David Wilson, M.D., professor of ophthalmology, OHSU School of Medicine, and director, Casey Eye Institute, was appointed the inaugural recipient of the Paul H. Casey Chair in Ocular Oncology. The investiture was attended by Dr. Wilson and family, OHSU President Danny Jacobs, Department of Ophthalmology leaders and faculty, and members of the OHSU Foundation.
Since assuming the directorship of ophthalmology in 2005, Dr. Wilson has provided the institutional leadership and the clinical and academic experience necessary to continue building a program of national prominence. Before becoming Director of the Institute, he served as Director of the Department of Ophthalmology residency program and the retina fellowship program. Additionally, he is Director of the Christensen Eye Pathology Laboratory at Casey Eye Institute. Dr. Wilson’s primary areas of interest include eye pathology, clinicopathologic correlation of ocular disease, macular degeneration, gene and cell-based therapy, and ocular oncology.
Dr. Wilson received his bachelor’s degree in Chemistry at Stanford University (Phi Beta Kappa) and his medical degree from Baylor College of Medicine (Alpha Omega Alpha). He completed his residency in ophthalmology at OHSU, a research and a postdoctoral fellowship at the Wilmer Eye Institute, John Hopkins University and a fellowship in Retinal and Vitreous Surgery at Ophthalmic Consultants in Boston.
Thank you, Paul Casey
The Casey family has a long history of distinguished partnership with OHSU’s Casey Eye Institute which bears the Casey name. The Casey Eye Institute opened in 1991 as the beneficiary of a gift from Paul Casey’s father, Harry Casey, and aunt, Marguerite Casey in honor of their brothers, UPS founders James and George Casey. In the next decade, Paul Casey and his children, Tim, Maureen and Mike, would issue a formidable challenge to match their giving with private support for an eye research floor in the Biomedical Research Building. As a result of their philanthropic leadership, research capacity was expanded making possible Casey’s prominence today in gene therapy for blinding retinal disorders. Paul went on to establish the Paul H. Casey Chair in Ocular Oncology, combining his passion for the Casey Eye Institute with his admiration of Phil and Penny Knight’s historic challenge. This chair, held by David J. Wilson, MD further establishes the Casey Eye Institute as a regional leader in treating cancers of the eye. Today, Paul Casey continues to propel the institute‘s bold mission of eliminating blindness by naming the Paul H. Casey Ophthalmic Genetics Floor in the new building currently under construction. This space will be essential in accommodating the growing number of clinical trials and gene therapy patients from throughout the world while closely collaborating with the Elks Children’s Eye Clinic in caring for pediatric patients with genetic eye disorders.
