Yannis M. Paulus, M.D., F.A.C.S

Yannis M. Paulus, M.D., F.A.C.S, is an academic vitreoretinal surgeon and clinician scientist that loves applying biomedical engineering, photonics, optics, lasers, physics, biodesign, biochemistry, and nanoparticles to develop novel retinal imaging and laser treatment systems. I am the Helmut F. Stern Career Development Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Associate Professor with Tenure at the University of Michigan, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, and Department of Biomedical Engineering and Medical Director of the Grand Blanc ACU. I completed my undergraduate in chemistry and physics at Harvard University, medical school and ophthalmology residency at Stanford University Byers Eye Institute, transitional internship at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, and surgical and medical retina fellowship at Johns Hopkins University Wilmer Eye Institute.

I direct an active, multidisciplinary, diverse laboratory dedicated to improving the vision of patients suffering from eye diseases by developing novel minimally traumatic retinal laser therapies, photoacoustic and molecular imaging of the retina for retinal and choroidal neovascularization, and novel, inexpensive retinal imaging systems. Our multidisciplinary team includes postdoctoral fellows, graduate students, masters students, visiting scholars, resident physicians, retina fellows, medical students, and undergraduates with diverse interests and backgrounds. We seek to improve early disease diagnosis, improve treatment monitoring, and practice more individualized precision medicine tailored to each patient through molecular imaging. We have developed a novel, multimodal molecular imaging system to visualize individual capillaries and neovascularization of the eye using a safe energy level that incorporates photoacoustic microscopy, optical coherence tomography, and fluorescence microscopy. We also are developing a novel new treatment using a combination of nanosecond pulse duration laser with ultrasound to selectively treat blood vessels called photo-mediated ultrasound therapy.

I have received several entrepreneurship awards and patents, published more than 140 peer-reviewed publications in leading journals such as Nature Nanotechnology, Nature Communications, Science Advances, JAMA Ophthalmology, The Journal of Neuroscience, Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science (IOVS), ACS Nano, and Light: Science & Applications and 8 book chapters, and consulted for several medical device and start-up companies. I have co-developed a novel, inexpensive system for providing tele-ultrasound, founded imaging companies, and investigate pattern scanning laser photocoagulation, laser-tissue interactions, and restorative retinal laser therapy to create minimally traumatic retinal laser therapy. I serve on the editorial board of multiple journals and have reviewed articles for more than 70 journals. I have received numerous fellowships and awards from the ARVO/Alcon Early Career Clinician-Scientist Research Award, Senior Member Designation by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), Senior Member Designation by Optica, Heed Ophthalmic Foundation, the Evangelos S. Gragoudas Award from the Macula Society, Wilmer Research Grant, Starr E. Shulman MPA Fellow by the California Academy of Eye Physicians & Surgeons, ISER fellowship, ASCRS Foundation, International Society for Eye Research (ISER) Travel Fellowship, National Eye Institute Travel Grant, and AUPO/RPB. I was recognized as Greek America’s Forty Under Forty and served as President of the Hellenic American Professional Society of Northern California.

I actively participate in several professional organizations, including: American Medical Association, Optical Society of America, SPIE (International Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers), American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO), American Physical Society, Stanford Alumni Association, Hellenic Bioscientific Association USA, Fellow of the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), International Society for Eye Research, Ophthalmology Innovation Network, American Society of Retina Specialists, Michigan Society of Eye Physicians and Surgeons, Michigan State Medical Society, Washtenaw County Medical Society, Society of Heed Fellows, Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, and the Macula Society. Most importantly, I am the adoring husband of my amazing wife Penelope and father of 5 energetic boys Achilles, Atlas, Apollo, Argo, and Ares.