For more than 20 years, Dr. P. Andrew Pearson, MD, guided UK Ophthalmology through extraordinary growth in patient care, research, and training. Under his leadership, the department expanded to 30 faculty members and now provides more than 150,000 patient visits each year across Lexington, community clinics, and satellite locations. His dedication to mentorship strengthened fellowships and training programs and even helped establish the nation’s first ophthalmology residency global health track.
In 2025, Dr. Pearson stepped down after 23 years as chair, marking the beginning of a new era under incoming chair Bradford Tannen, MD, JD, MBA, an award‑winning educator and expert in cornea care and AI‑driven clinical development. Dr. Tannen brings a forward‑thinking vision that builds on Dr. Pearson’s legacy while addressing Kentucky’s evolving health needs.
To honor Dr. Pearson’s remarkable legacy and ensure continued excellence in ophthalmology, former trainees, patients, and friends are coming together to establish the Dr. P. Andrew Pearson Endowed Chair in Ophthalmology. This endowed fund will provide permanent support for recruiting top faculty, advancing research, enhancing training programs, and expanding community outreach, strengthening the department for generations to come.
Drew Sommerville, MD, former UK Ophthalmology fellow, was the first donor to support the fund and is now volunteering his time to encourage fellow alumni to join him:
“Dr. Pearson has had a profound impact on both my life and my career,” he said. “His leadership, along with the genuine personal connections he builds with residents and fellows, is a huge part of what makes the UK College of Medicine Department of Ophthalmology so special. It is a privilege to contribute to the creation of an endowed chair that bears Andy’s name.”
We invite you to join Dr. Sommerville, and so many others whose careers were shaped by Dr. Pearson, in supporting the Dr. P. Andrew Pearson Endowed Chair in Ophthalmology. Your gift strengthens the department’s future and honors a leader who has transformed the lives of countless trainees and patients.
Make your gift today and help carry Dr. Pearson’s legacy forward.
For questions, contact:
J. Lindsey Clem, Director of Philanthropy – Departments, Centers, and Institutions
jlclem4@uky.edu, 859‑321‑8252