The Role of a Medical Director
“As an eye bank with multiple processing locations, we are proud to have Medical Directors and Associate Medical Directors in each region.”
Medical Directors are an essential part of our eye bank. They provide advice and oversight of technical operations and ensure our eye bank operates in compliance with the Eye Bank Association of America (EBAA) medical standards and regulations from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Our Medical Directors also help develop, approve, and implement medical policies and procedures, as well as ensure the competency of all staff performing technical procedures.
As an eye bank with multiple processing locations, we are proud to have Medical Directors and Associate Medical Directors in each region.
Medical Directors
Mark J. Mannis, M.D.
UC Davis Professor and Former Chair of the Department of Ophthalmology & Vision Science and Director of the UC Davis Health System Eye Center
One of the world’s most preeminent and highly respected leaders in eye banking, Dr. Mannis has a broad scope of knowledge and experience in ocular recovery, evaluation and transplantation. A pioneer in developing eye bank standards and practices, Dr. Mannis has written numerous clinical and basic research papers for peer reviewed publications, authored five books, and served as the Editor-in-Chief of the journal, Cornea. Dr. Mannis is a recipient of the R. Townley Paton Award from EBAA, the most prestigious prize awarded in the eye banking industry.
Jennifer Li, M.D.
UC Davis Professor of the Department of Ophthalmology & Vision Science
Dr. Li graduated cum laude in Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry from Yale University. She subsequently received her medical degree and residency training at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, and completed a fellowship in Cornea, External Disease, and Refractive Surgery at the University of California, Davis. She is the Director of the Cornea and External Disease Service and the Fellowship Director at UC Davis. She has published numerous scientific papers and book chapters on eye banking and corneal transplantation techniques and outcomes. Dr. Li is an active member of the Eye Bank Association of America and is the Immediate Past Chair of the EBAA Board of Directors. She serves on the EBAA Accreditation Board and is the recipient of the EBAA’s 2021 R. Townley Paton Award.
Associate Medical Directors
Erich B. Groos, M.D.
Founding Partner of Cornea Consultants of Nashville and Medical Director of the Eye Surgery Center of Nashville
Dr. Groos has been involved with eye banking since his fellowship at UC Davis Medical Center in 1992. He has served as medical director of the Tennessee Donor Services Eye Bank since 1997. He has been selected president of both the Nashville and Tennessee Academies of Ophthalmology and previously sat on the Council of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Dr. Groos has been selected one of the Best Doctors in America since 2009.
Caleb K. Morris, M.D.
Board Certified Ophthalmic Surgeon at Nevada Eye Consultants
Dr. Caleb K. Morris is a Board-Certified Ophthalmologist specializing in corneal and cataract surgery at Nevada Eye Consultants. After graduating cum laude from Brigham Young University, he attended medical school at Duke University School of Medicine. Dr. Morris continued to the Baylor College of Medicine where he completed his ophthalmology residency. Following residency, Dr. Morris joined the Pepose Vision Institute for an anterior segment fellowship, which included training with one of the pioneers and current leaders in cornea and refractive (LASIK) surgery.
