Al Sommer, MD
- Johns Hopkins School of Medicine Faculty
Languages
- English
Gender
MaleAbout Al Sommer
Professional Titles
- Dean Emeritus, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
- Founding Director, Dana Center for Preventive Ophthalmology
- University Distinguished Service Professor
Primary Academic Title
Professor of Ophthalmology
Background
Alfred Sommer, M.D., M.H.S., is a professor of ophthalmology at the Wilmer Eye Institute and Dean Emeritus and professor of epidemiology and international health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. He was the founding Director (1980-1990) of the Dana Center for Preventive Ophthalmology at Johns Hopkins, which focuses on clinical epidemiology and public health aspects of blindness prevention and child survival.
Dr. Sommer''s current research interests include outcomes assessment; clinical guidelines; the screening, diagnosis and management of glaucoma and other blindness prevention strategies; and cost containment. He demonstrated the impact of vitamin A deficiency on childhood blindness and mortality in developing countries. His newest efforts concern the growing interface between medicine and public health. He has published five books and over 300 scientific articles and has received numerous awards. His current research interests include child survival and blindness prevention strategies, micronutrient interventions and the interface between public health and clinical medicine.
Dr. Sommer received his M.D. from Harvard Medical School and his M.H.S. in epidemiology from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Centers and Institutes
Recent News Articles and Media Coverage
The Ophthalmologist Who Saved Millions From Blindness - fee.org (July 2019)
Contact for Research Inquiries
615 N. Wolfe Street
Suite E6527
Baltimore, MD 21205
Phone: (410) 502-4167
Fax: (410) 502-4169
asommer@jhsph.edu
Research Interests
Blindness prevention, Vitamin A deficiency
Honors
- Dan David Laureate, Tel Aviv University, 2/15/13
- Ophthalmology Hall of Fame, American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons, 5/10/11
- Diplomate in Ophthalmology, American Board of Ophthalmology, 1/1/77
- Diplomate, National Board of Medical Examiners, 1/1/68
Additional Training
Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, 1976, Residency in Ophthalmology; Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, 1973, Epidemiology; Beth Israel Hospital, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts, 1969, Medical Intern and Resident