Thomas Weingeist, M.D., Ph.D. announced he will be stepping down as Head of the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences with University of Iowa Health Care once a new Head is appointed and in place.

http://webeye.ophth.uiowa.edu/dept/News/TAW/move-on.htm

Andrew,

Is he planning to stay with the department once new chairman is chosen or is he planning to leave Iowa?

I am once again reminded of the large # of vacant chair positions in ophthalmology. It is a reflection of the status of academic opthalmology and academic medicine in general. Academic medicine is at risk of bankrupcy, both literally and figuratively. I believe the landscape and the model of academic medicine will have to change from the way it's been in the past. We are pressured by the society to train better physicians but with less funding and resources...

Dr. Weingeist plans on staying. Iowa is one of the few programs that is financially strong. However, as you stated above, there are a large number of vacant chair positions in ophthalmology, and this reflects the financial difficulty facing numerous departments.

Dr. Weingeist plans on staying. Iowa is one of the few programs that is financially strong. However, as you stated above, there are a large number of vacant chair positions in ophthalmology, and this reflects the financial difficulty facing numerous departments.


Whoever takes his place will certainely have some big shoes to fill. When I met Weingeist, I was impressed with how personable he was - what a great guy!