Ophthalmology Chair Dr. Creig Hoyt is recognized as a scholar in pediatrics and neuro-ophthalmology.

Shortly after he was named Chairman of the Ophthalmology Department and Director of the Beckman Vision Center this summer, Creig Hoyt, MD, announced an ambitious array of projects to expand the Department's excellence. These include a search for new faculty, eye clinic improvements, and the creation of an innovative vision technology group designed to bring new ideas to patient care more quickly.

"As my three predecessors as Chair were all major leaders in the field, it will be a challenge to be as successful as they have been," says Dr. Hoyt, who served as Interim Chair for the previous year. He succeeds Steven G. Kramer, MD, PhD, who was Chair from 1975 to 2002, and directed the consolidation of vision research and practice at UCSF, as well as construction of the Beckman Vision Center and Koret Vision Laboratory.

Recruiting New Faculty

Guided by a comprehensive faculty review, which he commissioned as Interim Chair, Dr. Hoyt is working to improve both clinical efficiency and research success, at a time of reduced State and Federal funding.

"We are immediately initiating a series of new faculty hires," Dr. Hoyt says, "including oculoplastics and retinal specialists and two new basic research scientists. This is an opportunity to rejuvenate the department and expand our resources."

Clinical Upgrades

"We are planning clinical improvements to increase efficiency and allow us to better serve our patients with fewer resources from the State of California," says Dr. Hoyt. "We are cross-training staff and evaluating faculty requests for new equipment." Senior Vice Chair of the Department, Stephen McLeod, MD, will be directing this effort, in consultation with UCSF Hospital CEO, Mark Laret.

Improving Patient Care Through Research

Two new initiatives announced by Dr. Hoyt are focused on bringing research innovations into clinical use more quickly.

The Innovative Technology Group, directed by Daniel Schwartz, MD, Retinal Service Director, and corneal surgeon, Dr. Stephen McLeod, is a collaborative effort of clinicians and basic scientists. These pioneering scientists are working together to design and implement new clinical research projects including surgical techniques, devices and medications to create innovative therapies for blinding diseases.

A Myopia Clinical and Clinical Research project, established by Douglas Fredrick, MD, Director of Pediatric Ophthalmology and Resident Training, will provide clinical care and new treatment approaches for adults and children with myopia (nearsightedness).

Distinguished Leadership

Recognized internationally for his work in pediatrics and pediatric ophthalmology, Dr. Creig Hoyt joined the UCSF faculty in 1977, with a joint appointment in Ophthalmology and Pediatrics. He was named Jean Kelly Stock Distinguished Professor of Ophthalmology in 2000. He pioneered studies demonstrating that infants with congenital cataracts can achieve good vision throughout their lives if they have surgery in the first months of life.

Dr. Hoyt is the first non-British Editor of the British Journal of Ophthalmology. In 2002, he was one of only a few Americans ever invited to present the Doyne Memorial Lecture to the Oxford Ophthalmologic Congress.

Dr. Hoyt is a graduate of Amherst College and Cornell University School of Medicine. He completed residencies in ophthalmology and neurology at UCSF, and a fellowship at Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne, Australia.

Adventures & Navajo Weaving

Describing himself as a "retired bicycle and kayak racer," (he was the first American to finish the 750-mile non-stop Brest-to-Paris bicycle race in 1975), Dr. Hoyt has spent over a decade weaving Navajo-style rugs.

As a weaver, he has studied at the Taos Art Institute and displays his rugs at Sea Ranch each December. According to Dr. Hoyt, true Navajo rug patterns are asymmetrical ­ "because the world is asymmetrical." Dr. Hoyt's designs, however, are symmetrical.