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Wills Eye Hospital of Philadelphia will transfer responsibility for its inpatient and ophthalmology residency programs to its longstanding partners, Thomas Jefferson University and Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, effective July 1, 2006.

“Jefferson and Wills have been affiliated for more than 30 years,” said Thomas J. Lewis, President and Chief Executive Officer, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. “We are pleased to be able to strengthen our commitment to quality medical education, clinical care and research through the management of the inpatient and residency programs and at the same time continue to provide patients with high quality inpatient eye care.”

James Mulvihill, Chief Executive Officer of Wills Eye Hospital agreed, saying, “This move reflects the changing delivery model for eye care, in which increasing numbers of patients can be treated on an outpatient basis.” Mulvihill added, “Wills will continue to operate as an independent outpatient network, providing the world-class eye care its founder James Wills envisioned back in 1832.”

Inpatient ophthalmology services will continue to be offered at 900 Walnut Street in Philadelphia by Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. In addition, the Wills Eye Emergency Department will remain open at its current location at 900 Walnut Street for at least two years.

The transaction was approved by regulatory authorities including the Pennsylvania Department of Health.

Subject to the terms of a License Agreement, the inpatient program will be known as Wills Eye at Jefferson and the residency program will be known as Wills Eye Residency Program at Jefferson. Wills physicians providing inpatient ophthalmology services will serve as faculty members at Thomas Jefferson University and medical staff members at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital.

For the 17 th consecutive year, Wills was ranked as one of the top three Ophthalmology centers in the nation by U.S. News and World Report.