A Bolder Vision: Supporting Oculoplastic Surgery at VCU Health

By Holly Prestidge | Photos by Daniel Sangjib Min

A minor inconvenience – a droopy eyelid – that’s all it was.

Until it wasn’t. 

In early 2025, Don Romano, an alum from the VCU College of Health Professions Department of Health Administration, decided to do something about his left eyelid, which he said had started to droop in recent years. 

It didn’t hurt and didn’t impede his vision, but he wanted it fixed. 

During his annual eye exam, his ophthalmologist referred him to an oculoplastic surgeon, a highly specialized surgical field that combines the precision of ophthalmology with the artistry of plastic surgery. 

That’s where things took an unexpected turn. 

During his preoperative exam, the physician noticed his eye was protruding by about two millimeters, which was a concerning sign. An MRI revealed an orbital lymphoma in the delicate tissue surrounding his left eye.

“It wasn’t on my eye, it was behind it,” said Don Romano, “and it was pressing up against my eyeball.” 

Needing a highly skilled oculoplastic ophthalmologist, Don and his wife, Michele Romano, M.D., a 1984 VCU School of Medicine alum and long-time board member of the MCV Foundation, began searching for a doctor who could perform the surgery. 

They weren’t able to find an oculoplastic surgeon near their Northern Virginia home. Instead, they learned that many surgeons in the oculoplastic surgery realm focus on cosmetic surgery. 

Because of their longstanding connections to and support of the MCV Campus, they asked for help at VCU Health. They were referred to Mary Daly, M.D., the Ragnit & Walter J. Geeraets Endowed Professor and chair of the Department of Ophthalmology, who quickly guided them to Nikisha Richards-Walker, M.D., associate professor of ophthalmology and an oculoplastic surgeon with expertise in trauma, orbital cancers and disorders of the eyelid, eye socket and tear duct system. Dr. Richards-Walker is VCU Health’s only oculoplastic surgeon and the only one who could perform Don Romano’s complex surgery at VCU. 

It was a pleasure to be able to help the Romanos, and I am so grateful to them. They’ll never really understand how much it means to me to be acknowledged through this gift.

Nikisha Richards-Walker, M.D., associate professor, Department of Ophthalmology, VCU School of Medicine

Don Romano had surgery in May 2025, where about half of the mass was removed during a four-hour procedure. Doctors also found that the tumor had spread to his throat, so he underwent radiation treatment for both the eye and throat at VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer   Center. By late 2025, both tumors had shrunk significantly. 

“It was a wild six months,” Don Romano said. “I had been healthy my whole life. When you hear the word cancer, everybody says your life turns upside down, and I had never really appreciated that. But it does.” 

The Romanos feel fortunate to have found Dr. Richards-Walker, and to honor the great care she provided, they established a $2 million endowment to serve as seed funding for a robust oculoplastic surgery program at VCU with an emphasis on trauma care, oculofacial reconstruction, oncological surgery and other complex oculoplastic procedures.

“We think the world of Dr. Richards-Walker, and we were blessed to have her as our surgeon,” Don Romano said. 

The Nikisha Richards, M.D., Oculoplastic Surgery Faculty Support Fund provides support to recruit and retain oculoplastic faculty in the Department of Ophthalmology at the VCU School of Medicine. 

Without Dr. Richards-Walker, the Romanos said they and other patients like them would have to travel elsewhere or risk going without the care. 

“We hope this gift will help expand the availability of complex and traumatic oculoplastic surgery treatment at VCU to all Virginians,” Dr. Romano said. “It feels really special to give when there’s a need.”

Dr. Richards-Walker said she is deeply thankful and honored by the Romanos’ decision to name the fund in recognition of her. Part of why she chose to pursue a career in oculoplastic surgery was because of  the complex nature of the surgical procedures and the immediate and profound impact it offers patients who have experienced severe trauma. 

“It was a pleasure to be able to help the Romanos, and I am so grateful to them,” Dr. Richards-Walker said. “They’ll never really understand how much it means to me to be acknowledged through this gift.”

A VISION FOR THE FUTURE

The gift couldn’t come at a better time for the Department of Ophthalmology as it pursues a bold vision. Dr. Daly, the department chair, was hired in April 2024 and tasked with taking the department to new heights. VCU leadership recognizes and is fully supportive of expanding the ophthalmology department, including focusing on subspecialty areas such as oculoplastic surgery.

VCU Health remains a premier health system for complex adult and pediatric cases arising from infections, tumors and traumatic injuries. 

Oculoplastic-trained ophthalmologists offer a unique skill set critical to ensuring both vision preservation and functional, reconstructive outcomes. 

“As a Level 1 trauma and tertiary care referral center, it is vital that we have this expertise available 24/7,” Dr. Daly said. “The Romanos’ gift is so special, thoughtful and powerful. Through it, they not only acknowledged the wonderful care they received from Dr. Nikisha Richards-Walker, but they will help us recruit and retain more oculoplastic specialists.” 

Dr. Daly believes the generosity of the Romanos will also draw attention to the growing needs for all eye care across Virginia. Already there are changes. When Dr. Daly arrived at VCU Health, the department did not offer optometric care. Now there are three optometrists who have greatly increased access to eye care. 

Last year, the department had some historic firsts in bringing care closer to where patients live and work. 

For example, Dr. Surbhi Bansal, vice chair of operations for ophthalmology, piloted offering patients elective eye surgery on Saturdays. Cataract and glaucoma procedures are now offered at VCU’s Ambulatory Surgical Center in Short Pump. 

Very soon, patients will have the option to schedule late afternoon/early evening pediatric optometry appointments. This will increase flexibility for families with children for whom work, school and life make regular weekday clinic hours a challenge. 

A virtual eye care program is in the works that will serve patients in urban and rural areas of Virginia who otherwise may not have access to important screening exams.

Your eyes tell a story about your overall health, and we want to promote eye and whole health wellness in every patient.

Mary K. Daly, M.D., the Ragnit & Walter J. Geeraets Endowed Professor and chair, Department of Ophthalmology, VCU School of Medicine

Looking toward the future, Dr. Daly is exploring potential partnerships with the VCU College of Health Professions and VCU Health Ambulatory Services to create an ophthalmic technician training program. This would help fill much-needed jobs both locally and nationwide and would offer a wonderful career track to the Richmond community. She also is working on developing fellowship training programs in several different ophthalmic specialties here at VCU. 

“Fellowships are so important in offering our trainees the opportunity for subspecialized education after residency, as well as for growing the number of much-needed experts,” Dr. Daly said. 

One of the goals is to develop an ophthalmic plastic and reconstructive surgery fellowship. Currently, there are no such fellowships in the state. The two-year program would follow a four-year combined internship and ophthalmology residency. The Romanos’ gift will go a long way in helping the ophthalmology department develop this incredible fellowship specific to ophthalmic plastic and reconstructive surgery. 

“Your eyes are the windows not just to your vision, but they allow us to see the live action of your nerves, your connective tissue, your blood vessels,” said Dr. Daly. “Your eyes tell a story about your overall health, and we want to promote eye and whole health wellness in every patient.” 

Vision loss and symptoms may have root causes elsewhere, and Dr. Daly envisions building strong collaborations with other specialties like neurology, rheumatology, oncology and the emergency department, just to name a few.

“Highly skilled and dedicated optometrists, ophthalmologists, residents, certified ophthalmic technicians, patient access representatives, administrators, operating room colleagues, anesthesia partners and collaborative departments all across the health system comprise this incredible group,” Dr. Daly said. “We simply need to grow this amazing team.”

From increasing eye screenings for the hundreds of thousands of people in Virginia who have diabetes, to training the next generation of ophthalmologists with advanced technology, Dr. Daly said she’s working to make VCU Health the premier eye care leader around the state and the nation.   

“We are excited and enthusiastic every single day because leadership is challenging us and investing in us to address Virginia’s eye and health needs,” Dr. Daly said. “Thanks to gifts like this one that support our vision, we are going to make that happen.” 

Momentum for the Vision

A recent gift from a retired faculty member will support future generations of ophthalmologists.

Muneera Mahmood, M.D., believes the best patient care starts with medical education that prioritizes personalized care and has genuine buy-in from residents and faculty alike.

It’s why she’s investing in future generations of ophthalmologists through a gift to the Department of Ophthalmology at the VCU School of Medicine. 

The Dr. Muneera Mahmood Rising Star Award will support promising junior faculty by providing protected time for research, scholarship and publication, as well as attendance at national conferences, specialized training and external educational opportunities, mentorship and leadership development, recruitment and retention, and more. 

“I have a deep-rooted belief in the power of medical education to transform patient outcomes,” Dr. Mahmood said. “This fund aims to strengthen the mentorship pipeline, ensuring that residents receive world-class training from dedicated educators.”

Dr. Mahmood joined VCU Health in 2001 as chief of ophthalmology at the Richmond VA Medical Center and remained until her retirement in 2019. During her tenure, she worked with VCU ophthalmology residents who worked four-month rotations at the veterans hospital. 

Her interest in ophthalmology began in medical school, Dr. Mahmood said, as she recalls being struck by the phenomenal functions of such a delicate and complex organ. Giving patients the blessing of sight was something that appealed to her.

“I hope and believe that providing faculty with necessary resources will result in providing the highest level of clinical and surgical teaching and mentorship to the next generation of ophthalmologists,” Dr. Mahmood said. “The VCU Department of Ophthalmology has a strong history of providing a solid educational foundation focused on patient care and collaboration that I hope to see continue.” 

If you would like to support the Department of Ophthalmology, please contact Bernadette O’Shea, senior director of development for neurosciences, at osheab@vcu.edu.