Mark O.M. Tso

Mark O.M. Tso, MD, is an American and Chinese ophthalmologist who served as Professor and Founding Chairman of the Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong. Much of his early research concerned ocular pathologic findings in retinoblastoma and laser effects on the retina.

Education and career

Dr. Mark OM Tso is Professor of Ophthalmology and Pathology at the Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Chair XI, Academia Ophthalmologica Internationalis.

Previously he was the Founding Chairman of the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Chinese University of Hong Kong (1994-1999) and Founding Director and Professor of Ophthalmology, Peking University Eye Center, China (1999-2009). He was formerly the Vice President of the International Council of Ophthalmology (1998-2006) and Director for Education, International Council of Ophthalmology (2006-2012). Dr. Tso received the Friedenwald Award of ARVO (1989), Lorenz E. Zimmerman Medal of American Academy of Ophthalmology (2001), the de OCampo Lectureship of the Asia Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology (1995), Paul Henkind Memorial Lectureship of the Macula Society (1996), and the Gold Fellowship of the Association for Researching Vision and Ophthalmology (2010), and the International Council of Ophthalmology (ICO), Ophthalmic Pathology Award and the Naumann Medal (2014).

In 2009, the State Administration of Foreign Expert Affairs of the People’s Republic of China and Premier Wen Jiabao bestowed on Professor Mark Tso a “Friendship Award” medal in appreciation of his major contribution to eye care and ophthalmic education in China for over a decade.

In 2014, in appreciation of Dr. Tso’s contribution to international ophthalmic education, the International Council of Ophthalmology established the ICO Mark Tso Golden Apple Award to honor the best teachers of Clinical Ophthalmology in each of the Americas, Europe, Asia-Pacific and the Middle East regions to be given at their Supra National Congresses in the above 4 regions.

Offices held

• 1969 - 1971 Staff Ophthalmologist, Department of Ophthalmic & Pathology, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Washington, D.C., Major MC, USA
• 1969 - 1971 Assistant Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology, The George Washington University Medical Center, Washington, D.C.
• 1971 - 1972 Assistant Research Professor of Ophthalmology, The George Washington University Medical Center, Washington, D.C.
• 1971 - 1976 Research Associate, Ophthalmic Pathology Branch, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Washington, D.C.
• 1972 - 1976 Visiting Staff of Retina Clinics of George Washington University Hospital, D.C., General Hospital & Freedmen Hospital
• 1973 - 1976 Associate Research Professor of Ophthalmology, The George Washington University Medical School
• 1976 - 1994 Professor of Ophthalmology, Lions of Illinois Eye Research Institute, University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
• 1976 - 1994 Director of the Georgiana Theobald Ophthalmic Pathology Laboratory, The University of Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary, University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
• 1976 - 1994 Director of the Macula Clinic, University of Illinois Hospital Eye & Ear Infirmary, University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
• 1989 - 1994 Medical Director of Lions of Illinois Eye Bank, Lions of Illinois Eye Research Institute, Chicago, Illinois
• 1994 - 1999 Professor and Founding Chairman, Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
• 1994–2000 Chief of Service, Hong Kong Eye Hospital
• 1994 - 2000 Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology, University of Hong Kong
• 1997 - 1999 President, College of Ophthalmologists of Hong Kong
• 1997 - 2005 Councilor and Honorary Treasurer, Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology
• 1998 - 2006 Vice President, International Council of Ophthalmology, elected in May, 1997
• 2004–2005 Medical Director, National Neurovision Research Institute, (NNRI)
• 1999–Present Professor of Ophthalmology and Pathology, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine
• 1997–Present Chair XI, Academia Ophthalmologica Internationalis
• 1995–Present Adjunct Professor of Ophthalmology, University of Illinois at Chicago
• 2001–Present Honorary Director and Professor of Ophthalmology, Peking University Eye Center, Beijing
• 2006 – Present Education Director, International Council of Ophthalmology