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“Gholam Peyman is one of the most innovative and courageous ophthalmic surgeons of the last half-century. He was the first faculty appointment that I made after becoming Head of the Department in 1970, having just finished a fellowship at UCLA. In about 1969-1970 and thereafter, he invented and developed the technique of pars plana vitrectomy, publishing his revolutionary ideas and techniques at the same time as Robert Machemer, MD. Both surgeons can be considered the ‘fathers of vitrectomy.’ I personally learned vitrectomy in Dr. Peyman’s lab at that time. Dr. Peyman performed his human surgery after extensive animal research in the laboratories housed on the first floor of the Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary building.”
Morton F. Goldberg, MD |
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“Gholam is an exceptionally bright and innovative physician, scientist, inventor who is able to look at problems in ways most of us never think of. His insights have brought many enhancements to patient care. While at the Infirmary he made many of his important contributions and helped launch the careers of a number of clinicians and scientists.”
Joel Sugar, MD |
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“I had the opportunity to work with Dr Peyman as a first year resident. I approached him with an idea of looking at the toxicity of intravitreal antivirals. He was and is the kind of person who never says no as the first response but rather says yes and gently guides you to developing a good question and a good way to answer it. In addition to having helped countless patients, he has engrained in me the enthusiasm to look for answers where none exist and that has shaped my life and the life of many other clinician scientists.”
Jose Pulido, MD, MS, MPH |
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“I recall with great fondness the many conversations I had with Dr. Peyman. Gholam was an absolutely delightful gentleman, who was always willing to share his current undertakings and far-reaching plans with colleagues. He listened with intense interest when I described the research I was embarked on, and his insightful comments and suggestions showed how keenly he was aware of developments far afield from his own research. The National Medal is richly deserved. Dr. Peyman has contributed more to the advancement of ocular therapy than any other individual I know. I offer my heartiest congratulations on the occasion of this award.”
Harris Ripps, DSc, PhD |
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“I was a resident at the Infirmary when Gholam Peyman arrived at UIC as a young researcher. He was a hard, constant worker. He developed one of the first vitrectomy instruments in the world. He was always available to residents with innovative answers to problems. Many of his initial ‘far out’ ideas, such as subretinal surgery, eventually became realities and standard treatment. Later as a faculty member, I was able to collaborate on patient care with him. Gholam’s presence at the Infirmary helped establish it as one of the cutting edge departments in the nation.”
Howard H. Tessler, MD |