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November 16, 2001


 



Emory Eye Center Again in Opthalmology Times National Rankings



The Emory Eye Center has again landed in Ophthalmology Times' top ten rankings for national ophthalmic programs. Ophthalmology Times is a semi-monthly newspaper written and reviewed by ophthalmologists. The Eye Center was ranked in the Nov. 1 issue under the category "Best Overall Program" as eighth (the same as last year), in "Best Clinical (patient care) Programs" as seventh (a new ranking for the Eye Center), and as sixth in the category "Best Residency Programs" (same as last year).



The survey results are compiled from a poll of ophthalmology department chairmen and directors of residency programs across the United States.

"We are again grateful for our national rankings," said Thomas M. Aaberg Sr., director of the Emory Eye Center and chairman of the Emory School of Medicine's Department of Ophthalmology. "Because we have made a concerted effort to serve our patients better, we are particularly pleased that our achievements in patient care were recognized," he said. "The Emory Eye Center is consistently ranked in the top ten of these four categories [Best Overall Programs, Best Research Programs, Best Clinical Programs and Best Residency Programs], but despite the rankings, we are constantly striving to improve all segments of our patient care, research, and teaching."

"Our residents form the future of ophthalmology," says Maria Aaron, MD, director of the Emory Eye Center's residency program. "We are excited to have our program recognized once again in the Residency Program category. The program is an important facet of the Emory Eye Center. Our emphasis on education is demonstrated by the number of faculty dedicated to resident training, the extraordinary achievements of our current and past residents, and the diversity and volume of our residentsâ clinical and surgical exposure. Our residents consistently obtain top fellowship and job positions across the U.S."

The Emory Eye Center in Atlanta, Georgia, has long been a clinical, scientific and academic leader for eye care. Ophthalmologists, optometrists and other eye care professionals at the Center treat individuals of all ages who need care ranging from general examinations to treatment of complex disorders. Eye Center specialists care for patients with cataracts, glaucoma, diabetic eye disease and other retinal disorders, ocular tumors, AIDS-related eye diseases, traumatic eye injuries, and many other conditions. Services include refractive surgery for vision problems, low-vision care for legally blind patients, and eye care for patients with vision problems due to stroke or head injury. Scientists at Emory are researching the causes of and improved treatments for macular degeneration, cataracts, glaucoma, and genetic eye diseases in children. In addition, the Eye Center has optical shops with optical products such as glasses, contacts, sunglasses, safety eyewear, as well as magnifiers, telescope lenses and virtual reality headsets for low vision patients.

The Emory Eye Center is one of the top 10 NIH-funded eye research institutions in the U.S., with total grant funds of close to $6 million. Additionally, U.S. News & World Report named Emory as one of the country's 10 best eye centers in its July 23, 2001, issue, the eighth year in a row that the news magazine has included Emory in its ophthalmology ranking.

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