Robison Vernon Paul Chan

Chair, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences; The John H. Panton, MD Professor of Ophthalmology, Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary, University of Illinois at Chicago; Secretary for Global Alliances, American Academy of Ophthalmology; Associate Secretary for English Language Region, Pan-American Association of Ophthalmology, USA

Why did you decide to pursue ophthalmology/your subspecialty?

Serendipity. My mentor and friend, Dr. Marilyn Miller, would often talk about serendipity and how her career had evolved by saying "yes" to opportunities. When I started my first faculty position at Weill Cornell Medical College, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, it wasn't the intention for me to manage pediatric retina patients or run the retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) service. But after several months, Dr. Thomas C. Lee, who was and continues to be a close mentor, left the practice and had asked me to take over the pediatric retina and ROP service at Cornell. ROP quickly became my passion and the foundation for my career in the work I do in the United States and internationally. This focus allowed me to work with Dr. Michael F. Chiang, when he was at Columbia University, and has gotten me involved with an incredible community of people who share the common mission of preventing blindness in children.

Who is someone in ophthalmology/your subspecialty that you feel has been particularly influential over the past 10 years?

There are so many great leaders in ophthalmology who have been particularly influential in clinical care, advocacy, research, and education. Over the past 10 years, Dr. David W. Parke II, in his previous role as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for the American Academy of Ophthalmology, is someone who I believe has made an extraordinary impact on our profession. Dr. Parke’s contributions to ophthalmology are second to none. His leadership paved the way for the Intelligent Research in Sight (IRIS) registry, he strengthened our national advocacy efforts, built innovative and economically sustainable programs to support the Academy and its mission, and significantly grew our global reach.

What’s been the biggest breakthrough in ophthalmology/your specific field over the last 10 years?

We've made significant advances in pediatric retina regarding our understanding and management of retinal disease in the pediatric population. Gene therapy, advanced imaging techniques, and anti-VEGF have been the biggest breakthroughs in the field of pediatric retina. 

Is there a particular tool, technological advance, or instrument you would not have been able to live without over the past 10 years?

I started my training when OCT was just coming to market and it has been an indispensable tool ever since. 

What would you like to see change in ophthalmology/your subspecialty over the next 10 years – and why?

I would love to see medical education evolve to keep up with the technology that has been rapidly developing in all of ophthalmology. Clinicians will have to learn how to better implement technology in an ethical, effective, and responsible way. There has been discussion on implementation of information technology education and curriculum on the use of artificial intelligence for residency training programs. 

Do you have any personal missions for the next 10 years?

To make major steps in improving the care of children worldwide and preventing blindness in the pediatric population by successfully implementing technological solutions for better screening, diagnosis, and management. The use of digital imaging and AI in ROP is promising and I would like to see us come together as a community to find cost effective models for care.