UTMB Ophthalmology Chair Bernard Godley appointed to national eye council

Posted: October 2009

Bernard F. Godley, MD, PhD, professor and chair of the UTMB department of ophthalmology and visual sciences, has been asked by Kathleen Sebelius, U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, to serve on the National Advisory Eye Council.

Dr. Godley is one of 12 individuals appointed by Secretary Sebelius. The council's role is to advise, assist, consult with and make recommendations to the Secretary of Health and Human Serves and the director of the National Eye Institute on matters related to the institute’s policies and activities.

Godley said that the appointment provides an opportunity to advance the department’s mission: To be a leading international ophthalmology center providing excellence in patient service, education, research, and leadership based on core values of compassion, professional integrity, competence and teamwork.

Garland D. Anderson, MD, dean of the School of Medicine at The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, said, "This four-year appointment is a reflection of Dr. Godley's achievements in the field of ophthalmology, particularly for his ongoing research in the area of molecular mechanisms of age-related macular degeneration and the effects of antioxidants on retinal pigment epithelial cells."

Anderson added, "Under Dr. Godley's leadership, the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences has expanded vision research and patient services at its Galveston location and opened a new University Eye Clinic in Friendswood. In addition, the UTMB Ophthalmology clinics consistently rate in the top percentiles in the Press Ganey patient satisfaction survey."

Dr. Godley joined UTMB in 1996 as associate professor and was the inaugural holder of the David Weeks Distinguished Professorship in Ophthalmology. He has been recognized as the Paul Beeson Physician Faculty Scholar and received the Kaiser Family Foundation Merit Award. He also holds the Roberston-Poth Distinguished Chair in Ophthalmology.