University of Michigan Kellogg Eye Center

03/09/2026

At the U‑M Kellogg Eye Center, patients are at the center of everything we do. While our work isn’t about awards, national recognitions like the U.S. News and World Report Best Hospitals rankings help reflect the impact of our clinical excellence, research innovations, and community partnerships.

This year, Kellogg teams achieved major milestones—from leading the nation’s first‑in‑human adult RPE stem cell therapy to earning prestigious NIH awards, expanding foundation‑supported research, and opening our new microsurgical classroom. These accomplishments reflect the collective strength of our faculty, learners, researchers, alumni, and partners.

The U.S. News “Expert Opinion” voting period is now open for board‑certified physicians.
Your vote helps ensure Kellogg’s work is recognized nationally.

Vote now: michmed.org/doximityvoting
Learn more: michmed.org/usnwr-voting

Grateful to all colleagues and alumni who take a moment to participate.

03/04/2026

Discover how teamwork and expert collaboration at U-M Kellogg Eye Center made a difference for baby Leo, leading to early diagnosis and specialized care for a rare genetic condition. Meet the village supporting his journey: https://michmed.org/KDJjD

02/24/2026

Huge congratulations to our JOY Program Employees of the Month!

January 2026: Adam Cook, KEC Cornea/Vision Care
Adam is celebrated for his kindness, reliability, and constant dedication to going the extra mile for every patient and teammate. Thank you for bringing JOY to KEC every day, Adam!

February 2026: Jenn Hall, Ophthalmic Technician Associate, West Ann Arbor
Jenn’s leadership, compassion, and unwavering commitment keep the WAA clinic running smoothly. We’re so lucky to have you, Jenn!
Thank you both for the incredible impact you make across KEC!

02/14/2026

Celebrating Valentine's with University of Michigan Medical School sweethearts: Dr. Nita Valikodath and Dr. Matthew K Iyer 💕

A full-circle moment on Valentines day: Matthew Iyer and Nita Valikodath met in medical school in 2012, and they returned as faculty in 2023. Matthew is a surgical oncologist and computational biologist. He does translational research in oncology. He is currently focused on developing a new liquid biopsy platform for cancer diagnostics. Nita is an adult and pediatric vitreoretinal surgeon and does clinical research in retinal diseases with an interest in medical device development and clinical trials. She is currently focused on the application of robotic OCT in ophthalmic diseases and robotic eye surgery.

When reflecting back, they share “Being back has been surreal. We’re walking the same hallways we once did as students, now as faculty, and going to restaurants we used to visit years ago, but this time with our three kids (ages 3, 19 months, and 4 months). It’s been really special to experience the same places in such a different era of life. So grateful to be back with our family, friends and colleagues!"

Learn more about Dr. Valikodath's work at the Kellogg Eye Center: https://www.uofmhealth.org/profile/1972036069/nita-valikodath

02/03/2026

Discover how teamwork and innovation at Michigan’s Medical School and College of Engineering brought fresh ideas to anesthesia for eye care! Their collaborative spirit turns groundbreaking concepts into real clinic solutions. Learn more:

Michigan's co-located Medical School and College of Engineering, along with a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship, makes projects like this possible.

02/02/2026

Congratulations!

01/27/2026

Glaucoma is a leading cause of vision loss and blindness in the United States. Although most people use eye drops to treat their condition, at least half of glaucoma patients miss doses. As they age, these patients are at a higher risk of losing their sight.

Paula Anne Newman-Casey discusses the causes of glaucoma, how it’s diagnosed, treatment procedures and why many people miss doses of their medicated eye drops.

Learn more at https://michmed.org/jVmxx.

01/26/2026

Congratulations to The University of Michigan Kellogg Eye Center for being ranked 3rd Nationally and #1 in the state of Michigan for Top Doctors in Ophthalmology by the Castle Connolly Top Doctors, more here!

Castle Connolly Accolades recognize health systems, hospitals, and physician practices who provide an outstanding level of high quality healthcare through their top-ranked Castle Connolly Top Doctor physicians. Accolades are presented based on the number of Top Doctors at a given institution, with c...

01/20/2026

Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases which cause loss of sight by damaging the optic nerve.

Because there are often no early symptoms, half of people with glaucoma do not know they have the eye disease.

Although there is no cure, early detection and treatment may prevent or delay permanent vision loss.

Learn more: https://michmed.org/3G2K4.

01/13/2026

It started out as a collection of unusual symptoms, including childhood glaucoma, skin rashes, arthritis and spontaneous tendon rupture. Soon, it became a collaborative effort between the Gibson family, doctors, researchers and the NIH to understand a rare type of genetic glaucoma.

A large group of researchers, led by University of Michigan and partnering with University of Missouri, have now received an NIH grant to better understand the disease, its interactions with viral infections, and to develop therapies.

Learn more: https://michmed.org/Q9YQw.

01/12/2026

Dysfunctional cell barriers can cause a range of diseases, including stroke, brain tumors and blinding eye diseases such as diabetic retinopathy.

University of Michigan researchers have uncovered the role of occludin, a protein that regulates the tight connections between cells. They are now working on trying to restore these cell barriers in patients with diabetes, helping them with their vision.

Learn more: https://michmed.org/YWzM4.