Garth A. Wilbanks, M.D., C.M. is a Board Certified Ophthalmologist with Fellowship subspecialty training in Diseases and Surgery of the Cornea. He grew up in Athens, Georgia and received his medical training at McGill University in Montreal, the University of Miami/Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, the Medical College of Georgia, and the University of Toronto. Special areas of interest include cataract and cornea surgery in adults and children; glaucoma surgery; the management of corneal diseases; diabetic eye care and laser surgery. Dr. Wilbanks enjoys spending time with his family, playing the piano, cycling, and hiking.
CURRICULUM VITAE
HIGHER EDUCATION
8/83-6/87Doctor of Medicine and Master of Surgery (M.D., C.M.), McGill University. Faculty of Medicine, Montreal, Quebec
9/79-6/83Bachelor of Science (Chemistry), University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, Summa cum Laude and with Highest Honors
9/75-6/79Cedar Shoals High School, Athens, Georgia, Class Valedictorian
POST DOCTORAL TRAINING
7/94-7/95Fellowship in Cornea and External Disease, David S. Rootman, M.D., Department of Ophthalmology,
University of Toronto
7/91-6/94Residency training, Department of Ophthalmology, The Medical College of
Georgia, Augusta, GA 30912
7/88-6/91Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in ocular immunology in the
laboratory of J. Wayne Streilein, M.D. Departments of Microbiology and Immunology, and Ophthalmology, University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, FL
7/87-6/88Straight Internship, Department of Internal Medicine, Royal Victoria
Hospital, McGill University Faculty of Medicine, Montreal, Quebec
EMPLOYMENT
9/95-presentEastern Maine Eye Associates. Corneal and refractive surgery. General Ophthalmology. President.
BOARD CERTIFICATION AND LICENSURE
5/96Diplomat of the American Board of Ophthalmology
8/95License to practice Medicine, State of Maine
10/89License to practice Medicine, State of Florida
9/88Diplomat, National Board of Medical Examiners
6/87Qualifying Exam, Medical Council of Canada (LMCC)
5/2005Recertification as Diplomat of the American Board of Ophthalmology
CURRENT RESEARCH INTERESTS
- Investigator, Cornea Donor Study
TEACHING EXPERIENCE/COMMITTEES
2008-presentHead Ophthalmology Section, Eastern Maine Medical Center
2001-presentEye Center Organizational Group, Eastern Maine Medical Center
1997-1999Ambulatory Surgical Planning Committee, Eastern Maine Medical Center
1996-1997Surgical Patient Care Committee, Saint Josephs Hospital, Bangor, ME
1994-1995Chief Fellow, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Toronto
1994-1995Postgraduate Medical Education Committee, University of Toronto
1993-1994Chief Resident, Department of Ophthalmology, Medical College of Georgia
1993-1994Clinic Committee, Department of Ophthalmology, Medical College of
Georgia
1993Internal Residency Review Committee, Medical College of Georgia
1992-1993Residents’ Council, Medical College of Georgia
1988-1991Immunology course for medical students. Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of
Miami School of Medicine, Miami, FL
HONORARY SOCIETIES AND AWARDS
5/92Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology/National Eye Institute Travel Fellowship
3/92Best resident paper presentation at the annual meeting of the Medical College of Georgia Ophthalmology Alumni Association
7/88-6/91National Eye Institute Fellowship for training in ocular immunology
3/90Symposium Scholarship, 5th International Symposium on the Immunology and Immunopathology of the
Eye, Tokyo, Japan
1982-presentPhi Beta Kappa
6/83Summa cum Laude, University of Georgia
5/82Phi Beta Kappa William B. Tate Scholar, University of Georgia
HOSPITAL STAFF PRIVILEDGES
1995-presentEastern Maine Medical Center, Bangor, ME
1995-presentSaint Joseph Hospital, Bangor, ME
PROFESSIONAL SOCIETY MEMBERSHIP
1995-presentMaine Medical Society
1995-presentPenobscott Medical Society
1995-1996 and 1999-presentCanadian Ophthalmological Society
1994-2007American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery
1992-1996Contact Lens Association of Ophthalmologists
1992-presentAmerican Academy of Ophthalmology
1989-1992American Medical Association
1988-1994Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology
HOBBIES AND INTERESTS
Music (piano), Cycling, Hiking
BIBLIOGRAPHY
I. SCIENTIFIC ARTICLES IN REFEREED JOURNALS
1.Wilbanks, G. A. and J. W. Streilein. 1989. The differing patterns of antigen release and local retention following anterior chamber and intravenous inoculation of soluble antigen. The eye is an antigen depot. Reg. Immunol. 2(6):390.
2.Wilbanks, G. A. and J. W. Streilein. 1990. Characterization of suppressor cells in anterior chamber-associated immune deviation (ACAID) induced by soluble antigen. Evidence of two functionally and phenotypically distinct T-suppressor cell populations. Immunology. 71:383.
3.Wilbanks, G. A. and J. W. Streilein. 1990. Distinctive humoral immune responses following anterior chamber and intravenous administration of soluble antigen. Evidence for active suppression of IgG2-secreting B lymphocytes. Immunology. 71:566.
4.Wilbanks, G. A. and J. W. Streilein. 1991. Studies on the induction of anterior chamber-associated immune deviation (ACAID). I. Evidence that an antigen-specific, ACAID-inducing, cell-associated signal exists in the peripheral blood. J. Immunol. 146:2610.
5.Wilbanks, G. A., M. M. Mammolenti, and J. W. Streilein. 1991. Studies on the induction of anterior chamber-
associated immune deviation (ACAID) II. Eye-derived cells participate in generating blood borne signals that induce ACAID. J. Immunol. 146:3018.
6.Wilbanks, G. A., M. M. Mammolenti, and J. W. Streilein. 1992. Studies on the induction of Anterior Chamber-Associated Immune Deviation (ACAID). III. Induction of ACAID Depends Upon Intraocular Transforming Growth Factor-ß. Eur. J. Immunol. 22:165.
7.Wilbanks, G. A. and J. W. Streilein. 1992.Fluids from immune privileged sites endow macrophages with the capacity to induce antigen-specific immune deviation via a mechanism involving transforming growth factor-beta. Eur. J.
Immunol. 22:1031.
8.Hara, Y., R. R. Caspi, B. Wiggert, C. Chan, G. A. Wilbanks, and J. W. Streilein. 1992. Suppression of experimental autoimmune uveitis in mice by induction of anterior chamber-associated immune deviation with interphotoreceptor retinoid- binding protein. J. Immunol. 148:1685.
9.Wilbanks, G. A. and J. W. Streilein. 1992. Macrophages capable of inducing anterior chamber associated immune deviation demonstrate spleen-seeking migratory properties. Reg. Immunol.4(3):130.
10.Streilein, J. W., G. A. Wilbanks, A. Taylor, and S. Cousins. 1992. Eye-derived cytokines and the immunosuppressive intraocular microenvironment; a review. Cur. Eye Res. 11:41.
11.Streilein, J. W., G. A. Wilbanks, and SW. Cousins. 1992. Immunoregulatory mechanisms of the eye. J. Neuroimmunol. 39:185.
12.Wilbanks, G. A., A. J. G. Apel, S. S. Jolly, D. S. Rootman, and R. G. Devenyi. 1996. Perfluorodecalin corneal toxiciy. Five case reports. Cornea. 15(3):329.
13.Wilbanks GA, S Cohen, M Chipman, DS Rootman. 1996. Clinical outcomes following penetrating keratoplasty using the Barron-Hessburg and Hanna corneal trephination systems. Cornea. 15(6):589-598.
14.Wilbanks GA, S. Boerner, D.S. Rootman. 1997. Giant pseudocyst formation associated with chronic corneal edema. Cornea. 16(2):224-226.
15.Wilbanks GA, Rootman DS, Jay V, Wiggert B, Chamberlain J, Inman RD. 1997. Experimental autoimmune uveitis in HLA-B27 transgenic mice. Human Immunology 53:188-194.
16.Wilbanks GA, Saville BA, Cheng Y-L, Jay V, Inman R, Rootman DS. The immunosuppressive effects of a biodegradable subconjunctival implant for cyclosporine delivery in corneal transplants. Manuscript in preparation.
17.Young TA, GA Wilbanks, GE Trope, DS Rootman. 1995. Outcomes in phakoemulsification and phakoemulsification-trabeculectomy surgery. Submitted for publication.
18. Cornea Donor Study Group. Baseline Donor Characteristics in the Cornea Donor Study (CDS). Cornea 2005; 24(4):389-396.
19Cornea Donor Study Group. An Evaluation of Image Quality and Accuracy of Eye Bank Measurement of Donor Cornea Endothelial Cell Density in the Specular Microscopy Ancillary Study. Ophthalmology 2005; 112:431-440.
20Cornea Donor Study Group. Clinical Profile and Early Surgical Complications in the Cornea Donor Study (CDS). Cornea 2006; 25(2):164-170.
21Benetz, BA, Gal, RL, Ruedy KJ, Rice C, Beck RW, Lass, JL for the Cornea Donor Study Group. Specular Microscopy Reading Center Methods in the Specular Microscopy Ancillary Study (SMAS). Current Eye Research 2006; 31:319-327.
22Cornea Donor Study Investigator Group. The effect of donor age on corneal transplantation outcome: results of the cornea donor study. Ophthalmology 2008; 31:319-327
23Cornea Donor Study Investigator Group. Donor age and corneal endothelial cell loss five years after successful cornea transplantation: specular microscopy ancillary study results. Ophthalmology 2008;115:627-632
24Cornea Donor Study Investigator Group. Donor risk factors for graft failure in the Cornea Donor Study. Cornea 2009; 28(9):981-985
25Cornea Donor Study Investigator Group. Endothelial cell density to predict endothelial graft failure after penetrating keratoplasty. Archives of Ophthalmology 2010; 128: 63-6
II. BOOK CHAPTERS
1.Streilein, J. W. and G. A. Wilbanks. 1990. Evidence that anterior chamber and intravenous antigen injections have distinctly different systemic immune consequences. In Ocular Immunology Today. M. Usui, S. Ohno, and K. Aoki, editors. Elsevier Science Publishers B. V., Amsterdam, p. 255.
2.Wilbanks, G. A. and J. W. Streilein. 1990. Characterization of humoral immune responses following anterior chamber and intravenous administration of soluble antigen. B-cell secretion of complement-fixing antibody is selectively and actively suppressed. In Ocular Immunology Today. M. Usui, S. Ohno, and K. Aoki, editors. Elsevier Science Publishers B. V., Amsterdam, p. 259.
III. SCIENTIFIC PRESENTATIONS AT LOCAL, NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL MEETINGS
1989Wilbanks, G. A. and J. W. Streilein. Intracameral and intravenous inoculations of soluble antigen induce distinctly different forms of immune deviation. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. (supplement). 30:468.
1989Wilbanks, G. A. and J. W. Streilein. 1989. Intracameral antigen presentation
induces an immunologically distinct form of tolerance. Presented at Bascom
Palmer Resident's Day.
1990Streilein, J. W and G. A. Wilbanks. ACAID excludes complement fixing antibodies from humoral immune responses to intracameral antigens. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. (supplement). 31(4):214.
1990Wilbanks, G. A. and J. W. Streilein. Unique immune regulation following anterior chamber presentation of soluble antigens. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. (supplement). 31:64.
1991Hara, Y., R. R. Caspi, B. Wiggert, J. Chader, G. A. Wilbanks and J. W. Streilein. Effect of ACAID induction on expression of IRBP-specific delayed hypersensitivity and EAU in mice. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. (supplement). 32:791.
1991Wilbanks, G. A. and J. W. Streilein. An ACAID-inducing signal exists in the blood of mice that receive antigen into the anterior chamber. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. (supplement). 32:1119.
1991Streilein, J. W., G. A. Wilbanks and S. W. Cousins. Unique ocular antigen presenting cells generate a suppression-inducing, antigen-specific signal in situ. Workshop on thymus, clonal deletion and suppressor systems in demyelinating disease, March 20-24, 1991, Sante Fe, New Mexico.
1992Wilbanks, G. A. and J. W. Streilein. Suppression of delayed hypersensitivity in vivo by an ACAID-inducing signal created in vitro. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. (supplement). 33:1283.
1992Streilein, J. W. and G. A. Wilbanks. Immune privileged fluids contain TGF-ß and endow macrophages with the capacity to induce antigen-specific immune deviation. Annual meeting of the AAI at FASEB.
1992Wilbanks, G. A., R. A. Bell, and J. W. Streilein. The induction of systemic tolerance
following anterior chamber inoculation of antigen. Presented at The Sixteenth Annual
Medical College of Georgia's Resident-Alumni Meeting.
1993Wilbanks, G. A., R. A. Bell, and J. W. Streilein. The identification of an intraocular
factor which regulates ocular immunity. Presented at The Seventeenth Annual
Medical College of Georgia's Resident-Alumni Meeting.
1994Wilbanks, G. A., and D. S. Hull. Computerized Topographic Analysis of Corneal
Allografts Following Penetrating Keratoplasty. Presented at The Eighteenth Annual
Medical College of Georgia's Resident-Alumni Meeting.
1995Wilbanks, G.A., S. Cohen, M. Chipman, and D.S. Rootman. Clinical outcome following penetrating keratoplasty using the Barron-Hessburg and Hanna corneal
trephination systems. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. (supplement). 36 (4):979.
1995Young, T.A., G.A. Wilbanks, and D.S. Rootman. Comparative study of intra-operative and early post-operative complication rates with phacoemulsification and phacoemulsification combined with trabeculectomy. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci.
supplement). 36 (4):218.
1995Wilbanks GA, S Boerner, DS Rootman. Giant cyst formation associated with corneal edema Presented at the Corneal and External Disease Academic Society. Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
1995Wilbanks, G.A., S. Cohen, M. Chipman, and D.S. Rootman. Clinical comparison of corneal transplantation using the Hanna and Barron-Hessburg trephination systems. Presented at The University of Toronto, Department of Ophthalmology's Thirty-Seventh Annual Research Day.
1995Young, T.A., G.A. Wilbanks, D.S. Rootman, and G.E. Trope. Complications with
phacoemulsification, phacoemulsification-trabeculectomy, and trabeculectomy. Presented at The University of Toronto, Department of Ophthalmology's Thirty-Seventh Annual Research Day.
1995Young, T., D. Rootman, G. Wilbanks. An unusual (new?) corneal dystrophy. Can J Ophthalmol. 30(2):89.
1995Wilbanks, G.A., S. Cohen, M. Chipman, and D.S. Rootman. Clinical comparison
of penetrating keratoplasty results using the Barron-Hessburg and Hanna corneal trephination systems. Can J Ophthalmol. 30(2):90.
1995Young, T.A., G.A. Wilbanks, D.S. Rootman, G.E. Trope. Complications with phacoemulsification, phacoemulsification-trabeculectomy, and trabeculectomy. Can J Ophthalmol. 30(2):106.
1995Wilbanks, G.A., D.S. Rootman, V. Jay, B. Wiggert, and R. Inman. The susceptibility of HLA-B27 transgenic mice to experimental autoimmune uveitis. Submitted to the American College of Rheumatology.
1998 Ramirez, T.C., Zaidman, G.W., Kaufman, A.H., Medow, N.B., Palay, D.A., Phillips, R.L., Schlichtemeier, W.R., and Wilbanks, G.A. Intraocular Lens Implantation in Children with Penetrating Keratoplasty. Presented at The Castroviejo Cornea Society Scientific Program. New Orleans, LA.
IV. INVITED LECTURES
2000Management of the Patient with the Array® Multifocal IOL. Presented at The Maine Optometric Association. Bangor, ME
2001 Evaluation of and Caring for the Corneal Transplant Patient. Presented at The Maine Optometric Association. Sugarloaf, ME
2001Cataract Surgery with Fuchs' Dystrophy: Double vs. Triple Procedure. Presented at The New England Ophthalmologic Association. Boston, MA.
2005Planned and Moderated the May 20, 2005 meeting of The New England Ophthalmologic Association. Boston, MA. Cataract Challenges with I. Howard Fine, MD and Howard V. Gimbel, MD, MPH, FRCSC
2007SALK, DALK, and DSAEK. The “Holy Grail of Corneal Transplantation. Presented at the spring meeting of the Maine Society of Eye Physicians and Surgeons
2007Electronic Medical Records for Dummies. Presented at the spring meeting of the Maine Society of Eye Physicians and Surgeons
2009Planned and Moderated the September, 2009 meeting of The New England Ophthalmologic Association. Boston, MA. Cornea Surgery with Frances Price, MD
2009Ocular Anesthesia, Surgery, and Trauma. Presented at the 3rd Annual EMMC Perioperative Services Seminar, Orland, ME
