Faculty and Physicians

Maria M. Aaron, MD

Professor of Ophthalmology
Director, section of Comprehensive Ophthalmology
Chief of Service, Emory University Hospital Midtown

Maria M. Aaron, MD, is a professor in the Department of Ophthalmology within Emory University School of Medicine. She is director of the section of Comprehensive Ophthalmology at Emory Eye Center and is chief of service at the Emory University Hospital Midtown location (Medical Office Tower). From 1999 to 2011, Dr. Aaron served as residency program director.

National Recognition

Dr. Aaron was elected to the Program Directors Council of the Association of the University Professors of Ophthalmology and in 2010, she received the prestigious Straatsma Award for Excellence in Resident Education. The award was dually conferred by the presidents of the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) and the American University Professors of Ophthalmology (AUPO). She also received the 2011 Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education’s (ACGME) Parker J. Palmer "Courage to Teach" Award,which is presented nationally to 10 outstanding residency program directors for their commitment to teaching and their innovative and effective teaching methods.

Dr. Aaron served as president of the Program Directors’ Council of AUPO (2008) and as the vice-chair of the Ophthalmology Residency Review Committees for the ACGME. She received an Achievement Award from the AAO and is an associate examiner for the American Board of Ophthalmology’s Oral Board Examination.

She is a sought-after speaker, particularly for residency program director sessions on a variety of GME topics. She has published a number of articles and chapters on topics related to resident education and has lectured widely at national ophthalmic meetings on a variety of important competency and accreditation topics. Her most recent interest is in the area of generational differences in academic medicine.

Areas of Clinical Interest

• Adult comprehensive ophthalmology
• Diabetic retinopathy
• Cataract surgery
• Complicated cataract surgery

Publications (PubMed link)

Medical School
Vanderbilt University, Nashville TN: 1991-1995

Internship
Georgia Baptist Medical Center, Atlanta GA: 1995-1996

Residency
Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta GA:
1996-1999

Board Certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology