George A. Williams, MD

Chair, Department of Ophthalmology and Director of the Beaumont Eye Institute at Beaumont Health in Royal Oak, MI and Immediate Past-president of the American Academy of Ophthalmology
Royal Oak, MI

Dr. Williams is the American Academy of Ophthalmology's president for 2019. Prior to this role, he served as Secretary for Federal Affairs from 2014-2017 and as an at-large member of the Board of Trustees from 2009 to 2012. He is chair, department of ophthalmology, director of the Beaumont Eye Institute and vice chief of surgical services for Academic Affairs at William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Mich. He is Professor and Chair of Ophthalmology, Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine and a partner with Associated Retinal Consultants. He is on the faculty of the European School for Advanced Studies in Ophthalmology in Lugano, Switzerland.

A graduate of Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, he completed his residency in ophthalmology and his fellowship in vitreoretinal surgery at the Eye Institute of the Medical College of Wisconsin.

Dr. Williams has published more than 200 articles and book chapters in the field of vitreoretinal surgery. He has participated as principal investigator or co-investigator in more than 20 clinical trials sponsored by the National Eye Institute and industry. He is a recipient of the Academy's Special Recognition Award, the Secretariat Award and the Lifetime Achievement Award. He is past chair of the Academy's Retina Ophthalmic Technology Assessment Committee and a member of the Health Policy Committee. He represents the Academy as a member of the AMA's Relative Value-Scale Update Committee. He is past president of the American Society of Retinal Specialists and the Michigan Society of Eye Physicians and Surgeons.

He serves on the editorial board of the journals, Retina, Retinal Physician, Retinal Cases and Brief Reports and Current Opinion in Ophthalmology. Dr. Williams is a re-certified Diplomate of the American Board of Ophthalmology and a member of the Retina Society, the Macula Society, the American Society of Retina Specialists, the Association of University Professors in Ophthalmology and the Club Jules Gonin. He is an elected Fellow of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.