Paul Sternberg Jr., MD, G.W. Hale Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at Vanderbilt and chair of the department, has been named to receive the 2018 Award of Merit in Retina Research Recipient by the Retina Society.
The award, established in 1978, recognizes outstanding vision scientists whose work contributes to the knowledge about the retina and retinal diseases.
Sternberg will be presented with the award during the Retina Society Meeting in September in California where he will also give the Charles L. Schepens Lecture titled “Regenerative Visual Neuroscience: How It Will Transform Eye Care.”
“I am deeply honored to receive this prestigious award,” said Sternberg. “I have been fortunate to have had incredible scientific collaborators throughout my career. This award reflects the efforts of so many great investigators and I look forward to sharing the outstanding and innovative work being done by the Vanderbilt Eye Institute Regenerative Visual Neuroscience Initiative team in my lecture.
“Despite our advances in understanding blinding diseases like age-related macular degeneration, we still face significant challenges. Nonetheless, I am energized and optimistic as a result of the wonderful work being done here at Vanderbilt.”
Sternberg maintains an active academic and research program, studying the pathogenesis of age-related macular degeneration. He has authored more than 250 scientific articles and 30 book chapters and received research funding from the NIH, numerous foundations and industry.
He has received multiple honors including the AAO Lifetime Achievement Award (American Academy of Ophthalmology), the Heed Ophthalmic Award, Lew Wasserman Award of Merit from Research to Prevent Blindness, the Distinguished Service Award from ARVO (Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology) and the Sommer Prize from the EyeCare Foundation.
He currently serves as chair of the board of governors for the ARVO Foundation and recently was named president-elect of the Association of University Professors of Ophthalmology (AUPO).
Sternberg is also the Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs, Chief Medical Officer and Chief Patient Experience Officer at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
