Dr. Sarah J. Michelson is a board-certified comprehensive ophthalmologist who is passionate about medical and resident education.
Dr. Michelson grew up in the suburbs of Philadelphia. She attended Drexel University for her undergraduate degree, where she graduated summa cum laude and with distinction from the Pennoni Honors College with a Bachelor of Science in biological sciences. She then obtained her medical degree at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, and she again graduated with honors and was one of only six students in her class to be elected to Alpha Omega Alpha in her junior year. Dr. Michelson completed her ophthalmology residency training at the University of Michigan Kellogg Eye Center in Ann Arbor. After graduation, she joined the Kellogg Eye Center faculty and won the Terry J. Bergstrom Faculty Teaching Award in her first year of clinical practice. She served as the Graduate Chief Resident for the 2021-2022 academic year. During this time, she played a key role in the residency program administration, and she had a strong focus on the clinical and surgical education of residents.
Dr. Michelson moved back to Philadelphia and joined the Wills Eye Hospital staff in 2022. She then returned to Pittsburgh and became faculty at UPMC in 2024. She is actively involved in the education of residents and students.
Dr. Michelson sees patients with a wide variety of ophthalmic conditions including cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, and urgent eye issues. She performs cataract surgery, minimally-invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS), laser procedures, ocular trauma repair, and minor eyelid procedures.
- Undergraduate: Drexel University (2008-2012)
- Medical School: University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine (2012-2016)
- Transitional Year Internship: St. Joseph Mercy Hospital – Ann Arbor (2016-2017)
- Residency: University of Michigan Kellogg Eye Center (2017-2020)
- Graduate Chief Resident: University of Michigan Kellogg Eye Center (2021-2022)
Education & Training
- Khan M, Michelson SJ, Newman-Casey PA, Woodward MA (2021). Medication adherence among patients with corneal diseases. Cornea. 40(12): 1554-1560.
- Portney DS, Michelson SJ, Besirli CG, Shah M (2020). Cryotherapy for the management of refractory hypotony secondary to post-goniotomy cyclodialysis cleft. American Journal of Ophthalmology Case Reports. 20: 100876.
- Mortensen P, Enzor R, Keppel K, Williamson R, Jones P, Nkrumah G, Safiullah Z, Michelson SJ, Nadimpalli S, Shue A, Waxman E (2020). The ophthalmology mini-elective gives vision to preclinical medical students. MedEdPORTAL. 16:11024.
- Michelson SJ, Ciongoli MR, Elner VM, Kahana A (2018). Socket reconstruction with bleomycin, gentamicin, and gelatin sponges following eyelid-sparing orbital exenteration for a colobomatous macrocyst in an infant. Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. 34(6): e201-e203.
- Mhatre SD, Michelson SJ, Gomes J, Tabb LP, Saunders AJ, Marenda DR (2014). Development and characterization of an aged onset model of Alzheimer’s disease in Drosophila melanogaster. Experimental Neurology. 261: 772-781.
- Chakarborty R, Vepuri V, Mhatre SD, Paddock BE, Miller S, Michelson SJ, Delvadia R, Desai A, Vinokur M, Melicharek D, Utreja S, Khandelwal P, Ansaloni S, Goldstein LE, Moir RD, Lee JC, Tabb LP, Saunders AJ, Marenda DR (2011). Characterization of a Drosophila Alzheimer’s disease model: pharmacological rescue of cognitive defects. PLOS ONE. 6(6): e20799.
Dr. Michelson’s current research interests are in the education of medical students and residents. She has a focus on surgical teaching and cataract surgery best practices