Faculty Profile
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The Department of Ophthalmology at UT Memphis is delighted to announce the recruitment of Peter A. Netland, M.D., Ph.D. as Associate Professor of Ophthalmology and Director of the Glaucoma Service. Dr. Netland received his undergraduate training at Princeton University, his Ph.D. from Harvard University, and his medical degree from the University of California, San Francisco. At the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, he completed his residency in Ophthalmology, followed by a clinical fellowship in glaucoma at the same institution. He is the author of many original reports, reviews and monographs in the ophthalmic literature and has recently completed a textbook, A Stereo of Glaucoma, to be published by C.V. Mosby in fall, 1997. |
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In addition to his recognized expertise in the clinical management and surgical treatment of glaucoma, Dr. Netland is an innovative and prolific investigator in the basic sciences. His research has focused on the pathophysiology of glaucoma and potential improvements in the diagnosis and treatment of this disease. He has examined the mechanism underlying decrease in intraocular pressure caused by calcium channel blockers, demonstrating that these drugs affect outflow ability. Additionally, he is using computer-assisted optic nerve imaging devices to reduce subjective interpretation errors of damage to the optic nerve head. Dr. Netland will also continue his evaluations of novel laser devices in glaucoma surgery. Dr. Netland comes to UT Memphis from Harvard Medical School, where he was Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology and Associate Director of the Glaucoma Service at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary. He is returning from a year as Consultant at the King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. |
Richard H. Abbott, M.D. of San Francisco will be the first Williford Distinguished Visiting Professor on November 21 and 22, 1997.
Dr. Abbott is Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology and co-Director of the Corneal and Refractive Surgery Service at the Beckman Vision Center and the Francis I. Proctor Foundation of the University of California, San Francisco. He has authored over 50 publications in peer-reviewed journals and is a member and committee participant of numerous ophthalmologic and medical professional socieites. Dr. Abbott is the principal or co-investigator of FDA studies evaluating the efficacy of drug and surgical treatment of corneal disease and refractive abnormalities.
His Visiting Professorship will include the Williford Lecture on Friday at 5 p.m. in the Auditorium of the Coleman School of Medicine Building, 956 Court Avenue, and discussion of case presentations by the resident staff on Saturday morning, November 22.
We cordially invite our professional colleagues in the Mid-South region to join us for the first Williford Distinguished Visiting Professorship.
R. Christopher Walton, M.D. has been elected to the Medical AdvisoryBoard of the American Beçhet's Disease Association. Beçhet's Disease is a multisystem disorder characterized by recurrent intraocular inflammation as well as ulcers of the mouth and skin. Dr. Walton specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of the eye complications of this disorder. His responsibilities include providing information to both patients and physicians and reviewing research proposals submitted to the Association. He joins current Board members Dr. Robert Nussenblatt of the National Eye Institute, Dr. Stephen Foster of Harvard Medical School and Dr. David Herman of the Mayo Clinic.
"Orbital Compression Syndrome in Sickle Cell Disease," authored by Edward Curran, M.D., James C. Fleming, M.D., Kevin Rice, M.D., and Winfred Wang, M.D. will appear in the October issue of Ophthalmology, the journal of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
Dr. Fleming will also present a videotape titled "Optic Nerve Meningioma Resection with Preservation of Periocular Function: Combined Craniotomy-Superior Orbitotomy" at the 1997 Annual Meeting of the Academy. Dr. Fleming's co-authors are Drs. Barrett Haik, Gregory Carroll and Catherine Durboraw.
Alessandro Iannaccone, M.D. was co-author of "Circulating endothelin-1 in non-insulin dependent diabetic patients with retinopathy" in the most recent issue of the Journal of Hormone and Metabolic Research.
Research to Prevent Blindness, Inc., the largest single private donor in ophthalmology and visual sciences. has awarded the Department of Ophthalmology a four-year developmental grant in the amount of $200,000. The grant is notable in that it is the first awarded to the University of Tennessee from RPB and recognizes the tremendous effort made to recruit basic scientists of national repute. The yearly stipend will be used to fund collaborative pilot projects in ophthalmology and the basic sciences and to provide support of laboratory operations.
Dr. Barrett Haik, Department Chair, was enthusiastic about the grant: "This funding from RPB will allow us to continue translational research to clarify our understanding and develop effective treatment for vision threatening disease."
Likewise, Dianna A. Johnson, Ph.D., Director of Research for the Department, stated that
the RPB funding "will help establish UT as a major center for vision
research. It would be particularly helpful in training programs that
included medical students, postdoctural fellows and residents.
To celebrate receiving the Developmental Grant from Research to Prevent Blindness, Inc., the Departmetn will sponsor a program highlighting vision science research activites not only at UT, but also at neighboring academic centers. The seminar will begin at 1 p.m. on Friday, November 14, 1997 in the Auditorium of the Link Building, 855 Monroe Avenue. The highlight of the program will be the Grass Lectureship to be held at the University of Tennessee, and delivered by Cheryl M. Craft, Ph.D. Dr. Craft is the Mary D. Allen Professor for Vision Research at the Doheny Eye Institute and Professor and Chair of the Department of Cell and Neurobiology at University Southern California School of Medicine in Los Angeles. Her lecture will be titled: "Messages from the Mind's Eye: Maintaining the Fragile Balance of Photoreceptors in Health and Disease."
The Lectureship is part of the Grass Traveling Scientist Program awarded by the Society of Neuroscience. Other distinguished speakers on the afternoon's program will by Dr. Vivian Casagrande from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Dr. John Penn from the University of Arkansas in Little Rock, Dr. Ray Dacheuz from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and Dr. Anton Reiner, Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology at UT Memphis.
Dr. Eldon E. Geisert, Jr., Associate Professor of Anatomy and Neurobiology at UT Memphis, and President of the Memphis Chapter of the Society of Neuroscience, was very pleased to receive the award on the behalf of the University and extended an invitation to all visual scientishts to attend the afternoon's activities.
The Department will sponsor "Clinical Update for the Comprehensive Ophthalmologist," a continuing medical education course designed for the practicing clinician, on Saturday, December 6, 1997 at the Peabody Hotel in downtown Memphis. In addition to the UT faculty, Dr James Landers and Dr. Bruce Wallace will be invited speakers.
James H. Landers, M.D., is a recognized authority in the diagnosis and management of diseases of the vitreous, retina and macula. He has been in private practice in Little Rock, Arkansas for more than twenty years. Dr. Landers is currently Clinical Associate Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Arkansas School of Medicine.
R. Bruce Wallace, III, M.D. has been recognized for his work in the area of emmetropia and patient satisfaction through an outcomes monitoring system after cataract surgery. Dr. Wallace is President of the American College of Eye Surgeons and Assistant Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology at Tulane Medical School in New Orleans.
Selected topics include:
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diagnosis and management of conjunctival tumors |
cataract surgery in the patient with uveitis |
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update on the medical treatment of glaucoma |
surgical management of the dropped nucleus |
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glaucoma drainage implants |
surgical correction of macular holes |
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astigmatism control following cataract surgery |
understanding the optic neuritis treatment trial |
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improvement of intraocular lens calculations |
treatment options in blepharitis |
For further information regarding registration and hotel accomodations, contact the Department of Ophthalmology, UT Memphis, (901) 448-5883 or the UT Department of Continuing Medical Education, 956 Court Avenue, Rm A101, Memphis, TN 38163.
David G. Campbell, M.D., Professor of
Ophthalmolgy at Darmouth Medical School has accepted an invitation to
serve as the Kambara Distinguished Visiting Professor in May, 1998.
Dr. Campbell, a nationally recognized clinician, researcher and
teacher on the medical and surgical management of glaucoma, will
present the Kambara Lecture during the Department's Annual Alumni and
Resident's Day on May 29 and also participate as an invited speaker
at the Annual Convention of the Memphis Eye Society on May 30.
Further information on these two meetings will appear in subsequent
issues of UT Ophthalmology.
Five high school students served as interns in the Department of Ophthalmology this summer. Courtney Carson, Katherine Fleming, C. Barrett Haik, King Roger and John Rouse worked in the Department's faculty offices, clinic and research laboratorises, assisting and observing members of the Department. The activities oriented them to all facets of ophthalmologic academic practice, including clinical, research and educational activities.
