Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins Medicine, is remembering Alex Azar, M.D., a former ophthalmology fellow and longtime friend, who died on April 6.
Azar taught medical students at Wilmer for 20 years and practiced ophthalmology on Maryland’s Eastern Shore for more than 40 years. At Wilmer, he was honored with the award for best part-time teaching faculty in both 2011 and 2012. In 2015, he received the prestigious Arnall Patz Fellowship Award through the local Lions Club and the Wilmer Eye Institute for his contributions to the field of ophthalmology.
During his career, Azar founded both the Peninsula Eye Center and the Azar Eye Institute. He introduced many new and innovative eye surgical techniques to the Salisbury area, including microscopic eye surgery, intraocular lens implants and trabeculectomy for glaucoma.
Wilmer director Peter McDonnell remembers Azar as a delightful person: “Dr. Azar always had a smile on his face, loved to learn — and teach — and was a very patient instructor. That combination made him a favorite amongst our Hopkins medical students who saw patients with him in his office. He achieved something very rare: voted Teacher of The Year in two consecutive years, despite very tough competition.”
“Dr. Azar was a remarkably dedicated teacher,” said Albert Jun, chief of the Division of Cornea, Cataract and External Eye Diseases at Wilmer. “He would come to our medical student teaching sessions every quarter for years, taking time out from his practice and driving in from the Eastern Shore. He was the consummate educator.”
In 1996, Governor William Donald Schaefer appointed Azar to the Maryland Health Care Access and Cost Containment Commission. He held various state and county medical society leadership positions, including president of the Maryland State Medical Society, and was also on the board of directors of The Center for a Healthy Maryland. In addition, Azar was board-certified in preventive medicine and is listed in the Guide to America's Top Ophthalmologists.
Azar’s son, Alex Azar II, is currently the United States Secretary of Health and Human Services.