Dimitri T. Azar, MD, MBA, is Interim Dean of the College of Medicine, Professor and Head of the Department of Ophthalmology, and B.A. Field Endowed Chair of Ophthalmologic Research at the University of Il
linois at Chicago. Prior to his appointment at the University of Illinois, he served as Professor of Ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School from 2003 to 2006, as well as Senior Scientist at the Schepens Eye Research Institute. Dr. Azar has received many awards and honors during his distinguished career, including the American Academy of Ophthalmology Honor Award in 1998, the American Academy of Ophthalmology Senior Achievement Award in 2004, and the Lans Distinguished Award from the International Society of Refractive Surgery in 2009. In 1996, assisted by Dr. J.C. Abad, Dr. Azar performed the first LASEK procedure worldwide. Dr. Azar has received research funding for a wide range of projects and is the holder of a large number of patents. He has served on several journal editorial boards, including currently that of Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science. Dr. Azar is the editor or associate editor of 14 books (with a further three in preparation), ca. 150 original research articles in peer-reviewed publications, and numerous other book chapters and reviews.