John G. Clarkson, MD
John G. Clarkson, MD, is a nationally distinguished practitioner, researcher, and educator with a celebrated career in ophthalmology spanning more than 40 years. He is the former Executive Director and CEO of the American Board of Ophthalmology and is Dean Emeritus and Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine in Miami, FL.
Under Dr. Clarkson’s leadership, the American Board of Ophthalmology independently certified the knowledge, skills, and expertise of approximately 500 new eye physicians each year and grew to more than 16,000 active diplomates in the United States and abroad.
Past president of the American Ophthalmological Society (AOS) and the Macula Society, Dr. Clarkson is active in other organizations including the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS), American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), the Association of University Professors of Ophthalmology (AUPO), and the Retina Society. His research interests have led to significant roles in projects funded by the National Eye Institute and the National Institutes of Health. Dr. Clarkson has authored or co-authored more than 60 published works.
Upon graduation from Princeton University, Dr. Clarkson earned a medical degree from the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. He subsequently completed fellowships in medical retinal diseases, ophthalmic pathology, and vitreoretinal surgery.
The publishers of America’s Top Doctors awarded Dr. Clarkson its National Physician of the Year Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012 for his lifelong dedication to research and practice in the field of ophthalmology. In 2015, he received one of ophthalmology’s highest honors, the Lucien Howe Medal of the American Ophthalmological Society, for distinguished service to the profession. That same year, the University of Miami established the Dr. John G. Clarkson Endowed Chair in Medical Education at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute in recognition of his contributions to ophthalmic education and training.
Dr. Clarkson continues to serve on the board of the Ophthalmology Research Foundation of the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute.