Gene Folk (September 7, 1924 - February 28, 2003)Eugene R. Folk M.D.
/ref> was an American

ophthalmologist Ophthalmology ( ) is a surgery, surgical subspecialty within medicine that deals with the diagnosis and treatment of eye disorders. An ophthalmologist is a physician who undergoes subspecialty training in medical and surgical eye care. Followin ...

who specialized in the diagnosis and treatment of

strabismus Strabismus is a vision disorder in which the eyes do not properly align with each other when looking at an object. The eye that is focused on an object can alternate. The condition may be present occasionally or constantly. If present during a ...

. A charter member of the

American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus The American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (AAPOS) is an academic association of pediatric ophthalmologists and strabismus surgeons. The pediatric ophthalmology fellowships in the United States are accredited by the AAPOS. ...

, he later served as President of this organization. With Martin Urist, Folk helped found the "Chicago" school of strabismus, whose ideas competed with and stimulated those of

Marshall M. Parks Marshall Miller Parks (July 6, 1918 – July 25, 2005) was an American ophthalmologist known to many as "the father of pediatric ophthalmology".Joe Holley"D.C. Physician Illuminated The Ailments of Young Eyes."''Washington Post''. Sunday, August ...

, Arthur Jampolsky, and other prominent strabismologists. During the 1950s and 1960s, Urist and Knapp's contributions led to a much improved understanding of so-called A and V "pattern" strabismus, where the amplitude of deviation varies in up- and downgaze.

Early life

Eugene R. Folk was born on September 7, 1924 to Max Lyon and Martha Rubin Folk. Folk graduated from the

University of Chicago The University of Chicago (UChicago, Chicago, U of C, or UChi) is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois. Its main campus is located in Chicago's Hyde Park neighborhood. The University of Chicago is consistently ranked among the b ...

Laboratory School in 1940, and subsequently served as second

lieutenant A lieutenant ( , ; abbreviated Lt., Lt, LT, Lieut and similar) is a commissioned officer rank in the armed forces of many nations. The meaning of lieutenant differs in different militaries (see comparative military ranks), but it is often sub ...

during

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

Marriage and children

Folk is survived by his wife, Meg Folk, three daughters, and two granddaughters.

Offices held and honors

*President Chicago Ophthalmologic Society, 1973 *President

, 1984-5 * Frank D. Costenbader lecturer, AAPOS, 1995 *Professor,

University of Illinois College of Medicine The University of Illinois College of Medicine offers a four-year program leading to the MD degree at four different sites in Illinois: Chicago, Peoria, Illinois, Peoria, Rockford, Illinois, Rockford, and formerly Champaign–Urbana metropolitan a ...

, Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary, Department of Ophthalmology *Faculty / staff member, Loyola

Stritch School of Medicine Stritch School of Medicine is the medical school affiliated with Loyola University Chicago. It is located at the heart of the Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, Illinois. The medical campus includes Foster G. McGaw Hospital, Cardinal B ...

Department of Ophthalmology, Weiss Memorial Hospital, Skokie Valley Hospital, and

John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County The John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County (formerly Cook County Hospital) is a public hospital in Chicago, Illinois, United States. It is part of the Cook County Health and Hospital System, along with Provident Hospital of Cook County and ...

Posthumous honor

The first Eugene R. Folk MD Endowed Lecture was presented by Burton J. Kushner, MD at the

American Academy of Ophthalmology The American Academy of Ophthalmology (Academy) is a professional medical association of ophthalmologists. It is headquartered in San Francisco, California. Its membership of 32,000 medical doctors includes more than 90 percent of practicing ...

Annual Meeting on October 15, 2005. Dr. Sherwin J. Isenberg gave the second Folk Lecture on September 26, 2006 at

The University of Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary The Illinois Eye & Ear Infirmary (IEEI) is a center of ophthalmology and otolaryngology research and clinical practice. Located in the Illinois Medical District, the Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary is the major referral center in the Chicago met ...

. The third Folk lecturer was David Guyton, who spoke on

on September 19, 2008.

Published works (partial list)

* Folk, ER: Treatment of strabismus 1965—ISBN B0007ENHYU Publisher: C.C. Thomas * * * * * * * * * *

References