Stephen Updegraff

{{Infobox medical person|known_for=LASIK|field=ophthalmic surgery|alma_mater={{hlist|Eckerd College|Penn State College of Medicine}}}}

'''Stephen Updegraff''', M.D., FACS (born January 31, 1962, in St. Petersburg, Florida) is an American refractive surgeon best known for his early involvement in, and contributions to, LASIK.<ref name="LASIK site">[http://www.lasik4me.com LASIK by Updegraff]</ref> He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, a board-certified member of the American Board of Ophthalmology, a founding member of the American College of Ophthalmic Surgeons, and a member of the International Society of Refractive Surgery, the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, and the Pine Ridge Eye Study Society. Updegraff currently serves as the medical director of Updegraff Vision in St. Petersburg, Florida.<ref name="site">[http://www.lasik4me.com Updegraff Vision]</ref>

== Early life == [[Image:Coat of arms Op den Graeff.jpg|thumb|120px|left|Possible, but not proven coat of arms Op den Graeff as descendants of Herman op den Graeff (Heraldic representation by Matthias Laurenz Gräff based on the Krefeld Op den Graeff stained glass window from 1630, which may depict the “Lohengrin swan” of the Kleve coat of arms in one window)]] Updegraff was born in St. Petersburg, Florida. Updegraff was a descendant of the Dutch<ref>Prof. William I. Hull: William Penn and the Dutch Quaker Migration to Pennsylvania (2018)</ref> and German Op den Graeff family. He was a direct descendant of Herman op den Graeff, mennonite leader of Krefeld, and his grandson Abraham op den Graeff, one of the founders of Germantown and in 1688 signer of the first protest against slavery in colonial America.

Stephen Updegraff graduated from The McCallie School in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He was exposed to the medical treatment of eyes at an early age by his father, ophthalmologist Ambrose Updegraff, M.D., whom he accompanied on hospital rounds to visit patients who had undergone eye surgeries.<ref name="family">Tomalin, Terry. [https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/sptimes/access/1124582391.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Sep+8%2C+2006&author=TERRY+TOMALIN&pub=St.+Petersburg+Times&edition=&startpage=5.C&desc=Father%2C+son+keep+their+past+afloat+Series%3A+GULF+%26+BAY Father, son keep their past afloat]{{dead link|date=July 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}, ''St. Petersburg Times'', September 8, 2006</ref>

== Education == Updegraff received his bachelor's degree in biology from Eckerd College in 1984,<ref name="eckerd">[http://www.eckerdalumni.com/?page=AlumniAwardWinners The McArthur Alumni Award], Eckerd College. Accessed November 10, 2010.</ref> and his M.D. from the Penn State College of Medicine in 1989.<ref name="penn">[https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/sptimes/access/1078614881.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Jul+16%2C+2006&author=MARY+JANE+PARK&pub=St.+Petersburg+Times&edition=&startpage=23&desc=Doctor+donates+to+marine+science+studies Doctor donates to marine science studies]{{dead link|date=July 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}, ''St. Petersburg Times'', July 16, 2006.</ref>

== Career == Updegraff completed a six-month internship and his ophthalmic residency at the Louisiana State University Eye Center in New Orleans, where he performed research on excimer lasers, focusing specifically on procedures such as keratomileusis.<ref name="lasers">Landry, Sue. [https://archive.today/20130131183447/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/sptimes/access/36069458.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Nov+7,+1998&author=SUE+LANDRY&pub=St.+Petersburg+Times&edition=&startpage=1.B&desc=Farsighted+put+hopes+in+laser Farsighted put hope in laser], ''St. Petersburg Times'', November 7, 1998.</ref> During a fellowship at the University of Texas-Houston's Hermann Eye Center, Updegraff worked for Stephen G. Slade, M.D.,<ref name="slade">Slade, Stephen G., Stephen A. Updegraff, and Stephen F. Brint. (1995) In Salz, James. "Excimer Laser Myopic Keratomileusis: United States Experience," ''Corneal Laser Surgery''. St. Louis: Mosby. 195-6.</ref> then one of only two surgeons in the United States performing keratomileusis,<ref name="early">Shepherd, Gary. [http://www.accessmylibrary.com/article-1G1-53259888/new-technique-sparks-visions.html New technique sparks visions of profitability], ''The Business Journal'', November 6, 1998.</ref> and was a member of the team chaired by Slade and Luis A. Ruiz, M.D., that developed LASIK.<ref name="slade" />

During its 1994 FDA clinical trials, Updegraff performed the third LASIK surgery in the United States. He then became the first surgeon to perform LASIK in Asia, where he demonstrated it and taught its techniques to hundreds of doctors in China.<ref name="race">"On the Run with Larry Ericksmoen," ''National Dragster Magazine'', September 3, 1998.</ref> Updegraff currently has seven patents on technologies for LASIK and microsurgery of the eye,<ref name="patents">Updegraff, Stephen A. (2003) "The Moria M2 Microkeratome and LASIK Technique." Brint, Stephen, and Lucio Buratto. ''Custom LASIK: Surgical Techniques and Complications''. Thorofare, NJ: Slack. 611-620.</ref><ref name="CV">[http://www.lasik4me.com/professional-resume.php Stephen Updegraff, M.D., CV]</ref> and he frequently lectures and publishes on issues and advancements in refractive surgery.

==Patents== * Apparatus and method for mechanically dilating the pupil of an eye (1994)<ref name="one">{{cite patent |country=US |number=5374272 |status=patent}}.</ref> * Method of radial keratotomy employing a vibrating cutting blade (1995)<ref name="two">{{cite patent |country=US |number=5405355 |status=patent}}.</ref> * Corneal surface marker and marking method for reducing irregular astigmatism during lamellar (LASIK) corneal surgery (1997)<ref name="three">{{cite patent |country=US |number=5697945 |status=patent}}.</ref> * Corneal surface marker and marking method for improving laser centration (1998)<ref name="four">{{cite patent |country=US |number=5752967 |status=patent}}.</ref> * Corneal irrigation cannula and method of using (1998)<ref name="five">{{cite patent |country=US |number=5755700 |status=patent}}.</ref> * Corneal flap/cap elevator (1998)<ref name="six">{{cite patent |country=US |number=5779711 |status=patent}}.</ref> * Corneal irrigation cannula (1998)<ref name="seven">{{cite patent |country=US |number=5800406 |status=patent}}.</ref>

==Awards and achievements== 1995-97 Advisory Panel, Ethicon Surgery<ref name="CV" /> 1996-00 Skills Transfer Advisory Board Member, American Academy of Ophthalmology<ref name="CV" /> 1997-00 USA Representative, International Society of Refractive Surgery Global Council<ref name="CV" /> 1998-00 VISX Star Surgeon, Top 50 Excimer Laser Surgeons, United States<ref name="CV" /> 1999 Outstanding Career Achievement Award, Eckerd College<ref name="CV" /> 2000 Best Presentation, International Society of Refractive Surgery<ref name="CV" /> 2001 Achievement Award, American Academy of Ophthalmology<ref name="CV" /> 2003 Outstanding Business of the Year Award, St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce<ref name="CV" /> 2003 Performed first Crystalens lens implant surgery in Florida<ref name="About">[http://www.lasik4me.com/about-dr-updegraff.php About Dr. Stephen Updegraff]</ref> 2003-05 Board of Trustees Member, Prevent Blindness<ref name="CV" /> 2007 Kritzinger Memorial Award, International Society of Refractive Surgery & South African Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery<ref name="CV" /> 2008 Center of Excellence Award, Crystalens<ref name="CV" /> 2009 Best Paper of Session, American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery<ref name="CV" /> 2009-11 Dean's Council on Science member, Eckerd College<ref name="CV" /> 2009 Distinguished Citizen Award, West Central Florida Council Boy Scouts of America<ref name="scouts">[https://archive.today/20130131224217/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/sptimes/access/1912258701.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Nov+29,+2009&author=Anonymous&pub=St.+Petersburg+Times&edition=&startpage=86&desc=DISTINGUISHED+CITIZENS+12TH+ANNUAL+BANQUET Distinguished Citizens 12th Annual Banquet], ''St. Petersburg Times'', November 9, 2009.</ref> 2010-12 Best Doctors in America list<ref name="CV" /> 2010-11 Leading Innovators in Premium IOL implant surgery list, Premier Surgeon<ref name="CV" /> 2011 Top Doctors list, U.S. News & World Report<ref name="us news">[http://health.usnews.com/top-doctors/stephen-updegraff-ophthalmologist-12CC002075 US News & World Report Top Doctors]</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

{{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Updegraff, Stephen}} Category:Living people Category:1962 births Category:American ophthalmologists Category:21st-century American inventors Category:Eckerd College alumni