Our Physicians

Rama D. Jager, M.D., M.B.A., F.A.C.S.

Rama D. Jager, MD, MBA, FACS is a board-certified ophthalmologist and vitreoretinal surgeon and serves as President and Managing Partner of University Retina & Macula Associates, P.C. He also serves as Clinical Assistant Professor in the Section of Ophthalmology & Visual Science in the Department of Surgery at the Pritzker School of Medicine at the University of Chicago. He is dedicated to the surgical teaching and mentoring vitreoretinal fellows, residents, and medical students and new physicians, and has received awards for excellence in teaching.

He specializes in the medical and surgical diseases of the retina, vitreous, and macula. Dr. Jager utilizes state-of-the-art technology in the management of age-related macular degeneration, retinal vascular occlusions, diabetic retinopathy, retinal detachment surgery, macular hole surgery, diabetic surgery, and epiretinal membrane surgery. He is also one of the few retina specialists worldwide trained to use the NAVILAS computer-navigated retinal imaging and laser treatment system. 

Dr. Jager was valedictorian of Marist High School in Chicago, Illinois. He received his undergraduate degree in Biomedical Engineering from Northwestern University where he graduated with honors and was a member of the Mortar Board Honor Society. He received his medical degree from Northwestern University Medical School. He also graduated with an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business. He completed his ophthalmology residency at the University of Chicago and he completed his vitreoretinal fellowship (under the direction of Dr. Lloyd Paul Aiello) at the Beetham Eye Institute of the Joslin Diabetes Center, Harvard Medical School.

Dr. Jager has authored over 40 scientific papers, book chapters, and national meeting presentations with published abstracts. He has also co-authored three books in ophthalmology, Age-Related Macular Degeneration: A Comprehensive Text and the third and fourth editions of the Massachusetts Eye & Ear Review Manual for Ophthalmology. For a complete list of Dr. Jager’s publications, click here.

Dr. Jager is board certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He is an active member of the American Society of Retina Specialists, the American Medical Association, and the National Medical Association.

Dr. Jager has made charitable care for the disadvantaged one of his lifelong missions. He has volunteered his professional time and organized medical mission trips to Africa, India, New Orleans, and most recently in Chicago in August 2011. Dr. Jager also co-founded the CURE Network (Collaborative Underserved Relief and Education) whose mission is to provide health care for the disadvantaged. More information about the CURE Network can be found at www.curenetwork.org.

Dr. Jager cares for patients both at University Retina headquarters in Oak Forest, Illinois and at the Duchossois Center for Advanced Medicine at the University of Chicago.Read More

Harit K. Bhatt M.D. 

Harit K. Bhatt MD is a board-certified ophthalmologist and vitreoretinal surgeon. He specializes in the medical and surgical diseases of the retina, vitreous, macula and uveitis. He is expertly trained and skilled in the management of complex vitreoretinal and uveitic diseases. Dr. Bhatt utilizes the latest technology in the management of age-related macular degeneration, retinal vascular occlusions, diabetic retinopathy, retinal detachment surgery, macular hole surgery, diabetic surgery, and epiretinal membrane surgery. He is also one of the few retina specialists worldwide trained to use the NAVILAS computer-navigated retinal imaging and laser treatment system. 

Dr. Bhatt has been centered in the Chicago-land area since his early childhood. He graduated from Bishop McNamara High School in Kankakee, Illinois and received his undergraduate degree with Honors in Biology at the University of Illinois at Chicago. During his undergraduate training, he was a member of the Honors College, Phi Beta Kappa Honors Society, and one of only twenty-five University Scholar Award recipients in his entire class. Dr. Bhatt received his medical degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago. After a medical internship at MacNeal Hospital in Berwyn, Illinois he completed his ophthalmology residency at the Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary where he served as Chief Resident. Following his residency, he completed a two-year medical retina and vitreoretinal surgery fellowship at Northwestern University where he served as Chief Fellow.

In addition to his own training, Dr. Bhatt has been dedicated to educating medical students, residents and new physicians. He participates in the education curriculum at numerous Chicago-land hospitals, such as Advocate Christ Medical Center. Additionally, he is committed to clinical research and participates in clinical trials involving new medications, drug-delivery devices, and surgical instruments. Dr. Bhatt has authored and collaborated on several peer-reviewed publications, meeting lectures, and textbook chapters. He is also co-author of the new edition of the Massachusetts Eye & Ear Review Manual for Ophthalmology. Additionally, Dr. Bhatt is an active member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and American Society of Retina Specialists. Dr. Bhatt is Board-Certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology.

Dr. Bhatt has office locations at Oak Forest IL, Oak Lawn, IL, and Burbank, IL. He is on the medical staff at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, Illinois. Advocate South Suburban in Hazel Crest, Illinois. Dr. Bhatt is fluent in English, Spanish, and Gujarati. Read More