The Founder’s Professorship in Retinal and Vitreous Diseases in Ophthalmology

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Created in 2018 by patients, friends, colleagues, and students of Alexander J. Brucker, MD, the Chair commemorates his achievements as a leading researcher, clinician, and teacher. In all aspects of his medical career, Dr. Brucker’s foremost concern has been the quality of the lives of patients through the prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment of sight-threatening diseases.  He has accomplished this through his commitment to the medical and surgical research of retinal and vitreous disorders. Upon his retirement, the Professorship will be renamed in his honor.

Dr. Brucker has played a leadership role at the Scheie Eye Institute and in the field of ophthalmology. He is Vice-Chair for Strategic Initiatives of the Department of Ophthalmology, Chief of the Retina and Vitreous Service of the Department of Ophthalmology at the Perelman School of Medicine, and Director of the Retina Fellowship Program.  He sees patients at both the Scheie Eye Institute and Penn Medicine at Radnor.

His forty years of clinical research have contributed to the understanding of age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, vascular occlusive disease, and the surgical management of vitreoretinal disorders. Over the past four decades, his work at Penn has helped to develop breakthrough therapies such as laser surgery, vitreous surgery, and intravitreal therapeutics. He has been recognized with awards which include the Albrecht von Graefe Award of the American Society of Contemporary Ophthalmology for distinguished contributions to ophthalmology, the Medal of Honor in Ophthalmology from the Spanish Ophthalmological Society, the Life Achievement Honor Award from the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the J. Donald M. Gass Award from both the Macula Society and the Retina Society, the Founder’s Award from the American Society of Retinal Specialists, the G. B. Bietti Medal from the Italian Ophthalmological Society, and the Gabriel Coscas Medal from the International Congress on OCT and OCT angiography.

 

Alexander J. BruckerCurrent Chairholder
Alexander J. Brucker, MD

Alexander J. Brucker, MD is the Vice-Chair for Strategic Initiatives of the Department of Ophthalmology, Chief of the Retina and Vitreous Service of the Department of Ophthalmology at the Perelman School of Medicine, and Director of the Retina Fellowship Program.  He sees patients at both the Scheie Eye Institute and Penn Medicine at Radnor.

He graduated from the University of Maryland and earned his medical degree from New York Medical College. His professional distinctions include his service as Editor-in-Chief of RETINA®, the Journal of Retinal and Vitreous Diseases, which is the preeminent international medical journal for retinal and vitreous diseases, Editor-in-Chief of Retinal Cases & Brief Reports, has served as President of the Macula Society, served as a voting member of the FDA’s (Food and Drug Administration’s) Device Panel, and on the Council of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Dr. Brucker has been acknowledged for his extraordinary clinical skills. He has been selected as one of America’s Top Doctors for many years, recognized annually in Philadelphia Magazine’s Top Docs issue for more than 34 years, and listed by Best Doctors in America from 2003 to 2018.