The American Academy of Ophthalmology is pleased to recognize Paul R. Lichter, MD, as a Guest of Honor at AAO 2018 in Chicago.
Selected by Academy President Keith Carter, MD, recipients of this award are recognized for their contributions to ophthalmology, the Academy and for the significant role they have played in the life and career of the Academy’s president. Dr. Lichter is honored for his leadership, volunteerism and dedication to building a world class eye center at the University of Michigan.
A dynamic leader, Dr. Lichter served as a role model to Dr. Carter as he completed his residency at the University of Michigan. Dr. Lichter led by example and always strived to achieve the same high level of excellence that he demanded from his team. Dr. Carter observed how he listened to and valued every team member and was always determined to find the best outcome for patients. Dr. Carter also appreciated Dr. Lichter’s honesty and candor with patients, appreciating how patients felt respected even when they received news that was not favorable about their condition.
With the first of two buildings erected during his residency in 1985, Dr. Carter was impressed by Dr. Lichter’s energy in the pursuit of his dream to build a cutting-edge eye center to house the University of Michigan’s ophthalmic research facility and clinic. Dr. Carter witnessed the stress and excitement the Kellogg Eye Center project generated. He saw the integral role Dr. Lichter’s vision and leadership played in the project. Serving as the program’s inaugural director, Dr. Lichter saw his final vision realized in 2010 with the completion of the 230,000-square-foot addition to the Kellogg Eye Center.
Dr. Carter credits Dr. Lichter as his inspiration for giving back to the profession through volunteerism. He saw firsthand the pride and satisfaction Dr. Lichter took in his work as editor of Ophthalmology. Following Dr. Lichter’s example, Dr. Carter has been actively involved as a volunteer in the Academy and other ophthalmology related organizations for the past 30 years.
In addition to his role as editor, Dr. Lichter also served as the Academy’s 100th president. He is a past president of the Association of University Professors of Ophthalmology, the American Ophthalmological Society, the Pan American Association of Ophthalmology and Academia Ophthalmologica Internationalis and past chair of the American Board of Ophthalmology.
Dr. Lichter is a native of Detroit and received his undergraduate, medical school and ophthalmology residency education at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and a glaucoma fellowship at the University of California San Francisco.
Dr. Lichter is a past chair and current professor emeritus of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at the University of Michigan Medical Center where he also served as the founding director of the W.K. Kellogg Eye Center. His publishing credits include more than 200 publications, including scientific articles, editorials and book chapters. He has delivered over 40 named lectures, including the 50th Jackson Memorial Lecture. In 2008, he received the Howe Medal from the American Ophthalmological Society.