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The Doctors of the Retina Macula Institute
Our physicians at the Retina Macula Institute are board-certified with advanced fellowship training in medical and surgical disease of the retina.
Dr. Ron P. Gallemore
Dr. Ron P. Gallemore, Founder and Director of the Retina Macula Institute, is an internationally recognized clinician, scientist and surgeon.
He received his M.D. degree from the University of California, San Francisco, where he graduated with top honors. As a member of the elite Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP), he also completed his Ph.D. in Neuroscience focusing on the physiology and biophysics of retinal function. He then trained at the Jules Stein Eye Institute, UCLA, where he completed his residency while concurrently establishing and directing an internationally recognized retinal research laboratory.
For more advanced training he completed the prestigious vitreo-retinal surgery fellowship at Duke University under Dr. Robert Machemer, the founder of modern vitreo-retinal surgery.
He was awarded some of the highest honors in his field including the Heed and Knapp Fellowship awards, the Dr. Charles Schepens Award and the Dr. Ron Michaels Award. He was also selected by his peers to receive the Jules Stein Eye Institute Alumni Research Award.
His research has been funded by the National Eye Institute, Research to Prevent Blindness, the Foundation Fighting Blindness, Fight for Sight, the University of California, and the National Science Foundation. As a retina surgeon, Dr. Gallemore has performed over 10,000 surgical procedures and has helped develop new techniques.
He has published more than 200 original articles, reviews, and book chapters, and has been an investigator in over 40 clinical trials. He understands the physical and emotional impact of retinal disease and combines compassion with state-of-the-art technology to carry out the mission of the Retina Macula Institute.
Awards and Honors:
- Best Of LA Ophthalmologist Award, Los Angeles, CA, 2010
- Retinal Disease Life Changer, "Extra", NBC Television Network, 2009
- Retinal Disease Medical Expert, Medical Mysteries, Oprah Winfrey Network, 2009
- Wellness Hour Panelist, San Diego, CA 2008
- Jules Stein Eye Institute Alumini Research Award, 1999
- Outstanding Contributor, Duke University Advanced Vitreous Surgery Course, 1998
- Ronald G. Michels Fellowship Foundation Award, 1997
- Heed/Knapp Fellowship, Heed Ophthalmic Foundation, 1997
- Heed Fellowship, Heed Ophthalmic Foundation, 1996
- Society of Heed Fellows Fellow, Heed Ophthalmic Foundation, 1996
- Jules Stein Eye Institute Laboratory Research Award, 1996
- Schepens International Society, Outstanding Research Paper Award, Mexico City, 1995
- Jules Stein Eye Institute Laboratory Research Award, 1995
- Dr. Henry and Lilian Nesburn Research Award Los Angeles Society of Ophthalmology, 1994
- Robert J. Prentiss Original Research Award Mercy Hospital, San Diego, CA, 1993
- National Eye Institute Research Service Award, 1989, 1990
- Dean's Summer Research Fellowship University of California, San Francisco, 1986
- Fight for Sight Student Fellowship, 1985
- Dr. W. F. Holcomb Research Scholar Award University of California, Irvine, 1985
- Dean's Academic Achievement and Service Award - University of California, Irvine, 1985
- Robert Ernst Prize for Excellence in Research in the Biological Sciences, 1984
- Alpha Epsilon Delta Honor Society, University of California, Irvine, 1984
- Swedish Club of Los Angeles Inc. Academic Scholarship Award 1984
- Chancellor's Scholar, U.C. Irvine 1983, 1984
- Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society (Sophomore) 1983
- President's Undergraduate Research Grant, U.C. Irvine, 1983, 1984
- Excellence in Research Award UC Irvine, 1983, 1984
- Committee for Undergraduate Development Research Scholarship - U.C. Irvine, 1983
- Excellence in Research Award Southern California Academy of Sciences, 1982
- Scholarship for Academic Excellence and Community Service, RCU #324, 1982
Dr. Mehran Taban
Dr. Mehran (Ron) Taban, M.D., is a vitreoretinal specialist at Retina Macula Institute.
He obtained his Bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where he graduated Summa Cum Laude. He received his M.D. from the University of California, Irvine, achieving a membership in the Alpha Omega Alpha (AωA) Honor Medical Society. He then trained at the famous Cleveland Clinic, where he completed his ophthalmology residency, including serving as chief resident in his final year.
Following residency, he stayed at the Cleveland Clinic to obtain subspecialty training in vitreoretinal diseases, working with world-renowned retina specialists, including Drs. Hilel Lewis, Andrew Schachat, Peter Kaiser, and Jonathan Sears, among others, pioneers in surgical and medical retina fields.
He has received numerous honors/awards during his specialty training, including the Heed Fellowship award, Retina Society Fellowship award, and the prestigious and exclusive Ronald G. Michels Fellowship Foundation award.
Dr. Taban has a strong interest in retinal clinical research and has published close to 50 original articles and book chapters in top-tiered journals over the last 5 years. He is a journal reviewer for Ophthalmology and British Journal of Ophthalmology and a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) and the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO). His specialty interests include retinal detachment, age-related macular degeneration, posterior segment complications of anterior segment surgery, and retinal vascular disease such as diabetic retinopathy.
Awards and Honors:
Undergraduate:
- Summa Cum Laude graduate, UCLA
- Phi Beta Kappa
- Dean’s Honor List every quarter, UCLA (1996-99)
- College Honors Program, UCLA (1996-99)
Medical School:
- Member of the Alpha Omega Alpha (AωA) Honor Medical Society
- Achieved Honors in every basic science course
- Basic Science Certificate of Excellence
- Distinguished Achievement Award in General & Systemic Pathology
- Certificate of Excellence in Medical Physiology
- Certificate of Excellence in Microbiology
- Elected to Pathology Honor Society through the Association of Pathology Chairs (APC) Honor Society
- Achieved Honors in Medicine, Surgery, Family Medicine, and Emergency Medicine core rotations
- Achieved Honors in Ophthalmology electives (clinical & research)
- Received Letters of Commendation from Medicine and Surgery clerkships for high performance
- USMLE Step I – passed, score 255 (99th percentile)
- USMLE Step II – passed, score 232 (90th percentile)
- USMLE Step III – passed, score 215 (87th percentile)
Residency:
- OKAPS (Year 1) – 98th percentile ($1,000)
- Appointed Chief Resident for 2006-2007
- Grandrounds/Quiz Award 2006-2007 ($1000)
Fellowship:
- Heed Fellow ($12,000), 2007-2008
- Retina Society Fellowship Award ($1,000), September 2008
- Ronald G. Michels Fellowship Foundation award ($5,000), November 2008