Jeffrey Goldberg to lead Stanford’s Department of Ophthalmology

Jeffrey Goldberg, MD, PhD, an ophthalmologist with interests in glaucoma, optic nerve regeneration and ganglion cell survival, has been appointed chair of the Department of Ophthalmology at the Stanford University School of Medicine.

He will start Aug. 1.

Goldberg, who earned his doctorate and medical degrees at Stanford, is now director of research and professor of ophthalmology at the Shiley Eye Institute at the University of California-San Diego.

“Jeff’s institutional leadership, blend of basic and translational research experience and commitment to providing the highest-quality patient care make him the right person to lead Stanford’s Department of Ophthalmology at this time of growth and potential,” said Lloyd Minor, MD, dean of the School of Medicine. “We are excited that he is returning to Stanford.”

Minor thanked Mark Blumenkranz, MD, the H.J. Smead Professor of Ophthalmology, for his 16 years of service as head of the department. “During Mark’s time as chair, ophthalmology at Stanford has been instrumental in many major advances in eye care, including the invention of many of the features of modern ophthalmic laser delivery systems for the retina, and has enjoyed a well-deserved reputation for providing high-quality care and service to patients.” 

Goldberg was selected from a pool of 117 nominees, said Quynh Le, MD, chair of the Department of Radiation Oncology, who led the search committee. “The reason he stands out is he has an amazing trajectory,” she said.

As a graduate student at Stanford, Goldberg trained under neurobiologist Ben Barres, MD, PhD, and worked on optic nerve regeneration. Only a year later, he was named an assistant professor at the University of Miami. He joined UCSD in 2012.

Barres, professor of neurobiology, of developmental biology and of neurology and neurological sciences, said he is delighted to welcome his mentee back to Stanford. “Jeffrey is an outstanding physician-scientist who is also highly translationally oriented,” Barres said. “I expect he will not only continue the tradition of clinical excellence here in ophthalmology, but also create a very research-intensive department that will be a leader in pioneering new treatments for eye disease.”

Goldberg said that although Stanford’s department has grown considerably, he plans to continue its clinical and research growth. He said he plans to leverage the university’s expertise in neuroscience, engineering and genetics to expand the department’s research in regenerative ophthalmology. He also plans to further build and integrate the department’s clinical, research and education programs.

“I plan to build a program that can do great basic research while developing treatments for patients,” he said.

Goldberg said he is thrilled to return to Stanford and to the Bay Area, where many of his family members live. He will be moving with his wife, Jennifer, and children Emma, Jacob and Isabel.

“Stanford is a fantastic university and a fantastic environment for research,” he said.