Message from the chair and vice-chair

Welcome to the Department of Ophthalmology, Visual and Anatomical Sciences (OVAS)

The Department (merged in 2018) is comprised of basic scientists and clinical faculty, administrative staff, research scientists, postdoctoral fellows, and graduate students involved in research, education, health care and service activities that support the School of Medicine and University.   

Research encompasses major areas of Vision and Neurosciences, focusing on the retina, and other areas of the brain and spinal cord; infectious disease of the cornea and retina is also a strong area of research. Investigators employ state of the art cellular and molecular approaches to the understanding of human disease mechanisms. Faculty conduct research in well-equipped, laboratories located primarily on the School of Medicine campus. Current departmental NIH funding is over $7 million annually. The department is a center of excellence in vision and holds both an NEI P30 grant renewed for years 36-40 in 2019 and a Research to Prevent Blindness grant as well.  The Department is also proud to have been the home of the first Wayne State University professor (Dr. Morris Goodman) elected to the National Academy of Sciences.

Clinical activities at the Kresge Eye Institute, include a robust practice that excels in all areas of ophthalmology with major strength in retina, glaucoma, infectious diseases and cataract. The Kresge Eye Institute is considered one of the nation's leading medical centers for the preservation of sight and has an international reputation for its pioneering eye research programs and serves as a major referral center for the treatment of difficult vision problems. A part of WSU since 1966, the Institute is an integral part of the University's SOM and administers and directs all ophthalmological services for WSU and the Detroit Medical Center. 

Educational activities of the department are multiple and occur primarily at the School of Medicine with instruction in anatomy, histology and neuroscience to medical students by an outstanding teaching force who deliver over 1,700 contact hours, the largest of any department, to medical education. The Department also offers a Ph.D. degree in Anatomy & Cell Biology as part of broader Interdisciplinary Biomedical Sciences (IBS) curriculum and is poised to open a Masters program. There is also a concentration track in Vision Sciences within this program that emphasizes molecular research in cornea, lens, and retina. The department provides Graduate Medical Education teaching for 7 ophthalmology residents per year (21 total) and 5 clinical fellows (2 retina, and one each in glaucoma, oculoplastic, and pediatric ophthalmology).  Ophthalmology residents from Metro Detroit seek rotations at Kresge Eye Institute due to its clinical expertise and unique patient population. WSU medical students do clinical and research elective rotations during their 3^rd and 4^th year. Typically, 30 students per year rotate at the eye institute. Additionally, rising 2^nd year medical students have an opportunity to do externships (4 students for clinical and 3 for research).

Please feel free to navigate through our website to learn more about our department. If you have a particular interest in any of our faculty, you may contact them directly. We hope to hear from you soon!