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Dr. Bala Ambati #1 on List of Ophthalmology’s Rising Stars

Bala Ambati, MD, PhD, a physician and researcher at the University of Utah’s John A. Moran Eye Center, nabbed the top spot on The Ophthalmologist magazine’s Top 40 Under 40 Power List. Dr. Ambati has the distinction of being the world's youngest person to graduate from medical school—a feat he accomplished at age 17.

Dr. Ambati is a Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences the Moran Eye Center, where he specializes in corneal and anterior segment issues, cataracts, and LASIK and refractive surgery.  He runs a research laboratory which explores and advances new treatments for abnormal blood vessel formation and develops novel surgical technology and devices.  He has published over 40 peer-reviewed publications and two books. Dr. Ambati is also the official Utah Utes Team Ophthalmologist.

He is also committed to humanitarian work, and provides medical care to underserved communities in Utah and throughout the world with the John A. Moran Eye Center Outreach Division and ORBIS, a nonprofit organization with a flying eye hospital.

Readers of The Ophthalmologist were asked to vote for their Top 40 Under 40: specifically to vote for those making a difference in ophthalmology today, and for who they think will go on to make an even bigger difference in the future. An expert panel of judges ranked the nominations, and the combination of the two resulted in the Top 40 Under 40 Power List. The list includes pioneers of new surgical techniques, novel drug delivery systems, business and stem cells.

“We had the best response we’ve ever had for this year’s Power List”, said Dr. Mark Hillen, Editor of The Ophthalmologist, “and Dr. Ambati ranked highly across all of the judges – two from every major subspecialty in ophthalmology, with the result being he came #1 on the list. He is very deserving of first place.”

Launched in 2013,  integrates topical news coverage, with practical, pragmatic articles that are meaningful to a practicing ophthalmologist’s daily working life. They publish feature articles that tell the stories behind the biggest concepts, issues and advances in the field, with the goal of engaging their readership, and starting a conversation.

To see the young, up-and-coming individuals that are set to rise to the top of the field, visit: 

About the John A. Moran Eye Center

The John A. Moran Eye Center, part of University of Utah Hospitals and Clinics, is the premier center for ophthalmology in the Intermountain West and is the largest eye care facility between California and Michigan. With collaborators from around the world, research advancements at the center provide new diagnoses, novel treatments, and creative new procedures designed to cure blinding eye diseases. Moran specialists cover every field of vision care including conditions like age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, cataracts, cornea, and external eye diseases. The Moran Eye Center offers the latest advances in LASIK and refractive surgery as well as a full range of optometry services, including contact lenses and eyeglasses.

For more information on Dr. Ambati or the John A. Moran Eye Center, contact Esther Pomeroy at esther.pomeroy@hsc.utah.edu or by telephone at 801-587-9972

For more information on The Ophthalmologist, contact the Editor, Mark Hillen at mark.hillen@texerepublishing.com or by telephone at +44 1565 752883.