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An eminent eye specialist who pioneered many surgical techniques in corneal surgery and has also played rock n roll music at the Universal studios! — That’s, Chicago based Dr Thomas John for you, a man of many talents. His friends call him ‘TJ’.
Dr Thomas John is one of the country’s best-known eye surgeons. An extraordinary corneal specialist, Dr John is credited with introducing many a landmark ways of treatments in his area of specialization.
Despite his demanding career Dr John is also a multifaceted personality. An author, a dance and music enthusiast and also a motivational speaker, Dr John squeezes in some time from his busy schedule to speak with Hi India about his practice and passion for life…
Dr John has many firsts credited to him in his illustrious career as an ophthalmologist and cornea specialist. He is one of the most eminent eye specialists not just in Chicago land area but also across the US and internationally. Dr John who has been a Chicago resident for many years now lives and practices in the Chicago suburbs. With offices in Tinley Park, Oak Brook and Oak Lawn areas in Chicago land and many other professional appearances across the world it needs no mention that the doctor leads a jet-setting life. But amidst all his professional commitments he remains dedicated to his cause of making a difference in his patients’ life not only through his treatments but also with his attitude.
AN EXTRAORDINARY ACHIEVER
Dr John is one of the key opinion leaders in the US in the field of ophthalmology. He was the first eye specialist in the world to use an amniotic membrane in the surface of the eye in patients suffering from acute disease known as toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN). Today the method he devised has gone on to become a standard of care procedure in such cases (TEN and Stevens Johnson syndrome, which are potentially blinding diseases) across the world.
Dr John also has the honor of receiving a United States patent for developing the eye aspiration device and method. He has also designed several surgical instruments for advanced corneal surgeries.
Despite some of the most notable honors for Dr John happiness is having the ability to contribute towards curing people of diseases. It is a job that is demanding but also gratifying. Talking about his landmark treatment Dr John says, “Years ago I was treating a six-year-old patient who took antibiotics for an ear infection and he developed toxic epidermal necrolysis. It is a serious disease and can be even more threatening as compared to Steven John syndrome. Patients can lose their eyesight if not cured. It was while working on this patient that I developed this method of using amniotic membrane in the surface of the eye to cure it. I am happy to report that the patient today is blessed with perfect vision while the technique has been adopted by doctors all across the world to help their patients fight such a threatening condition.”
On being asked about his other visionary contributions the doctor says, “Along with my team, I also had the privileged experience of demonstrating for the first time the usage of cryopreserved amniotic membrane to improve dry eye condition in patients and for the first time demonstrating corneal nerve regeneration in moderate to severe dry eye states. Hence, by using the amniotic membrane there is corneal nerve regeneration thus resulting in improvement in the symptoms and signs of these patients with dry-eye disease.
While Dr John’s dossier of achievements is quite impressive it may be mentioned that the pioneer also has contributed his knowledge and skill in the no-stitch corneal transplant procedure. The method called DMEK, originally developed in the Netherlands, is exemplary, as it leaves no sutures.
There’s more to his achievements, US News & World Report listed Dr John as Top Doctors 2011 – America’s Top Doctor with icon – “Icon denotes that a doctor, in Castle Connolly’s
estimation, is among the top 1% in the nation in his or her specialty.” He
received the Gold Medal from Indian Intraocular Implant and Refractive
Surgery Society (IIIRSS) for contributions in the filed of ophthalmology. He has
been listed as Chicago’s Top Doctor in the Chicago Magazine for
several years and featured in this magazine. He received the Physician Medal of
Honor, for continued cooperation in promoting and affirming achievements in
the area of Eye Surgery from the Serbian Society for Cataract & Refractive
Surgery, Belgrade, Serbia. He has been listed as one of the US Premier surgeons
by Ocular Surgery News. He has been selected by Castle Connolly Medical, Ltd as
America’s Top Doctor for many years. He has been named under America’s Top Ophthalmologist for many years by the Consumer Research Council of America. He has received multiple awards from various ophthalmic societies in the world.
DEDICATION TO SERVICE
Dr John has attended some of the most premier medical institutes in the country. After graduating from St. John’s Medical College, in Bangalore, India, Dr John moved to the states. He recalls, “I went to the University of Pennsylvania for my residency in ophthalmology and completed my clinical cornea fellowship at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary at Harvard Medical School.” Even though Dr John chooses to be humble about his achievements, it must be mentioned that he was able to attain one of the only two clinical cornea surgery fellowship positions at the prestigious Harvard Medical School. He was also a Postdoctoral Associate at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Boston where he performed research work on vitamin A deficiency.
Talking about his journey from the east coast to Chicago, Dr John says, “I came to Chicago as the Director of Cornea Service at the University of Chicago where I worked for four years before setting up my private practice.”
On his other engagements, the genial Dr informs, “I am also affiliated with Loyola University as a Clinical Associate Professor. I am also a visiting professor at Military Medical Academy in Belgrade, Serbia. Internationally, I’ve been the invited speaker and delivered speeches in South Africa, Serbia, Argentina, Italy, Greece, India, Brazil, Mexico, Peru, and Finland. I have given a keynote address at the 22nd congress of the ESCRS in Paris in 2004.”
The doctor informs that amongst his other professional achievements he has developed new surgical techniques with the use of the artificial cornea in patients who are considered high risk for conducting regular corneal transplants.
Dr John talking about some of the other advanced treatments he has evolved says, “in patients suffering from a condition that causes a protrusion of cornea, I do lamellar keratoplasty which is a form of corneal transplantation where the inner most membrane of cornea is left in place so the body will not reject the transplant.”
OTHER INTERESTS
While there is no doubt that the dedicated doctor is always focused to find out other landmark treatments and breakthrough technologies in his field of specialization but quite impressively he manages to take out time for his other interests too.
It’s not very often that we hear of a practicing physician who loves playing the drums and has been a part of a rock and roll band too. On how he fits in dance and music with this serious discipline of study, Dr John says, “While my interest remains in ophthalmology and corneal surgery I also love playing drums and I am told that I am an excellent dancer. I give all credit to God for His blessings and guidance during my life’s journey.”
While these hobbies may go a long way in de-stressing the busy physician’s life he admits that he loves to take out time to pursue his interests. He says, “I have a keen interest in rock and roll music besides practicing ballroom dancing as well as line dancing and disco.” But just before you thought that the doctor would be able to take out time for these refreshing hobbies only occasionally he offers you another impressive surprise. He says, “I have had the opportunity to perform at a rock and roll concert at the Universal Studios in Florida too.” He adds, “I used to organize rock concerts for ARVO, which is the largest eye research organization in the world. As a band leader, I played the drums at these ARVO rock concerts for 12 years.” Dr John is also the president of one of the Toastmasters club here in Chicago suburbs.”
MANTRA FOR LIFE
It may be easy to guess that to maintain a calm demeanor despite leading a very public life surrounded by patients one really needs a magic mantra in life. Ask Dr John his recipe to de stress and he says, “During my training years in Harvard and at the University in Pennsylvania I saw a lot of world famous surgeons focused on ophthalmology. While it is commendable I also learnt that having other interests in life adds more dimensions to your existence and your life becomes more meaningful. I have been trying to live by that philosophy.”
If you thought that Dr John sounds like a motivational speaker, then well, you are not mistaken. The surgeon with an affable personality is also a motivational speaker who has inspired many people through his thoughts on personal development. He says, “My goal as a motivational speaker remains to motivate people to make themselves better and try to make this world a better place for all. One person cannot achieve this lofty goal, we need the unification of people in this effort.”
When the doctor is not inspiring through his spoken words he chooses to encourage through his written words. Dr John has edited 6 surgical textbooks in ophthalmology, a book entitled, Chicago Eye and Emergency Manual, and is currently working on a motivational book. The doctor also writes in his dedicated columns for many ophthalmic publications.
On his one tip that he would want to give to everyone to ensure that people are able to do justice both to their vocation as well as their hobbies he says, “Take out time for yourself. If you are passionate about something do not ignore it. It is about allocating a small segment of your time towards your interests every day or every other day that goes a long way in enriching your life. In my life’s journey, my wife Annita, and my children form an integral and central part next to God.”
There’s more to his achievements, US News & World Report listed Dr John as Top Doctors 2011 – America’s Top Doctor with icon – “Icon denotes that a doctor, in Castle Connolly’s
Estimation, is among the top 1% in the nation in his or her specialty.”
On his other engagements, the genial Dr informs, “I am also affiliated with Loyola University as a Clinical Associate Professor. I am also a visiting professor at Military Medical Academy in Belgrade, Serbia. Internationally, I’ve been the invited speaker and delivered speeches in South Africa, Serbia, Argentina, Italy, Greece, India, Brazil, Mexico, Peru, and Finland. I have given a keynote address at the 22nd congress of the ESCRS in Paris in 2004.”