The Marshall M. Parks Medal

1996-1997 AAPOS President, Bronze Medalist

Earl A. Palmer, MD

Dr. Palmer is Emeritus Professor of Ophthalmology and Pediatrics at the Oregon Health & Science University in Portland, where he taught and practiced pediatric ophthalmology for 35 years until 2010. Board certified in both Pediatrics and Ophthalmology, he published data illuminating timing of initial newborn examination for retinopathy of prematurity [ROP] in 1981. In 1984 he co-authored the first International Classification for ROP. Until 2004 he was Principal Investigator and Chair of the NEI/NIH-sponsored Multicenter Clinical Trial and Outcome studies of Cryotherapy and ROP, led study design and management, and supervised authorship of more than 100 major published reports clarifying the safety and efficacy of interdictory treatment for ROP, from the study’s initial announcement of success in 1988 through its final 15-year follow-up outcome report. He also co-authored the outcome report of the subsequent study of earlier ROP treatment in selected cases, Early Treatment for Retinopathy of Prematurity (ETROP).

Earl A. Palmer Headshot