The Alan Sugar, M.D., Research Professorship in Ophthalmology

Alan Sugar, M.D., a corneal transplantation specialist, has served on the U-M Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences faculty for more than 40 years, and is known for his compassionate care and determination to help his patients feel and see better.

Ophthalmology is in Dr. Sugar’s DNA. His twin brother, Joel, is also an ophthalmologist. Both were influenced by their ophthalmologist father, who discussed his work at dinner each night. Growing up, Dr. Sugar’s youth is filled with other ties to the field, U-M, and the Kellogg Eye Center. The elder Dr. Sugar was W.K. Kellogg’s physician. He would bring his sons on house calls so they could play with the Kellogg’s dog—a relative of TV’s Rin Tin Tin. Every Christmas, the Sugar family received a case of their favorite Kellogg cereal. Coincidentally, the Sugars lived next door to the uncle of Paul R. Lichter, M.D., foreshadowing a future when Dr. Sugar and the former department chair and founder of the Kellogg Eye Center would be U-M colleagues.

Dr. Sugar joined the U-M faculty in 1979 as an associate professor, rising through the ranks to professor in 1984. He was associate and vice chair of the department from 1993 to 2019. The author of 235 papers, he was associate editor of Ophthalmology and editor-inchief of Cornea. He was president of the Cornea Society from 2004 to 2006 and elected to the American Ophthalmological Society in 1988. He has received the Eye Bank Association of America Paton Award, the Cornea Society Castroviejo medal, and the American Academy of Ophthalmology Lifetime Achievement Award. He is a medical director of Eversight Eye Bank.

When he learned his longtime patient, Susan Lane, established a professorship in his honor, he was surprised and touched. Ms. Lane has long dedicated her time, expertise, and passion to her interests and causes. A retired teacher, she actively volunteers at a local school, tutoring kids, and working in the library. Her appreciation to of Dr. Sugar for his care over the years inspired her to establish the professorship in his name, which was inaugurated on August 25, 2023. Recognizing Ms. Lane’s generosity, Dr. Sugar added his own significant gift to the professorship fund.

““I received expert care from Dr. Sugar for more than 30 years. I wanted to honor him and support innovative science,” she said. In Maria Woodward, M.D., M.S., the inaugural Sugar Professor, Ms. Lane sees someone who is pursuing “great ideas” to better treat corneal diseases of all kinds, a meaningful way to honor Dr. Sugar’s many contributions to corneal disease. Ms. Lane’s father also played a role in her gift when he simply suggested she support the people and the place that took such good care of her.

Header image caption: Susan Lane, Alan Sugar, M.D., Maria Woodward, M.D., M.S.