Dr. John H. Kempen
Senior Scientist and Director of Epidemiology for Ophthalmology
Director of Global Surgery and Health
Massachusetts Eye and Ear and Schepens Eye Research Institute
Professor of Ophthalmology
Harvard Medical School
Massachusetts Eye and Ear Clinical Profile
Massachusetts Eye and Ear Research Profile
Prof. John H. Kempen is an expert clinician-scientist focusing on research, programmatic, and clinical care in underserved areas of medicine, especially ocular inflammatory and infectious diseases and in the research specialty of ophthalmic epidemiology. Prof. Kempen has a track record of successfully initiating, funding and completing high risk academic ventures which have been transformative in the field of ophthalmology. He has been actively involved in the following NEI-funded large-scale studies regarding ocular diseases:
- FLuorometholone as Adjunctive MEdical Therapy for TT Surgery (FLAME) Trial, Principal Investigator/Study Chair
- SITE Cohort Study, Principal Investigator/Study Chair
- Multicenter Uveitis Steroid Treatment (MUST) Trial and Follow-up (MUST FU) Study, (Protocol Chair for MUST FU study; Vice-Chair for Research Group)
- PeriOcular vs. INTravitreal corticosteroids for uveitic macular edema (POINT) Trial, Vice-Chair for Research Group
- MERIT Trial, Vice-Chair for Research Group
- Longitudinal Study of Ocular Complications of AIDS (LSOCA), Co-investigator
- Ganciclovir-Cidofovir Cytomegalovirus Retinitis Trial (GCCRT), Co-investigator
- mHealth Refraction App evaluation in Ethiopia (with Prof. Gang Luo)
Dr. Kempen also has been PI of a cohort study and clinical trial regarding the benefits of fluorometholone eye drops to prevent postoperative TT and the benefits of refresher training for established TT surgeons. He has completed well over 20 major manuscripts mentoring trainees.
Prof. Kempen received the American Academy of Ophthalmology Humanitarian Award (2020) for his development, clinical, teaching and research work in Ethiopia, where he primarily has lived with his family since 2015, being seconded much of each year to develop self-sustaining eye care (not taking profits) and uveitis training programs while carrying on his global research program in ocular inflammatory diseases, trachoma, and the global burden of ophthalmology. His research focuses primarily on ocular inflammatory diseases and infections and ophthalmic epidemiology. He has 200 peer-reviewed original data publications, approximately half as senior/PI and/or first author, with over 100 peer-reviewed publications (e.g., review articles, group papers) making well over 300 peer-reviewed publications.
Prof. Kempen has served on the editorial board of four journals, including as Editor-in-Chief (emeritus)for Ophthalmic Epidemiology, and for six years (2006-2013) as Executive Editor for Ocular Inflammatory Diseases for the American Journal of Ophthalmology. He serves as International Director of Education for the International Uveitis Study Group.