Jennifer I. Lim, MD, FARVO

Jennifer I. Lim MD, FARVO, FASRS holds the Marion H. Schenk Esq., Chair in Ophthalmology for Research in the Aging Eye as UIC Distinguished Professor of Ophthalmology and is the Vice Chair for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Director of the Retina Service at University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC). She received her MD with Distinction (Summa cum Laude current equivalent) from Northwestern University (Six-Years Honors Program in Medical Education), where she was AOA and received the Dean’s AOA Student Research Award and the Surgery Student of the Year (currently the Julius Conn (MD) Memorial Award). She completed residency at University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary, receiving the Resident Research Award and American College of Surgeons Resident Competition Chicago Chapter Keeshin Prize. She completed medical and surgical retina fellowships at Wilmer Eye Institute of Johns Hopkins Hospital as a Heed Fellow and Heed Knapp Fellow. She joined the faculty of Emory University as an Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology and was recruited to Doheny Eye Institute of University of Southern California (USC) as an Associate Professor with tenure and promoted to Professor. In 2007, she was recruited to UIC.

Her research interests include clinical trials, translational research, artificial intelligence (AI) and retinal imaging for which she has an R01 NIH grant (Co-PI on “Differential artery-vein analysis in OCT angiography for objective classification of diabetic retinopathy”). She has received funding from the National Eye Institute, Macula Society Research Fund, American Cancer Society and numerous industry grants. She has been principal investigator in over 60 clinical trials and currently serves on executive committees and several Data and Monitoring Committees.

Current leadership positions include Associate Editor for JAMA Ophthalmology, EyeWiki Deputy Editor-in-Chief, Vice-President of The Retina Society (president elect), IOVS Editorial Board member, AOA UIC Medical School Councilor, and UIC Faculty Senator. She is has served as President of Women in Ophthalmology (WIO), Chinese American Ophthalmology Society (CAOS), Chicago Ophthalmological Society (COS) and past Chair of WinR. She serves on the AOS Program Committee and as Program Chair for The Retina Society. Educational activities include live and online CME lectures/ courses. Dr. Lim enjoys teaching, collaborating with clinicians and scientists and mentoring students, resident and fellows. She participates in numerous live and online CME events. She created and organizes the annual UIC Retina Symposium, now in its 17th year. She co-founded Women in Retina in order to mentor women retina physicians. She is an active participant in the inaugural ASRS Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Mentoring Program. She has over 320 peer reviewed publications, on topics ranging from clinical trials, clinical studies to basic and translational research.

She has received the AAO Life Achievement Honor Award, AAO Secretariat Award, ASRS Presidential Honor Award (2023), ASRS Senior Honor Award, Women in Ophthalmology’s Suzanne-Veronneau Troutman Award, ARVO Silver & Gold Fellow Awards, Paul Henkind Memorial Award (Macula Society), Women in Ophthalmology Scientific Contribution Award, Chinese American Ophthalmology Service awards, USC teaching awards, ASRS Retina Hall of Fame, UIC Departmental Faculty of the Year Award (2018), Mother McAuley Liberal Arts HS Hall of Honor Award, ASRS Senior Honor Award, UIC Ophthalmology Alumna Award (2023) and the inaugural UIC Distinguished Sweeney Lectureship. She is named as part of Chicago Super Docs, Best Doctors, Top Doctors and Newsweek’s America’s Best Ophthalmologists. She has given several named lectures (Lois A. Young MD, David A Worthen, Paul Sternberg Jr MD, Doheny Memorial Lecture, Peter C Kronfeld, Cless Lecture, Matthew Davis Lecture). She has authored over 300 articles, 30 book chapters and edited several books including Age-Related Macular Degeneration (now in the Third Edition).