniolens-free surgical platforms designed to advance minimally invasive glaucoma procedures. He has published in the Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery and Journal of Clinical Medicine, as well as co-authored textbook chapters on glaucoma and minimally invasive glaucoma surgery. Dr. Shakibkhou was awarded the Robert C. Fraser, M.D. Endowed Scholarship. He co-founded Cogito Medical Think Tank, an organization dedicated to fostering interdisciplinary innovation in healthcare, and co-led the AAO Interactive Case Series, a national web-based initiative expanding early ophthalmology exposure and education for medical students. His professional interests include glaucoma, surgical innovation, and the integration of emerging technologies into ophthalmic care. Outside of medicine, he enjoys basketball, hiking, cooking, traveling and exploring new restaurants with friends.
PGY-1
Alejandro Marín Aristizábal, M.D.
Dr. Marín Aristizábal is from Colombia and earned his medical degree from the Universidad de Los Andes in Bogotá, D.C, where he developed a deep passion for ophthalmology and coordinated teaching initiatives for fellow students. He completed clinical rotations at the University of Miami and went on to join the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute as a Research Fellow in Genetics and Pediatric Ophthalmology. Fluent in English, Spanish, and French, Dr. Marín Aristizábal looks forward to serving the Bronx community. Outside of medicine, he enjoys exploring New York City and spending time on the tennis court.
Dr. Imani Nwokeji, M.D.
Dr. Imani Nwokeji received her M.D. from the CUNY School of Medicine as part of the accelerated seven-year B.S./M.D. Sophie Davis Biomedical Education Program at the City College of New York. During medical school, she was inducted into the Gold Humanism Honor Society. She received numerous honors, including the National Medical Association David Kearney McDonogh Ophthalmology Research and Travel Scholarship and the Rabb-Venable Excellence in Research Travel Award. Her research interests include glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, telehealth, community-based vision screening, and innovative ophthalmic surgical techniques. She has contributed to numerous peer-reviewed publications and presentations, including research examining a novel surgical approach for patients with advanced glaucoma. Dr. Nwokeji also served as president of the Ophthalmology Specialty Interest Group and has remained actively involved in mentorship, community outreach, and service to underserved populations. Outside of medicine, she enjoys cooking and trying new recipes, as well as spending time with family and friends.