Dr. Gary C. Brown, MD

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Get to know Ophthalmologist Dr. Gary C. Brown, who serves patients in Hilton Head, South Carolina.

A renowned ophthalmologist, Dr. Brown is the Chief Medical Officer and Director of Pharmacoeconomics/Medical Devices at the Center for Value-Based Medicine in Hilton Head, South Carolina. He served as an attending ophthalmologist at the Wills Eye Institute for almost 40 years, Chief of Retina Service from 2003 through 2012, and Director of Retina Vascular Unit from 1990 through 2002.

Founded in 1998, the Center for Value-Based Medicine® is a healthcare economic research organization that integrates the highest level of evidence-based medical data with patient perceptions of quality-of-life to quantify the value conferred by healthcare interventions. The concept of Value-Based Medicine®, the practice of medicine based upon the patient value (improvement in quality-of-life and/or length-of-life) conferred by healthcare interventions, originated at the Center for Value-Based Medicine®.

Pertaining to his educational pursuits, Dr. Brown graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Colgate University in 1971, and earned his medical degree from the SUNY Upstate Medical School (Alpha Omega Alpha) in 1975. He completed his internship at Grady Hospital in 1976, his residency in Ophthalmology at Wills Eye Institute in 1979, and his fellowship in vitreoretinal surgery at the same educational venue in 1981. Elected by his peers and the attending staff, he served as the Chief Resident at Wills Eye Institute from 1978-79.

Recognized as a Diplomate of the American Board of Ophthalmology, he has been selected to give more than 75 instructional courses for eye surgeons at the American Academy of Ophthalmology. He has served as President of the Pennsylvania Academy of Ophthalmology, President of the Philadelphia Ophthalmic Club, and President of the Wills Hospital Society.

An active researcher, Dr. Brown has served as an investigator for multiple National Institutes of Health and industry clinical trials. He has authored over 700 medical writings and 11 textbooks on diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, retinal detachment, abnormalities of the optic nerve and other vitreoretinal diseases. He is also a reviewer for over 35 peer-reviewed journals and, since joining the Retina Service at Wills in 1981, has trained over 100 vitreoretinal surgeons.

Ophthalmology is a branch of medicine and surgery, which deals with the diagnosis and treatment of eye disorders. Ophthalmologists are experts in the diseases, functions, and anatomy of the eye. Ophthalmologists are also surgeons. They repair traumatic injuries to the eye and may perform cataract, glaucoma, and corneal surgery.

Recipient of the prestigious Arnall Patz Medal for retinal vascular research, Dr. Brown’s other honors include: the Wills Eye Hospital Society Silver Tray Award for Distinguished Service, the Pennsylvania Academy of Ophthalmology Distinguished Service Award, the Robert Shoemaker Award, the Paul Craig Award, and the American Academy of Ophthalmology Honor, Senior Honor and Lifetime Honor Awards. He has been elected by his colleagues to Castle Connolly’s “America’s Best Doctors” (3-4% of national physicians) every year since 1996 and “Top Docs” (1-3% of area physicians) in Philadelphia Magazine every year since 1995, as well as to Top Ophthalmologists in the United States, Top Ophthalmologists in South Jersey and the Center for the Study of Services (CSS) Guide to Top Doctors.

Above all, he is most proud of his family, including his wife of 40 years, Dr. Melissa Brown, and his three daughters, Heather, Heidi and Katie.

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