J. Martin Heur, MD, PhD

Professor and Interim Chair of Ophthalmology
Charles C. Manger III, M.D. Chair in Corneal Laser Surgery

J. MARTIN HEUR, MD, PHD, received MD and PhD degrees from the Physician Scientist Training Program at University of Cincinnati College of Medicine where he was awarded an NIH Medical Scientist Training Program fellowship. He completed residency training at Cole Eye Institute, Cleveland Clinic, followed by a fellowship in Cornea and External Disease and Refractive Surgery at The USC Department of Ophthalmology. Dr. Heur’s research is supported by grants from the National Eye Institute and Research to Prevent Blindness, and was previously supported by Baxter Foundation, Fight for Sight, and Knight Templar Eye Foundation.

Dr. Heur’s research focuses on investigation of molecular mechanisms of corneal endothelial wound healing utilizing zebrafish and corneal endothelial cell lines as model systems.

Brian Song, MD, MPH

Assistant Professor Of Clinical Ophthalmology
Director of Education, USC Department of Ophthalmology
Residency Program Director

BRIAN SONG, MD, MPH, specializes in the medical and surgical management of glaucoma, including advanced laser treatments, minimally invasive glaucoma surgery and cataract surgery.

Dr. Song serves as glaucoma fellowship director and director of education in the Department of Ophthalmology at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. He is also telehealth champion and physician quality champion for the USC Roski Eye Institute.

His research interests include evaluating new methods, such as telemedicine, to improve glaucoma detection. He is also working with collaborators to investigate ways to better evaluate the optic nerve and blood flow abnormalities in glaucoma using novel ultrasound and vascular imaging techniques.

He has conducted National Institutes of Health-sponsored research, evaluating glaucoma detection methods for diabetes patients, and has presented these and other findings both nationally and internationally. Dr. Song was a coauthor of the American Glaucoma Society Position Paper: Microinvasive Glaucoma Surgery and has received an Emerging Vision Scientist Award from the National Alliance for Eye and Vision Research.

Dr. Song was born in New Jersey but grew up in Houston, TX, before moving to Southern California and joining the USC Roski Eye Institute in 2019.

Annie Nguyen, MD

Assistant Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology
Associate Residency Program Director

ANNIE NGUYEN, MD, a native Southern Californian, graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University Honors Program at California State University Fullerton. Opportunities presented themselves on the East Coast where she broadened her horizons as she seized opportunities to obtain her medical degree from Harvard University and ophthalmology residency training at New York Eye and Ear Infirmary. She returned home to California to complete fellowship training in cornea, external disease, and refractive surgery at USC Roski Eye Institute.

The foundation for her approach to health care has been firmly laid to rely upon effective communication, endless quest for knowledge, constant skill refinement, and unwavering patient advocacy as she strives to provide exceptional patient care, contribute to the education of medical students, residents, and fellows, and further knowledge through clinical research.

Outside of work, Dr. Nguyen enjoys traveling, spending time with friends and family, cooking and baking, playing sports, arts and crafts, and playing with her dog.

Lauren Daskivich, MD

Interim Chief of Ophthalmology

LAUREN DASKIVICH, MD leads a DHS-wide Eye Health Program that seeks to coordinate and expand eye care services for LA County patients.  She is also the Director of the DHS Teleretinal Diabetic Retinopathy Screening Program and the Chair of the Ophthalmology Specialty-Primary Care Workgroup, as well as an Assistant Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology at USC.  Her research and policy interests include developing and evaluating interventions to improve eye care delivery to at-risk populations.