Reynolds Departing as Chair of Ophthalmology

Dear Jacobs School community,

With great appreciation, I extend my heartfelt thanks to James D. Reynolds, MD '78, BA '74, the Jerald and Ester Bovino Professor and Chair of the Department of Ophthalmology at the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University at Buffalo, for his remarkable 28 years of leadership. A visionary in the field, Dr. Reynolds will retire from his role as chair on July 1, 2025.

Dr. Reynolds joined the school’s faculty in 1988 as chief of pediatric ophthalmology and became chair of the department in 1997. In 2005, he founded UBMD Ophthalmology at the Ira G. Ross Eye Institute, on the then-emerging Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus. Through strategic partnerships with local and national health organizations, the department has further strengthened its impact and outreach

In addition to his roles at the Jacobs School, he serves as chief of ophthalmology at Kaleida Health, where he has made significant contributions to patient care and clinical practice. His leadership there has been instrumental in advancing ophthalmology services and ensuring access to high-quality eye care for the community.

Dr. Reynolds is a distinguished expert in pediatric ophthalmology, renowned globally for his work on retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). His groundbreaking research, funded by both the NIH and industry, has been featured in prestigious journals such as the New England Journal of Medicine and The Lancet. His contributions have shaped the U.S. screening guidelines for ROP and the International Classification of ROP. Recently, he demonstrated the efficacy and safety of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor treatment for this potentially blinding condition in premature infants. Additionally, he leveraged his ROP expertise to establish the first screening program for premature infants in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), fostering a lasting partnership with pediatric ophthalmology in Vietnam.

Beyond his research, Dr. Reynolds has been a devoted educator and mentor, influencing the careers of numerous ophthalmologists. His surgical expertise has restored sight and enhanced vision for thousands of children. His unwavering dedication to patient care, research, and education has made a lasting impact on our institution and the wider medical community.

Dr. Reynolds' career in ophthalmology spans over 45 years. He served as chief of pediatric ophthalmology at Arkansas Children's Hospital in Little Rock, and as a clinical instructor and staff surgeon at the Eye & Ear Hospital and Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.

Dr. Reynolds' educational background includes a fellowship in pediatric ophthalmology from the University of Pittsburgh, a medical degree and ophthalmology training from University at Buffalo, and a Bachelor of Arts in biology from UB. His professional journey has seen him rise from assistant professor at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences to his current role at the Jacobs School.

His dedication to patient care, research and education has shaped the landscape of ophthalmology at the Jacobs School and beyond. Dr. Reynolds' legacy of excellence will continue to inspire future generations of ophthalmologists. We express our deepest gratitude for his service and wish him all the best in his well-deserved retirement.

Dr. Reynolds will remain in his role as we begin the search for the next chair of the Department of Ophthalmology.  Andrea T. Manyon, MD, clinical professor and chair of family medicine at the Jacobs School and president and CEO of UBMD Primary Care, and Mikhail V. Pletnikov, MD, PhD, professor and chair of physiology and biophysics in the Jacobs School, will co-chair the search committee.

Warm regards,

Allison Brashear, MD, MBA
Vice President for Health Sciences and
Dean, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences
University at Buffalo
President and CEO, UBMD Physicians’ Group