Newswise — (NEW YORK -- Tuesday, May 13, 2014) Mount Sinai is pleased to announce today that James C. Tsai, MD, MBA has been appointed President of New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai and Chair of Ophthalmology for the Mount Sinai Health System, effective September 2014. A world-renowned physician-scientist and administrator, Dr. Tsai will apply his multiple talents to enhance the clinical, scientific and educational programs of Mount Sinai's Department of Ophthalmology and continue to secure New York Eye and Ear Infirmary's reputation as a local, national and global leader. "The New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai is one of the leading otolaryngology and ophthalmology hospitals in the world, and we are pleased to welcome a physician of Dr. Tsai's caliber to lead its inpatient and outpatient services, as well as clinical and research footprint,” said Kenneth L. Davis, MD, Chief Executive Officer and President of the Mount Sinai Health System. "We look forward to having the Department of Ophthalmology and New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai thrive under his leadership during this time of growth and integration.” Dennis S. Charney, MD, Anne and Joel Ehrenkranz Dean of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and President for Academic Affairs for the Mount Sinai Health System said, "We are confident that Dr. Tsai's extensive experience in academic leadership and research will result in our department of ophthalmology and the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary being a national leader in training the next generation of ophthalmologists in providing outstanding clinical care for the most serious diseases of the eye, and in state of the art research that leads to better treatments, even cures.” Dr. Tsai is an expert in the diagnosis and management of challenging glaucoma cases. He specializes in glaucoma implant surgery, trabeculectomy with antimetabolite surgery, combined glaucoma and cataract surgery and sutureless cataract surgery in patients with glaucoma. His research interests include the identification of neuroprotective molecules that can shield the optic nerve from damage without lowering intraocular pressure, evaluation of surgical outcomes in glaucoma patients and development of advanced vision testing techniques. "I am thrilled and honored to be joining the Mount Sinai Health System," said Dr. Tsai. "With its tradition of leadership in and commitment to groundbreaking clinical, basic science, and translational research, I look forward to working collaboratively and fostering an environment of innovation and excellence, thereby furthering the international prominence of the Department of Ophthalmology and New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai." Dr. Tsai serves on numerous editorial boards and panels and has authored a wide range of scientific articles, abstracts, and book chapters on glaucoma, as well as three editions of the medical textbook, Medical Management of Glaucoma and the Oxford American Handbook of Ophthalmology. Dr. Tsai is a fellow of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the American College of Surgeons and the Royal Society of Medicine in the United Kingdom. He is an elected member of the American Ophthalmological Society, the American Eye Study Club, the New York Ophthalmological Society and the Manhattan Ophthalmological Society. Dr. Tsai currently serves as Chair of the Glaucoma Subcommittee of the National Eye Health Education Program Planning Committee of the National Institute of Health, Chair of the American Academy of Ophthalmology's Global Ophthalmic News & Education Network Advisory Board, Chair of the Medical Advisory Board of the Glaucoma Foundation and Secretary for the English Language Region of the Pan-American Association of Ophthalmology. Prior to joining Mount Sinai, Dr. Tsai served as Chair of the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science in the School of Medicine at Yale University and as Chief of Ophthalmology at Yale-New Haven Hospital. He previously directed the glaucoma division at the Edward S. Harkness Eye Institute, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. Dr. Tsai earned his Medical Degree from Stanford University School of Medicine, and his MBA from Vanderbilt University, followed by residency training in ophthalmology at the Doheny Eye Institute, which at the time was affiliated with the University of Southern California, Los Angeles. He conducted his glaucoma fellowship training at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami Health System, and at Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, and University College London's Institute of Ophthalmology. About the Mount Sinai Health SystemThe Mount Sinai Health System is an integrated health system committed to providing distinguished care, conducting transformative research, and advancing biomedical education. Structured around seven member hospital campuses and a single medical school, the Health System has an extensive ambulatory network and a range of inpatient and outpatient services—from community-based facilities to tertiary and quaternary care. The System includes approximately 6,600 primary and specialty care physicians, 12-minority-owned free-standing ambulatory surgery centers, over 45 ambulatory practices throughout the five boroughs of New York City, Westchester, and Long Island, as well as 31 affiliated community health centers. Physicians are affiliated with the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, which is ranked among the top 20 medical schools both in National Institutes of Health funding and by U.S. News & World Report. For more information, visit Mount Sinai on the web, Facebook, Twitter or YouTube.