Tongalp H. Tezel, MD is the Chang Family Endowed Professor of Ophthalmology and the Director of the Vitreoretinal Service and Fellowship Program at the Department of Ophthalmology. Dr. Tezel is an internationally known clinician-scientist and a leader in the management of vitreoretinal diseases.

Dr. Tezel received his medical degree and initial ophthalmology training in Ankara, Turkey at Hacettepe University, School of Medicine, and completed his ophthalmology residency at Washington University School of Medicine. He later trained under Dr. Stanley Chang and received his fellowship in vitreoretinal surgery here at Columbia University.

He is a fellow of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, American Society of Retina Specialists, the Macula Society, The Retina Society, and the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology. He has received numerous honors, including the Fellow of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (FARVO), American Academy of Ophthalmology's Achievement Award, Alpha Omega Alpha Faculty Membership; Honor Award of the American Society of Retina Specialist, and several Awards for Excellence in Teaching. He is listed on the Best Doctors of America and Castle Connolly's Top Doctor Directory.

Dr. Tezel's research laboratory focuses on investigating the molecular mechanisms of various retinal diseases. His main research interests include gene therapy for age-related macular degeneration, inherited retinal diseases, retinal stem cell transplantation, angiogenesis, pharmacologic vitreolysis, and tissue engineering. He has developed several techniques used for tissue engineering and retinal cell replacement therapies, awarded numerous patents for his contributions. Recently, he has embarked on gene treatment and tissue engineering trials for macular degeneration.

Dr. Tezel is an ad-hoc reviewer for several journals in his field and has been contributing to the development of the vitreoretinal field with several publications, presentations, and invited lectures.