Dr. Edmund Farris begins 2-year term on Connecticut Society of Eye Physicians executive board
Dr. Edmund Farris, chief of UConn Health's Division of Ophthalmology, is on the executive board of the Connecticut Society of Eye Physicians. (Tina Encarnacion/UConn Health Photo)
UConn Health's Dr. Edmund Farris is lending his expertise to the leadership of the Connecticut Society of Eye Physicians, as a newly appointed member of its executive board.
Farris, chief of UConn Health's Division of Ophthalmology, is a longtime member of CSEP, an advocacy group representing ophthalmologists, ophthalmologic surgeons, and their patients.
"It's a great honor to be on the board and involved in the leadership, planning, and legislative agenda for ophthalmology in the state," Farris says. "One of the biggest things it helps with is making me more connected with other physicians in this state."
Farris joined UConn Health in 2024 with a vision of establishing an ophthalmology residency, something he describes as being in an exploratory stage with more to come over the course of the next few years.
"The legislative portion of it will also help, because I can go to the legislature and discuss the importance of achieving a residency at UConn Health," Farris says. "There's a lot of attrition in ophthalmology. We need to develop more residents, and I also think we need to have residents who will then stay in the state and contribute to the state. I think that would be the mission of our residency, which I believe would be important to the legislature."
"Dr. Farris embodies the qualities we seek in academic leaders: clinical excellence, strategic vision, and an unwavering commitment to advancing patient care," says Dr. Kevin Staveley-O'Carroll, chair of UConn Health's Department of Surgery. "His leadership has been transformational for our ophthalmology division, significantly enhancing its productivity and reputation. His election to the executive board of the Connecticut Society of Eye Specialists not only honors his achievements but also positions him to further his important work on behalf of eye care in Connecticut. Central to that vision is establishing a residency program where we will train the next generation of ophthalmologists for our state."
More broadly, CSEP is involved with the state legislature to advocate for the recognition of ophthalmology as the main source of eye care in the state.
"Ophthalmologists went to medical school, they performed residencies that were accredited by the ACGME (Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education), and oftentimes went on to fellowships in multiple subspecialties, also accredited by either the American Academy of Ophthalmology or the ACGME," Farris says.
He says he also will help organize the society's meetings and agenda, and use his far-reaching network to bring speakers to the meetings.
"This is a great honor for Dr. Farris and very well deserved," says Anne Horbatuck, chief operating officer of the UConn Medical Group and vice president for ambulatory operations. "Congratulations to him!"
Farris' two-year term on the board started Feb. 1.
