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Founder & Partner
Rama D. Jager, M.D., M.B.A., F.A.C.S. is a board-certified ophthalmologist and vitreoretinal surgeon. He is the founder of University Retina and also serves as a Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC).
Dr. Jager specializes in the medical and surgical diseases of the retina, vitreous, and macula. He is skilled in managing advanced retinal conditions such as age-related macular degeneration, retinal vascular occlusions, and diabetic retinopathy, as well as performing complex surgeries for retinal detachments, macular holes, diabetic eye disease, and epiretinal membrane removal. He is also one of the few retina specialists worldwide trained to use the NAVILAS computer-navigated retinal imaging and laser treatment system.
In his academic career, Dr. Jager has authored over 70 scientific papers, book chapters, and national meeting presentations. He has co-authored three major books in ophthalmology, including Age-Related Macular Degeneration: A Comprehensive Text and the third and fourth editions of the Massachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary Review Manual for Ophthalmology. University Retina has also developed one of the largest retinal clinical research programs in the Midwest and even worldwide, helping to advance new treatments for retinal and macular diseases.
Dr. Jager is board certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American College of Surgeons. His professional memberships include the American Society of Retina Specialists, the American Medical Association, and the Illinois Society of Eye Physicians and Surgeons.
Dr. Jager has enjoyed providing charitable care during his career. He has volunteered his professional time on medical mission trips to Africa, India, and post-Katrina New Orleans, and in 2010 he co-founded the CURE Network (Collaborative Underserved Relief and Education), a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing free healthcare for underserved patients. (A sample video of some of the CURE Network’s work in Chicago from prior years – https://youtu.be/7YFHQWZ16l8)
Dr. Jager cares for patients at University Retina’s Oak Forest, Illinois headquarters. He remains deeply committed to surgical teaching and mentorship of vitreoretinal fellows, residents, and medical students, and has received awards for excellence in teaching.
