Meet the Instructors

Dennis Brooks

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.

Renata Ramos

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.

OphthoXP Presenter_Gilger

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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