Jessica D. Randolph, MD (00:17):

Hello, I'm Jessica Randolph, a vitreoretinal surgeon in Richmond, Virginia.

Alexis Cherry, MS (00:21):

Hi, my name's Alexis Cherry. I'm currently a fourth year medical student at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine and an incoming ophthalmology resident at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.

Jessica D. Randolph, MD (00:33):

And we are here at the 2026 VBS meeting in Las Vegas to talk about the FOCUS program. Alexis, how long have you been involved in the FOCUS program?

Alexis Cherry, MS (00:43):

This is my second year in the program. I attended it last year as a third year medical student, and I'm attending it this year as a fourth year post-match.

Jessica D. Randolph, MD (00:51):

That's great. And so, it's a two-year program, so you get two years worth of interacting with all the staff and the faculty and residents.

Alexis Cherry, MS (00:59):

Yes.

Jessica D. Randolph, MD (00:59):

Okay. What do you feel like is the best part of the program?

Alexis Cherry, MS (01:05):

The best part of the program, to me, I think are the networking opportunities here. There are so many opportunities to connect with other medical students, residents, fellows, attendings, and you're meeting with people at various stages of their journey. And I think also with the VBS and FOCUS community, it's a very tight-knit community and this is a very unintimidating space in terms of as being a medical student, I don't feel intimidated to approach anyone. And you can tell that all of the residents and attendings are very committed to pouring into and supporting trainees that are coming after them. And so, I just really appreciate the community that VBS and FOCUS has fostered.

Jessica D. Randolph, MD (01:58):

What do you think the differences are with the mentorship here versus when I see you back home at VCU?

Alexis Cherry, MS (02:05):

Sure. So as you mentioned, this is a longitudinal program, so it's been really great to reconnect with some of the people that I met last year at the conference and getting to chat with them some more and update them on my journey. And additionally, with this mentorship program, I've been able to be connected with other military ophthalmologists, which has been really amazing from my journey since I'm entering a military ophthalmology residency program. So I've just been appreciative of the connections that I've made thus far.

Jessica D. Randolph, MD (02:39):

Could you speak more to how you feel FOCUS has affected your application journey?

Alexis Cherry, MS (02:44):

Through the mentorship that I've received and the FOCUS program, I've been connected to a diverse group of military ophthalmologists. And for me, that was really important knowing that I will have a community in the military ophthalmology world and that I have people that I can reach out to if I have any questions or challenges navigating the military ophthalmology space.

Jessica D. Randolph, MD (03:11):

And what's your favorite part about this conference?

Alexis Cherry, MS (03:15):

Okay. So there are two things for me, one of which that I mentioned is reconnecting with medical students and mentors that I haven't seen in a while and getting to hang out with them. And then second, I think the social events are a lot of fun. The parties are great. The themes are great. And it really, I think this conference really embodies the work hard, play hard mantra.

Jessica D. Randolph, MD (03:38):

Yeah, I agree. And that's one reason I love the conference too. There's a lot of good learning and then a lot of fun.

Alexis Cherry, MS (03:44):

Yes.

Jessica D. Randolph, MD (03:45):

And I personally appreciate the opportunity for trainees like you to hang out with people like me, like mentors in a different environment that's more fun and interactive and has great themes.

Alexis Cherry, MS (03:58):

Absolutely.