Jack Cohen, MD, FACS
“Ophthalmology is a unique field in that most of the time, you can look into a patient’s eye and make the diagnosis right then and there. Tumors of the eye are rare, but they need to be taken care of. There are few doctors with the training and experience to diagnose and treat this condition. It’s an opportunity for me to help.”
Jack Cohen, FACS, MD, is a nationally recognized expert in the medical and surgical treatment of vitreoretinal disease and injury. He has special interest in treating macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and retinopathy of prematurity. What’s more, Dr. Cohen is one of only a handful of retina specialists in the United States who has expertise in ocular oncology. He has been with Illinois Retina since 1996.
Born and raised in the Chicago area, Dr. Cohen earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana and his medical degree from Rush Medical College in Chicago, where he was named valedictorian of his graduating class. Dr. Cohen performed an ophthalmology residency at Rush University Medical Center and went on to complete a fellowship in ocular oncology at the University of California, San Francisco, and a fellowship in vitreoretinal surgery at Rush and Ingalls Memorial Hospital in Harvey. He is certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology and is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons.
Dr. Cohen’s wide-ranging expertise in retinal care has also proven invaluable in the area of clinical research. He has participated in a number of major clinical trials related to age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and retinopathy of prematurity. He continues to perform exams for clinical drug studies at Rush and donates the proceeds to the Department of Ophthalmology’s Resident Fund.
Dr. Cohen is also a busy writer and lecturer. He has authored numerous articles for leading scientific journals and has made hundreds of presentations to his peers, fellows and residents. Dr. Cohen holds memberships in many professional organizations, and has achieved numerous awards and honors, including the Senior Achievement Award from the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the Teacher of the Year Award from the Chicago Ophthalmic Society and the Golden Apple Award from the Department of Ophthalmology from Rush University Medical Center. He has also received The Best Doctor Award from 2017-2019, first awarded in 2001. Dr. Cohen is on staff at several area hospitals as well as the North Shore Surgical Center and sees patients at Illinois Retina’s Rush, Skokie, Libertyville and Flossmoor office locations.
When he’s not seeing patients, Dr. Cohen and his wife enjoy spending time with their family. Dr. Cohen is an avid runner and enjoys running local 5k, 10k, 15k and half marathons!
Dr. Jack Cohen’s Patient Testimonial
Clinical Trials/Research Studies:
- Principal Investigator, STOP-ROP Study (Supplemental Therapeutic Oxygen for Pre-threshold Retinopathy of Prematurity)
- Principal Investigator, Radiation Therapy for Subfoveal Age-Related Macular Degeneration
- Co-investigator, Vitrase for Vitreous Hemorrhage Study
- Investigator, Complications of Age-Related Macular Degeneration Prevention Trial
Scientific Journals
- Archives of Ophthalmology
- Retina
- Ophthalmology
Societies and Organizations
- American Academy of Ophthalmology
- Chicago Ophthalmic Society
- American Society of Retina Specialists
- American College of Surgeons
- Council of Medical Specialties
- Rush Committee of the Pillsbury Trust
- American Medical Association
Distinction
- F.A.C.S. – American College of Surgeons, Chicago,IL US
Fellowship
- Retinal Specialist – Irwin Retina Center/Ingalls Hospital
- Retinal Specialist – Department of Ophthalmology/Rush Medical College
- Ocular oncology – University of California
Residency
- Ophthalmology – Rush University Medical Center
Internship
- Rush University Medical Center
Medical School
- M.D. – Rush Medical College
College
- B.S. – University of Illinois
