Cynthia A. Bradford, M.D., Begins Term as 2017 President of the American Academy of Ophthalmology
A Dean McGee Eye Institute physician is the newest president of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the world’s largest association of eye physicians and surgeons.
Cynthia A. Bradford, M.D., an ophthalmologist at the Dean McGee Eye Institute in Oklahoma City began her term as the 121st president of the Academy on Jan. 1. She was elected by the Academy’s community of ophthalmologists in recognition of her longstanding commitment to quality patient care.
More than 90 percent of the nation’s ophthalmologists are members of the Academy. Its mission is to protect sight and empower lives by serving as an advocate for patients and the public, as well as to serve as a leader for ophthalmic education and for advancing the profession of ophthalmology.
Dr. Bradford has served the Academy in a variety of capacities though the years. Her work on behalf of her profession spans clinical education, advocacy, and patient care. As president, she will lead efforts to enhance the care ophthalmologists provide to patients with a focus on physician wellness initiatives.
“The practice of medicine is a rewarding, yet challenging career,” said Dr. Bradford. “The changing health care environment places tremendous administrative burdens on physicians. We need strategies to keep ophthalmologists and the broader medical community, happy, healthy and productive.”
Before serving as president-elect in 2016, Dr. Bradford was a member of the Academy Board of Trustees, serving as senior secretary for advocacy from 2009-14. Bradford served in a number of other leadership roles within Academy including as secretary for state affairs from 2004-08; and as a member of the Interspecialty Education Committee, the Basic and Clinical Science Committee and the Federal Health Manpower Task Force.
As a practicing ophthalmologist and surgeon at Dean McGee, Dr. Bradford’s clinical focus is cataract and intraocular lens implant surgery. She also is a professor of ophthalmology in the department of ophthalmology, at the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine.
A graduate of Texas A&M University, Bradford earned her medical degree with high honors from the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. She completed her ophthalmology training at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.
The American Academy of Ophthalmology is the world’s largest association of eye physicians and surgeons. A global community of 32,000 medical doctors, we protect sight and empower lives by setting the standards for ophthalmic education and advocating for our patients and the public. We innovate to advance our profession and to ensure the delivery of the highest-quality eye care. Our EyeSmart® program provides the public with the most trusted information about eye health. For more information, visit aao.org.
