Ophthalmology News Archive Featured in the Media JeffNEWS

Retina specialist Julia A. Haller, M.D., has been appointed Professor and Chair of the Department of Ophthalmology at Jefferson Medical College (JMC) of Thomas Jefferson University, and Thomas Jefferson University Hospital.  In conjunction with her duties at Jefferson, Dr. Haller also assumes the responsibilities of Ophthalmologist-in-Chief at Wills Eye Institute.

Dr. Haller joins Jefferson from the Wilmer Eye Institute at Johns Hopkins University Hospital where she practiced for over 20 years, holding the Katharine Graham and Robert Bond Welch, M.D. professorships in Ophthalmology, and serving as the director of the Retina Fellowship Training Program at Johns Hopkins University.  Since 2004, she has also been a consultant for the Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington, D.C.

Michael J. Vergare, M.D., Interim Dean of Jefferson Medical College, said, “We are very pleased to welcome Dr. Haller to Jefferson and the Department of Ophthalmology.  Dr. Haller is a preeminent international expert who shares Jefferson’s dedication to providing the highest quality patient care while educating tomorrow’s health care providers.”    

Dr. Haller replaces world renowned surgeon and retina specialist William Tasman, M.D., who began serving as chair in 1985.  Though he has stepped down from the post, Dr. Tasman will remain a professor of Ophthalmology at JMC, and will continue to pursue his clinical and academic interests within the department and at Wills Eye Institute.

“I am honored to be taking over this prestigious position at such a distinguished university and hospital from Dr. William Tasman, who is a true leader in the field of ophthalmology,” said Dr. Haller.  “Jefferson’s collaboration with Wills Eye Institute makes it one of the foremost institutions for clinical care, research and education in ophthalmology today, and I look forward to furthering this alliance.”

A prominent scholar and lecturer, Dr. Haller’s research interests have focused on age-related macular degeneration, complicated retinal detachments, diabetic retinopathy, macular edema, retinal venous occlusive disease, and retinal infectious diseases.  She has published more than 220 articles and 20 book chapters on the treatment of these and other eye disorders.  Dedicated to her professional community, Dr. Haller serves on the editorial boards of the American Journal of Ophthalmology, Retina, Evidence-Based Eye Care, Ophthalmology Times, Retina Today, Eye World, and Retinal Physician.  She is president of the American Society of Retina Specialists and a member of the Executive Committee of the Retina Society.

After graduating magna cum laude with a bachelor of arts in philosophy from Princeton University in 1976, Dr. Haller earned her doctor of medicine from Harvard Medical School in 1980.  She completed an internship in general surgery at Johns Hopkins University (JHU) in 1981, followed by a fellowship in ocular pathology at Cornell Medical Center’s Manhattan Ear, Eye and Throat Hospital in 1982.  In 1985 she fulfilled a three-year residency in ophthalmology at the Wilmer Eye Institute, followed by a fellowship in vitreoretinal surgery at the Wilmer Eye Institute.  After earning the Chief Resident position in Ophthalmology at the Wilmer Eye Institute in 1986, Dr. Haller began her career as an attending physician at JHU in 1987.

The physicians of Wills Eye Institute serve as the Department of Ophthalmology at Jefferson Medical College.  On July 14, 2006, Wills Eye Institute transferred responsibility for its inpatient and residency programs to its longstanding partners, Thomas Jefferson University and Hospital.  The inpatient program, now under the name Wills Eye at Jefferson, consists of the same world-renowned Wills ophthalmologists and specialists, but today provides inpatient surgical procedures and clinical care at the Jefferson Hospital for Neuroscience (JHN).  A number of operating rooms at JHN have been specially equipped for procedures of the eye and the third floor has been designated solely for ophthalmology patients.  Emergency eye care is provided on the first floor of JHN 24 hours a day. 

The Wills Eye Residency Program at Jefferson, as it is now called, allows students an advantageous education.  Residents learn about the delivery of care from world-class specialists in two award-winning settings.  Wills ophthalmologists are faculty members of JMC, and those who provide inpatient care are also on staff at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital.

Patients continue to receive a full range of outpatient services at Wills Eye Institute.