Sandra Montezuma

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Credentials

MD

Bio

Sandra R Montezuma, M.D, is a Professor in Ophthalmology at the University of Minnesota.  She earned her medical degree from the Universidad Nacional de Colombia. She did her first residency training in ophthalmology at the Fundacion Oftalmologica de Santander, Colombia in 2001. She was a fully trained ophthalmologist before coming to the United states. She completed 10 more years of training at Harvard Medical School. In 2001 she joined the Boston Retinal Implant Project at Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary/ Harvard Medical School, where she performed basic science research for nearly 4 years. After her Research fellowship, she completed a second surgical internship at Brigham and Women’s hospital in 2005, a second residency in ophthalmology in 2008 and a Surgical Retina fellowship in 2010 at Massachusetts Eye and Ear infirmary/Harvard Medical School. She joined the University of Minnesota in 2010. She was awarded a Distinguished Teaching and Service Award at Massachusetts Eye and Ear infirmary/Harvard Medical School, she received the 2010 Gilligham Fellowship Award at The Pan-American Association of Ophthalmology, the 13th Fellowship Research Award at the Retina Society, the Distinguished Mentoring Award at the University of Minnesota Medical School in 2017, The Knobloch Chair Professorship in 2018, and the 2022 VSY Biotechnology Ophthalmology Star Awards among other awards. She has been  selected as the 2022 America’s Most Honored Doctors  by the American registry.  She is the current chief of the retina department at the UMN. Her research interest includes translational research in Age-Related Macular Degeneration, Inherited Retinal Diseases, retinal implants, retinal prosthesis and retina surgery. Being a part of discovering cures for blinding conditions is Dr. Montezuma’s passion. She believes the ability to apply her clinical and surgical knowledge to help patients with all types of blinding conditions is truly a privilege. Dr. Montezuma has subspecialty expertise in providing medical and surgical care for all retina diseases in adults and children, including macular degeneration, inherited retinal dystrophies, diabetic retinopathy, retina detachments, macula holes, eye trauma and retinopathy of prematurity. The incredible advances in technology and research in the ophthalmological field keep her profession fresh and exciting. Dr. Montezuma finds interacting with patients and the ability to improve patients’ vision the most rewarding aspect of her job. She appreciates the long-term relationships she has with her patients and being able to meet their needs with the highest quality of eye care available.

Research Summary

Stem Cell Research for Age Related Macula Degeneration Retina Imaging Retinal implants Age-related macular degeneration Angiogenesis research

Clinical Summary

Sandra R Montezuma, M.D, is a Professor in Ophthalmology at the University of Minnesota.  She earned her medical degree from the Universidad Nacional de Colombia. She did her first residency training in ophthalmology at the Fundacion Oftalmologica de Santander, Colombia in 2001. She was a fully trained ophthalmologist before coming to the United states. She completed 10 more years of training at Harvard Medical School. In 2001 she joined the Boston Retinal Implant Project at Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary/ Harvard Medical School, where she performed basic science research for nearly 4 years. After her Research fellowship, she completed a second surgical internship at Brigham and Women’s hospital in 2005, a second residency in ophthalmology in 2008 and a Surgical Retina fellowship in 2010 at Massachusetts Eye and Ear infirmary/Harvard Medical School. She joined the University of Minnesota in 2010. She was awarded a Distinguished Teaching and Service Award at Massachusetts Eye and Ear infirmary/Harvard Medical School, she received the 2010 Gilligham Fellowship Award at The Pan-American Association of Ophthalmology, the 13th Fellowship Research Award at the Retina Society, the Distinguished Mentoring Award at the University of Minnesota Medical School in 2017, The Knobloch Chair Professorship in 2018, and the 2022 VSY Biotechnology Ophthalmology Star Awards among other awards. She has been  selected as the 2022 America’s Most Honored Doctors  by the American registry.  She is the current chief of the retina department at the UMN. Her research interest includes translational research in Age-Related Macular Degeneration, Inherited Retinal Diseases, retinal implants, retinal prosthesis and retina surgery. Being a part of discovering cures for blinding conditions is Dr. Montezuma’s passion. She believes the ability to apply her clinical and surgical knowledge to help patients with all types of blinding conditions is truly a privilege. Dr. Montezuma has subspecialty expertise in providing medical and surgical care for all retina diseases in adults and children, including macular degeneration, inherited retinal dystrophies, diabetic retinopathy, retina detachments, macula holes, eye trauma and retinopathy of prematurity. The incredible advances in technology and research in the ophthalmological field keep her profession fresh and exciting. Dr. Montezuma finds interacting with patients and the ability to improve patients’ vision the most rewarding aspect of her job. She appreciates the long-term relationships she has with her patients and being able to meet their needs with the highest quality of eye care available.