Faculty
Dr. Katherine Paton, Clinical Professor
Overview
The clinical strengths of the Division of Oculoplastics & Orbit include exposure to a large volume of clinical and surgical material. One thyroid orbitopathy clinic, one orbit clinic, and four oculoplastic clinics are held per week. The orbit clinic is recognized as a world center for orbital disease and receives referrals reflecting this. In a typical week surgery is performed on 6-7 half days with a yearly surgical volume available for resident and Fellow participation in excess of 1100 cases.
Teaching has an integral role in the division with “hands on” teaching being a major strength for both residents and fellows. In excess of 1000 hours per year of teaching is provided by the members of the division in both clinical and surgical settings. Orbit rounds are held for the residents and Fellows once per month. The division frequently hosts visiting specialists from around the world. Since 1995 20 Fellows have participated in the Fellowship program coming from countries such as Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, the Netherlands, Thailand, Korea, India, Mexico, El Salvador, Singapore, Venezuela, and Nepal. 1-2 Fellows are accepted per year, an effort being made to provide training for those returning to under serviced areas or academic programs.
Other important teaching activities include production of text books, text books chapters and papers. National and international teaching focus has been on professorships, visiting lectureships, and provision of service to the Third World.
In the area of research, thyroid orbitopathy group under the directions of Drs. Rootman and Dolman are actively involved in several studies.
Dr. Rootman has been instrumental in developing an interdisciplinary team for the management of complex skull based and vascular lesions of the orbit. He has been working with the Singapore National Eye Center in establishing an orbital center in that region. Part of this initiative has included research endeavours, and the group was awarded a research grant to compare the efficacy of pulsed corticosteroids versus intravenous pulsed corticosteroids and methylprednisolone in treating patients with active and severe thyroid orbitopathy. We are also working together to create a unique teaching tool, a multimedia program that will lead students through the decision-making process in diagnosing orbital disorders.
Publications
Rootman J. Vascular malformations of the orbit: hemodynamic concepts. Orbit 2003;22(2):103-20.
Saeed P, Rootman J, Nugent RA, White VA, MacKenzie IR, Koorneef L. Optic nerve sheath meningiomas. Ophthalmology 2003;110(10):2019-30.
Selva D, Phipps SE, O’Connell JX, White VA, Rootman J. Pathogenesis of orbital cholesterol granuloma. Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology, 2003;31(1):78-82.
Selva D, Rootman J, Crompton J. Orbital lymphoma mimicking optic nerve meningioma (Accepted, Orbit 2003).
Selva D, Davis GJ, Dodd T, Rootman J. Polymorphous low-grade adenocarcinoma of the lacrimal gland (Accepted, Archives of Ophthalmology, 2003).
Selva D, White VA, O’Connell JX, Rootman J. Primary bone tumors of the orbit. (Accepted, Survey of Ophthalmology, 2003).
Selva D, Davis GJ, Dodd T, Rootman J. Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumour metastatic to the orbit (Accepted, Orbit, 2003).
Sivak JA, Livesley N, Nugent RA, Rasmussen SL, Rootman J. Invasive sino-orbital aspergillosis in four immunocompetent patients. Characteristic features. (Accepted, British Journal of Ophthalmology, 2003).