Miami's flagship eye center is bringing one of its own back home. The University of Miami has named Dr. Pradeep Y. Ramulu as chair of the Department of Ophthalmology and the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, with the leadership change set to take effect Aug. 3, 2026. Ramulu, a Bascom Palmer alumnus and internationally recognized glaucoma specialist who currently leads the Glaucoma Division at Johns Hopkins' Wilmer Eye Institute, will succeed Eduardo C. Alfonso in the post, according to the South Florida Business Journal.
In an announcement from the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, officials said Ramulu will hold the Kathleen and Stanley J. Glaser Chair in Ophthalmology. In the same statement, Ramulu reflected on returning to the institution where he trained, saying, "Bascom Palmer is where my passion for glaucoma took root."
From Wilmer to Bascom Palmer
Ramulu arrives in Miami with nearly two decades of academic leadership and research experience at Johns Hopkins' Wilmer Eye Institute. His scholarly work on glaucoma, including how visual field loss affects day-to-day living, has been widely published in peer-reviewed journals and clinical repositories. Several of his studies outlining that focus are available through PubMed Central.
Bascom Palmer's next chapter
He steps into the role held by Eduardo C. Alfonso, who has led Bascom Palmer since 2007 and will remain on the institute's faculty, according to university officials. The Bascom Palmer Eye Institute points to its national reputation in clinical care and training and its frequent top rankings in U.S. News & World Report. That combination of prestige and reach makes the chair position one of the more closely watched medical leadership jobs in Miami.
What to expect in Miami
According to the Miller School, Ramulu has held continuous NIH funding since 2007 and authored more than 280 peer-reviewed publications. He also directs the Safety and Functionality Eye Research (SAFER) Lab, which examines how glaucoma affects reading, driving and other everyday activities.
University leaders say his appointment signals a renewed emphasis on patient-centered outcomes, translating research into clinical practice and strengthening medical education at a center that attracts patients from across Florida and beyond. Ramulu's leadership at Bascom Palmer officially begins Aug. 3, 2026.
