An interview with Dr. Stanley Truhlsen

Today at 10:30 a.m., UNMC will break ground on the Stanley M. Truhlsen Eye Institute. The campus community is invited to the ceremony.

The institute — which will sit at 40th and Leavenworth streets — is named for Dr. Truhlsen, who gave the lead gift for the center. It will provide the most comprehensive eye care in the region.









picture disc.

Stanley Truhlsen, M.D.
Below, UNMC Today talks with Dr. Truhlsen — a legendary Omaha ophthalmologist, longtime medical center faculty member and UNMC alumnus.

Why did you dedicate your career to eye care?

During my residency in pathology, I had the occasion to do ocular pathology, which caused me to go the library and read about the eye and various journals. I became increasingly interested in ophthalmology. One of the things nice about ophthalmology is it would allow me to do both medical and surgical ophthalmology. In addition, I would get to treat geriatric patients and pediatric patients.

What were your main research focus areas?

I did some research in the stability of some of the medications used to treat glaucoma. I wrote a thesis on how the eye muscle reattaches to the eyeball following surgery for crossed eyes and I did clinical research on the number of stitches you use in cataract surgery.

What were the most rewarding experiences of your career?

I found taking care of people, operating on people both young and old and being involved in medical societies very rewarding. Joining the faculty at the medical center and teaching students was, too. I also can say being able to do what we are doing with the eye institute is going to be a very rewarding experience.

What are you hoping is the effect of the new eye center at UNMC?

We are going to have a new up-to-date gleaming edifice that is going to add to Chancellor Harold Maurer’s vision of a world-class medical center. We will have the increasing ability to take care of our teaching requirements for students and our care of patients. It will meld very nicely with our research facility in the Durham Research Center II and with the new building we will be able to do more clinical research. We will have an adjacent surgical pavilion, which will let us do our surgery right there.

GVPBJbNtwE wf w