Dr. Bradford Tannen named chair of UK College of Medicine Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences

MARCH 05, 2025

The University of Kentucky College of Medicine is pleased to announce its selection of Bradford Tannen, MD, JD, MBA, as the new chair of its ophthalmology department. Dr. Tannen will join the UK College of Medicine Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences on July 1.

“For years, the UK College of Medicine’s ophthalmology department has provided vital eye care to communities across Kentucky, conducted groundbreaking research, and trained exceptional physicians, setting new standards in care,” said Dean Chipper Griffith, MD, MSPH. “We are excited to build on this legacy, and Dr. Tannen is highly qualified to guide us successfully to an even brighter future.”

Dr. Tannen is the Terry J. Bergstrom Collegiate Professor of Ophthalmology and the residency program director at the University of Michigan Kellogg Eye Center. He has served students and patients at the University of Michigan since 2017.

Additionally, Dr. Tannen has held clinical, academic, and leadership positions at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai, and the UMDNJ New Jersey Medical School.

His clinical specialties include cornea and external disease, comprehensive eye care, anterior segment surgery, and cataract surgery. His research interests include surgical care and teaching innovations, artificial intelligence, and law in medical education.

Dr. Tannen was honored for his exceptional mentorship with two resident teaching awards from Mount Sinai. In 2020, he received the Bartley R. Frueh Surgical Teaching Award from the University of Michigan.

A recognized expert in his field, he serves as an editor, editorial board member, and reviewer for numerous national publications, including the American Journal of Ophthalmology Case Reports, the Journal of Ocular Biology, Cornea, and the Journal of Academic Ophthalmology.

Dr. Tannen received his Doctor of Medicine from the University of Pennsylvania and his Juris Doctor and Master of Business Administration from the University of Oregon. He completed ophthalmology residency at UMDNJ New Jersey Medical School, and cornea fellowship at Johns Hopkins University Wilmer Eye Institute.

As we welcome Dr. Tannen to this leadership role, we would like to thank Andrew Pearson, MD, for serving 23 years as chair of the ophthalmology department. Under his leadership, Dr. Pearson has advanced education, care, and research to promote a healthier Kentucky. A major success was the development of the UK Global Ophthalmology (UK GO) program that provides vital eye care to underserved areas in Kentucky and across the world. Dr. Pearson was also integral to the UK Advanced Eye Care Clinic moving from a small room in Pav A to a 150-plus patient-room facility on the top two floors of Shriners Hospital.

We also would like to recognize the search committee for its hard work and time commitment during the selection process.