MEET DR. KOHN

Dr. Roger Kohn was born and raised in the Chicago area. It was there that he and his wife met and married. They have two children. Dr. Kohn's undergraduate education was at the University of Illinois where he received a B.A. in Chemistry in only three years. There his academic and leadership accomplishments were honored with his selection to Phi Beta Kappa, Rhodes Scholar nomination, and his receipt of the Patton Award - for the outstanding pre-medical student. Dr. Kohn then attended Northwestern University Medical School where Alpha Omega Alpha (the national medical school academic honorary) honored him with their award for the outstanding original research paper - for his initial and pioneering research on the syndrome of ptosis, blepharophimosis, epicanthus inversus, and telecanthus (subsequently known as Kohn - Romano syndrome, blepharophimosis syndrome).

Dr. Kohn then served his internship at U.C.L.A. hospitals. This proved significant in that it not only provided an excellent education including plastic surgery training, but also provided his first extensive exposure to the southern California region - influencing the Kohn's subsequent permanent relocation to this area. Dr. Kohn then returned to Chicago where he completed an ophthalmology residency back at Northwestern.

With a keen interest in plastic surgery, Dr. Kohn followed his residency with two prestigious fellowships in oculofacial plastic surgery. The first was under the direction of Alston Callahan, M.D. at the University of Alabama Eye Foundation Hospital. Dr. Callahan was one of the three founders of the subspecialty of oculofacial plastic surgery. This fellowship provided fellows with perhaps the most extensive and hands-on experience available in the United States. Dr. Kohn then moved on to a second oculofacial plastic surgical fellowship. This program was at Harvard Medical School under the direction of Charles Beyer, M.D., Chief of the Oculoplastic Division at Harvard. This program was centered at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary with additional experience based at Massachusetts General Hospital. These institutions are considered by many to be the best hospitals of their kind in the world.

As one of the very few oculofacial plastic surgeons educated in two accredited fellowships, Dr. Kohn then focused on an academic career in southern California. He was subsequently recruited by the U.C.L.A. Department of Ophthalmology to chair their affiliated residency program based at Kern Medical Center. When Dr. Kohn began as Chairman of this program, he became the youngest ophthalmology residency program director in the U.S. His responsibilities involved teaching, research, and administration, along with hospital and university committee participation. During his nine years at this post, his U.C.L.A. academic position rose from Assistant Professor to Associate Professor and subsequently to Full Professor. He also became the 100th physician selected for Fellowship in the American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. In this U.C.L.A. academic position half of his time was also available for patient care in his subspecialty of oculofacial plastic and reconstructive surgery. After nine years in this position, Dr. Kohn moved over to the U.C.L.A. clinical faculty (private practice based) - requiring a change in his title to Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology. He then established private offices in Santa Barbara, in addition to Bakersfield.

Dr. Kohn's subsequent research has included further codification of the clinical findings, along with establishing the surgical approach to correcting the Kohn - Romano Syndrome (blepharophimosis syndrome). His additional clinical research focused on the surgical treatment of eyelid retraction (often seen in Graves' disease/hyperthyroidism), ectropion, and ocular pemphigoid, along with the evaluation and management of rhino-orbital mucormycosis (a serious orbital and sinus fungal infection). Dr. Kohn was also selected as one of the fifty sub-investigators across the U.S. to do the initial clinical research on botulinum toxin (Botox). After over 10,000 injections, their work led to the initial FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) approval of this significant and widely useful medication.

Dr. Kohn is the author of the internationally acclaimed Textbook of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery . He has also authored 15 chapters in other texts including Master Techniques in Ophthalmic Surgery ; Techniques in Ophthalmic Plastic Surgery ; The Eye in Systemic Disease ; Oculoplastic, Orbital and Reconstructive Surgery ; Birth Defects Encyclopedia .

In recognition of his several decades of original research presentations and surgical courses taught, the American Academy of Ophthalmology bestowed their esteemed Honor Award on Dr. Kohn. He has also been named to the U.S. News and World Report lists of Top Doctors in the United States and Top Doctors in Southern California. Such selections are based upon physician-peer nominations and recommendations. His expertise in patient care, research, and medical education in cosmetic and reconstructive surgery has been further recognized by inclusion in Marquis Who's Who in America - annually since 1996, Marquis Who's Who in Medicine and Healthcare - annually since 1996, Marquis Who's Who in Science and Engineering - annually since 1996, Marquis Who's Who in the West - annually since 1980. In 2018, Roger Kohn, M.D. was the recipient of the prestigious Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award.

Curriculum Vitae (abbreviated)