Pre-Residency Glaucoma Research Fellowship

Benton Chuter, MD, MS
2025-2026 (Current)
Now: Pre-Residency Glaucoma Research Fellow
Stanford University (BS/MS) · UC San Diego (MD)

Benton Chuter is the current pre-residency glaucoma research fellow at the Hamilton Eye Institute. He pursued his undergraduate and master's degrees at Stanford University, studying biology and mechanical engineering. After working as a consultant in medical device design, he completed his medical degree at the University of California San Diego. Leading a team in Dr. Jablonski's lab, he developed and applied novel deep learning tools to assess optic nerve health, resulting in 11 ARVO/ARVO Imaging abstracts as well as 6 first-author manuscript submissions. Benton is one of the first to use deep learning to quantify the effect of a pharmaceutical agent on optic nerve morphology. For his work at HEI, Dr. Chuter was honored by the AUPO Selection Committee as 1 of 4 awardees nationally to present at the 2026 AUPO Annual Meeting.

Hays Cape, MD
2024-2025
Now: UTHSC Ophthalmology Resident
UT Health Science Center (MD)

Hays Cape received his medical degree from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. During his research fellowship year, he contributed to several research projects and publications, including systems genetics research exploring the role of NPHP3 in optic nerve axon integrity and health, which he presented at ARVO 2025. He also published in Orbit describing diffuse large B-cell lymphoma presenting as cavernous sinus thrombosis with extension into the left superior ophthalmic vein. Additionally, he delivered an oral presentation at the ASOPRS Symposium on his work examining the relationship between emotional intelligence, burnout, and professional fulfillment. During this year, he also participated in a week-long outreach initiative in Jamaica with the World Cataract Foundation, supporting over 100 cataract surgeries and 10 pterygium surgeries. Dr. Cape is currently a first-year ophthalmology resident at UTHSC.

Cole Martin, MD, MPH
2023-2024
Now: UTHSC Ophthalmology Resident
Brigham Young University (BS) · Dell Medical School (MD, MPH)

Cole Martin earned his undergraduate degree from Brigham Young University and completed his MD and MPH at Dell Medical School at the University of Texas at Austin. At the Hamilton Eye Institute, Cole worked on systems genetics research to identify genes involved in glaucoma development using BXD mouse strains. He contributed to a study characterizing the BXD51 mouse as a model of primary closed angle glaucoma, which was presented at the 2024 ARVO Annual Meeting. Dr. Martin is currently a second year ophthalmology resident at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center.

Aman Kumar, MD
2022-2023
Now: NYMC/WMC Ophthalmology Resident
Albany Medical College (MD with Distinction in Research)

Aman Kumar earned his medical degree with Distinction in Research from Albany Medical College. Before joining the Jablonski Lab, Aman conducted research at the National Eye Institute in the Clinical and Translational Immunology Unit, studying uveitis. At the Hamilton Eye Institute, he contributed to systems genetics research on pigmentary glaucoma, co-authoring a publication in Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science on gene networks and miRNA regulation in retinal neurodegeneration. Kumar is currently an ophthalmology resident at New York Medical College and Westchester Medical Center.

William Edwards, MD
2021-2022
Now: UTHSC Ophthalmology Resident
University of South Alabama (MD)

William Edwards was the inaugural pre-residency research fellow in the Jablonski Lab at the Hamilton Eye Institute. He earned his medical degree from the University of South Alabama College of Medicine. During his fellowship year, he gained foundational research experience in glaucoma genetics and systems biology while also building clinical skills in the resident ophthalmology clinic and operating room. Dr. Edwards is currently a fourth year ophthalmology resident at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center.