C. Gail Summers, M.D.

Pediatric Ophthalmology & Strabismus Service

C. Gail Summers, M.D., Professor,
Departments of Ophthalmology & Pediatrics
Phone (612) 625-4400, Fax (612) 626-3119
summe001@umn.edu

Specialty Focus

 Pediatric ophthalmology (including strabismus, amblyopia, ptosis, and nasolacrimal disorders)

Pediatric and adult strabismus
Genetic eye disorders
Albinism
Retinopathy of prematurity

Biographical Sketch

Dr. Summers was born and raised in Florida. She received her B.A.E. and M.Ed. from the University of Florida and practiced speech pathology prior to entering medical school. She graduated from the University of Minnesota Medical School in 1979, and then completed an internship in internal medicine at Abbott-Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis. Following this, she completed a residency in ophthalmology at the University of Minnesota and a fellowship in pediatric ophthalmology and strabismus with Dr. Robert Letson (University of Minnesota) and Dr. Marshall Parks (Washington, DC).

Dr. Summers joined the staff of the Department of Ophthalmology in 1985. She has a joint appointment in the Department of Pediatrics, and directs the Genetics Eye Clinic in which the geneticists and genetics counselors participate. Her areas of interest include pediatric ophthalmology and strabismus, and genetic eye disease. She has been a leader in collaborative research in albinism and retinopathy of prematurity. Dr. Summers is involved in resident, fellow, orthoptist, and postgraduate education and directs the Fellowship in Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus at the University of Minnesota.

Professional Philosophy

To conduct complete and accurate patient examination with compassion and respect, followed by a thorough discussion of the findings, diagnosis and management options

To value the expertise and contributions of my colleagues and associates (including Fellows, Residents, Orthoptists, Technicians, Secretaries, and Support Staff)

To use clinical research to further understand eye problems

To be active nationally through presentations publications, and involvement in the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus

Patient Care Locations

• 9th Floor Eye Clinic, Phillips Wangensteen Building, 516 Delaware Street SE, Minneapolis

• 2nd Floor Eye Clinic, NE corner of Hwy. 100 and Excelsior Blvd., St. Louis Park

CLINIC APPOINTMENTS AT EITHER LOCATION ARE SCHEDULED BY CALLING (612) 625-4400.

Links

Professional Organizations

American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO)
American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (AAPOS)
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)

Patient Information on Eye Conditions / Patient Support Groups

Amblyopia FAQs
Strabismus FAQs
Questions and Answers:  Results of Part-Time vs. Minimal Patching for Moderate  Amblyopia – NIH Clinical Trial completed 2003
Pediatric Glaucoma and Cataract Family Association
Association for Retinopathy of Prematurity and Related Retinal Diseases
(ROPARD)
NIH Vision Resource: anatomy, diseases (common and rare)
Common Vision and Eye Problems (AAP)

Selected Publications

Summers CG:  Causes of abnormal refractive errors in children.  Amer Orthop J 56:108-115, 2006.

Harvey PS, King RA, Summers CG: Spectrum of foveal development in albinism detected with optical coherence tomography.  J AAPOS 10:237-42, 2006.

Louwagie CR, Jensen AA, Christoff A, Holleschau AM, King RA, Summers CG: Correlation of grating acuity with letter recognition acuity in children with albinism.  J AAPOS 10:168-72, 2006.

Palmer EA, Hardy RJ, Dobson V, PHelps DL, Quinn EG, Summers CG, Krom CP, Tung B on behalf of the CRYO-ROP Cooperative Group:  15-year outcomes following threshold retinopathy of prematurity: Final results from the multicenter trial of cryotherapy. Arch Ophthalmol 123:311-8, 2005.

Anderson J, Lavoie J, Merrill K, King RA, Summers CG:  Efficacy of spectacles in persons with albinism. J AAPOS 8:515-20, 2004.

Merrill K, Lavoie JE, Summers CG:  Positive angle kappa in albinism.  J AAPOS 8:237-9, 2004.

Pediatric Eye Disease Investigative Group.  A randomized trial of atropine versus patching for treatment of moderate amblyopia in children. Arch Ophthalmol 120:268-78, 2002. 

Summers CG. Vision in albinism. Trans Am Ophthal Soc 94:1095-1155, 1996.