Houston ophthalmologist Jack Holladay, MD
(yes, it is spelled Holladay with an "a", not Holliday
with an "i") was born on October 13, 1946, while his
parents were stationed at Olathe Naval Base near Kansas
City, Kansas. His father went to work for Ford Motor
Company and typical of many families ascending the corporate
ladder, the numerous relocations meant attending twelve
schools between kindergarten and high school. In 1961,
the family moved to Dallas, Texas, where Dr. Holladay
began his sophomore year at South Oak Cliff High School.
In 1964, Dr. Holladay graduated from South Oak Cliff
High School, receiving an academic and music scholarship
for tuition and room at Southern Methodist University.
He chose Electrical Engineering as his major and played
solo trumpet with the Mustang Band along with Harry
James, Jr. He worked in the student cafeteria for his
meals, giving him the opportunity to meet many students.
These many friends were instrumental in his successful
campaigns for Head Cheerleader during his junior and
senior years.
In 1969 he received his Bachelor of Science Degree
in Electrical Engineering and was awarded a scholarship
to graduate school. His work in the Master's program
was primarily in Computer Science, where he developed
software for the onboard aircraft computers to defeat
Soviet radar systems. He also designed night vision
optical devices using early IBM programs, which represented
his first exposure to the field of optics.
In 1971, Dr. Holladay received his Master of Science
Degree in Electrical Engineering from Southern Methodist
University and started course work toward a Doctorate.
Attending classes at Southwestern Medical School was
part of the Biomedical Engineering program, and this
fostered an interest in the medical applications of
his engineering background. As his interest grew, he
decided to attend medical school.
Dr. Holladay was accepted in the first on-campus
class of 32 members at The University of Texas Medical
School in Houston in 1971. In 1974, he received his
Doctorate of Medicine, followed by a year of research
developing instrumentation for measuring the electrical
charge of the eye. He then began his residency in ophthalmology
in 1975 at Hermann Hospital, the teaching hospital for
The University of Texas Medical School at Houston.
Dr. Holladay completed his residency in ophthalmology
in 1978 and was invited to join The University of Texas
Medical School Faculty. In addition to his teaching
responsibilities and private practice, Dr. Holladay
has invented the Brightness Acuity Tester, an instrument
which is used by ophthalmologists all over the world
for testing the effects of glare on patients' vision.
He has also developed the Holladay "IOL Consultant"
and "Refractive Surgery Consultant" software programs,
which are currently used worldwide by ophthalmologists
to help restore their patients' vision following cataract
removal and obtaining the best results following refractive
surgery (Lasik).
Dr. Holladay specializes in refractive surgery, which
includes Lasik laser vision correction and PRK. He is
very active in the American Academy of Ophthalmology;
serving as past Chairman of the Committee on Low Vision,
Committee on Optics, Refraction and Contact Lenses,
Ethics Committee and the Committee for Ophthalmic Technology
Development. Because of his service to the Academy and
his teaching contributions at the annual meeting, he
received the Honor Award in 1985, and the Senior Honor
Award in 1995, which is awarded to only 25ophthalmologists
a year. He has written over 96 scientific articles,
30 book chapters, and authored or edited 5 books and
made several hundred scientific presentations. Dr. Holladay
has been invited as a Visiting Professor to many of
the major ophthalmology programs internationally.
In 1986, he received the Distinguished Service Award
from the Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration
for his service on the Ophthalmic Device Panel. He has
received the "Most Outstanding Lecturer in Ophthalmology"
from his medical students numerous times. In 1991, he
was named the A. G. McNeese, Jr. Professor of Ophthalmology
and was the second person to be recognized as a Distinguished
Alumnus of The University of Texas Medical School at
Houston. In 1992, he received the Binkhorst Medal Award
from the American Society of Cataract and Refractive
Surgery given to one ophthalmologist each year. In 1995,
he was honored with the "Ridley Award" from the European
Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery that is given
to only one ophthalmologist every two years. In 2001,
he was the first recipient of the John Pearse Memorial
Award from the United Kingdom & Ireland Society of Refractive
Surgeons (UKISCRS). Dr. Holladay was acknowledged in
2002-2003 as one of the "Best Doctors in America", has
been recognized as one of the "Top Doctors in Houston"
by Inside Houston Magazine and is in "Who's Who" in
Texas and the U.S. He is currently the Vice Chairman
of the Executive Committee and member of the Board for
the International Society of Refractive Surgery of the
American Academy of Ophthalmology; Editorial Board Member
of the Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery and
a Board of Director for the Council for Refractive Surgery
Quality Assurance.
Although Dr. Holladay's professional activities are
many, he still devotes a significant amount of time
to the community and his family.
