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Bita Esmaeli, MD

Present Title & Affiliation

Primary Appointment

Professor of Ophthalmology, Section of Ophthalmology, Department of Head and Neck Surgery, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX

Dual/Joint/Adjunct Appointment

Adjunct Professor of Ophthalmology, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX

Bio Statement

 Dr Bita Esmaeli is a Professor of Ophthalmology at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, where she has developed an orbital oncology and oncologic oculoplastic surgery service in the last 11 years. Dr. Esmaeli helped establish the Ophthalmology Section as a comprehensive full-time service at M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in 1998. She served as the Director of the Ophthalmologic Services from 1998 to 2001 and as the Chief of the Ophthalmology Section at M. D. Anderson from 2001 to 2004.

 Dr Esmaeli completed her undergraduate education at Rhodes College and her masters degree in Cell Biology at the University of California in Santa Barbara. She completed her medical education at Chicago Medical School and her residency training in ophthalmology at the University of Michigan. She completed her ASOPRS-sponsored oculoplastic surgery fellowship at the University of Toronto.

Dr Esmaeli has authored over 100 peer-reviewed manuscripts, many invited articles and book chapters, has spearheaded several clinical trials and has participated in over 50 research protocols at M. D. Anderson Cancer Center. She has received many prestigious awards and honors including the Merrill Reeh Pathology Award and the Research Award from the American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the American Academy of Ophthalmology Achievement Award, and membership in Best Doctors in America. She is the Program Director for an ASOPRS-sponsored fellowship in oculoplastic surgery and orbital oncology at M. D. Anderson Cancer Center.

Dr Esmaeli 's clinical practice focuses on the surgical treatment of tumors of the orbit, eyelid, and conjunctiva, complex reconstructive surgery of eyelid and periocular region, and lacrimal surgery. 

Research Interests

 

1.     Sentinel lymph node biopsy for eyelid and conjunctival tumors (melanoma, sebaceous carcinoma, Merkel cell ca) to detect early metastasis

2.     Immunotherapy for orbital and adnexal lymphomas and lymphoproliferative disorders of the orbit

3.     Use of adjuvant radiation therapy for eyelid and orbital cancers after globe sparing surgery

4.     Management of canalicular stenosis and nasolacrimal duct blockage associated with chemotherapy

5.     Conditional knock-out mouse model of eyelid/conjunctival squamous cell carcinoma as a model for human skin squamous cell carcinoma

6.     Tissue and Blood banking for uveal melanoma and mutational analysis of uveal melanomas as basis for targeted adjuvant treatments in uveal melanoma patients

7.     Implementation of AJCC classification in ophthalmic oncology

Clinical Interests

 

1.     Primary and metastatic orbital tumors

2.      Conjunctival and eyelid tumors

3.     Reconstructive surgery in the periocular region

4.     Lacrimal surgery

Office Address

The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center
Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Section of Ophthalmology
1515 Holcombe Boulevard
Unit Number: 1445
Houston, TX 77030
Room Number: FCT10.6098

Education & Training

Degree-Granting Education

1990 Chicago Medical School, Chicago, IL, MD, Medicine
1986 University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, MS, Cell Biology and Physiology
1984 Rhodes College, Memphis, TN, BA, Biology

Postgraduate Training

1995-1996 The American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ASOPRS) Fellowship in Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
1991-1994 Ophthalmology Residency, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI

Board Certifications

1996 Subspecialty Certification, American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
1995 American Board of Ophthalmology

Experience/Service

Administrative Appointments/Responsibilities

Fellowship Director, Ophthalmic Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Program, Division of Surgery, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2001-present

Honors and Awards

2009-2010 Best Doctors in America, Best Doctors, Inc.
2004 The American Academy of Ophthalmology Achievement Award
1998 The Research Award, The American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
1997 The Merril Reeh Pathology Award, The American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
1992 The James M. LaBerge Resident Research Award, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Michigan
1989 Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society Award

Professional Memberships

The American Academy of Ophthalmology
Member, 1991-present
The American College of Surgeons
Member, 2000-present
The American Medical Association
Member, 1998-present
The American Society of Clinical Oncology
Member, 2001-present
The American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, MD
Member, 1997-present
The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology
Member, 1989-present

Selected Publications

Peer-Reviewed Original Research Articles
1. Savar A, Ross MI, Prieto VG, Ivan D, Kim SK, Esmaeli B. Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy for Ocular Adnexal Melanoma: Experience in 30 Patients. Ophthalmology. e-Pub 9/2009.
2. Ahmad SM, Esmaeli, B, Williams M, Nguyen J, Fay A, Woog J, Selvadurai D, Rootman J, Weis E, Selva D, McNab A, DeAngelis D, Calle A, Lopez A. American Joint Committee on Cancer classification predicts outcome of patients with lacrimal-gland adenoid cystic carcinoma. Ophthalmology, 116(6):1210-5, 2009.
3. Esmaeli B, McLaughlin P, Pro B, Samaniego F, Gayed I, Hagemeister F, Romaguerra J, Cabanillas F, Neelapu SS, Banay R, Fayad L, Saville MW, Kwak LW. Prospective Trial of Targeted Radioimmunotherapy with Y-90 Ibritumomab Tiuxetan (Zevalin) for Front-line Treatment of Early-stage Extranodal Indolent Ocular Adnexal Lymphoma. Annals of Oncology 20(4):709-14, 2009.
4. Hsu A, Frank S, Ballo MT, Garden AS, Morrison WH, Rosenthal DI, Hatef E, Esmaeli B. Post-operative Adjuvant External-beam Radiation Therapy for Cancers of the Eyelid and Conjunctiva. Ophthal Plast Reconstr Surg 24(6):444-9, 2008. PMID: 19033839.
5. Esmaeli B, Amin S, Valero V, Adinin R, Arbuckle R, Banay R, Do K, Rivera E. Prospective study of incidence and severity of Epiphora and canalicular stenosis in patients with metastatic breast cancer receiving Docetaxel. J Clin Onc 24:3619-22, 2006.

Grant & Contract Support

Title: "A double-blind study evaluating the safety and efficacy of cyclosporine ophthalmic emulsion 0.05% [Restasis] in subjects with epiphora secondary to docetaxel [Taxotere] for various cancers"
Funding Source: Allergan Pharmaceutical Corporation
Role: Principal Investigator
Duration: 2008 - present
 
Title: "Integrin-mediated regulation of epithelial cell growth"
Funding Source: American Cancer Society Institutional Grant
Role: Collaborator
Principal Investigator: Joseph McCarty, Ph.D.
Duration: 2008 - present
 
Title: "Radioimmunotherapy with Yttrium 90-labeled (90Y) for Low-Grade Follicular Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma of the Orbit"
Funding Source: IDEC Pharmaceuticals Corporation
Role: Principal Investigator
Duration: 2003 - present

Last updated: 11/12/2009