Meet Our Physicians
Angela G. Houser, MD
Dr. Angela Houser is the third generation Dr. Houser in her family. Her grandfather, Ben Houser Sr., MD, started the practice in Tamaqua in 1937. He was an eyes, ears, nose, and throat specialist. Her father, Ben Houser Jr., MD, joined his father’s practice in 1969, and Dr. Angela returned home to join the practice in 1995.
Dr. Angela grew up in Mahoning Valley and graduated from Lehighton Area High School in 1982. She went on to Ursinus College in Collegeville, PA and graduated with a B.S. in 1986. She then attended Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia and graduated with her M.D. in 1990. Dr. Angela did a year internship at West Reading Hospital, followed by a year working as a physician for Grenfell Regional Health Services in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. She returned to complete a three-year residency at Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia.
During her residency, Dr. Angela married Brad Christman from Lehighton. They have two daughters, Hannah and Abigail, and reside in Mahoning Valley. Dr. Angela also has two older stepdaughters, Brandie and Nicole, and six grandchildren. With her free time, she enjoys spending time with family, traveling, volunteering for her children’s school activities, gardening, and fishing.
Optometrists
Joseph Pancher, OD
Dr. Joseph Pancher graduated from the Pennsylvania College of Optometry in 1989 after completing his undergraduate studies at Penn State University. Dr. Pancher is a primary care optometric physician who has practiced in an ophthalmology setting for more than 25 years. Outside the office, he enjoys hunting, fishing, and a newfound interest in golf, when not busy protecting his three lovely daughters.
Cassandra Pastier, OD
Dr. Cassandra Pastier is originally from Massachusetts. However, she traveled to Pennsylvania often with her parents who are originally from the area. She has always considered Pennsylvania her second home. Dr. Pastier graduated from the University of Hartford summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Health Science degree while completing the Honors Program and a minor in Business Administration.
Dr. Pastier attended Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University. While in optometry school, Dr. Pastier attended two specialty contact lens conferences across the country and presented posters at both conferences. She completed clinical externships in Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New York. Dr. Pastier graduated with clinical honors.
Dr. Pastier joined Houser Newman Associates in March 2021. Dr. Pastier practices full-scope optometry and is especially interested in pediatrics, contact lenses, and glaucoma.
Out of the office, Dr. Pastier enjoys being outdoors whether it is hiking, running, kayaking, or most recently fishing. Dr. Pastier completed the Philadelphia Marathon in 2018 and donates blood regularly. Dr. Pastier is an animal lover and lives with her fiancé Nate and their cat Czar.
Specialists
Dr. Yoshihiro Yonekawa, M.D. - Retina
Dr. Yoshihiro Yonekawa is an adult and pediatric retina specialist. He received his MD with honors from Weill Cornell Medical College, where he was recognized with the Edward Norton Award in Ophthalmology and grants from Fight for Sight and the National Eye Institute. He completed his ophthalmology residency at Harvard Medical School, and received many awards for his clinical and research expertise, including those from the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO). Dr. Yonekawa subsequently underwent specialized fellowship training in adult and pediatric retina surgery at Associated Retinal Consultants, William Beaumont Hospital. He received prestigious national awards during fellowship from the Heed Ophthalmic Foundation, Ronald G. Michels Foundation, and the Retina Society.
Dr. Yonekawa is board certified in ophthalmology and is Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology at Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University. He serves on the Education Committee of the American Society of Retina Specialists (ASRS) and the Executive Committee for the Vit Buckle Society where he is also the Vice President for Academic Programing. He is an active member of AAO, Vail Vitrectomy, the Association of Pediatric Retina Specialists, and Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology. He has received numerous recognitions for his expertise, including the AAO Achievement Award, ASRS Honor Award, The Ophthalmologist Power List of Rising Stars, and awards for instructional surgical technique videos.
Dr. Yonekawa has contributed over 250 original papers, editorials, and textbook chapters to help advance the field. He serves as assistant editor for RETINA, deputy editor for Journal of VitreoRetinal Diseases (JVRD), and section editor for Ophthalmic Surgery Lasers and Imaging Retina (OSLI Retina), Review of Ophthalmology, and American Journal of Ophthalmic Clinical Trials. He is on the editorial board for the Journal of Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (JAAPOS), is co-editor of Retina Roundup and the Vit Buckle Academy, as well as section editor for several textbooks.
Dr. Yonekawa is invited internationally to speak at conferences and universities, and is also an instructor for courses at national meetings to teach the latest surgery and treatment techniques to ophthalmologists from around the world.
Dr. Yonekawa joins Mid Atlantic Retina and the Retina Service of Wills Eye Hospital from Boston, Massachusetts, where he was an Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology at Massachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School. He served as Director of Pediatric Retina Surgery at Boston Children’s Hospital.
He and his colleagues at Mid Atlantic Retina and Wills Eye Hospital provide the latest treatment techniques for various conditions affecting the retina. For adults, Dr. Yonekawa cares for patients with macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, retinal vein occlusion, macular hole, epiretinal membrane, vitreomacular traction, primary and complex retinal detachment, ocular trauma, cataract surgery-related conditions, amongst other diagnoses. For pediatric patients, he cares for children with retinopathy of prematurity, familial exudative vitreoretinopathy, dyskeratosis congenita, Norrie disease, persistent fetal vasculature, Coats’ disease, congenital retinoschisis, sickle cell retinopathy, ocular trauma, and various forms of retinal detachment.
Dr. Yonekawa is committed to improving the quality of life for his patients. He and his family are very excited to establish their new home in the Philadelphia region.
Ajay E. Kuriyan, MD – Retina
Dr. Ajay E. Kuriyan graduated with Honors in dual majors of Biology and Health and Society from University of Rochester, and received his Doctor of Medicine degree, with academic distinction and honors in research, from University of Rochester as well. He then completed an internship at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, and performed his ophthalmology residency at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, where he was selected as Chief Resident. Dr. Kuriyan also completed his retina fellowship at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute. Prior to working at Mid Atlantic Retina, Dr. Kuriyan was a faculty member at the Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, NY and a retina surgeon at the University of Rochester.
Dr. Kuriyan is board certified in ophthalmology. He is an active member of the Retina Service at Wills Eye Hospital, and is an Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology at Sidney Kimmel Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University.
Dr. Ajay Kuriyan is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, American Society of Retina Specialists and the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology. He has authored and reviewed numerous scientific publications and textbook chapters on vitreoretinal diseases, and he has been an invited speaker to present scientific papers and abstracts at national ophthalmic meetings. He is actively involved as a clinical investigator in several collaborative trials and studies on various conditions including age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, novel retinal surgical techniques, and retinal detachment repair.
Dr. Kuriyan was born and raised in Queens, NY and is eager to establish his new home in Philadelphia with his wife, and two children. As the newest member of the Mid Atlantic Retina team, he is excited to join one of the best eye hospitals in the country and provide outstanding, compassionate care to patients while having the opportunity to conduct ground-breaking clinical research studies and be actively involved in the education of the high caliber trainees at Wills Eye Hospital.
Anthony Silvetti, OD – Low Vision
Dr. Silvetti graduated from Bloomsburg University in 1984 with a degree in Biology. After that, he attended The Pennsylvania College of Optometry, where he received The Harold Kohn Memorial Award and The Donald H. Evans Award in 1989. He attended his externship at The William Feinbloom Low Vision Center in Philadelphia. Since then, Dr. Silvetti has provided low vision services in neighboring communities for over 20 years.
Dr. Silvetti joined our team in September 2018 and will be providing low vision services to our patients. He provides a thorough clinical low vision exam, which is different than your typical eye exam, and he uses special testing materials to evaluate how a person with low vision sees. He prescribes low vision devices as needed to help the patient achieve optimal vision and quality of daily activities.
Donald A. Newman, MD, FACS (Retired)
As of 2024, our esteemed colleague Donald A. Newman, MD, FACS retired from practice. We are extremely grateful for his service and fellowship as a founding member of Houser Newman Associates. We join with the community in wishing him well in his retirement as he enjoys his family and many other pursuits.