Barrett Haik, MD, Hamilton Professor in Ophthalmology and chair of the UT department of ophthalmology, was recently appointed to the National Advisory Eye Council.
Barrett Haik, MD, Hamilton Professor in Ophthalmology and chair of the University of Tennessee department of ophthalmology, was recently appointed to the National Advisory Eye Council.
The National Council determines the direction of research and training for the National Institutes of Health and the National Eye Institute. Its main functions are to advise the Secretary of Health and Human Services along with the director of NIH and NEI on matters pertaining to the support of research and training related to national efforts in vision research. Dr. Haik was appointed to this position by Tommy Thompson, the Secretary of Health and Human Services.
Of the 12 appointed members, eight are among the leading representatives of the health and scientific disciplines relevant to blinding eye diseases, visual disorders, mechanisms of visual function, preservation of sight and the special health problems and requirements of individuals who are blind or visually impaired. Four of the members are appointed from the general public and includes leaders in the fields of public policy, law, health policy, economics and management.
Henry G. Herrod, MD, UT College of Medicine dean, commented, “It is a great honor for the university to have someone appointed to this council. Council members represent our national leaders in the field of vision care. This appointment, along with the ophthalmology department recently being ranked eighth for the best clinical (patient care) program in the United States, is a testimony to Dr. Haik’s leadership and level of professional expertise.”
Professionally, Dr. Haik is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the New York Academy of Medicine. Also, he is a diplomat of the American Board of Ophthalmology and a member of the American Ophthalmological Society.