Doctors

Augustus “Gus” Stern, M.D., is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology from which he is board certified and is part of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons. He was born and raised in Cumberland, Maryland where he attended Bishop Walsh High School. For his undergraduate education, he attended Johns Hopkins University where he graduated Magna Cum Laude. He then earned his medical degree from the University of Maryland School of Medicine, graduating with honors. He then completed a year of internal medicine training at Mercy Hospital in Baltimore. Dr. Stern completed his ophthalmology residency at Tulane University and was elected the Chief Resident during his senior year. He then completed an elective fellowship in Cornea and Glaucoma at Tulane University.

Dr. Stern relocated from Houston, Texas, where he worked at the largest LASIK practice in Houston, TX for close to four years: Mann Eye Institute and Laser Center.  He brings years of experience in treating cataracts, corneal and glaucoma diseases, and performing a number of surgical procedures, including cataract, glaucoma, oculoplastic, refractive and LASIK surgeries. Dr. Stern performs advanced surgical procedures including the following:  partial corneal transplants (DSEK and DMEK), full-thickness corneal transplants (PKP), deep anterior lamellar corneal transplants (DALK), trabeculectomies, glaucoma drainage devices, Ex-PRESS shunts, selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT), and intraocular collamer lenses (ICLs).

He is certified on all three major brands of excimer lasers used in the United States:  Nidek’s EC5000, AMO’s VISX, and Alcon’s Wavelight. He is certified on all of the major brands of femtosecond lasers:  Alcon’s FS200, AMO’s Intralase, and Ziemer’s Femto LDV. He is also certified on the following microkeratomes:  Hansatome, Moria’s One-Use Plus, and the Nidek microkeratome. He is one of the only surgeons in the region to offer all laser, “Blade-Free”, LASIK surgery and is by far the most experienced “Blade-Free” LASIK surgeon in the area.  Dr. Stern was chosen as a Leading LASIK surgeon in the United States. Dr. Stern is also the only surgeon in the area to offer the most technologically advanced combination of Custom “Blade-Free” LASIK with the Alcon Wavelight LASER.

Dr. Stern was one of the first surgeons in the country certified on the use of a femtosecond laser to remove cataracts. Dr. Stern is the most experienced laser-assisted cataract surgeon in the region. He has been doing laser-assisted cataract surgery longer than any surgeon in Maryland. He has consistently been ranked as one of the highest volume cataract surgeons in Maryland for the last decade. Dr. Stern’s superb eye care experience is matched by his compassion and dedication to his patients. “It’s a great feeling when the patients wake up the next morning and are truly amazed with their vision,” he says. “That’s one of the best parts of being an ophthalmologist!”

Dr. Stern has offered his medical expertise worldwide, visiting Mexico on mission trips where he performed cataract and corneal transplants. Dr. Stern has also traveled to Belize with Benevolent Missions International.  Most recently, he traveled to Montemorelos with Medical Ministry International where a team of four surgeons performed 320 cataract surgeries on indigent patients.

Dr. Stern loves the field of Ophthalmology and continues to study it outside of work. He is particularly interested in Ophthalmology residency education. Dr. Stern is a co-founder of OphthoQuestions which has users from over 70 countries and is used by the overwhelming majority of Ophthalmology residents in the United States to prepare for their board exams. He is also a co-founder of ODQuestions. In addition, Dr. Stern is a technical adviser for RadOncQuestions, OTQuestions, neuroquestions.com, gasquestions.com, radsquestions.com, coareview.com, dpmquestions.com, dermqbank.com, and hemoncreview.com which are comprehensive question banks that empower their users to learn or review fundamentals of all facets of medical residency training.

Dr. Stern enjoys spending time with his wife Dr. Kirra Brandon, a pediatric dermatologist, and his five daughters Maebelle, Adelaide, Etta, Stella, and Penelope. Dr. Stern looks forward to treating your family members as one of his own and providing the best in comprehensive eye care and surgery in Maryland.

Education & Training

• College: Johns Hopkins University (Baltimore, MD)
• Medical School: University of Maryland (Baltimore, MD)
• Residency: Tulane University (New Orleans, LA)
• Cornea/Glaucoma Fellowship: Tulane University (New Orleans, LA)

Sidney Chang, M.D., was raised in Cumberland, Maryland, where he graduated #2 in his class and played running back for Bishop Walsh High School. His undergraduate studies were completed at Cornell University (Ithaca, NY) with a degree in Computer Science and he also graduated from Weill Cornell Medical College (New York, NY) for medical school. He completed his internship at New York Hospital-Queens (Flushing, NY) and his residency at the University of Rochester (Flaum Eye Institute). He then completed an elective 2-year fellowship in Glaucoma at Washington University in St. Louis (Barnes Jewish Hospital). Afterwards, he spent several wonderful years practicing on the island of Maui, Hawaii where he provided a very wide variety of medical and surgical eye care. He then completed another elective fellowship in Cornea/External Diseases/Refractive Surgery at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) where he was honored as “Fellow of the Year.” He is board-certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology and is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS), and the Maryland Society of Eye Physicians and Surgeons.

Dr. Chang enjoys providing a variety of surgical services including cataract surgery (including laser-assisted with the LenSx femotsecond laser and Verion® and ORa® systems) with the full spectrum of lens implants (e.g., monofocal, toric, PanOptix®/EyeHance®), refractive surgery (e.g., all-laser PRK/LASIK using the LenSx femtosecond and Alcon Wavelight EX500 excimer lasers), ocular surface surgeries (e.g. pterygium, conjunctivochalasis), the full spectrum of glaucoma surgeries (e.g. laser trabeculoplasty, Ex-PRESS shunts, trabeculectomy, glaucoma drainage devices, iStent, Kahook goniotomy, endoscopic/diode cyclophotocoagulation, OMNI), corneal transplantation (e.g., PKP, DSEK, DMEK), anterior chamber reconstruction, and IOL repositioning (e.g., iris-fixated and intrascleral-IOLs). He also enjoys solving complicated clinical cases outside of the operating room.

He has published multiple manuscripts in peer-reviewed medical journals and has given invited presentations. Dr. Chang is passionate about education in both Ophthalmology and Optometry and founded the extremely popular board review websites, OphthoQuestions and ODQuestions. In addition, Dr. Chang is a co-founder for multiple other websites and is passionate about performing sight-restoring surgery in less fortunate countries.

Education & Training

• College: Cornell University (Ithaca, NY)
• Medical School: Cornell University Medical College (New York, NY)
• Residency: University of Rochester (Rochester, NY)
• Glaucoma Fellowship (2-year): Washington University in St. Louis (St. Louis, MO)
• Cornea Fellowship: University of California, San Diego (La Jolla, CA)

K. Michelle Huzella, M.D., is a Board Certified Ophthalmologist and talented physician who is passionate about her field, cares deeply for her patients, and loves helping them with their eye care needs:  “I am very honored and grateful to have the opportunity to work with the outstanding doctors and staff at Maryland Vision Institute bringing quality eye care to the people of Western Maryland and the tri-state community.”

Dr. Huzella was raised in Western New York where she earned her high school diploma at the highly regarded Calasanctius School for Gifted Children, concurrently earning a second high school diploma from the Guild Auditions in Social Music and Piano. She is the second child of Hungarian immigrants who, through their lives as medical professionals, helped steer her down her chosen path of Ophthalmology.

Dr. Huzella graduated Cum Laude from Duke University with a Bachelor of Science degree while also working as a research assistant in the Duke University Department of Genetics. Upon returning home to Western New York, Dr. Huzella pursued graduate studies in pathology at the Roswell Park Cancer Research Institute of the State University of New York (SUNY). She then earned her medical degree from the School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, SUNY in Buffalo, NY, graduating Magna Cum Laude. She simultaneously pursued research interests in glaucoma with the chairman of the Department of Ophthalmology.

Dr. Huzella completed her internship in internal medicine at the University of Virginia Health Sciences Center in Charlottesville, VA. She then completed her residency in ophthalmology at The Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center in New York, where she was named Chief Resident during her final year.

As Chief Resident, Dr. Huzella was responsible for mentoring and overseeing the training of other ophthalmology residents. During her residency she also completed the Lancaster Course in Ophthalmology at Colby College, did in-depth training in the treatment of uveitis at the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary, participated in an ocular oncology clinic at Long Island College Hospital, and attended an ophthalmic pathology course sponsored by the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology at the Georgetown University Medical Center.

During her professional career, Dr. Huzella served as Staff Ophthalmologist at Wyckoff Heights Medical Center for one year, as well as serving as the Attending Ophthalmologist (training ophthalmology residents) back at Brookdale Hospital for 3 years. She worked two more years as a General Ophthalmologist with Brooklyn Medical Group, P.C. in New York, before she moved to Maryland to join Southern Maryland Ophthalmology, located in Waldorf, MD. Dr. Huzella, along with her associate, opened the upscale Breton Bay Optical Shop in conjunction with the Leonardtown branch of Southern Maryland Ophthalmology, which brought state-of-the-art ophthalmology to Saint Mary’s County. Dr. Huzella is also the founder, owner, and chief ophthalmic consultant of Bella Vision, LLC which provides medical, surgical, educational, and consultation services in the field of ophthalmology.

Dr. Huzella has numerous additional honors and accolades, including the Frieda W. Trust Scholarship for Proficiency and Dedication to the field of Ophthalmology; the American Medical Women’s Association Janet Glascow Citation for Scholastic Achievement; graduating as one of the top students in her medical school; the award for Outstanding First Year Resident in ophthalmology; the honor of being selected as Chief Resident in her senior year of training; and numerous Top Doctor Awards.

Dr. Huzella has been an active participant in The American Academy of Ophthalmology’s EyeCare America, an award-winning organization that provides eye exams and eye care to eligible individuals through volunteer ophthalmologists. She is an active member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the Hungarian Medical Association of America (committee member), Women in Ophthalmology, the Maryland Society of Eye Physicians and Surgeons, Ophthalmic Women Leaders, and the Maryland State Medical Society. Dr. K Michelle Huzella and her husband Dr. Louis M Huzella are avid supporters of Frederick Memorial Hospital and members of the Order of the Good Samaritan promoting healthcare excellence in Frederick County, MD.

Dr. Huzella is an accomplished pianist and is bilingual in English and Hungarian, and is conversationally proficient in French and German. She relocated to Western Maryland in 2012 to marry her childhood friend, Dr. Louis M. Huzella, a retired army officer and helicopter test pilot, and a veterinary pathologist with the National Institutes of Health. They live a full and loving life in Frederick, MD, where they have raised a blended family of five children; Alexa, Erika, Athena, Chris, and Pete. They enjoy family life, serving their community, and caring for their rescue animals.

Education & Training

• College: Duke University (Durham, NC)
• Medical School: The State University of New York (Buffalo, NY)
• Residency: Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center (Brooklyn, NY)

Azam Husain, M.D., M.B.A., is a comprehensive ophthalmologist at Maryland Vision Institute, where he provides evidence-based, compassionate care in cataract surgery, glaucoma management, and general ophthalmology. He is dedicated to helping patients preserve and improve their vision through individualized treatment plans.

Dr. Husain attended Temple University for undergraduate studies, graduating summa cum laude with a degree in neuroscience. He then earned his combined M.D./M.B.A. dual degree from the Temple University School of Medicine and School of Business, respectively. He was eager to return to his home state of Maryland to complete his ophthalmology residency at the University of Maryland, where he served as Chief Resident. In that role, he led surgical training, mentored junior residents, and helped coordinate clinical and academic operations—experiences that strengthened his dedication to education, teamwork, and high-quality patient care. His decision to remain in Maryland reflects his dedication to giving back and improving access to quality eye care in the region.

In addition to his clinical training, Dr. Husain brings a multidisciplinary background to his clinical practice, combining expertise in medicine, academic research, public health, and practical insights into healthcare systems. With dual degrees in medicine and business, Dr. Husain is passionate about integrating the clinical experience with forward-thinking strategies to improve patient outcomes and healthcare delivery.

He has conducted research on topics ranging from artificial intelligence in cataract education to telemedicine screening for diabetic retinopathy, and he has contributed to national conferences and publications. He has also served as a podcast producer, book editor, and volunteer for underserved populations.

Outside the clinic, he enjoys tackling DIY projects, grilling, humbly attempting to golf, and traveling—all while cheering on his beloved hometown team, the Baltimore Ravens.

Education & Training

• College: Temple University (Philadelphia, PA)
• Medical School: Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University (Philadelphia, PA)
• Internship: University of Maryland Medical Center – Midtown Campus (Baltimore, MD)
• Residency: University of Maryland Medical Center (Baltimore, MD)

Dr. Jeffrey L. Reynolds is an Optometry Specialist in Hancock, MD. He graduated with honors from Southern College Of Optometry in 1995. Having more than 26 years of diverse experiences, especially in optometry.

Dr. David S. Holland, O.D., is an optometrist at Maryland Vision Institute and has been practicing for over 10 years since graduating from Pennsylvania College of Optometry and getting his license to practice in Maryland. Dr. Holland has been actively involved in the diagnosis and treatment of eye related conditions and diseases; including the direction of the pre- and post-operative care for our LASIK surgery patients.

In addition to treating patients here at Maryland Vision Institute, he also sees patients at our partner practice, Busack Eye Center.

Education

• B.A. English, University of Maryland, College Park
• B.S. Visual Sciences, Pennsylvania College of Optometry
• O.D. Doctor of Optometry, Pennsylvania College of Optometry

Affiliations

• American Optometric Association
• Virginia Optometric Association

Mohindra Ramphal, O.D., is an optometrist at Maryland Vision Institute who enjoys prescribing glasses, fitting specialty contacts and performing diabetic eye exams. Dr. Ramphal also enjoys chatting with patients about diet and nutrition as an integrative approach to health. 

Dr. Ramphal received his Bachelors of Arts in social works and music from McDaniel College in Westminster, MD. After exploring a short career in social work, he decided to go back to school to pursue a career in the medical field. He went back to school full time and completed his health science courses in two years before becoming an ophthalmic technician at Washington Hospital Center Eye Clinic in Washington, DC. After shadowing an ophthalmologist, screening patients and observing surgeries in the operating room with ophthalmology residents, Dr. Ramphal decided to pursue a career in optometry. He graduated fom Salus University in Elkins Park, PA, in 2012. 

Following his graduation, Dr. Ramphal worked in retail optical for three years and then private optometry for seven years in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties. He recently moved to Hagerstown to work closer to home and spend more time with his wife and two kids.

Dr. Rait Musie, O.D., is an optometrist at Maryland Vision Institute who graduated from the Nova Southeastern University. She is trained in ocular disease, dry eye, specialty contact lenses, emergency care, as well as pre- and post-operative management.

In her free time, Dr. Musie enjoys traveling, fitness, listening to music, volunteering and spending time with family and friends.

Education

• B.H.S., Ophthalmic Technology, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA 
• B.S.V.S., Vision Science, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL
• O.D., Doctor of Optometry, Nova Southeastern University, Davie, FL

It is with a very heavy heart that we mourn the sudden loss of Maryland Vision Institute’s, Dr. Paul Heavner, OD. Dr. Heavner will be missed tremendously by his family, friends and team members at Maryland Vision Institute and Vision Innovation Partners. Paul will be remembered fondly for his kind and caring heart, his larger-than-life personality, and his professionalism and dedication to his career as an Optometrist for over 35 years. He was a very special person who touched many lives with his generosity, love, quick wit, and humor. 

To read Dr. Heavner’s full obituary, please visit: Paul Harvard Heavner, O. D. Obituary 2023 - Stauffer Funeral Homes

Dr. Heavner's Previous Background

Paul H. Heavner, O.D., has been with Maryland Vision Institute (formerly Bergman Eye Center) since 2003 and has a vast background in the management of laser eye surgery, eyeglasses, contact lenses and ocular disease management. As an independent optometrist since 1991, Dr. Heavner has been actively involved in the diagnosis and treatment of eye related conditions and diseases; including the direction of the pre- and post-operative care for thousands of LASIK surgery patients.

Dr. Heavner is a graduate of Frostburg State University and continued his graduate education at Southern College of Optometry (SCO) in Memphis, TN.  While at SCO, Dr. Heavner was awarded the Barnes Hind Contact Lens Award, Outstanding Senior Clinician Award, Beta Sigma Kappa Optometric Honor Society, and the Varilux Ophthalmic Optics Award.  Dr. Heavner holds current memberships in both the American Optometric Association and the Maryland Optometric Association.

Dr. Heavner is delighted to be a part of the Maryland Vision Institute family and looks forward to improving each patient’s quality of life.

Education & Training

College: Frostburg State University (Frostburg, MD)
Optometry School: Southern College of Optometry (Memphis, TN)