Stephen P. Christiansen, MD

Professor, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine

Biography

Since 2009, Dr. Christiansen has served as the Chairman of the Department of Ophthalmology and Professor of Ophthalmology and Pediatrics at Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine. Dr Christiansen is also Chief of Ophthalmology at Boston Medical Center. He conducts extensive research in pediatric ophthalmology and adult strabismus and has been awarded funding by the NIH for clinical studies of strabismus (misaligned eyes), infantile cataract, and retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). His primary research interests are in the management of childhood and adult strabismus, pediatric cataract, ROP, and retinoblastoma.

Dr. Christiansen has served in numerous local, national, and international leadership roles. He is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Boston University Medical Group (BUMG), the physician organization for Boston Medical Center (BMC), and is the Chair of the BUMG Finance Committee. He led search committees for the BMC and BUSM Chairs of Pediatrics and Surgery. Dr. Christiansen is an Examiner for the American Board of Ophthalmology. He has served on the Board of the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (AAPOS), and is currently the President of the American Orthoptic Journal, AOJ, Inc. Dr. Christiansen has also chaired the Program Planning Committee of AAPOS, organizing numerous national meetings. During his tenure, the scope of the position was expanded to include international partnerships and he led the planning committees for successful meetings in Singapore, Kyoto, Jaipur, and Barcelona.

Dr. Christiansen’s work has been recognized by ophthalmic organizations in the US. He recently received the Senior Honor Award for AAPOS, the Senior Achievement Award for the AAO, and, in 2008, the Secretariat Award for the AAO.

Dr. Christiansen has given 24 invited professor lectureships world-wide, five of which were named lectures. In addition, he has published extensively with 118 papers in peer-reviewed journals, numerous book chapters, invited editorials and other work. His bibliography can be seen at

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=Christiansen+SP

Publications

  • Published 8/25/2025

    Simpson A, Henrie M, Wu C, Brintz B, Christiansen S, Jensen MS, Stagg B, Warner J. Institutional comparison of methods of intraoperative cataract surgery complication reporting. J Cataract Refract Surg. 2025 Aug 25. PMID: 40856509.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 7/18/2024

    Jurgens JA, Barry BJ, Chan WM, MacKinnon S, Whitman MC, Matos Ruiz PM, Pratt BM, England EM, Pais L, Lemire G, Groopman E, Glaze C, Russell KA, Singer-Berk M, Di Gioia SA, Lee AS, Andrews C, Shaaban S, Wirth MM, Bekele S, Toffoloni M, Bradford VR, Foster EE, Berube L, Rivera-Quiles C, Mensching FM, Sanchis-Juan A, Fu JM, Wong I, Zhao X, Wilson MW, Weisburd B, Lek M, Brand H, Talkowski ME, MacArthur DG, O'Donnell-Luria A, Robson CD, Hunter DG, Engle EC. Expanding the genetics and phenotypes of ocular congenital cranial dysinnervation disorders. Genet Med. 2025 Apr; 27(4):101216. PMID: 39033378.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 5/15/2024

    Wang S, Repka MX, Sutherland DR, Hatt SR, Traboulsi EI, Lambert SR, Melia BM, Kraker RT, Holmes JM, Cotter SA. Complications, Visual Acuity, and Refractive Error 3 Years after Secondary Intraocular Lens Implantation for Pediatric Aphakia. Ophthalmology. 2024 Oct; 131(10):1196-1206. PMID: 38754556.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 5/1/2024

    Chen AM, Erzurum SA, Chandler DL, Hercinovic A, Wu R, Vricella M, Waters AL, Ticho BH, Erickson JW, Han S, McDowell PS, Li Z, Kraker RT, Holmes JM, Cotter SA. Refractive Error Change and Overminus Lens Therapy for Childhood Intermittent Exotropia. JAMA Ophthalmol. 2024 May 01; 142(5):417-428. PMID: 38536764.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 11/1/2023

    Bains A, Osathanugrah P, Sanjiv N, Chiu C, Fiorello MG, Siegel NH, Peeler CE, Distefano AG, Lee HJ, Ness S, Desai MA, Titelbaum JR, Pira T, LaMattina KC, Christiansen SP, Cabral HJ, Subramanian ML. Diverse Research Teams and Underrepresented Groups in Clinical Studies. JAMA Ophthalmol. 2023 Nov 01; 141(11):1037-1044. PMID: 37856135.

    Read at: PubMed

View All 128 Publications:   View Full Profile in BUMC

Other Positions

  • Helen L. and Sherwood J. Tarlow Chair, Ophthalmology & Vision Sciences
    Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine
  • Professor, Pediatrics
    Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine

Websites

Education

  • Medical College of Wisconsin, MD
  • Wheaton College, BS

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