Faculty and Physicians

R. Doyle Stulting, MD, PhD

John H. and Helen S. Hughes Professor in Ophthalmology
Director, Section of Cornea, External Disease,
and Refractive Surgery

Robert Doyle Stulting, MD, PhD, is professor of ophthalmology, director of the Cornea Service, and medical director of Emory Vision, a refractive surgery center. He is also associate professor at Emory’s Winship Cancer Institute.

An active member of the ophthalmic community, Dr. Stulting serves on the governing boards of a number of national and Georgia-based professional societies. For many years, he was a member of the Ophthalmic Devices Panel at the Center for Devices and Radiological Health, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and completed a term as chair of the panel.

He was chair of the Committee on Research and Regulatory Affairs and served on the executive committee of the Refractive Surgery Interest Group for the American Academy of Ophthalmology. He is chair of the Refractive Surgery Clinical Committee for the American Society for Cataract and Refractive Surgery and has served on the board of sirectors of the Eyebank Association of America.

His other memberships include the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, the Contact Lens Association of Ophthalmologists, the International Society of Refractive Surgery, the Georgia Society of Ophthalmology and the Atlanta Ophthalmology Society.

Dr. Stulting has significant editorial and peer-review experience, currently serving as the editor-in-chief of Cornea. He is a reviewer for the journals Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Ophthalmology, Current Eye Research, Archives of Ophthalmology and American Journal of Ophthalmology and is on the editorial board of Journal of Refractive and Corneal Surgery, Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, Review of Refractive Surgery and Ocular Surgery News.

Dr. Stulting has been principal investigator for a number of NIH-supported grants and has directed many clinical investigations. He was co-director of the Collaborative Corneal Transplantation Studies, which was a large, multi-center clinical trial to evaluate the effects of tissue typing on corneal transplant survival. He has authored over 100 papers in peer-reviewed journals, published textbook chapters, taught courses for 20 years at the American Academy of Ophthalmology and lectured around the world. He was awarded the American Academy of Ophthalmology’s Honor Award in 1989 and the FDA’s citation for excellence, commitment, and outstanding service in protecting the public health as a consultant and a voting member of the Ophthalmic Devices Advisory Panel. He received the prestigious Paton Award from the Eyebank Association of America in 2005.

Dr. Stulting graduated summa cum laude from Duke University in Durham, N.C, receiving his bachelor of science degree in chemistry. He received his MD degree and PhD in microbiology and immunology from Duke. He completed his internal medicine residency and internship at Washington University’s Barnes Hospital and his ophthalmology residency at the University of Miami, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute. Dr. Stulting completed a fellowship in cornea and external disease at Emory University, where he has practiced, taught and performed research since 1982.

Dr. Stulting has been performing refractive surgery for more than ten years, participating in the first physician-sponsored clinical investigation of LASIK before the first refractive laser was approved by the FDA in the United States. He has performed more than 2000 LASIK cases, published often-cited papers in the field and is sought as a consultant for patients with questions about their refractive surgery outcomes.

Dr. Stulting dances, hikes and skis for recreation. He travels extensively for professional and personal reasons. He held a private pilot license for 30 years and enjoys the freedom and challenges of flying when he is not busy performing or caring for patients.

Undergraduate School
Duke University, Durham NC: 1966-1970

MedicalSchool/
Postgraduate training
Duke University, Durham NC (MD, PhD): 1970-1976

Internship
Internal Medicine:
Barnes Hospital, Washington University, St. Louis MO:
1976-1977

Residency
Internal Medicine: Barnes Hospital, Washington University, St. Louis MO:
1977-1978

Residency in Ophthalmology:
Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami, Miami FL: 1978-1981

Fellowship in Cornea and External Disease
Emory University: 1981-1982