Cornea Society Presents Mark J. Mannis, MD, with Prestigious Dohlman Award for Teaching Excellence
FAIRFAX, Va. – November 29, 2016 – The Cornea Society will honor Mark J. Mannis ,MD with the prestigious Dohlman Award. Dr. Mannis is a professor and chair of the UC Davis Eye Center in Sacramento, California.
The Dohlman Award is given to recognize a lifetime of teaching excellence in the field of cornea and external disease and for contributions to the profession. Dr. Mannis was previously awarded the Castroviejo Medal from the Cornea Society in 2014.
"Dr. Mannis is the consummate teacher of medical students, residents and fellows in cornea and external disease. In fact, he has educated everyone in our field through his outstanding textbooks, research and leadership." said Cornea Society President Marian S. Macsai, MD. "He represents the ideal teacher and physician whose impact is so widespread it is difficult to quantify. The Board of Directors of the Cornea Society unanimously recognizes his exceptional contribution to our field."
Dr. Mannis earned his medical degree from the University of Florida College of Medicine in Gainesville, Florida, and completed his ophthalmology residency at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. He completed a fellowship in cornea and external eye disease at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa.
Dr. Mannis' research has included development of antimicrobial agents and growth factors that affect the corneal wound healing, skin diseases that affect the eye, visual rehabilitation after corneal transplantation and the artificial cornea. He has authored over 130 publications and six books on topics relating to corneal surgery and disease. He has also served as Editor-in-Chief of Cornea (1996-2002) and was founding editor of Vision Pan-America: The Pan American Journal of Ophthalmology (2002-2012).
Dr. Mannis has previously been honored with the following awards among others:
- 1975 John Gorrie Award as the Outstanding Medical Graduate (University of Florida College of Medicine)
- 1989 American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) Honor Award
- 1996 R. Townley Paton Award (Eye Bank Association of America)
- 1996 Lew R. Wasserman Merit Award, Research to Prevent Blindness
- 2010 Doctor Honoris Causa, National University of San Marcos, Lima Peru
- 2009 Moacyr Alvaro Gold Medal, Federal University of Sao Paulo, Brazil
- 2011 Distinguished Alumnus Award (Washington University School of Medicine)
- 2011-2012 U.S. News Top Doctors
- 2012 University of Florida Wall of Fame Recipient
- 2016 AAO Lifetime Achievement Award
Dr. Mannis has held leadership positions in a variety of ophthalmic organizations. He served as president of the Cornea Society from 2008 to 2010. He has chaired several committees at the Eye Bank Association of America (Research, International Relations, Paton) and served as the West Region President (1985-1987). He served as Chairman of the Eye Bank Association of America from 1990 – 1992. He has served as an associate examiner and a member of the board of the American Board of Ophthalmology (ABO), as president of the Pan-American Association of Eye Banks (2004-2010) and president of the Pan-American Association of Ophthalmology (2011-2013). He has also served as chairman of the Ocular Council (1991-1992) of the American Association of Tissue Banks and chairman of the Eye Banking Committee of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
Dr. Mannis has trained 26 U.S Cornea Fellows at UC Davis as well as a cohort of international corneal fellows.
Founded in 1975, the Cornea Society is an international society that promotes the exchange of information in cornea and external disease. With more than 700 members worldwide, the society fosters the exchange of information through scientific meetings, communications and the peer-reviewed journal, Cornea: The Journal of Cornea and External Disease. For more information, email [email protected].