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Dr. William J. Collis, Founder, Kentucky Eye Institute

Ophthalmologist & Philanthropist,
Founder of the Hellenic Ideals Program of the Bluegrass

Dr. Collis's education includes:

  • a B.S. from the University of Kentucky, 1957
  • an M.D. from the University of Louisville, 1961
  • an internship at the Cleveland Clinic, 1962
  • a Medical Neurology Residency at the Cleveland Clinic and National Institutes of Health, 1962 - 1965
  • a Neuro-Ophthalmic Fellowship at the Massachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary, 1965
  • an Ophthalmic Residency, 1965 - 1968
  • a Retinal Fellowship at the Massachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary, 1968-1969

He taught at the Harvard Medical School in Ophthalmology and then returned home to the private practice of ophthalmology and as a clinical professor in ophthalmology at the University of Kentucky. Dr. Collis' teaching experiences also include an extensive bibliography and series of lectureships: a visiting lectureship at the University of Athens, Department of Ophthalmology; as a Visiting Professor, Orbis, Morocco, in March 1983); and as a Guest Visiting Lecturer, Arizona Ophthalmology Society, 3 days in September 1981.

Dr. Collis is the founder of the Kentucky Eye Institute. His recognitions and awards include:

  • the Pryor Outstanding Premedical Student, University of Kentucky, 1957
  • Phi Beta Kappa, 1957
  • Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities, University of Louisville, 1961
  • Board Certification in Ophthalmology, 1970
  • Outpatient Ophthalmic Surgical Society Award, 1985-1988 for Meritorious Service
  • Plato Award AHEPA, Buckeye District (one recipient/year), 1992
  • Annual Award, National Council of Christians and Jews, Central Kentucky, 1993
  • Lexington Philharmonic, Benefactor Award, 1991
  • AHEPA Man of the Year, National Award, 2000
  • Ellis Island Medal of Honor, 2002

Dr. Collis and his wife, Constance, founded the Hellenic Ideals Program of the Bluegrass in 1980, which continues today. He has supported:

  • the William and Constance Collis Foundation, a Scholarship for Greek Orthodox Priests
  • free eye examinations, treatment and spectacles to his father's village of Domionus, Greece in 1974, and in 1982 to his mother's village of Furna, Greece
  • an "Orbis" surgical teaching experience in Morocco
  • an ophthalmic lectureship in South Africa
  • the John Collis Walk, established in honor of his father
  • the Leadership 100
  • AHEPA
  • the American Spiritual Ensemble
  • the Hellenic College/Holy Cross Seminary
  • the Lexington Philharmonic
  • the Cardinal Hill Rehabilitation Hospital of Lexington, Kentucky

He has served as a board member of:

  • Ocular Surgery News and Ophthalmic Management
  • the Outpatient Ophthalmic Surgery Society
  • the Kentucky Society to Prevent Blindness

For More Information:

http://www.kyeye.com/institute/collis.html