Ophthalmologic Innovation is Happening Here
A MESSAGE FROM THE DEPARTMENT HEAD
I am deeply honored to serve as the Head of the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at the Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary/University of Illinois College of Medicine.
The Department has a historic legacy of unparalleled clinical care, outstanding education, and innovative research. This could not have been done without the combined efforts of our faculty, staff and supporters. For over 155 years, the Infirmary has been leading the way in advanced care for patients who have some of the most serious and complicated eye conditions. The subspecialty services and clinicians in the Department are nationally known for providing this care. We all share in this invaluable commitment to treating and curing eye diseases such as cataracts, glaucoma, and age-related macular degeneration.
Ophthalmologic innovation is happening here.
The modern healthcare landscape and the rapid development of new technologies present us with a unique opportunity to foster innovation and pursue new connections between medicine and engineering to address complex ophthalmic conditions. We are pursuing the development of new fellowship opportunities, including ones in global ophthalmology, which will allow us to inspire innovation here at home and impact patients and clinical care around the globe. Our scientific discoveries will influence how we treat the most serious and complicated eye conditions, and enhance the quality of life for our patients.
Our Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary (IEEI) residents and trainees have shaped our department, programs and clinics. Their commitment to innovative, inspired and impassioned medicine has helped to establish IEEI as a national center for excellence in resident education. We are proud to train the best and brightest in ophthalmology and we are excited to roll out a brand new surgical curriculum for our trainees in 2016 that corresponds with our new state-of-the-art Cless Family Ophthalmic Surgical Training and Simulation Center.
Innovative medicine is happening now.
In the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, we are pioneering innovation in three important areas: high-resolution functional imaging, nanoscale device development and tissue engineering to help us better diagnose and treat eye disease earlier, and preserve the sight of our patients.
In order to continue to lead and stay in sync with advances in medicine, science and technology, we have established an exciting partnership with the University of Illinois College of Engineering at Urbana-Champaign. This partnership will support joint conferences, train physicians and scientists, and collaborate between departments to develop solutions for sight-threatening diseases. Our intentional convergence of medicine and engineering will greatly improve ophthalmic conditions around the world.
Our new Ophthalmology Clinical Trials Center underscores our commitment to medical research, which has contributed to advances in Ophthalmology and related areas of medicine. These fundamental discoveries impact our academic medical program and allow us to provide quality eye care to those in need. We offer our gratitude to our friends and supporters and invite you all to join us on this journey for ongoing innovation, productivity and discovery.
Please enjoy our most recent annual report.
(click to view)
