Our Doctors
Medical Director
Alberto Aran, M.D. is the Medical Director of the Laser Center of Coral Gables. Dr. Aran has been in practice in South Florida since 1986 and has performed more than 60,000 surgical procedures. He was one of the first refractive surgeons in Florida to perform LASIK in 1996. Since then he has performed well over 10,000 refractive laser procedures, the majority of those being LASIK. Dr. Aran has performed LASIK surgery on both of his brothers and his very own daughter and son. He also performed iLASIK on our Clinical Director, Dr. Stelzer, in 2009.
Clinical Director
Adam L. Stelzer, O.D., Dipl ABO, is the Clinical Director of The Laser Center of Coral Gables. Dr. Stelzer received his Doctorate of Optometry from Nova Southeastern University in Ft. Lauderdale. Dr. Stelzer has counseled and managed thousands of laser vision correction patients. Dr. Stelzer is an active member of the American Optometric Association, the Florida Optometric Association, the Miami Dade Optometric Physicians Association and the Optometric Council on Refractive Technology. He is also a board member of the Optometric Cross Linking Society.
Mario J. Rojas, M.D. completed his ophthalmology surgical training at Eastern Virginia Medical School and subsequently completed a fellowship in ocular surface clinical research, focusing on complex ocular surface disease and dry eye at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute / Miami Veterans Hospital. He graduated from Loma Linda University School of Medicine; and completed one year of internal medicine at Loma Linda University Medical Center. Upon completion of his intern year, he completed a post-doctoral year working on early glaucoma detection at Bascom Palmer/McKnight Vision Research Center. Dr. Rojas has received several awards and grants. He has completed peer reviewed publications, and authored several book chapters focusing on dry eye treatments, premium cataract surgery and Microinvasive Glaucoma Surgery. He received a Bachelor of Science from UC Berkeley in Molecular Biology. Specialties: General Ophthalmology, Dry Eye, Glaucoma Treatment, LASIK. Fluent in English and Spanish.
Dr. Juan A. Ayala-Haedo joined Aran Eye Associates in 2018 as an Oculofacial Plastic Surgeon with over 17 years of clinical experience.
Dr. Ayala-Haedo attained his Medical Doctorate from the National University of Asuncion School of Medicine in Asuncion, Paraguay. There, he graduated Summa Cum Laude before continuing his studies with both a Ph.D. and an MPH from the University of Miami. Dr. Ayala-Haedo’s Ph.D studies focused on gene-environmental interactions and the pathogenesis of ocular diseases. Subsequently, his Masters in Public Health focused on evaluating the interventions that would promote bioethical research in a developing nations.
Dr. Ayala-Haedo completed his residency in Ophthalmology at The University of Rochester Flaum Eye Institute before returning to Miami where he successfully completed an advanced fellowship in Oculofacial Plastic Surgery at The University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute. Dr. Ayala- Haedo's research in Oculofacial Plastic Surgery has centered on the role of stem cells in the pathogenesis of Thyroid Eye Disease.
Prior to joining the team at Aran Eye Associates, Dr. Ayala-Haedo served as the Medical Director of a regional center in South Florida. His current practice focuses on both cosmetic and reconstructive surgery, as well as noninvasive rejuvenation techniques. He adapts the latest technologies to his procedures while always addressing the patients’ needs.
Dr. Ayala-Haedo is the recipient of many honors and awards and is active in various organizations responsible for promoting research and making healthcare more accessible in developing countries. He has published various book chapters and abstracts, and has presented his research at numerous national and international conferences where he has been invited to be a guest speaker.
Dr. Ayala-Haedo is fluent in English, Spanish, German, and French and experienced with Italian and Guarani. In his spare time, he enjoys being out on the water, traveling with his family, and volunteering with different community projects.
Mary W. Tam, M.D.
OPHTHALMOLOGIST
Education/Training
Mary W. Tam, MD, is a distinguished ophthalmologist with a specialty focus in Cornea, cataracts, and refractive surgeries such as LASIK and PRK. Her academic journey began at the University of California, Los Angeles, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychobiology in 2012, igniting her passion for the biological sciences. Dr. Tam then pursued a Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences at Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, deepening her understanding of human physiology. During her medical studies, she demonstrated a dedication to community health by serving as a Community Health Educator with the Tufts Community Wellness Initiative.
Experience
After completing an internship at Newton-Wellesley Hospital, Dr. Tam honed her medical skills during a Cornea Fellowship at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center from 2019 to 2022. Her residency at Stony Brook Ophthalmology in Stony Brook, New York, was marked by significant research contributions in ophthalmology under the mentorship of esteemed professionals. Dr. Tam completed three years of assisting other surgeons in LASIK and PRK procedures and then moved on to performing the surgeries herself. She is also a full-time ophthalmologist at our sister company Aran Eye Associates.
Interest
Beyond her medical pursuits, Dr. Tam has been actively involved in teaching and mentorship, serving as an Assistant Instructor and Clinical Assistant Professor. She has also held leadership roles and volunteered her expertise to underserved communities, receiving recognition for her contributions.
Honors and Awards
- Honos Civicus Award for Service and Leadership, Tufts University School of Medicine
- First Place, Charlton Poster Award, Charlton Poster Competition, Tufts University School of Medicine, 2015-2016
- Summer Fellowship Recipient; Honorable Mention, Harold Williams Research Fellowship Poster Fair
- President Award, Phi Sigma Theta National Society, UCLA Chapter
- Volunteer Award, UCLA Measuring to Achieve Patient Safety