Sarah Rodriguez, MD, MPH, provides comprehensive, compassionate care to children with decreased vision in one or both eyes. Dr. Rodriguez has expertise in treating conditions caused by abnormal eye development, such as amblyopia (lazy eye), strabismus (misalignment of the eyes), pediatric cataracts, and retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). She also specializes in adjustable sutures for adult strabismus / realignment surgery.
Dr. Rodriguez is not only passionate about delivering high-quality care to her patients, but she is also actively involved in clinical research. She received the prestigious Knights Templar Eye Foundation Career-Starter Grant to study neurodevelopmental outcomes among infants screened for ROP, and she is the Principle Investigator for the University of Chicago's involvement in the Pediatric Eye Disease Investigator Group (PEDIG). Dr. Rodriguez's research has been published in a number of scientific journals, including Ophthalmology, Pediatrics, and the Journal of the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (J AAPOS). She is currently an Editorial Board member for J AAPOS.
Having completed several medical mission trips to Ghana and Nicaragua, she also has an interest in health disparities and global health. She participated in ROP workshops in Vietnam and South Africa, and she is a committee member for a program dedicated to preventing the next anticipated wave of ROP in Sub-Saharan Africa called SIBA (Stop Infant Blindness in Africa).
Northwestern Memorial / Lurie Children's Hospital
Chicago, IL
Fellowship - Pediatric Ophthalmology
2016
The Ohio State University Havener Eye Institute
Columbus, OH
Residency - Ophthalmology
2015
Scripps Mercy Hospital
San Diego, CA
Internship - Transitional Year
2012
The Ohio State University College of Medicine
Columbus, OH
MD - Medicine
2011
La Cayetana Hereredia
Lima, Peru
- Tropical Medicine Course
2011
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Baltimore, MD
MPH - Public Health
2010
University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame, IN
BA - Phiosophy
2006
Area deprivation index predicts follow-up in retinopathy of prematurity.
Area deprivation index predicts follow-up in retinopathy of prematurity. J AAPOS. 2025 May 23; 104227.
PMID: 40412753
New-onset Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus Presenting as Bilateral Cataracts in a 15-year-old Girl.
New-onset Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus Presenting as Bilateral Cataracts in a 15-year-old Girl. JCEM Case Rep. 2025 Feb; 3(2):luae247.
PMID: 39839755
Exposure to unblended oxygen may require earlier first retinopathy of prematurity screening examination and modification of existing screening guidelines in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Exposure to unblended oxygen may require earlier first retinopathy of prematurity screening examination and modification of existing screening guidelines in Sub-Saharan Africa. J AAPOS. 2024 Dec; 28(6):104053.
PMID: 39557336
Risk factors for severe retinopathy of prematurity stratified by birth weight and gestational age in privately insured infants.
Risk factors for severe retinopathy of prematurity stratified by birth weight and gestational age in privately insured infants. J AAPOS. 2024 Dec; 28(6):104049.
PMID: 39550054
Bevacizumab for Retinopathy of Prematurity Is Not Associated With Systemic Hypertension.
Bevacizumab for Retinopathy of Prematurity Is Not Associated With Systemic Hypertension. J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus. 2024 Nov-Dec; 61(6):434-441.
PMID: 39141771
The impact of a multidisciplinary intervention to reduce severe retinopathy of prematurity in Kampala, Uganda.
The impact of a multidisciplinary intervention to reduce severe retinopathy of prematurity in Kampala, Uganda. J Perinatol. 2025 Feb; 45(2):208-212.
PMID: 39080403
Use of an Artificial Intelligence-Generated Vascular Severity Score Improved Plus Disease Diagnosis in Retinopathy of Prematurity.
Use of an Artificial Intelligence-Generated Vascular Severity Score Improved Plus Disease Diagnosis in Retinopathy of Prematurity. Ophthalmology. 2024 Nov; 131(11):1290-1296.
PMID: 38866367
Stability of the Motor Optimality Score Revised (MOS-R) in medically complex infants.
Stability of the Motor Optimality Score Revised (MOS-R) in medically complex infants. Early Hum Dev. 2024 May; 192:106008.
PMID: 38615539
FULL-THICKNESS MACULAR HOLE CLOSURE WITH TOPICAL MEDICAL THERAPY.
FULL-THICKNESS MACULAR HOLE CLOSURE WITH TOPICAL MEDICAL THERAPY. Retina. 2024 03 01; 44(3):392-399.
PMID: 37948745
Assessing Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Graduates Across Varied Settings: A Study on the Feasibility of the Baby Moves App.
Assessing Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Graduates Across Varied Settings: A Study on the Feasibility of the Baby Moves App. J Pediatr. 2024 Jun; 269:113979.
PMID: 38387754
AAPOS Honor Award
AAPOS
2025
Best of Show
AAPOS
2025
Chicago Magazine Top Doctor
Chicago Magazine
2024 - 2025
Castle Connolly Top Doctor
Castle Connolly
2023 - 2025
Women Surgeons Committee Honor Roll
The University of Chicago
2023
Signature Speaker Series
Association of Women Surgeons
2023
Top 40 Under 40
Association of Women Surgeons
2022
Resident Excellence in Teaching Award
The University of Chicago
2022
Finalist - Annual Pediatric Glaucoma and Cataract Family Association Award
Pediatric Glaucoma and Cataract Family Association
2022
Blind Children's Center Grant
Blind Children's Center, LA
2022
Comer Development Board Grant
The University of Chicago
2022
Editorial Board Member
J AAPOS
2021
Best original paper in Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus
AAO
2020
PEDIG - site PI
The University of Chicago
2020
Knights Templar Eye Foundation Career Starter Grant
Knights Templar Eye Foundation
2018
Havener Eye Institute Free Clinic Certificate of Appreciation
Ohio State Havener Eye Institute
2014
Travel Grant Award for ARVO
National Eye Institute
2014
Consultant of the Month
Ohio State Havener Eye Institute
2013
Mercy Style of Care Award
Scripps Mercy Hospital
2012
Eli G. Alcon Award for Outstanding Senior Medical Student in Ophthalmology
The Ohio State University College of Medicine
2011
Capstone Award for Outstanding Achievement
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
2010
Health Economics Certificate
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
2010
Alpha Omega Alpha
The Ohio State University, College of Medicine
2010
Gold Humanism and Honor Society
The Ohio State University, College of Medicine
2009
Excellence in Community Service Award
The Ohio State University, College of Medicine
2007
Summa cum laude
University of Notre Dame
2006
Phi Beta Kappa
University of Notre Dame
2006