Royce W.S. Chen, MD

Stanley Chang, M.D., is the former Edward S. Harkness Professor and Chairman of the Department of Ophthalmology at Columbia University Medical Center. He is also the K.K. Tse and Ku Teh Ying Professor of Ophthalmology. He is a specialist in vitreoretinal disorders and surgery and pioneered many of the surgical techniques currently used in this field. Dr. Chang received a B.S. degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, a M.S. from the University of Pennsylvania, and completed his M.D. degree at the Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University. After a vitreoretinal surgery fellowship at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Dr. Chang joined the faculty of Department of Ophthalmology at Cornell University Medical School, where he became Professor of Ophthalmology. Appointed the Edward S. Harkness Professor and Chairman of the Department of Ophthalmology in 1995, he served as director of the Edward S. Harkness Eye Institute until 2012. Dr. Chang has developed and pioneered several revolutionary surgical approaches to treat complicated forms of retinal detachment, improving outcomes for patients worldwide. He was the first to use perfluoropropane (C3F8) gas in the management of retinal detachments caused by scar tissue growth (PVR) on the retina. This gas is the most frequently used gas in complex vitreoretinal surgeries. He developed perfluorocarbon liquids, a 'heavy liquid' used in flattening retinal detachment, and changed the management of giant retinal tears and retinal detachments resulting from trauma globally. In collaboration with Avi Grinblat, he developed a panoramic viewing system and led in the worldwide adaptation by retina surgeons to this technique. Through research and innovation, he continues to improve the clinical outcomes for patients. He is the recipient of several honors including the Herman Wacker Prize from the Club Jules Gonin, Helmerich Prize from the American Society of Retina Specialists, the Lifetime Achievement Award and the Secretariat Award from the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the Edward Jackson Lecture, the Charles Schepens Lecture, the Donald M Gass Lecture, and the Jules Gonin Medal from the International Council of Ophthalmology. Consistently named as one of America's best doctors, Dr. Chang was also recognized as one of three physicians selected as National Physician of the Year by the Castle Connolly Guides in 2008. The Department of Ophthalmology is grateful to Dr. Chang for his exemplary and inspirational leadership during his time as Chair and Director of Ophthalmology. During his tenure, the department attracted a top-notch team of researchers and clinicians, developed new faculty practices in New York and New Jersey, more than doubled the number of surgical cases in the Eye Institute, and dramatically increased research funding. Dr. Chang remains an active member of the faculty and continues his patient care, research and teaching commitments.

Stephen H. Tsang, M.D, Ph.D. is an acclaimed clinical geneticist in the care of individuals with retinal degenerations. He has been culturing stem cells since 1992 and created the first mouse model for a recessive form of retinitis pigmentosa (RP) by applying genome engineering to stem cell technology in 1995. He successfully treated preclinical models of Pde6a, Pde6b, Mfrp, Rho, Cngb1 and autosomal recessive bestrophin retinopathies. He has expertise in designing and testing genome engineering strategies in pre-clinical models, developing patient-specific knock-in models, generating of patient cell lines and providing care to patients with a precision medicine approach. He is also leading efforts in FDA trials for gene therapies, including PDE6A, RAB geranylgeranyl transferase, RPGR, CNGB3, CNGA3 and ABCA4 retinopathies. He wrote 3 books: “Precision Medicine, CRISPR, and Genome Engineering: Moving from Association to Biology and Therapeutics" and “Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine in Ophthalmology”, Springer Press, NY; and “CRISPR Genome Surgery in Stem Cells and Disease Tissues”, Elsevier Inc. He is an elected member of several honorary societies including the American Society for Clinical Investigation, Alcon Research Institute and American Ophthalmological Society. He is consistently named to various NIH study sections (DPVS standing member 2014-8 and PED2 2022-6) and other review committees; Alcon Research Institute Grant Review Committee (2022-27), Scientific Advisory Panel - Research to Prevent Blindness (RPB, 2019-29), Chair of American Ophthalmological Society Thesis Review Committee (2022-2023). Many of his publications are in widely-read general interest journals such as Science, NEJM, Lancet, Cell Stem Cell, Nature Genetics, and Journal of Clinical Investigation, which attests to the broad impact that his work has had. Dr. Tsang received a resident teaching award in 2008 and was the Columbia Ophthalmology Basic Science Course Director (2006-2018). Dr. Tsang graduated from Johns Hopkins University, where he began his medical genetics training under the tutelage of Professor Victor A. McKusick. He received his M.D. and Ph.D. degrees from the NIH-National Institute of General Medical Sciences Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) at Columbia University. Dr. Tsang then completed his residency at Jules Stein Eye Institute/UCLA, followed by studies with Professors Alan C. Bird and Graham E. Holder on improving the care of individuals with macular degenerations.

Daniel Diamond, OD, is Assistant Professor of Optometric Sciences (in Ophthalmology) at Columbia University Irving Medical Center. Dr. Diamond specializes in pediatrics, anterior segment disease, contact lens fitting, and primary and post-operative care. Dr. Diamond received his bachelor's degree in biology with a concentration in Molecular Biology at SUNY Binghamton. He then went on to complete his Doctorate in Optometry at the New England College of Optometry. He obtained his residency training in ocular disease at ENRM VA Hospital in Bedford, MA. Since joining the department, Dr. Diamond has received a fellowship from the American Academy of Optometry, published work on the vision and eye health of at-risk individuals in New York City, and lectured on the use of contact lenses in infants.