Rishi Singh, MD, Appointed Chair of Ophthalmology at HMS and Mass General Brigham

Following an extensive national search, Rishi P. Singh, MD, FASRS, has been appointed Chair of the Department of Ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School (HMS) and Chair of the Department of Ophthalmology at Mass General Brigham, effective November 10, 2025.

In this pivotal role, Dr. Singh will lead the clinical, research, and educational missions of the Department of Ophthalmology at Mass Eye and Ear, our academic medical centers, and across the Mass General Brigham system. He will continue to strengthen collaboration across our ophthalmology services while advancing our mission to provide premier patient care, perform transformational research, and provide world-class medical education. As Chair of Harvard Ophthalmology, Dr. Singh will work closely with the Dean of Harvard Medical School (HMS) and oversee all HMS Ophthalmology academic programs, faculty appointments, and career development.

Dr. Singh brings over two decades of distinguished experience as a clinician-scientist and retina specialist, educator, and healthcare leader. He currently serves as Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of Cleveland Clinic Martin Health in Stuart, Florida, and is a Professor of Ophthalmology at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine in Cleveland, Ohio.

Dr. Singh’s appointment marks a return to his academic roots. A Boston University alumnus, he earned both his bachelor’s and medical degrees there before completing his ophthalmology residency at Harvard Ophthalmology, followed by a medical and surgical retina fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic Cole Eye Institute in Cleveland, Ohio.

Internationally recognized for his expertise in complex retinal diseases, including diabetic retinopathy, retinal detachment, and age-related macular degeneration, Dr. Singh has authored more than 300 peer-reviewed publications, books, and chapters, and has served as principal investigator on numerous national clinical trials. He is the founder and past president of the Retina World Congress and currently educates his peers through multiple nationwide continuing medical education programs. His contributions to ophthalmology have been recognized through multiple honors, including the Alpha Omega Alpha Research Award, the Senior Honor Award from the American Society of Retina Specialists, and the Donald Gass Beacon of Sight Award.

Dr. Singh is deeply committed to advancing equity, fostering innovation, and building collaborative teams that excel in clinical care, research, and education. We are thrilled to welcome him back to Boston and look forward to the impact his leadership will have across our system and in the communities we serve.

With the appointment of Dr. Singh as the next chair, the department also celebrates Dr. Joan W. Miller, who has brought her extraordinary expertise and leadership for 22 years. As she transitions from her role as chair and begins her next chapter, she will remain a vital member of the community as a faculty member, continuing her research and deepening the already remarkable impact she has had on our department and the field of ophthalmology.