Faculty Affairs

Manju Subramanian, MD,
Named Chair of Ophthalmology & Vision Sciences,
Chief of Ophthalmology

Manju Subramanian, MD, has been named Chief of the Department of Ophthalmology at Boston Medical Center and Chair of the Department of Ophthalmology & Vision Sciences at Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, effective October 19, 2026, following a national search.

A vitreoretinal surgeon, physician-scientist and dedicated educator, Subramanian has been a member of the BMC and BU community for more than two decades. She joined the medical school faculty in 2004 and currently serves as associate professor of ophthalmology. Her leadership roles include serving as the vice chair of clinical affairs and subsequently vice chair of faculty affairs in the department of ophthalmology, where she designed and developed new clinical and faculty development programs. 

Subramanian’s institutional contributions include serving as the previous chair of the BUMG Professional Development committee, serving as a faculty representative on the BUMG Board of Trustees, and partnering with the School of Medicine leadership on academic promotion, equity initiatives and advancement of mentorship through service on the Promotion Criteria Working Group and Propelling the Rise of Faculty Steering Committee.

As an NIH-funded investigator, Subramanian’s research focuses on ocular protein and imaging biomarkers for Alzheimer’s disease and neurodegeneration, health disparities in ophthalmic care and clinical outcomes for diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration. She has authored more than 74 peer-reviewed publications, has been an invited speaker at 36 national and international venues, serves as senior editor for the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease and serves as a reviewer on NIH review panels. Her work examining the effects of race and socioeconomic status on treatment outcomes and clinical trial enrollment has helped advance equity in vision science. She also is a committed mentor who has held national leadership roles supporting the professional development of junior faculty and individuals underrepresented in medicine.

Subramanian completed her combined BS/MD degree at the University of Missouri-Kansas City and an internship in general surgery at Rush University Medical Center/Cook County Hospital in Chicago. She completed her ophthalmology residency at the University of Kansas Medical Center and a fellowship in vitreoretinal disease and surgery at Tufts University School of Medicine.

Dean ad interim Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine Hee-Young Park, PhD, and BMC & System Chief Physician Executive Tony Hollenberg, MD, extended gratitude to Stephen Christiansen, MD, who has led the department with distinction for the past 17 years. A renowned expert in pediatric ophthalmology and strabismus, Christiansen has made significant contributions to patient care, research, education and global health. “We are pleased that he will remain on our faculty, continuing to care for patients, teach and conduct research.”