History

1920 – Surgical subspecialties (plastic surgery and orthopedics) are instituted at UW. Ophthalmology lives in the Surgery Department from now until 1970.

1921 – The first eye pathology lab established at UW.

1924 – Dr. Frederick A. Davis led the Department until 1954.

1934 – Dr. Peter Duehr completed his two year combined ophthalmology-otolaryngology residency at UW and joined the Davis and Neff Clinic in 1934 as both a part-time clinical faculty member and a practicing ophthalmologist.

1945 – Ophthalmology formally separated from EENT at the University of Wisconsin Medical School.

1946 – Shortly after WWII, Dr. Dwain Mings became Dr. Neff’s first 5-year preceptor at the Davis and Neff Clinic.

1946 – George K. Kambara, MD, completed his residency in ophthalmology here in 1946. Although he graduated from Stanford Medical School in 1941, as an American-born Japanese (Nisei) he was caught up in anti-Japanese sentiment after Pearl Harbor and sent to the Tule Lake Relocation Camp (internment camp) in California.

1948 – Dr. George Corcoran was the first graduate of the 3-year program in Ophthalmology, followed 6-months later by Dr. Levon Yasugian. Both doctors had active practices throughout their careers.

1954 – Dr. Frederick A. Davis retires. Dr. Peter A. Duehr, beloved clinician and teacher, becomes the second Chair of the Eye Service.

1955 – Alice R. McPherson, MD, graduates the first female resident from the program. Dr. Matthew D. Davis completes his residency.

1956 – Retina service specialization added as the first of several new sub-specialty training programs.1960

– Glaucoma service added as a sub-specialty training program.

1961 – Dr. Duehr forges an affiliation with the Veterans Affairs Hospital with Drs. Fred Blum and Donald Peterson who were in private practice in Madison.

1962 – The residency program grew from training one resident a year to two. On his own initiative, Dr. William Siebold completes his comprehensive eye residency through the VA Hospital and performed the first intraocular surgery there by a resident.

1967 – The residency program grew from training two residents a year to three

1968 – Oculoplastics service added as a sub-specialty training program and Dr. Richard K. Dortzbach returns to Madison after a fellowship at the Eye Foundation Hospital in Birmingham, AL to head this area with the guidance of Frederick J. Davis.

1969 – Dr. Davis’s major and enduring contributions to ophthalmology are pioneering collaborative multi-centered clinical trials and establishing the first ophthalmic photographic reading center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

1970 – Dr. Matthew D. Davis succeeds Dr. Peter A. Duehr as full-time Chairman of the Section of Ophthalmology of the Department of Surgery and is instrumental in elevating the Ophthalmology Service to department status.

1970 – DIABETIC RETINOPATHY STUDY, Matthew D. Davis led this study because of his experience in evaluating the natural course of the disease.

1970 – The Department of Ophthalmology is established as a standalone department within the UW Medical School.

1971 – Pediatrics service added as a sub-specialty training program.

1972 – Corneal and anterior segment service added as a sub-specialty training program.

1978 – Dr. Peter A. Duehr retires.

1980 – Professors Barbara and Ronald Klein begin their large-scale epidemiological study with the cooperation of 452 physicians in southwestern Wisconsin

1984 – The “follow up phase” of the Kleins’ epidemiological study begins – they continue to track the duration of diabetes, the frequency of retinopathy and other genetic factors.

1986 – Dr. John Chandler, a 1965 graduate, becomes the chairman of the Department of Ophthalmology.

1990 – Dr. George Bresnick, a 20-year member of the department’s retina service, assumes the position of acting Chairman of Ophthalmology.

1991 – Dr. Paul Kaufman pushes to change the department’s name to the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences to codify its research mission.

1992 – Dr. Daniel M. Albert, an internationally recognized ophthalmic pathologist, becomes the first chair without previous ties to Wisconsin or the University.

1993 – Dr. Albert successfully completes the research building initiative started by Dr. Chandler by opening the Ophthalmology Research Wing of the Clinical Sciences Center.

1995 – The department holds its first Vision for the Future conference where more than 150 community members discussed the clinical, research and educational initiatives with faculty.

2000 – Dr. Matthew D. Davis steps down as Director of the Fundus Photograph Reading Center (FPRC), but continues conducting research. Dr. Ronald P. Danis, a recognized leader in conducting clinical trials at UW, assumes the direction of the FPRC.

2002 – Dr. Albert steps down as Chair in 2002 and Thomas S. Stevens, MD, a Retina specialist who had served as Vice Chair for Clinical Affairs since 1990, becomes Interim Chair – serving in this position until 2004.

2003 – Dr. David Gamm, the first dedicated stem cell researcher, joins the department, connecting it with other stem cell pioneers at the University of Wisconsin.

2004 – Dr. Paul L. Kaufman, a Glaucoma specialist, and researcher who joined the Department in 1975 becomes Chair after a national search.

2014 – Terri L. Young Becomes First Woman to Hold Position As Chair. Terri L. Young, MD, MBA joins the department, from Duke University after a nationwide search.

2016 – Department recognized as national leader in the output of publications per faculty out of all ophthalmology programs in the US.

Dr. Frederick A. Davis, 1924-1954
Dr. Peter A. Duehr, 1954-1970
Dr. Matthew D. Davis, 1970-1986
Dr. John Chandler, 1986-1990
George Bresnick, MD, 1990-1992* Interm
Daniel M. Albert, MD, 1992-2002
Thomas S. Stevens, MD, 2002-2004* Interm
Paul L. Kaufman, MD, 2004-2014
Terri L. Young, MD, MBA, 2014-present