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Department News
Top Ophthalmologist and Harvard Professor Is New Department Head of Ophthalmology
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Dimitri Azar MD |
UIC’s tradition of excellence in the field of ophthalmology and the opportunity to build a premier department of ophthalmology attracted Dimitri T. Azar, MD, to the College of Medicine . In April, he joined the department of ophthalmology and visual sciences as department head, chief of service, and professor and Field chair of ophthalmology.
“Dimitri Azar is the model scientist whose ability to bridge the laboratory and clinic will bring the department of ophthalmology to a new level of excellence,” says Joseph Flaherty, dean. “We are delighted he has joined UIC.”
Azar began his medical training at the American University of Beirut, Lebanon, where he received his medical degree. He came to the United States in 1986 for a Residency in Ophthalmology and a Clinical Fellowship in Corneal and External Diseases at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary at Harvard Medical School. He also received a Research Fellowship with Ilene Gipson at the Schepens Eye Research Institute (an affiliate of Harvard), and served as Chief Resident and Instructor in Ophthalmology, at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, from 1990 to 1991.
Following his work at Harvard, Azar moved to the Wilmer Ophthalmologic Institute at Johns Hopkins Hospital School of Medicine until 1996. During that time, he launched the institute’s first refractive surgery service and became an Associate Professor of Ophthalmology.
In 1996 Azar returned to the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary as Director of Corneal and Refractive Surgery Services, Associate Chief of Ophthalmology, and Associate Professor of Ophthalmology. Over the next 10 years his career blossomed: he became Professor of Ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School and Senior Scientist at the Schepens Eye Research Institute.
Research has played a vital part in Azar’s career. His research into corneal-wound healing and matrix metalloproteinase has been funded by the National Eye Institute since 1993. He has published approximately 330 scholarly articles and chapters and has edited or co-edited more than 10 textbooks.
Azar looks forward to joining researchers at UIC, the majority of whom are recipients of grants from the National Institutes of Health.
“The support of the Dean and the outstanding caliber of the faculty in both the research and clinical areas of the department, and the longstanding excellent reputation of the Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary have contributed to my decision to come to Chicago,” says Azar.
Teaching also has been an important aspect of Azar’s career. He won teaching awards during his years at both Johns Hopkins and Harvard, has trained more than 50 corneal fellows, has been a featured speaker at numerous national and international conferences, and regularly teaches courses at the American Academy of Ophthalmology, which recognized his significant contributions to ophthalmology with its Honor Award and the Senior Achievement Award.
“One of the best ways of propagating the information that we gain from our research and clinical activities is by teaching,” Azar says. “This has been a focus of mine. I have spent a substantial portion of my time teaching fellows and residents, primarily via informal conferences.”
As for the clinical portion of his work, for the past 15 years Azar has had a very busy schedule. He has developed novel techniques in refractive and other corneal and anterior segment surgeries. He is considered a leading corneal surgeon with expertise in corneal and anterior segment surgery, including corneal transplantation, cataract surgery, accommodating and phakic intraocular lenses, LASIK surgery and other refractive surgical procedures.
Azar’s wife, physician Nathalie Azar, is leaving her position as Director of Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus Surgery at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary to join UIC as an Associate Clinical Professor and Director of the Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus Surgery Service.
Azar looks forward to a long and rewarding association with UIC. “My goal is to lead this outstanding department to become one of the top departments of Ophthalmology in the country,” he says. “Our goal is to provide the highest level of care to our patients and our referring doctors, to provide a professional and friendly environment to our employees, and to augment our research efforts by focusing on four to six major areas of translational research that will lead to breakthroughs and, possibly, cures of important eye diseases in our community. These will be the nuclei for future centers of excellence in ophthalmology at the Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary.”
-by Janice Rosenberg
