The following 51 ophthalmologists are leaders in their field, offering their hospitals, health systems and professional societies expertise both clinically and technologically.
Note: The following leaders were collected through peer nominations and editorial research. There are no fees involved and no one can pay to be included on this list. They are presented in alphabetical order.
Becker's Hospital Review would like to continuously update this list with notable ophthalmologists. To recommend an update, please contact Eric Oliver at eoliver@beckershealthcare.com
Brock K. Bakewell, MD, Fishkind, Bakewell, Maltzman, Hunter and Associates Eye Care and Surgery Center (Tucson, Ariz.). Dr. Bakewell is a board-certified ophthalmologist and a fellow with the American College of Surgeons and the American Academy of Ophthalmology. He was selected by his peers as a Best Doctor in 2007, and is recognized as one of Tucson's top doctors. He is an active researcher and has contributed to three FDA studies that resulted in the approval of two types of lens implants.
George B. Bartley, MD, Mayo Clinic (Rochester, Minn.). Dr. Barley is the editor of Ophthalmology, a Louis and Evelyn Krueger professor of ophthalmology at the Mayo Clinic and the emeritus CEO of Mayo Clinic Florida. When he was the acting CEO of Mayo Clinic Florida, Dr. Barley oversaw the construction of a new hospital, doubled the amount of extramural funding for research, exceeded several fundraising targets and touted the highest patient satisfaction scores of any Mayo Clinic facility. Dr. Bartley has authored or been a coauthor of more than 200 publications. His most notable work is his thesis for the American Ophthalmological Society on the epidemiology of Graves' ophthalmopathy.
Paul S. Bernstein, MD, PhD, FARVO, University of Utah (Salt Lake City). Dr. Bernstein is a specialist in age-related macular degeneration with an emphasis on nutrition and environment with its treatment and prevention. He is board certified by the National Board of Medical Examiners and the American Board of Ophthalmology. Additionally, Dr. Bernstein is a professor of ophthalmology and visual sciences, and an adjunct professor of neurobiology, anatomy, pharmacology and toxicology. He is passionate about developing a sustainable model to make modern vitreo-retinal services available worldwide.
Valerie Biousse, MD, Emory Eye Center (Atlanta). Dr. Biousse is a fellow of the North American Neuro-Ophthalmology Society and of the French Society of Neurology. Additionally, she is a professor at Emory Eye Center at the Emory School of Medicine. Dr. Biousse has more than 300 publications credited to her name, and she serves on the editorial board of the American Journal of Ophthalmology and Journal of Neuro-Ophthalmology.
Cynthia Ann Bradford, MD, Dean A McGee Eye Institute at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center (Oklahoma City). Dr. Bradford is the president-elect of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. She previously served on the board of trustees as a senior secretary for advocacy from 2009 to 2014. Dr. Bradford is a professor of ophthalmology at the Dean A. McGee Eye Institute at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.
Daniel J. Briceland, MD, Spectra Eye Institute (Sun City, Ariz.). Dr. Briceland is the senior secretary for advocacy for the American Academy of Ophthalmology. He has been involved with the AAO for several years. Dr. Briceland is the director of the Spectra Eye Institute and a past president of the Arizona Ophthalmological Society.
Claude F. Burgoyne, MD, Devers Eye Institute (Portland). Dr. Burgoyne is the senior scientist and research director of the Optic Nerve Head Research Laboratory at the Devers Eye Institute. Hic clinical specialty is in glaucoma. Dr. Burgoyne began his career after earning his medical degree from the University of Minnesota. He completed an internship at Mercy Hospital in Pittsburgh, a residency at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and a fellowship in glaucoma at the Wilmer Eye Institute at John Hopkins Hospitals in Baltimore. He is a fellow with the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.
Preston C. Calvert, MD, North American Neuro-Ophthalmology Society (Minneapolis). Dr. Calvert is the vice president for neuro-ophthalmic advocacy and practice with the North American Neuro-Ophthalmology Society. He retired from practicing but remains active in several professional societies. Before retiring from active practice he ran his own private practice for eight years before he accepted a position as the vice chair of the department of neurology at John Hopkins School of Medicine.
Louis B. Cantor, MD, Eugene and Marilyn Glick Eye Institute (Indianapolis). Dr. Cantor is the senior secretary for clinical education at the American Academy of Ophthalmology, a Jay C. and Lucile L. Kahn professor and the chairman of the department of ophthalmology at the Indiana University School of Medicine, in Indianapolis. Dr. Cantor has several articles to his name, and he has presented on ophthalmology more than 250 times to a worldwide audience.
David F. Chang, MD, University of California (San Francisco). Dr. Chang is a clinical professor at the University of California, San Francisco and the chairman of the American Academy of Ophthalmology cataract preferred practice pattern committee. He was a past chair of the AAO practicing ophthalmologist curriculum panel and a past chair of the AAO annual meeting program committee. Dr. Chang has received the highest honor for cataract surgeons from several professional societies. In 2006, he became the third ophthalmologist to receive the Charlotte Baer Award honoring an outstanding clinical faculty member at the UCSF Medical School.
Emily Y. Chew, MD, National Eye Institute (Bethesda, Md.). Dr. Chew is the deputy director of the division of epidemiology and clinical applications and the deputy clinical director at the National Eye Institute and the National Institutes of Health. Dr. Chew is additionally the director of the medical retina fellowship program at NEI. She has implemented several clinical trials and is a strong proponent of researching diabetic eye disease and age-related eye disease. Combating blindness is of great importance to her.
Michael F. Chiang, MD, Oregon Health and Science University (Portland, Ore.). Dr. Chiang is a professor of ophthalmology, medical informatics and clinical epidemiology at OHSU. His practice specializes in pediatric ophthalmology and strabismus. Dr. Chiang actively researches areas that focus on improving medicine including: telemedicine, clinical information systems, computer based image analysis and genotype-phenotype correlations
Stephen P. Christiansen, MD, Boston University School of Medicine. Dr. Christiansen is a professor of ophthalmology and pediatrics at the Boston University School of Medicine. He is an avid researcher and his work focuses on pharmacological treatment of strabismus, the response of extraocular muscle to changes in innervation and surgery, retinopathy or prematurity and multicenter clinical studies of strabismus treatment.
Robert J. Cionni, MD, The Eye Institute of Utah (Salt Lake City). Dr. Cionni is the medical director of the Eye Institute of Utah, and an immediate past president of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery. His specialty is in cataract surgery, refractive cataract surgery and the management of complications from cataract surgeries. Dr. Cionni has published several manuscripts and textbook chapters on cataract surgery techniques and refractive cataract surgery.
Sean P. Donahue, MD, PhD, Vanderbilt University (Nashville, Tenn.). Dr. Donahue is an associate professor at Vanderbilt University with joint appointments in the departments of pediatrics and neurology. He is also the director of the ophthalmology residency program, the clinical trials unit and the pediatric fellowship. He serves as the medical director of the Tennessee Lions Eye Center for Children and was recently named the chief of pediatric ophthalmology.
Eric D. Donnenfeld, MD, Ophthalmic Consultants of Long Island and Connecticut (Stamford, Conn.). Dr. Donnenfeld is the founding partner of Ophthalmic Consultants of Long Island and Connecticut as well as a trustee of Dartmouth Medical School and a professor at New York University. He is a past president of many professional societies, and he has published more than 180 peer review papers on cornea, external disease, cataract and refractive surgery. He is currently the Medical Editor of EyeWorld.
Jane C. Edmond, MD, Baylor College of Medicine (Houston). Dr. Edmond is a trustee-at-large for the American Academy of Ophthalmology. She has served the society for several years. She is also involved with the American Association of Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus. For her work with AAPOS she has received the Academy Achievement and Secretariat Award and the AAPOS Honor Award. Additionally, Dr. Edmond is a professor in the department of ophthalmology and pediatrics at Baylor College, and an active practitioner at Texas Children's Hospital in the pediatric ophthalmology department.
Edmond J. Fitzgibbon, MD, National Eye Institute. (Bethesda, Md.). Dr. Fitzgibbon is a neuro-ophthalmologist in NEI's laboratory of sensorimotor research. His tenure with NEI began in 1984 when he started as a fellow. He began practicing at the clinic in 1985. Dr. Fitzgibbon's research is centered around using eye movement studies to diagnose and stage disease in patients with neurodegenerative disease.
Robert S. Gold, MD, Eye Physicians of Central Florida, (Maitland, Fla.). Dr. Gold has been an ophthalmologist with the Eye Physicians of Central Florida since 1987. His practice specializes in pediatric ophthalmology and adult eye movement disorders. Dr. Gold is a fellow with the American Academy of Ophthalmology and a specialty fellow with the American Academy of Pediatrics. He is a member of several other professional societies. Dr. Gold was named a best doctor in Orlando and he is considered among "America's Top Ophthalmologists." He also has a faculty appointment with the University of Central Florida.
Lynn K. Gordon, MD, UCLA Jules Stein Eye Institute (Los Angeles) Dr. Gordon is the vice-chair of the American Academy of Ophthalmology Council in addition to being a professor and senior associate dean at UCLA. Dr. Gordon is a past president of Women in Ophthalmology, and the California Association of Eye Physicians and Surgeons. She has been an active researcher for two decades that has resulted in several patents and more than 100 published articles, book chapters and reviews.
Bonnie An Henderson , MD, Ophthalmic Consultants of Boston (Boston). Dr. Henderson is the vice president/president elect of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery. In addition to her professional appointment, she is a partner at Ophthalmic Consultants of Boston and a clinical professor at Tufts University. She also serves as the associate editor of the Journal of Refractive Surgery. Throughout her career, Dr. Henderson has published more than 125 scholarly articles and book chapters.
Edward J. Holland, MD, Cincinnati Eye Institute. Dr. Holland is the director of Cornea Services at the Cincinnati Eye Institute, a professor at the University of Cincinnati, a past president of ASCRS and the current chair of the organization's program committee. Dr. Holland was awarded the Binkhorst Medal by the committee in 2008. In addition, Dr. Holland was honored with the AAO's lifetime achievement award, and has received the senior achievement and the honor awards.
Stephen S. Lane, MD, University of Minnesota (Minneapolis). Dr. Lane is a clinical professor at the University of Minnesota. He is a past president of ASCRS and is the current chairman of the ASCRS Foundation's domestic committee. In addition to his professional duties, he also serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery. He was named one of the nation's leading medical specialists in Best Doctors in America.
Andrew Lee, MD, Houston Methodist Hospital. Dr. Lee is a professor with Weill Cornell Medical College, a practicing neuro-ophthalmologist and the chairman of the department of ophthalmology at Houston Methodist Hospital. Before joining Houston Methodist, he was an associate professor at the University of Iowa in Iowa City. Dr. Lee has more than 400 articles in peer reviewed publications to his name. He has been on the editorial board for 14 scientific journals.
Richard A. Lewis, MD, Sacramento Eye Consultants. Dr. Lewis is a past president of ASCRS and the former director of glaucoma at the University of California. He has a clinical practice in California, and is actively involved in research on glaucoma therapy. Dr. Lewis serves on the editorial boards of the Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, Glaucoma and Glaucoma Today. He has received several recognitions for his contributions to teaching and leadership. He also initiated the creation of the AAO Subspecialty Day meeting.
Richard L. Lindstrom, MD, Minnesota Eye Consultants (Minneapolis). Dr. Lindstrom founded and is the attending surgeon of Minnesota Eye Consultants. He also serves as an adjunct professor emeritus at the University of Minnesota, the associate director of the Minnesota Lions Eye Bank and a member at large for the ASCRS. Dr. Lindstrom is a renowned expert in the fields of corneal, cataract, refractive and laser surgery. He holds 38 patents and a number of solutions, intraocular lenses and instruments used globally were created by him. Dr. Lindstrom has co-edited 10 books, 60 book chapters and more than 350 peer reviewed articles to his name.
Mathew W. MacCumber, MD, Illinois Retina Associates (Chicago). Dr. MacCumber is chair of the council for the American Academy of Ophthalmology. He started his career in 1996 at Illinois Retina Associates at Rush University Medical Center. He is also a professor and the associate chairman for research with the department of ophthalmology. In addition to his career and his work with the professional society, Dr. MacCumber served as an examiner with the American Board of Ophthalmology and directed the vitreoretinal fellowship program at Rush. His has had 34 peer-reviewed articles and 10 book chapters published.
Nick Mamalis, MD, University of Utah (Salt Lake City). Dr. Mamalis is a professor at the University of Utah, an editor of the Journal of Cataract & Refractive Surgery and the secretary of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery. In addition, Dr. Mamalis is the director of ophthalmic pathology and the director of the Intermountain Ocular Research Center at the University of Utah.
Cynthia Mattox, MD, FACS, New England Eye Center (Boston). Dr. Mattox is an associate professor and the vice chair of the department of ophthalmology at Tufts University School of Medicine. In addition she is the director of glaucoma and cataract service at the New England Eye Center. She is a trustee-at-large with the American Academy of Ophthalmology and serves as the chair of the IRIS Registry Measure Development Task Force. Throughout her career, Dr. Mattox has trained more than 40 glaucoma fellows and 80 residents in glaucoma, cataract management and surgery techniques. She has been awarded several honors including the President's Award from the American Glaucoma Society and the senior achievement award from the AAO.
Christie L. Morse, MD, Concord Eye Care PC (Concord, N.H.). Dr. Morse holds several job titles. She is the current chair of the advisory board of the foundation of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the chair of the organization's ethics committee and a member of the AAO's board of trustees. She serves on the editorial board of EyeNet and is a member of its steering committee. In additional to her professional commitments, she is a partner in a multispecialty practice, in which she specializes in pediatric ophthalmology and adult strabismus.
Jay Mulaney, MD, Lakeland (Fla.) Regional Health Dr. Mulaney is the chairman of the board of directors for Lakeland Regional Health, one of the largest hospital systems in Florida. Dr. Mulnaey has served in numerous leadership roles in the healthcare arena. The Consumer's Research Council of American named Dr. Mulaney to its America's Top Ophthalmologists list nine times. He has published several peer reviewed papers in academic journals including the American Journal of Ophthalmology, European Journal of Ophthalmology and Current Eye Research among others.
Nancy J. Newman, MD, Emory Eye Center (Atlanta). Dr. Newman has filled an endowed position, the LeoDelle Jolley Chair of Ophthalmology, at Atlanta-based Emory University since 2002. She is a professor of ophthalmology and neurology and an instructor of neurological surgery at Emory. She also is a lecturer of ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School and the director of the Eye Center's neuro-ophthalmology section. Dr. Newman has more than 350 publications accredited to her name and is a fellow of the American Academy of Neurology and the North American Neuro-Ophthalmology Society.
Joan O'Brien, Scheie Eye Institute at the University of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia) Dr. O'Brien is the chair of ophthalmology at the Scheie Eye Institute. She oversees a department with a $60 million annual budget an an endowment of nearly $100 million. Dr. O'Brien is an accomplished researchers and is currently the primary investigator on a $11.5 million grant from the National Institute of Health to study glaucoma. Additionally, Dr. O’Brien also has a long history of awards from both the National Cancer Institute for clinical trials and the National Eye Institute for basic science investigations. In 2012, Dr. O’Brien was induced into the National Academy of Medicine.
Thomas A. Oetting, MD, University of Iowa (Iowa City). Dr. Oetting is an at-large member of the AAO Board of Trustees, a professor of clinical ophthalmology and the residency program director at the University of Iowa. He is also the chief of ophthalmology and the deputy director for surgery at the Iowa City VA Health Care System. Throughout his career Dr. Oetting has received several honors including the achievement and secretariat awards from the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
Mildred M. G. Olivier, MD, Midwest Glaucoma Center (Hoffman Estates, Ill.). Dr. Olivier is an at-large member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology's Board of Trustees and the CEO and founder of the Midwest Glaucoma Center. She has held several prestigious titles throughout her career including immediate past president of Women in Ophthalmology. In addition to her professional career, Dr. Olivier has gone to Haiti several times to provide aid. For this work and her contributions to the AAO's task force on Haiti Recovery, she was awarded the American Glaucoma Society's Humanitarian Award. Dr. Olivier also serves as the professor of surgery and as an assistant dean for diversity at Midwest University.
David W. Parke II, MD, American Academy of Ophthalmology. (San Francisco). Dr. Parke is the CEO of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Before he began his tenure he was the president and CEO of the Dean McGee Eye Institute. He was also an Edward L. Gaylord Professor and the chair of the department of ophthalmology at the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine. While at the eye institute he helped it grow into one of the top ranked institutions nationally. Throughout his career, Dr. Parke has held several leadership positions on multiple boards.
Stephen C. Pflugfelder, MD, FARVO, Baylor College of Medicine (Houston). Dr. Pflugfelder is a professor and the chairman of the ophthalmology department at Baylor College of Medicine. He is board certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology and is a fellow of the association for research in vision and ophthalmology. Dr. Pflugfelder focuses his clinical research around the diagnosis and medical and surgical therapy of tear and ocular surface disease.
Peter A. Quiros, MD, Doheny Eye Institute (Pasadena, Calif.). Dr. Quiros is a neuro-ophthalmology specialist with the Doheny Eye Institute and the director of the Neuro-Ophthalmology Researcher and Disease Investigators Consortium. He is board-certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology. Outside of his practice, Dr. Quiros is a notable researcher. His research centers around idiopathic intracranial hypertension, ocular myasthenia gravis, Graves' disease and several other conditions.
Jean E. Ramsey, MD, PhD, Boston Medical. Dr. Ramsey is the vice-chair and program director of ophthalmology, an associate professor and an assistant dean at the Boston University School of Medicine. She is board-certified and has admitting privileges at Boston Medical Center. In additional to her practice and educational pursuits, she is an avid researcher. Her research is focused on pediatric vision screening, care systems and amblyopia and strabismus.
William L. Rich III, MD, FACS, Northern Virginia Ophthalmology Associates (Falls Church, Va.). Dr. Rich is the president and medical director of health policy for the American Academy of Ophthalmology. He has more than 25 years of health policy and financing experience, and is a consultant for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, National Health Policy Forum and several other foundations. He was one of the founders and an executive committeeman for a local independent practice association and the nation's largest subspecialty PPO.
Jonathan B. Rubenstein, MD, University Ophthalmology Associates (Chicago). Dr. Rubenstein is the senior secretary in charge of the American Academy of Ophthalmology's annual meeting, an examiner for the American Board of Ophthalmology, and a professor and the vice chairman of ophthalmology at Rush University Medical Center. He also serves as the director of refractive surgery at Rush. Dr. Rubenstein is a renowned instructor and researcher and a noted presenter.
Thomas W. Samuelson, MD, Minnesota Eye Consultants (Minneapolis). Dr. Samuelson is a treasurer with ASCRS, the founding partner of the Minnesota Eye Consultants and an adjunct associate professor of ophthalmology at the University of Minnesota. He is also a past president of the International Society of Spaeth Fellows. Dr. Samuelson received the AAO Achievement Award in 2002 and the AAO Senior Achievement Award in 2008. In addition to his clinical and professional pursuits, he serves as the Glaucoma Section Editor for Ocular Surgery News and as an editorial board member for Glaucoma Today.
R. Michael Siatkowski, MD, Dean McGee Eye Institute (Oklahoma City). Dr. Siatkowski is the vice chair for academic affairs and the residency director of the Dean McGee Eye Institute at Oklahoma University. Before accepting his position in Oklahoma, he served on the faculty of the University of Miami. In addition to his educational pursuits, Dr. Siatkowski serves on the board of directors for the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus, the American Board of Ophthalmology and the Christian Ophthalmology Society. Throughout his career he has published more than 75 articles. He is a recipient of the presidential professor award from the University of Oklahoma.
Kerry D. Solomon, MD, Carolina Eyecare Physicians (Charleston, S.C.). Dr. Solomon is president of the AAO's executive committee, a managing partner at Carolina Eyecare Physicians, and the director of the Carolina Eyecare Research Institute. Cataract and Refractive Surgery Today considered him a top 50 opinion leader in the fields of cataract and refractive surgery. Dr. Solomon trains physicians throughout the world on the latest technologies. In addition to his practice, he is the chief medical editor of Refractive Surgery Quarterly and serves on the editorial boards of Premier Surgeon, Ophthalmic Practice, Ocular Surgery News, Archives of Ophthalmology and Cataract and Refractive Surgery Today. He also founded a nonprofit with two other physicians.
Derek T. Sprunger, MD, IU Health System (Indianapolis). Dr. Sprunger is a clinical associate professor of ophthalmology at Indiana University, a pediatric ophthalmologist at Riley Hospital. He earned his medical degree from the Indiana University School of Medicine before completing an internship at St. Vincent Hospital and a residency at the Indiana University School of Medicine. He then completed a fellowship in pediatric ophthalmology and adult strabismus at the Baylor College of Medicine. He is certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology and is a member of several professional organizations including the AAO and the International Society for Genetic Eye Disease.
Paul Sternberg Jr., MD, Vanderbilt School of Medicine (Nashville). Dr. Sternberg is the assistant vice chancellor for adult health affairs and the associate dean for clinical affairs for the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. He specializes in adult ocular tumors, macular degeneration and trauma eye ball. He earned his medical degree from the University of Chicago. He stayed at the university for an internship before he completed a residency at John Hopkins Hospital and Health System in Baltimore. He had a fellowship at the Duke University Health System in Durham, N.C.
Prem S. Subramanian, MD, PhD, University of Colorado (Boulder). Dr. Subramanian is a professor of ophthalmology, neurology and neurosurgery, the chair of the neuro-ophthalmology department and the vice chair for academic affairs at the University of Colorado. His practice at the Anschutz Medical Campus focuses on patients with disorders of the optic nerve and orbit. Throughout his career, Dr. Subramanian has received several honors including being named a Top Doctor in America and earning an achievement award from the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
Russell N. Van Gelder, MD, University of Washington Eye Institute (Seattle). Dr. Van Gelder is a past president of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, a chair and a professor at the University of Washington and an active clinician-scientist. His research work and laboratory are funded by the National Institutes of Health. His research primarily focuses in two areas: non-visual ocular photoreception and molecular diagnostics of ocular inflammatory disease. He has authored more than 100 publications and is actively involved in resident education.
Robert E. Wiggins, MD, MHA, Asheville (N.C.). Eye Associates. Dr. Wiggins is the senior secretary for ophthalmic practice for the American Academy of Ophthalmology's American Board of Trustees and the managing partner with Asheville Eye Associates. He is a recipient of the AAO Achievement and Secretariat Awards. In addition to his clinical work, Dr. Wiggins spent a year as a clinical assistant and professor of ophthalmology at King Saud University in Saudi Arabia.
Pamela E. Williams, MD, Our Lady of the Lake Children's Hospital (Baton Rouge, La.). Dr. Williams is a board-certified pediatric ophthalmologist with Our Lady of the Lake's Children's Hospital. She received her medical degree from Wayne State University in Detroit. She completed an internship in preliminary surgery and her residency in ophthalmology at the Indianapolis-based Indiana University School of Medicine before completing her fellowship in pediatric ophthalmology and adult strabismus.
M. Edward Wilson Jr., MD, Medical University of South Carolina (Charleston, S.C.). Dr. Wilson is a professor of ophthalmology and pediatrics at the Storm Eye Institute. He is a past chair and director of the institute and its residency program. His life's work afforded him a senior honor award from the AAO as well as a lifetime achievement award from the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus. He is currently the president of AAPOS, where he also serves on the board of directors.
Lihteh Wu, MD, Primer Piso Torre Mercedes Paseo (San Jose, Costa Rica). Dr. Wu is an international trustee at large with the American Academy of Ophthalmology's Board of Trustees, a practicing ophthalmologist with Asociados de Macula Vitreo y Retina de Costa Rica in San Jose, Costa Rica and an associate professor with the University of Costa Rica. He has published more than 50 peer reviewed chapters and has co-authored more than 40 book chapters. He is a past president of the Pan American Retina and Vitreous Society.