Melanie Schmitt, MD
Position title: Assistant Professor, John W. and Helen Doolittle Professor
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Appointments and Honors
Director of the Pediatric Inherited Retinal Degeneration Clinic
Co-Director of the Ocular Genetics Program
Subspecialty
Pediatric ophthalmology and adult strabismus
Medical and Surgical Interests
- Amblyopia
- Comprehensive pediatric ophthalmology
- Inherited retinal degenerations
- Nasolacrimal disorders
- Pediatric cataract surgery/lens implantation
- Pediatric strabismus
- Retinopathy of prematurity
Research Interests
- Inherited retinal disorders
- Pediatric ophthalmology
Research Highlights
Dr. Schmitt, a respected pediatric ophthalmologist and pediatric director of the inherited retinal degeneration clinic, recently investigated the management of an ultra-rare disease, Alström Syndrome (ALMS). ALMS is characterized by cone-rod dystrophy, obesity, progressive sensorineural hearing loss, cardiomyopathy, insulin resistance and multi-organ dysfunction. In this case series, Dr. Schmitt outlines the diagnostic challenges of three children that were previously undiagnosed with ALMS prior to being referred to pediatric ophthalmology. Electroretinogram testing displayed severe global depression and all cases carried gene mutations for ALMS. Although no cure for ALMS exists, diagnosis allows for multidisciplinary treatment of global issues ensuring more positive outcomes.
Ocular evaluation and genetic test for an early Alström Syndrome diagnosis
Education
Fellowship: Pediatric Ophthalmology and Adult Strabismus, Cole Eye Institute, Cleveland, Ohio
Residency: William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, MI
Internship: William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, MI
Medical School: University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI