Brenda L Bohnsack

Brenda L Bohnsack, MD, PhD is Associate Professor of Ophthalmology (Pediatric Ophthalmology) and Pediatrics at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, where she serves as Chief of Pediatric Ophthalmology in the Department of Ophthalmology. She also holds the Lillian Sherman Cowen Reiger and Harold L.S. Cowen Research Professorship of Pediatric Ophthalmology. Dr. Bohnsack practices at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago.

Her educational background includes:

• BA from Northwestern University (1999)
• PhD from Baylor College of Medicine (2004)
• MD from Baylor College of Medicine (2006)
• Transitional Year Intern at Oakwood Hospital (2007)
• Residency in Ophthalmology at University of Michigan (2010)
• Chief Residency in Ophthalmology at University of Michigan (2010)
• Postdoctoral Fellowship in Orbital and Ocular Development at University of Michigan (2011)
• Fellowship in Pediatric Ophthalmology and Adult Strabismus at Duke University (2012)

As an academic pediatric ophthalmologist and developmental biologist, Dr. Bohnsack focuses on the clinical aspects and underlying basic science of congenital eye diseases. Her clinical expertise includes the medical and surgical management of complex pediatric eye conditions such as primary congenital glaucoma, Peters Anomaly, Axenfeld-Rieger syndrome, aniridia, microphthalmia, and congenital ectropion uvea. Her research spans both clinical and basic science domains, with clinical research concentrating on identifying new genes associated with congenital eye diseases and outcomes in affected individuals, while her basic science research utilizes zebrafish and human embryonic stem cell models to study ocular neural crest cells and their role in eye development.

Analysis of Dr. Bohnsack's most recent publications reveals a strong focus on pediatric ocular conditions with particular emphasis on Stickler syndrome, pediatric glaucoma management, and complications of systemic treatments in children. Her work spans clinical studies, surgical technique evaluations, systematic reviews, and investigations into the genetic basis of pediatric eye diseases. The publications demonstrate her commitment to improving diagnostic approaches, surgical outcomes, and understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying congenital eye disorders.

Dr. Bohnsack has received numerous scientific awards and honors throughout her career:

• Honor Award, American Association of Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (2025)
• Secretariat Award, American Academy of Ophthalmology (2024)
• Academic Leadership Development Program, Association of University Professors of Ophthalmology (2024)
• Alpha Omega Alpha (2023)
• Gunter von Noorden Young Investigator Award (2022)

Dr. Bohnsack actively participates in multi-center research collaborations focusing on the genetics of childhood glaucomas, long-term outcomes of myopia control, socioeconomic influences on eye disease outcomes, and health disparities in global myopia management. Her laboratory research focuses on molecular regulation of neural crest migration and differentiation in the anterior segment of the eye, with applications for understanding and potentially treating congenital eye disorders.

She leads research efforts utilizing both in vivo (zebrafish) and in vitro (human embryonic stem cells) systems to model eye diseases, with particular attention to ocular neural crest cells and their contribution to corneal, iris, and aqueous humor drainage system development. Her work bridges basic science discoveries with clinical applications to improve understanding and treatment of blinding diseases in children.