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Bita Esmaeli, MD, FACS

Present Title & Affiliation

Primary Appointment

Professor of Ophthalmology, Section of Ophthalmology, Department of Head & Neck Surgery, Division of Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Program Director, Ophthalmic Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Fellowship, Division of Surgery, The University of Texas MD 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 an orbital oncology and oncologic oculoplastic surgery practice since 1998. 

Dr. Esmaeli was instrumental in establishing 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. She is the Program Director for an ASOPRS-sponsored and ACGME-approved fellowship in oculoplastic surgery and orbital oncology at M. D. Anderson Cancer Center.

Dr Esmaeli has authored over 130 peer-reviewed manuscripts, over 50 invited articles and book chapters, has spearheaded several clinical trials and has participated in numerous 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 Senior Achievement Award, Best Doctors in America, and Top Doctors Award. Dr Esmaeli was inducted as a member of the American Ophthalmologic Society in 2012.

Dr Esmaeli 's clinical practice focuses on the surgical treatment of tumors of the eyelid, orbit, and conjunctiva, complex reconstructive surgery in the periocular region, and lacrimal surgery.  Her research interests include molecular signature of ocular and orbital tumors, tissue banking for rare tumors of the eye and orbit, and eye and vision-sparing treatment strategies for orbital and ocular cancers.

 

 

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

Office Address

The University of Texas MD 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

1986 Chicago Medical School, Chicago, IL, MD, Medicine
1986 University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, MS, Cell Biology and Physiology
1980 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

2005 American Board of Ophthalmology
1996 Subspecialty Certification, American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery

Experience/Service

Institutional Committee Activities

Chair, Clinical Research Committee, 2004-2007
Vice-chair Elect, Graduate Medical Education Executive Committee, 2001-present

Honors and Awards

2011 The American Academy of Ophthalmology Senior Achievement Award
2009-2012 Best Doctors in America, Best Doctors, Inc.
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
Member, 1997-present
The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology
Member, 1989-present

Selected Publications

Peer-Reviewed Original Research Articles
1. 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. PMID: 19395039.
2. 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. PMID: 19150940.
3. 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 116(11):2217-23, 2009. PMID: 19766318.
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. PMID: 16877729.

Book Chapters
1. Hayek B, Esmaeli B. Lacrimal Gland Tumors. In: Duane's Clinical Ophthalmology. Vol. 2, Chapter 47. Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 2010.
2. Esmaeli B. Pigmented Eyelid Lesions. In: Albert and Jakobiec's Principles and Practice of Ophthalmology, 3rd edition,. Ed(s) Albert/Miller. Elsevier: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 3367-3378, 2008.

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 - 2011
 
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 - 2011
 
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 - 2010

Last updated: 2/15/2013