Maria Del Valle Estopinal
Director of Ophthalmic Pathology Division. Assistant Clinical Professor, Pathology
School of Medicine
School of Medicine
Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences
School of Medicine
School of Medicine
M.D., University Del Norte, Colombia
University of California, Irvine
101 The City Drive South
Building 54, Room 4709
Mail Code: 4805
Orange, CA 92868
101 The City Drive South
Building 54, Room 4709
Mail Code: 4805
Orange, CA 92868
Research Interests
Molecular Biology. Oncogenesis. Tumors. Orbit. Ocular Adnexae.
Academic Distinctions
Member of the Medical Student Scientific Committee
University Del Norte, School of Medicine
Barranquilla, Colombia
January, 1987- January,1990
Internship Year - Outstanding Performance in Colombia
University Del Norte
Barranquilla, Colombia
July, 1992 – June, 1993
University Del Norte, School of Medicine
Barranquilla, Colombia
January, 1987- January,1990
Internship Year - Outstanding Performance in Colombia
University Del Norte
Barranquilla, Colombia
July, 1992 – June, 1993
Awards and Honors
Medical Doctor Degree with Honors
Salutatorian, Class of 1993
Barranquilla, Colombia
June, 1993
Ophthalmology Residency Honors
Fundación Instituto de Cirugía Ocular (FICIO) FICIO Scholarship
Bogota, Colombia
January, 1998 – January, 1999
Salutatorian, Class of 1993
Barranquilla, Colombia
June, 1993
Ophthalmology Residency Honors
Fundación Instituto de Cirugía Ocular (FICIO) FICIO Scholarship
Bogota, Colombia
January, 1998 – January, 1999
Short Biography
Dr. Maria Del Valle Estopinal is currently working on the following research projects:
UC Irvine Institutional Review Board
Research Project Title: Aqueous Shunt Study
Investigators: Donald Minckler, MD., Maria Del Valle Estopinal, MD
Departments of Ophthalmology and Pathology
University of California Irvine
Approved February 5, 2021
Irvine, CA
UC Irvine Institutional Review Board
Research Project Title: P16 expression in squamous cell carcinoma of the ocular surface, periocular region, and face
Principal Investigator: Maria Del Valle Estopinal, MD
Co-investigators: Sherehan Zada, M.D. and Bonnie Lee, M.D.
Department of Pathology
University of California Irvine
Approved May 4, 2022
Irvine, CA
UC Irvine Institutional Review Board
Research Project Title: Aqueous Shunt Study
Investigators: Donald Minckler, MD., Maria Del Valle Estopinal, MD
Departments of Ophthalmology and Pathology
University of California Irvine
Approved February 5, 2021
Irvine, CA
UC Irvine Institutional Review Board
Research Project Title: P16 expression in squamous cell carcinoma of the ocular surface, periocular region, and face
Principal Investigator: Maria Del Valle Estopinal, MD
Co-investigators: Sherehan Zada, M.D. and Bonnie Lee, M.D.
Department of Pathology
University of California Irvine
Approved May 4, 2022
Irvine, CA
Publications
Selected works
Kimura Disease of the Periorbita and Earlobe in a 15-Year-Old Male: A Case Report and Review of the Literature
Han M, Dermarkarian CR, Del Valle Estopinal M, Tao JP.
Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. In press. April 2022
Kimura Disease of the Periorbita and Earlobe in a 15-Year-Old Male: A Case Report and Review of the Literature
Han M, Dermarkarian CR, Del Valle Estopinal M, Tao JP.
Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. In press. April 2022
"Iris Nevus (Cogan-Reese) Syndrome Presenting with Zonular Dehiscence During Cataract Extraction".
Bhatter P, Chhadva P, Del Valle Estopinal M, Farid M.
Case Reports in Ophthalmology. In press. April 2022.
Bhatter P, Chhadva P, Del Valle Estopinal M, Farid M.
Case Reports in Ophthalmology. In press. April 2022.
"Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma with ocular then orbital metastases".
Cypen SJ, Tran TM, Del Valle Estopinal M, Tao JP.
Case Reports in Ophthalmology. 2022 Feb 14;13(1):76-81.
Cypen SJ, Tran TM, Del Valle Estopinal M, Tao JP.
Case Reports in Ophthalmology. 2022 Feb 14;13(1):76-81.
"Primary signet ring cell/histiocytoid carcinoma of the eyelid: Clinicopathologic analysis with evaluation of the E-cadherin/B-catenin complex and associated genetic alterations".
Del Valle Estopinal M, Middleton LP, Esmaeli B, Patel K, Nowroozizadeh S, Williams MD.
Case Reports in Pathology. 2021 Nov 11;2021:6628150.
Del Valle Estopinal M, Middleton LP, Esmaeli B, Patel K, Nowroozizadeh S, Williams MD.
Case Reports in Pathology. 2021 Nov 11;2021:6628150.
"Pleomorphic adenoma of the lacrimal gland with a cystadenocarcinoma component: A Case Report and Review of the Literature".
Neerukonda VK, Carruth B., Del Valle Estopinal M.
Case Reports in Pathology. 2020. vol. 2020: 1-6. Article ID 6482837.
Neerukonda VK, Carruth B., Del Valle Estopinal M.
Case Reports in Pathology. 2020. vol. 2020: 1-6. Article ID 6482837.
"Cat-Scratch uveitis simulating retinoblastoma confirmed by histological, serological, and molecular diagnoses."
Font RL, Del Valle M, Mitchell BM, Boniuk M.
Cornea. 2011;30(4):468-71.
Font RL, Del Valle M, Mitchell BM, Boniuk M.
Cornea. 2011;30(4):468-71.
“Mesenchymal Chondrosarcoma of the orbit. Interesting radiologic-pathologic correlation.”
Font RL, Ray R, Mazow M, Del Valle M.
Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. 2009; 25(3):219-22.
Font RL, Ray R, Mazow M, Del Valle M.
Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. 2009; 25(3):219-22.
“Primary adenoid cystic carcinoma of the conjunctiva arising from the accessory lacrimal glands: a clinicopathologic study of three cases.”
Font RL, Del Valle M, Avendano J, Longo M, Boniuk M.
Cornea. 2008; 27:494-7.
Font RL, Del Valle M, Avendano J, Longo M, Boniuk M.
Cornea. 2008; 27:494-7.
“Vertical D: a novel topographic pattern in some keratoconus suspects.”
Abad JC, Rubinfeld RS, Del Valle M, Belin MW, Kurstin JM.
Ophthalmology. 2007; 114:1020-6.
Abad JC, Rubinfeld RS, Del Valle M, Belin MW, Kurstin JM.
Ophthalmology. 2007; 114:1020-6.
“Characterization of myofibroblasts in fibrovascular tissues of primary and recurrent pterygia”.
Touhami A, Di Pascuale MA, Kawatika T, Del Valle M, Rosa RH Jr., Dubovy S, Tseng SC.
British Journal of Ophthalmology. 2005; 89:269-74.
Touhami A, Di Pascuale MA, Kawatika T, Del Valle M, Rosa RH Jr., Dubovy S, Tseng SC.
British Journal of Ophthalmology. 2005; 89:269-74.
Grants
<b>Lions Foundation for Sight Research Grant</b><br>
Research Project Title: <i>Ocular Surface Inflammatory Conditions Associated with IgG4-positve Plasma Cells</i><br>
Investigators: Maria Del Valle, MD., Ramon L. Font, MD.<br>
<i>Lions Eye Bank, Department of Ophthalmology<br>
Cullen Eye Institute, Baylor College of Medicine</i><br>
Accepted <br>
May 26, 2010<br>
Houston, Texas
Professional Societies
Colombian Society of Ophthalmology
College of American Pathologists (CAP)
United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology
American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP)
Eastern Ophthalmic Pathology Society
Verhoeff-Zimmerman Ophthalmic Pathology Society
Other Experience
Ophthalmic Pathology Fellowship
Baylor College of Medicine, Cullen Eye Institute 2006—2010
Baylor College of Medicine, Cullen Eye Institute 2006—2010
Oncologic Surgical Pathology Fellowship
The University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center 2016—2017
The University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center 2016—2017
Graduate Programs
Ophthalmology
Pathology-Anatomic
Link to this profile
https://faculty.uci.edu/profile/?facultyId=6725
https://faculty.uci.edu/profile/?facultyId=6725
Last updated
05/16/2025
05/16/2025