Dr. Sternberg is former Chairman of Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences and Director of the Vanderbilt Eye Institute at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee. He is a renowned retinal specialist, who maintains an active academic and research program, studying the pathogenesis of age-related macular degeneration. He has authored more than 280 scientific articles and 30 book chapters, and received research funding from the NIH, numerous foundations, and industry. Dr. Sternberg was recruited to Vanderbilt in 2003, after 18 years on the faculty at Emory University. In 2009, he was named Vanderbilt’s Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs and Chief Medical Officer. In 2014, he was also named Chief Patient Experience Officer. In 2023, after stepping down from all of these executive roles, he was appointed the inaugural Medical Director of Development.
Dr. Sternberg has a long history of leadership in ophthalmology, highlighted by serving as President of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, President of the Macula Society, President of the Association of University Professors of Ophthalmology and Chair of the Board of Governors for the ARVO Foundation. In addition, he has served on the Board of Scientific Counselors for the National Eye Institute, the Board of Directors of the International Retinal Research Foundation, the Board of Directors of the Tennessee Academy of Ophthalmology and has been President of the Society of Heed Fellows and Vice President of ARVO. In 2025, Dr. Sternberg became the CEO of the Association of University Professors of Ophthalmology. He has received a number of honors, including the Award of Merit in Retinal Research from the Retina Society, the Heed Ophthalmic Foundation Award, the Founder’s Lecture from the American Society for Retina Specialists, the EnergEyes Award for Mentorship from the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the Distinguished Service Award from ARVO, and both the J. Donald M. Gass Medal and the Arnall Patz Medal from the Macula Society.
M.D., University of Chicago
B.A., Harvard College
Age-related macular degeneration
Diabetic retinopathy
