For the third consecutive year, in early April, UNC Ophthalmology residents brought home the Tri-Residency Glaucoma Cup top prize, competing against peers at Wake Forest University (WFU) and Duke University. Every year, one resident from each year of ophthalmology training (PGY2 – PGY4) represents the competing university teams. In 2026, UNC Ophthalmology was represented by Tika Zbornik Thompson (PGY2), Gulrukh Shaheen (PGY3), and Bryce DeChamplain (PGY4). 
Moderated by faculty from WFU, Duke, and UNC, each year the Tri-Residency Glaucoma Cup provides an opportunity for residents from the different programs to present interesting and complex cases to the rest of the group. Glaucoma specialists and teaching faculty Drs. Meredith Klifto, Rodolfo Bonatti, and David Belyea served as this year’s faculty moderators representing UNC Ophthalmology.
UNC Ophthalmology Residency Program Director and Associate Professor Dr. Alice Zhang noted: “I couldn’t be prouder of this hardworking and clearly competitive group. Kudos to UNC’s all-female team who competed against peers from two tough residency programs. They absolutely delivered!”