Nicholas J Volpe

Nicholas J Volpe, MD is the Chair of the Department of Ophthalmology and George W. and Edwina S. Tarry Professor of Ophthalmology at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine. He leads the Department of Ophthalmology within the Feinberg School of Medicine, overseeing clinical, educational, and research activities in ophthalmology.

Dr. Volpe received his education from Stuyvesant High School (1980), Brooklyn College of CUNY (BS, 1983), and SUNY/State University of New York (MD, 1987). His postgraduate training included an internship in Medicine at Beth Israel Medical Center (1988), residency in Ophthalmology at Massachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School (1991), fellowship in Neuro-ophthalmology at Massachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School (1992), and served as Chief Resident in Ophthalmology at Massachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School (1993). He is board certified in Ophthalmology by the American Board of Ophthalmology.

Dr. Volpe's research spans neuro-ophthalmology, retinal diseases, glaucoma, and medical education. His work includes investigations into optic nerve disorders, neurodegenerative diseases with ophthalmic manifestations, imaging technologies like Optical Coherence Tomography, and innovative approaches to ophthalmology education and surgical training. His recent publications show a trend toward integrating advanced imaging techniques, artificial intelligence applications in ophthalmic diagnosis, and exploring connections between systemic diseases and ocular manifestations.

Dr. Volpe has received numerous awards and honors throughout his career:

• American Ophthalmological Society membership (2015)
• Honor for 'A.E. Finley Distinguished Visiting Professor', University of North Carolina (2014)
• Dubins Professor, Albany Medical College (2010)
• Silver Apple for Best Surgery Teacher, University of Pennsylvania (multiple years)
• Senior Achievement Award, American Academy of Ophthalmology (2008)
• Marianna Mead Lectureship, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary (2007)
• Robert Dunning Dripps Memorial Award for Excellence in Graduate Medical Education (2006)

As an educator, Dr. Volpe has held numerous leadership positions in medical education, including Chair of the Residency Selection Committee at the Scheie Eye Institute, University of Pennsylvania, and various roles with the American Academy of Ophthalmology's education committees. He has been instrumental in developing surgical simulation programs and innovative approaches to ophthalmology residency training. His department has received significant research funding, including grants from Research to Prevent Blindness to support investigators advancing the field of ophthalmology and vision science. Dr. Volpe serves in numerous professional leadership roles and is actively involved with multiple ophthalmology and neuro-ophthalmology societies.