Bita Esmaeli MD

Summary

• Dr Bita Esmaeli served as a tenured Professor at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston from 1998 to 2024. She was the founding member and Chief of Section of Ophthalmology at M. D. Anderson Cancer Center from 1998 to 2004 and the Ophthalmic Plastic Surgery Fellowship Program Director from 2001 to 2024. She has led a world-renowned orbital and adnexal oncology referral practice for over 26 years. Dr Esmaeli’s practice focus is surgical treatment of orbital tumors, lacrimal gland carcinomas, eyelid cancers, melanoma of eyelid and conjunctiva, and reconstructive surgery in the periocular region including lacrimal and orbital surgery. Her research interests include early detection of metastasis including sentinel lymph node biopsy for ocular adnexal melanomas and carcinomas, multi-disciplinary eye sparing approaches for lacrimal gland and other orbital tumors, molecular targets for treatment for ocular and orbital cancers, and neoadjuvant treatments for eyelid and conjunctival cancers with the overarching theme of preserving vision and ocular function while eliminating cancer.
  Dr Esmaeli has authored over 320 peer-reviewed manuscripts, over 60 invited articles, books, and book chapters, and has spearheaded numerous clinical trials and research protocols. Dr Esmaeli served as the co-Chair of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) project for uveal melanoma sponsored by the National Cancer Institute. She teaches widely throughout the world and is a frequent guest speaker at national and international meetings and has delivered numerous named lectures. She has received many prestigious awards and honors including Merrill Reeh Pathology Award and the Research Award from the American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ASOPRS), the American Academy of Ophthalmology Senior Achievement Award, Best Doctors in America, and Top Doctors Award, The American Association of Cancer Research Team Science Award; the Board of Governers of ACS.