Thomas Aaberg MD, BA, BS

Dr. Thomas Aaberg, Sr. graduated from Dartmouth College. His medical degree is from Harvard Medical School (1961) and his residency in Ophthalmology from the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary. He then entered the United States Public Health Service for two years and also graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a Master of Science in Public Health before starting an 18-month fellowship in retinal disease and retinal surgery at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami.

His research, with the late Robert Machemer, MD, developed a primate model to study the histopathology of retinal detachment and giant retinal tears. Upon completion of his 18-month fellowship, he became an assistant professor of Ophthalmology and director of the Retina Service at the Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. He began a vitreoretinal fellowship training program which became one of the top-rated programs in the country whose graduates currently direct vitreoretinal sections and departments throughout the country.

In January 1988, he was appointed chair of Ophthalmology at Emory University School of Medicine and Phinizy Calhoun, Sr. Professor of Ophthalmology and Director of the Emory Eye Center. During the subsequent 20 years, until becoming Chair Emeritus, December 31, 2007, Dr. Aaberg developed the Emory Department of Ophthalmology into a nationally respected and highly ranked program in clinical ophthalmology with an extensive scientific faculty. He developed an excellent residency training program, highly ranked in the country together with fellowship programs in eight clinical ophthalmological subspecialties. Dr. Aaberg has personally been involved in the training of 64 vitreoretinal fellows who are in academic or private practice throughout the United States and Canada, including the current chief executive officer of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.