Meet The Instructors
Dr. Dennis E. Brooks
Dennis E. Brooks DVM, PhD, DACVO is a 1980 graduate of the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine. He passed the certifying examination of the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists (ACVO) in 1984. Dr Brooks received a PhD in 1987 from the University of Florida College of Medicine.
Dr Brooks has written over 178 academic scientific publications, 76 book chapters, received $2.3 million in research grants, and has given over 1,000 lectures both nationally and internationally in comparative ophthalmology. His book, Equine Ophthalmology, was published in 2002 and again in 2008. A book Small Animal Ophthalmology was published in 2011. He received both the British Equine Veterinary Association’s Sir Frederick Smith Memorial Lecture and Medal Recipient in 2007, and he received the Frank J. Milne State of the Art Lecture Award from the American Association of Equine Practitioners in 2010, and is the only person to have done this. The AAEP also gave him its Distinguished Educator Award in 2016.
He has been a scientist and clinician in academia at the University of Tennessee and the University of Florida, and unanimously voted Professor Emeritus of Ophthalmology at the University of Florida in 2015. Dr Brooks was the President of the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists from 1997-1998. He operates an equine ophthalmology consulting service BrooksEyes LLC in Florida and Texas at present. Dr. Brooks has extensive experience in corneal transplantation and cataract surgery of the horse.
Dr. Bianca C. Martins
Bianca C. Martins, DVM, PhD, DACVO, DCLOVE (Hon.), received her DVM from São Paulo State University in Brazil in 2002. She obtained her Master's degree in Veterinary Ophthalmology in 2005 and completed her PhD in Veterinary Ophthalmology in 2008, at the same university. Dr. Martins completed a postdoctoral program at University of Florida in 2012, followed by a residency in Comparative Ophthalmology at University of Florida in 2015. She is currently an Associate Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology at University of California, Davis, and director of its Residency Program in Comparative Ophthalmology.
Dr. Martins obtained board certification from the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists in 2016 and is an honorary member of the Latin American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists (CLOVE). She is the current President of the International Equine Ophthalmology Consortium (IEOC). She is co-chair of the American Board of Veterinary Ophthalmologists (ACVO) Residency Committee. She is a board member of the International Society of Veterinary Ophthalmology (ISVO) and editor of its newsletter, The Globe.
Dr. Martins has authored several scientific articles and ophthalmology textbook chapters. Her research interests include equine ophthalmology and ocular surface reconstruction with an emphasis on the use of biological and synthetic grafts.
Dr. Caryn Plummer
Caryn E. Plummer, DVM, DACVO, a native Floridian, graduated with a biology degree from Yale University in 1997. She is an honors graduate of the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine class of 2002. Following veterinary school, she completed a rotating internship at Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine followed by a residency in comparative ophthalmology at the University of Florida. She is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists (2006).
After completing specialty training in 2006, Dr. Plummer joined the faculty as an assistant professor at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, where she is currently a tenured professor. Her research interests include corneal wound healing, immune-mediated uveitis and glaucoma.
She has lectured extensively domestically and internationally on many topics associated with clinical veterinary ophthalmology and animal models of ophthalmic disease, especially glaucoma. She is a contributing author to the Gelatt's classic textbook Veterinary Ophthalmology (4rd, 5th and 6th editions) and an associate editor for the recent 6th edition. She is also a charter member of and currently serves as the secretary/treasurer for the International Equine Ophthalmology Consortium.
Dr. Renata Ramos
Renata Ramos, DVM, MS, DACVO, currently serves as clinical assistant professor of ophthalmology at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Ramos earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the União Pioneira de Integração Social in Brazil in 2011 before pursuing advanced training in the United States.
She completed a residency in comparative ophthalmology at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine and achieved board certification in 2020 by the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists. Dr. Ramos' research interests include ocular sensory innervation.
Dr. Brian Gilger
Brian Gilger, DVM, MS, DACVO, is a Professor of Ophthalmology at North Carolina State University and a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists and American Board of Toxicologists. His research is focused on ocular immunology, uveitis, and innovative therapies for equine ocular disease. He is an Associate Editor for the journal Veterinary Ophthalmology, has authored over 190 peer-reviewed scientific manuscripts, and is the editor of seven textbooks, including Equine Ophthalmology, now in its fourth edition.
Dr. Gilger was recognized as a distinguished alumnus of The Ohio State University and Auburn University. He was awarded the American Veterinary Medical Association Clinical Research Award and the Zoetis Research Award.
Meet The Instructors
Dr. Dennis E. Brooks
Dennis E. Brooks DVM, PhD, DACVO is a 1980 graduate of the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine. He passed the certifying examination of the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists (ACVO) in 1984. Dr Brooks received a PhD in 1987 from the University of Florida College of Medicine.
Dr Brooks has written over 178 academic scientific publications, 76 book chapters, received $2.3 million in research grants, and has given over 1,000 lectures both nationally and internationally in comparative ophthalmology. His book, Equine Ophthalmology, was published in 2002 and again in 2008. A book Small Animal Ophthalmology was published in 2011. He received both the British Equine Veterinary Association’s Sir Frederick Smith Memorial Lecture and Medal Recipient in 2007, and he received the Frank J. Milne State of the Art Lecture Award from the American Association of Equine Practitioners in 2010, and is the only person to have done this. The AAEP also gave him its Distinguished Educator Award in 2016.
He has been a scientist and clinician in academia at the University of Tennessee and the University of Florida, and unanimously voted Professor Emeritus of Ophthalmology at the University of Florida in 2015. Dr Brooks was the President of the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists from 1997-1998. He operates an equine ophthalmology consulting service BrooksEyes LLC in Florida and Texas at present. Dr. Brooks has extensive experience in corneal transplantation and cataract surgery of the horse.
Dr. Bianca C. Martins
Bianca C. Martins, DVM, PhD, DACVO, DCLOVE (Hon.), received her DVM from São Paulo State University in Brazil in 2002. She obtained her Master's degree in Veterinary Ophthalmology in 2005 and completed her PhD in Veterinary Ophthalmology in 2008, at the same university. Dr. Martins completed a postdoctoral program at University of Florida in 2012, followed by a residency in Comparative Ophthalmology at University of Florida in 2015. She is currently an Associate Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology at University of California, Davis, and director of its Residency Program in Comparative Ophthalmology.
Dr. Martins obtained board certification from the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists in 2016 and is an honorary member of the Latin American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists (CLOVE). She is the current President of the International Equine Ophthalmology Consortium (IEOC). She is co-chair of the American Board of Veterinary Ophthalmologists (ACVO) Residency Committee. She is a board member of the International Society of Veterinary Ophthalmology (ISVO) and editor of its newsletter, The Globe.
Dr. Martins has authored several scientific articles and ophthalmology textbook chapters. Her research interests include equine ophthalmology and ocular surface reconstruction with an emphasis on the use of biological and synthetic grafts.
Dr. Caryn Plummer
Caryn E. Plummer, DVM, DACVO, a native Floridian, graduated with a biology degree from Yale University in 1997. She is an honors graduate of the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine class of 2002. Following veterinary school, she completed a rotating internship at Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine followed by a residency in comparative ophthalmology at the University of Florida. She is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists (2006).
After completing specialty training in 2006, Dr. Plummer joined the faculty as an assistant professor at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, where she is currently a tenured professor. Her research interests include corneal wound healing, immune-mediated uveitis and glaucoma.
She has lectured extensively domestically and internationally on many topics associated with clinical veterinary ophthalmology and animal models of ophthalmic disease, especially glaucoma. She is a contributing author to the Gelatt's classic textbook Veterinary Ophthalmology (4rd, 5th and 6th editions) and an associate editor for the recent 6th edition. She is also a charter member of and currently serves as the secretary/treasurer for the International Equine Ophthalmology Consortium.
Dr. Renata Ramos
Renata Ramos, DVM, MS, DACVO, currently serves as clinical assistant professor of ophthalmology at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Ramos earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the União Pioneira de Integração Social in Brazil in 2011 before pursuing advanced training in the United States.
She completed a residency in comparative ophthalmology at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine and achieved board certification in 2020 by the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists. Dr. Ramos' research interests include ocular sensory innervation.
Dr. Brian Gilger
Brian Gilger, DVM, MS, DACVO, is a Professor of Ophthalmology at North Carolina State University and a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists and American Board of Toxicologists. His research is focused on ocular immunology, uveitis, and innovative therapies for equine ocular disease. He is an Associate Editor for the journal Veterinary Ophthalmology, has authored over 190 peer-reviewed scientific manuscripts, and is the editor of seven textbooks, including Equine Ophthalmology, now in its fourth edition.
Dr. Gilger was recognized as a distinguished alumnus of The Ohio State University and Auburn University. He was awarded the American Veterinary Medical Association Clinical Research Award and the Zoetis Research Award.
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