Jeff Pettey, MD, MBA, turns a page in his dynamic career at the Moran Eye Center to lead one of the country’s top-ranked institutions.
Jeff Pettey, MD, MBA, has long been part of the John A. Moran Eye Center family.
During college, he worked at the center’s Utah Lions Eye Bank. After medical school, he chose ophthalmology as his specialty, trained at Moran, and joined the faculty.
Pettey quickly emerged as a leader who was willing to take on progressively more responsibility, and his creative approaches to education and global outreach elevated Moran’s reputation on the national stage.
Now Pettey has stepped into a dream job: succeeding Randall J Olson, MD, as chair of the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at the University of Utah and CEO of the Moran Eye Center and Utah Vision Institute.
“I am humbled to continue our culture of innovation in research, education, outreach, and care,” said Pettey, a physician, educator, and researcher specializing in comprehensive ophthalmology and anterior segment conditions. “I have a deep investment in Moran—who we are, how we got to where we are today, and our future as we remain committed to our vision of hope, understanding, and treatment for all.”
Following a nationwide search, a University of Utah School of Medicine committee selected Pettey to replace Olson, who retired in August. Olson had served as founding chair for a remarkable 46 years, leaving Moran with big shoes to fill. But Pettey is ready for the challenge after serving in key roles that gave him an exceptional understanding of the center that Olson dedicated himself to building.
“Dr. Pettey is a thoughtful, mission-driven leader whose commitment to patient care, education, and global health reflects the very best of Moran’s values,” said Kristina Callis Duffin, MD, MS, Interim Dean of the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine. “He brings deep institutional knowledge, a collaborative spirit, and a bold vision for the future. I am confident he will lead the department with the same excellence and innovation that has long defined the Moran Eye Center.”
“My goal is to empower amazing people to achieve their best. Each of us has something unique to offer, and it’s the amalgam of these talents that has the potential to change the world for the better."
Passion Projects
A Utah native, Pettey earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Utah and his medical degree from The Ohio State University. Returning to Moran for his residency, he developed a strong commitment to cataract surgery research, education, and expanding access to the highest-quality care.
In 2012, Pettey and fellow resident Brian Stagg, MD, started a charity surgery day that became Moran’s renowned Operation Sight program. The donor-funded initiative, now a national model, provides sight-restoring cataract surgery to uninsured or underinsured Utahns. With Moran’s Global Outreach Division, Pettey has led capacity-building programs across the globe to train local physicians and improve the quality and safety of sight-restoring surgeries. Locally, he continues his work to improve access to care throughout the Mountain West.
Pettey established an ophthalmology training collaboration at the University of Dodoma and the Bugando Medical Center in Tanzania. Viewing global eye health work as a collaborative effort across institutions, he co-founded an international Global Ophthalmology Summit and the academic Global Ophthalmology Consortium to advance the field. Both the summit and consortium are operated in partnership with the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) and academic ophthalmology departments across the U.S.
During residency, Pettey began researching phacoemulsification (phaco), the modern form of cataract surgery that uses an ultrasonic handpiece to break up the eye’s cloudy lens for removal. His Olson Pettey Lab now evaluates phaco technologies for safety and efficiency to improve the most performed surgery worldwide.
Cultivating his passion for education, Pettey chose fellowship training in complex anterior segment surgery, global ophthalmology, and ophthalmic education at Moran. In 2014, he took the helm as Moran’s residency program director, and four years later became vice chair for education, overseeing the entire education program.
Pettey focused on innovative ideas in ophthalmology training. He championed highly tailored residency training at Moran, empowering residents to explore unique training opportunities to advance their careers. This included expanding international training opportunities, protected personal wellness time, and subspecialty electives.
Before his selection as chair, Pettey additionally served as Moran’s vice-chair of clinical affairs.
MAKING A MARK
Pettey has prioritized innovation in leadership roles with ophthalmology’s major associations. He chairs the Association of University Professors of Ophthalmology (AUPO) committee overseeing the process for residency matching nationwide. He also led an AUPO effort to create an advanced cataract surgery curriculum for residents and to incorporate ophthalmology training into a resident’s intern year. With AAO, he chairs the Sustainability Committee to reduce the future carbon footprint of clinical care and has served on a wide variety of education, global health, and mentorship committees. His work has earned honors, including the AAO Artemis Award and the Copic Humanitarian Award for his outreach efforts and dedication to expanding access to care. Pettey views the future as one that will eclipse the past. He is committed to finding new ways for Moran to deliver eye care for all with an enthusiasm his predecessor would be proud of. But he notes he will not do it alone.
“Our faculty are our greatest strength moving forward, as they set the standard for new discoveries and provide the highest quality care to each patient we serve,” said Pettey. “Underpinning all our success are our donor partners, who are the lifeblood, enabling us to pursue ambitious goals and meaningful modernization. Together, we can look to a bright future, knowing that collectively we can make transformative progress to set new standards, serve wider communities, and provide life-changing eye care.”
