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Curriculum Vitae

Ammar N. Safar, MD

P.O. Box 16223 Aleppo – Syria

Tel: (021) 228-0049 Fax: (021) 228-0059

Email: AleppoRetina@gmail.com

POSITION TITLE:

Associate Professor 2007- 2009 Department of Ophthalmology Jones Eye Institute

University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

Assistant Professor 2001– 2007 Department of Ophthalmology

Jones Eye Institute University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

Director of Vitreo-Retinal Service 2003 - 2009 Department of Ophthalmology

Jones Eye Institute University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

Director of Vitreo-Retinal Service 2001- 2009 Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System

Little Rock, Arkansas

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:

Assistant Instructor 1999- 2001 Department of Ophthalmology

University Of Texas, Southwestern Medical Center Dallas, Texas

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EDUCATION:

Fellow, Vitreo-Retinal Diseases & Surgery 1999-2001 Parkland Memorial Hospital Department of Ophthalmology

University Of Texas, Southwestern Medical Center Dallas, Texas

Chief Resident 1998-1999 Center for Sight

Department of Ophthalmology Georgetown University Medical Center Washington, DC

Ophthalmology Resident 1996-1999

Center for Sight Department of Ophthalmology Georgetown University Medical Center

Washington, DC

First and second year resident 1995-1996 Department of Internal Medicine The Milton S. Hershey Medical Center

Pennsylvania State University Hershey, Pennsylvania

Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) 1987-1993 Aleppo University, School of Medicine-

Aleppo, Syria Bachelor of Science, (Biology) 1984-1987

American College of Aleppo Aleppo, Syria

United States Medical Licensing Examination Sept. 1994 (USMLE), Step I

United States Medical Licensing Examination March, 1994 (USMLE), Step II

United States Medical Licensing Examination May, 1996

USMLE, Step III

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CERTIFICATION:

Diplomat, American Board of Ophthalmology,

Certified: November 19, 2000

Valid through December 31, 2010

Maintenance of Certification requirements completed Certification valid January 1, 2011 through

December 31, 2020

TEACHING DUTIES:

Chief, Vireo-retinal department

Specialist Eye Hospital, Aleppo - Syria

PUBLICATIONS:

1. Bhavsar AR, Ip MS, Glassman AR; DRCRnet and the SCORE Study

Groups. The risk of endophthalmitis following intravitreal triamcinolone injection in the DRCRnet and SCORE Clinical Trials.

Am J Ophthalmol 2007 Sep;144(3): 454-6

2. Michael S. Ip, Susan S. Bressler, Andrew N. Antoszyk, Christina J.

Flaxel, Judy E. Kim, Scott M. Friedman, Haijing Qin, Jaeb Center for Health Research and the Diabetic Retinopathy Clinical

Research Network. A Randomized Trial Comparing Intravitreal Triamcinolone and Laser Photocoagulation for Diabetic Macular Edema: Baseline Features.RETINA.28(7):919-930

3. Diabetic Retinopathy Clinical Research Network. Randomized Trial

Comparing Intravitreal Triamcinolone Acetonide and Focal/Grid

Photocoagulation for Diabetic Macular Edema. Ophthalmology E-Press ahead of print.

4. Bhavsar AR, Ip MS, Glassman AR; DRCRnet and the SCORE Study

Groups. The risk of endophthalmitis following intravitreal

triamcinolone injection in the DRCRnet and SCORE Clinical Trials. Am J Ophthalmol 2007 Sep;144(3): 454-6.

5. Michael S. Ip, Susan S. Bressler, Andrew N. Antoszyk, Christina J. Flaxel, Judy E. Kim, Scott M. Friedman, Haijing Qin, Jaeb Center

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for Health Research and the Diabetic Retinopathy Clinical Research Network. A Randomized Trial Comparing Intravitreal Triamcinolone and Laser Photocoagulation for Diabetic Macular

Edema: Baseline Features. Retina 2008; 28(7):919-930

6. Diabetic Retinopathy Clinical Research Network. Randomized Trial Comparing Intravitreal Triamcinolone Acetonide and Focal/Grid

Photocoagulation for Diabetic Macular Edema. Ophthalmology 2008 Sep;115(9):1447-1459.e10

7. Safar A, Dellimore MC, The Effect of Povidone Iodine Flush versus

Drops on Conjunctival Colonization before Intravitreal Injections.

Int Ophthalmol. 2007 Oct;27(5):307-12

8. Brodsky MC, Safar A, Optic Disc Tuber. Arch Ophthalmol. 2007

May;125(5):710-2

9. Midathada M, Safar A, Schaefer R, Viswamitra S, Kohli M.Ocular melanoma versus ocular metastasis: a diagnostic dilemma. Clin Adv Hematol Oncol. 2005 May;3(5):425-7

10. Song J, Skiest DJ, Safar AN, Edwards AO. "PCR for etiologically

equivocal retinitis in HIV patients without CD4 depletion." Journal of Korean American Medical Association (9): 83-88, 2003.

11. Melki SA, Safar AN, Martin JP, Ivanova A, Adi MA. Potential Acuity Pinhole, A simple method to measure potential visual acuity in

patients with cataracts, Comparison to potential acuity meter PAM. Ophthalmology 1999; 106:1262-1267

12. Safar AN. Ocular Wegener’s Granulomatosis: Case presentation

and review. Digital Journal of Ophthalmology- Harvard Medical

School, Vol (2) September 1998.

13. Safar AN, Pillai S., Purtscher’s Retinopathy. Digital Journal Of ophthalmology - Harvard Medical School, Vol (1) May 1997.

14. Melki SA, Safar AN, Yaghouti F, Scharper P, Scharper M, Zeligs B,

MacDowell A, Goldberg M, Lustbader J. Effect of topical povidone-iodine versus topical ofloxacin on experimental Staphylococcus keratitis Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology Volume 238, Issue 5, pp 459-462

15. Safar AN, Aseel M. Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt (TIPS). Graduation thesis, Aleppo Univ Archives, Volume 24, 1993

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MANUSCRIPTS:

1. Neil M. Bressler, Allison R. Edwards, Roy W. Beck, Christina J.

Flaxel, Adam R. Glassman, Michael S. Ip, Craig Kollman, Baruch

D. Kuppermann, Thomas W. Stone, for the Diabetic Retinopathy Clinical Research Network. Progression of Diabetic Retinopathy at 1 Year and 2 Years in a Retrospective Analysis of a Randomized

Clinical Trial Comparing Intravitreal Triamcinolone with Focal/Grid Photocoagulation. Submitted to Arch Ophthalmol

2. Diabetic Retinopathy Clinical Research Network.Three-year Follow Up of a Randomized Trial Comparing Focal/Grid Photocoagulation

and Intravitreal Triamcinolone for Diabetic Macular Edema. Submitted to Arch Ophthalmol

BOOK CHAPTERS:

1. Safar A, Azar D: Five pearls in the Management of Crystalline and

Artificial Intraocular Lens Dislocation. Melki S, et al. 101 Pearls In

Refractive, Cataract, and Corneal Surgery SLACK Inc. 2001

2. Safar A, Azar D: pearls in the Management of Crystalline and

Artificial Intraocular Lens Dislocation. Melki S, et al. 101 Pearls In Refractive, Cataract, and Corneal Surgery SLACK Inc. 2006,

Second edition

ABSTRACTS / POSTERS / ORAL PRESENTATIONS:

1. Safar AN, Melki SA, Adi MA. Avoiding Myopic Shifts By Cutting the Power Of the IOL 1-1.5 D When Implanted in the Ciliary Sulcus.

American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery. San Diego, CA April 1998.

2. Safar AN, Melki SA, Martin JP, Adi MA. A Simple Method in Predicting Potential Visual Acuity.

American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery. San Diego, CA April 1998.

3. Melki SA, Safar AN, Yaghouti F, Scharper P, Scharper M, Zeligs B, Goldberg M, Lustbader J. Treatment of Experimental Bacterial Keratitis with Povidone-Iodine. ARVO Meeting Fort Lauderdale, FL. May 1998.

4. Safar AN, Melki SA, Chrousos GA, Wagner DG. Mild Diode Laser

Teatment for Retinopathy of Prematurity.

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Georgetown University Ophthalmology Alumni Day. Washington, DC June 1997.

5. Safar AN, Von-Fricken M, Pilkerton AR. Retinal Detachment Rate after Removal of Scleral Buckles. Georgetown University Ophthalmology Alumni Day. Washington, DC June 1998.

6. Safar AN, Spagnola B, Shin S, Sayed KS. Periocular vs. topical antibiotic prophylaxis in cataract surgery.

Georgetown University Ophthalmology Alumni Day. Washington, DC June 1999.

7. Safar AN, Spagnola B, Shin S, Sayed KS. Periocular vs. topical antibiotic prophylaxis in cataract surgery.

Scientific paper, annual meeting of American Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgery (ASCRS). Boston, MA May, 2000.

8. Kim NM, Safar AN, Edwards AO. Can Infrared scanning laser

ophthalmoscopy detect early Age-related macular degeneration in predisposed patients?

University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas Resident and Alumni day Meeting Dallas, Texas, June 2000

9. Appa SN, Safar AN, Anderson W, Edwards AO Prospective Case-

Control Study of Infrared Fundus Imaging in Subjects at High and Low Genetic Risk for AMD Scientific Poster, the American Academy of Ophthalmology Annual

Meeting, November 2001. New Orleans, Louisiana

10. Safar AN, Surgical Management of Subretinal Choroidal

Neovascular Membranes in Non-AMD Patients. University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

Resident and Alumni day Meeting Little Rock, Arkansas May 2002

11. Sayani N, Brown H, Safar AN Retinal Changes following Internal Limiting Membrane Peel in Cadaver Eyes University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

Resident and Alumni day Meeting Little Rock, Arkansas May 2002

12. Song J, Skiest DJ, Safar AN, Edwards AO. PCR for etiologically

equivocal retinitis in HIV patients without CD4 depletion.

Presented at annual meeting of American Society of Cataract and

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Refractive Surgery June 4, 2002, Philadelphia, PA

13. Lowery RS, Safar AN, Outcome of Pars Plana Vitrectomy for Long-Standing Idiopathic Macular Holes University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Resident and Alumni day Meeting Little Rock, Arkansas May 2002

14. Brown HH, Safar AN, Sayani N, Histological and ultrastructural

examination of internal limiting membrane peel in postmortem autopsy eye Scientific poster, annual meeting of The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology

ARVO, May 2002

15. Schmucker T, Safar AN, Intravitreal Kenalog Injection for refractory Macular Edema University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

Resident and Alumni Day Meeting Little Rock, Arkansas May 2003

16. Hughes BM, Safar AN, Early Re-treatment with Photodynamic

Therapy: Is it worth it?

University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Resident and Alumni Day Meeting

Little Rock, Arkansas May 2003

17. Wenger A, Safar AN Don’t Gamble with Hypopyon University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

Resident and Alumni Day Meeting Little Rock, Arkansas May 2003

18. Safar AN New Developments in the Management of CRVO University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

Resident and Alumni Day Meeting Little Rock, Arkansas May 23, 2003

19. Hughes BM, Safar AN, The in-vitro Effect of ICG-dye on Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells

University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Resident and Alumni Day Meeting Little Rock, Arkansas May 2004

20. Safar AN, Wilkes B, Wenger A,

Immediate Vitrectomy for Removal of Posteriorly Dislocated Crystalline Lens during Cataract Surgery University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

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Resident and Alumni day meeting Little Rock, Arkansas May 2004

21. The Effect of Povidone Iodine Flush versus Drops on Conjunctival Colonization before Intravitreal Injections

University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

Resident and Alumni Day Meeting Little Rock, Arkansas May 2005

22. Safar AN, "An Update on Avastin for Exudative AMD" University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

Resident and Alumni Day Meeting Little Rock, Arkansas May 2006

23. Current and emerging treatment options for Diabetic Retinopathy 31st Annual Meeting of the Syrian Ophthalmological Society Aleppo- Syria April 5-7, 2007

CLINICAL TRIALS:

Diabetic Retinopathy Clinical Research Network (DRCRnet) – NIH A collaborative network dedicated to facilitating multicenter clinical

research of diabetic retinopathy. DRCR was founded in September 2002. It is funded by the National Eye

Institute (NEI) which is a part of the National Institute of Health (NIH). The Jones Eye Institute was

granted the status of “certified study center” in April 2005. Principal Investigator: Ammar Safar, MD

Title: A Randomized Trial Comparing Intravitreal Triamcinolone Acetonide and Laser Photocoagulation for Diabetic Macular Edema (ongoing-3 year study)

Principal Investigator IRB approval Date: 04/23/2005

NEI Cooperative agreement: U10 EY14231

Title: A Pilot Study of Peribulbar Triamcinolone Acetonide for Diabetic Macular Edema

Principal Investigator IRB approval Date: 06/07/2005 Enrollment closed to new subjects: 09/29/2005

NEI Cooperative agreement: U10 EY14231

Age-Related Eye Disease Study II (AREDS II) – NIH Principal Investigator

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Title: Randomized Trial of Lutein, Zeazanthin, and Long-Chain Omega-3 Fatty Acids (Docosahexaenoic Acid [DHA} and Eicosapentaenoic Acid [EPA}) in Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Alimera Inc. Principal Investigator Title: A Randomized, Double-Masked, Parallel Group, Multi-Center, Dose-Finding Comparison of the Safety and Efficacy of ASI-001A 0.5 µg/day

and ASI-001B 0.2 µg/day Fluocinolone Acetonide Intravitreal Inserts to Sham Injection in Subjects with Diabetic

Macular Edema IRB approval Date: 08/10/2006

Allergan Inc Sub-investigator Title: A Six-Month, Phase 3, Multicenter, Masked, Randomized,

Sham-Controlled Trial (with Six-Month Open-Label Extension) to

Assess the Safety and Efficacy of 700 g and 350 g Dexamethasone Posterior Segment Drug Delivery System (DEX PS DDS) Applicator System in the Treatment of Patients with Macular Edema Following Central Retinal Vein Occlusion or Branch Retinal Vein Occlusion or Branch Retinal Vein Occlusion

IRB approval date: 08/01/2006

Boehringer Ingelheim Pharm, Inc.

(Co-PI with Dr. Sami Harik) Title: A two year open label, randomized, parallel group, blinded

assessment ophthalmologic safety study of pramipexole IR versus ropinirole in early Parkinson’s Disease patients (ongoing – 2 year

study) IRB approval Date: 04/5/2005 Enrollment ongoing

Basic Research. Consultant: Idiopathic Anterior Uveitis and Type 1 Collagen

NIH Grant No. 7 R01 EY01625-02 Project Period: 02/01/2005 - 01/31/2007

Co-Investigator: Alcohol Metabolism and Choroidal

Neovascularization NIH R01 Submitted 03/01/2006

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Self-initiated Trials Performed at University of Arkansas (UAMS):

Determining Macular Edema Response Time to Intravitreal Triamcinolone Acetonide Injection via Optical Coherence Tomography Research to Prevent Blindness Award Amount: $2,000

Principal Investigator. 2005 Bacterial Colonization of the Conjunctival Surface with Povidone

Iodine Drops versus Flush Irrigation before Intravitreal Triamcinolone Acetonide Injection Research to Prevent Blindness Award Amount: $2,000

Principal Investigator. 2005

Corneal Topographic Changes Following Pars Plana Vitrectomy Research to Prevent Blindness Award Amount: $13,141.45

Principal Investigator. 2005 High and Low Dose Intravitreal Triamcinolone Acetate for Treatment

of Macular Edema Research to Prevent Blindness Award Amount: $12,000 Principal Investigator. 2004

Histopathological Changes of the Retina After Peeling the Internal Limiting Membrane (ILM) in Cadaver Eyes IRB Approved Research to Prevent Blindness Award Amount: $12,000 Principal Investigator

Completed 2002 Performed at other Institutions: Effect of topical Povidone-iodine versus topical Ofloxacin on

experimental Staphylococcus keratitis Principal Investigator Georgetown University Medical Center, 1996 IRB approved. Completed

Periocular vs. topical antibiotic prophylaxis in cataract surgery.

Principal Investigator Georgetown University Medical Center, 1999 IRB approved. Completed

Reflectance Imaging to Detect Sub-clinical Age-related Macular

Degeneration In Predisposed Patients Co-Investigator Univ. of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 1999-2001

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IRB # 0400-200 - Completed

HONORS AND AWARDS: Inaugural recepient of the Martha Wood Bentley

Chair of Ophthalmology, April 8 2009. Little Rock, Arkansas

Outstanding Teacher Award Presented by the Ophthalmology residents at the Jones Eye Institute, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, UAMS May 28, 2004

Teacher of the year Award Presented by the Ophthalmology residents at the Jones Eye Institute, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, UAMS May 30, 2003

Chief Resident Georgetown University, Department of Ophthalmology Washington, DC July 1998 to June 1999

Award For Excellence In Research Presented by the Worthen Center for Eye Care Research Washington, DC June 12, 1999

El Zihrawi Award for Outstanding Research Presented by the Arab American Medical Association

Washington Chapter, November 7, 1998 Washington, DC

Honor Student, Graduate Educational Committee Aleppo University, School of Medicine. Aleppo, Syria Sep 9, 1993 Student of the Year Award

American College of Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria, July 1987

Scientific Reviewer, American Journal of Ophthalmology

INVITED LECTURESHIPS:

Retina panel of Experts: Controversies in Vitreoretinal surgery

31st Annual meeting of the Syrian Ophthalmological Society

April 5-7, 2007 Aleppo- Syria

Guest speaker: New Advances in Treating Diabetic Retinopathy

Annual Diabetes Update. Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology.

UAMS. March 3, 2007

Guest Speaker New approach in the Management of Diabetic Retinopathy Department of Internal Medicine, Endocrinology. August 2006

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Guest Speaker

Vitreoretinal Update, 2006 Department of Health and Aleppo University. July 7, 2006 Aleppo, Syria

Visiting Professor Anti-VEGF Treatment for Exudative AMD American University of Beirut. July 13, 2006

Beirut, Lebanon

Visiting Professor

Case Studies Eye Specialty Hospital, July 17 2006 Aleppo, Syria

Guest speaker: Regional conference for VA nursing staff Overview of Diabetic Retinopathy

Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System, May 2006

Visiting professor What's new in Retina?

Aleppo University, School of Medicine

Department of Ophthalmology- July 2005

Guest Speaker

Introduction to Retinal disease Department of Ophthalmic Technologies, UAMS. 10/24/2005

Guest Speaker Basics of Diabetic Retinopathy Department of Ophthalmic Technologies, UAMS. 12/18/2004

Guest Speaker Introduction to Retinal Photography

Department of Ophthalmic Technologies, UAMS. 9/30/2004

Guest Speaker

Ophthalmic Surgery- Retina and Vitreous Department of Ophthalmic Technologies, UAMS. April 2, 2003

Mini medical school X University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. April, 2003

Guest Speaker: Rural Hospital Program Age-related macular degeneration University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. March 18, 2003

Guest speaker: Regional conference for VA nursing staff

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Age-related Macular Degeneration. Where we are, and where we need to be

Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System June 2003

Guest speaker: Introduction to Vitreo-Retinal diseases and Surgery

Ophthalmic Medical Technician Course. January 3, 2002

Department of Ophthalmic Technologies, UAMS

ACADEMIC AFFILIATIONS:

Associate Professor with tenure Department of Ophthalmology University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, UAMS

Attending Physician

Department of Ophthalmology

Arkansas Children's Hospital Little Rock, AR

Staff Surgeon, Surgical Services:

Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System, Little

Rock, AR

Alexandria VA Medical Center, Alexandria, LA

Eugene J. Towbin Healthcare Center, North Little Rock,

AR

Fayetteville VA Medical Center, Fayetteville, AR

Muskogee VA Medical Center, Muskogee, OK

Oklahoma City VA Medical Center, Oklahoma

Overton Brooks Medical Center, Shreveport, LA

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS:

American Academy Of Ophthalmology, 1996 - present

American Society of Retina Specialists, 2003 - present American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, 1996-present

The Association for Research In Vision and Ophthalmology ARVO, 1996- present

Texas Ophthalmologic Association 1999-present

Penn State University Alumni Association 1995-present University of Texas Alumni Association 1999-present

Georgetown University Alumni Association 1996-present Arab-American Medical Association, member since1997-present Research To Prevent Blindness, Ophthalmologic Associate

1998-present American College of Surgeons, 2008 to present

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RESEARCH INTERESTS:

Tele-Ophthalmology: founded the first Ophthalmology

telemedicine program in the VA system. This involves a

network of 10 veteran’s hospitals in south east USA connected with a digital communication network for instant

access to advanced sub-specialty eye care.

Retinal Vascular diseases: discovering new management

options for diabetic retinopathy and vascular occlusive disorders

Macular Degeneration: New approaches for treatment of

exudative macular degeneration

LICENSURE:

Arkansas State Medical Board License expires 3/31/2011 (renewed annually)