Facility Spotlight: The Durham VA Medical Center

The Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) is a 274-bed tertiary care referral, teaching and research facility affiliated with Duke University School of Medicine. The VISN 6 medical facility serves as a major referral center for North Carolina, southern Virginia, northern South Carolina and eastern Tennessee. The ophthalmology section offers comprehensive ophthalmology, corneal and external disease, glaucoma, LASIK/refractive surgery, neuro-ophthalmology, oculoplastics, pediatric ophthalmology, retinal diseases and surgery services. Last year, the department saw more than 16,000 patients and performed more than 1,000 major surgical procedures.

Ivan J. Suner, MD, the chief of ophthalmology at the Durham VAMC has been with the facility for two years. He previously served as chief of ophthalmology at the Miami VAMC in Miami, Florida for five years and at Scott Air Force Base in Illinois for four years. A board-certified surgeon, Dr. Suner specializes in retinal diseases and surgery. He is also an associate professor of ophthalmology and on the retina service at Duke Eye Center. In addition to Dr. Suner, other board-certified specialists on staff include: Karl G. Csaky, MD, PhD, a retina specialist previously with the National Eye Institute, glaucoma specialist Dana M. Blumberg, MD, oculoplastics specialist Michael Richard, MD, neuro-ophthalmologist M. Tariq Bhatti, MD, and cornea specialist Aaleya Koreishi, MD.

The facility utilizes state-of-the-art equipment, including instruments for anterior segment surgery, advanced vitrectomy and endolaser. There are also ten examination lanes, two laser rooms, a minor procedures room, a photography room, a visual field room, a nursing intake area and computer room for residents.

The three-year residency program trains five ophthalmology residents per year.  Dr. Suner says this program is unique because it allows residents to follow their own patients for the duration of their residency in a continuity clinic.

“We think the partnership with a residency program in a continuity clinic is beneficial for patients because it gives them personalized care,” Dr. Suner added. “It also gives our residents a unique opportunity to build a long-term relationship with patients, which helps them in the training process.”

The Durham VA Medical Center
508 Fulton Street
Durham, NC 27705

For more information about the Durham VAMC, call 919.684.6611 or 800.422.1575.