Dr. Dimitri Azar is dean of the College of Medicine at the University of Illinois at Chicago. He holds the BA Field Chair in ophthalmologic research and is distinguished professor of Ophthalmology, Bioengineering and Pharmacology. Dr. Azar joined the University of Illinois at Chicago in 2006, as head of the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, after serving as tenured professor of Ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School, director of the Cornea Service at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, senior scientist at the Schepens Eye Institute, and faculty at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. He earned an executive MBA with high honors from the University of Chicago.
Dr. Azar is the author of over 400 scientific articles and book chapters. He is the editor of 14 books in ophthalmology, and he holds 15 patents. Every year since 1994, Dr. Azar has been named one of The Best Doctors in America® and/or one of the Castle Connolly regional Top Doctors in America. He is a leader in basic science and clinically related vision research, making significant contributions to the treatment of corneal diseases and to advances in refractive surgery through mathematical analyses and applications of advanced optics. His basic science research on matrix metalloproteinases in corneal wound healing and angiogenesis has been continually funded by the National Eye Institute R01 award since 1993. He serves as a trustee for the Chicago Ophthalmological Society and for the Association of Research and Vision in Ophthalmology.
Dr. Azar has also received multiple leadership awards, including the 2009 Lans Distinguished Award, the University of Illinois at Chicago Scholar Award, and the Distinguished Professor award in 2012.
