William Woodson Dawson, MS, Ph.D. (1933-2010)

Dr. Dawson“With great sadness we observed the passing of Dr. William Dawson on March 11, 2010. His research on blinding diseases will not end with his passing but it will continue on thru the work of those he inspired.”

Degrees: Vanderbilt and Florida State University, Post graduate at the University of California Berkley. Specialization in sensory physiology, retina and its diseases of aging. *Past: Professor of Ophthalmology, Physiology, Neuroscience, Veterinary Science, University of Florida. Chief, Eye Clinic Electrodiagnostics Service. Present: Emeritus Professor of Ophthalmology. Honors: National Research Councel, Vision Committee. University of Florida Senate. Joseph P. Kennedy Professor, G. Peabody College. Honorary Faculty University of Puerto Rico. ASEE Senior Research Fellow US Navy Ocean Systems. U.S. Patent 4,417,581. Vice-President for Americas, ISCEV. Seymour Roberts Keynote Lecture (1997), American College of Veterinary Medicine. Opening Lecture (1997) Royal College of Ophthalmology Edinburgh. North Florida Lions Foundation Eye Research Award (2007).

Adachi Award and Lecture Society of Electrophysiology of Vision (2008). Graduated students: Doctoral and Masters’, 24. Twelve post graduate fellows. Publications: Two books. Two hundred fifty three journal publications and abstracts. Research: Past: Visual physiology of ionizing irradiation. Cornea neurosensory physiology: Function and structure of cetacean eyes, discovery of the peripapillary vascular rete system, discovery of the giant S cell and J retinal cell systems in mammals. Joint discovery of the retinal interplexiform cells. Current research: Development of the Cayo Santiago rhesus monkey for natural modeling of diseases of eye aging, glaucoma, age related macular degeneration, diabetes mellitus II and lipid related degenerative changes in the outer retina and choroid.

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