American Academy of Ophthalmology Honors Stephen Christiansen, Babak Eliassi-Rad

The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) honored two BUSM faculty members with awards during its annual meeting last week.

Stephen Christiansen, MD, chairman of ophthalmology, received a Senior Achievement Award, while Babak Eliassi-Rad, MD, assistant professor of ophthalmology, received an Achievement Award. Both awards recognize significant scholarly work, teaching and committee contributions to the Academy. The Senior Achievement Award honors those members with at least ten years of noteworthy contributions.

Dr. Christiansen serves as professor of ophthalmology and pediatrics at BUSM as well as the chief of ophthalmology at Boston Medical Center (BMC). His National Institutes of Health funded research includes clinical studies of pediatric and adult strabismus (misalignment of the eyes), pediatric cataract, retinopathy of prematurity and retinoblastoma. He has served in numerous leadership roles including president of the American Orthoptic Journal and chairman of the Program Planning Committee at the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (AAPOS). He has published more than 100 peer-reviewed journal articles, book chapters and editorials and has received numerous awards including the Senior Honor Award from AAPOS and the Secretariat Award from the AAO.

Dr. Eliassi-Rad is a long-time faculty member of the department of ophthalmology and course director of the department’s biannual Continuing Medical Education meeting. He serves as the director of the Glaucoma Service at BMC and specializes in the medical and surgical management of glaucoma and cataract and has published broadly on these topics. He is a reviewer for Journal of Glaucoma and serves on the editorial board for Eyewiki.

The American Academy of Ophthalmology is the world’s largest association of eye physicians and surgeons whose mission is to protect sight and empower lives by serving as an advocate for patients and the public, leading ophthalmic education and advancing the profession of ophthalmology.