Paul Finger
Encyclopedia
Paul T. Finger, MD, FACS, is an ophthalmologist
in New York, New York
specializing in ocular oncology
. Dr. Finger has pioneered the use of palladium-103 plaque radiation to treat choroidal melanoma and 3D and high-frequency ultrasound to image intraocular tumors.
, and his fellowship in ocular oncology at North Shore Hospital
in Manhasset, New York.
He is now a Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology at NYU School of Medicine.
and is a Fellow of both the American College of Surgeons
and the American Academy of Ophthalmology
and treats patients from around the world.
His research has focused on melanoma
of the choroid
, ciliary body
and iris
. He has written extensively about new ways to detect and treat retinoblastoma
, conjunctiva
l melanoma
, squamous carcinoma, metastatic cancer to the eye and orbital tumors.
He has helped produce multiple medical textbooks on age-related macular degeneration
and eye cancer.
and the International Union Against Cancer
to create a common terminology and set of standards to pool treatment data from eye cancer specialists around the world. This promises to bring major breakthroughs in evaluating competing treatment regimes, and allow doctors to more easily communicate their research to one another.
Ophthalmology
Ophthalmology is the branch of medicine that deals with the anatomy, physiology and diseases of the eye. An ophthalmologist is a specialist in medical and surgical eye problems...
in New York, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
specializing in ocular oncology
Ocular oncology
Ocular oncology is the branch of medicine dealing with tumors relating to the eye and its adnexa. Eye cancer can affect all parts of the eye.-Origin and location:...
. Dr. Finger has pioneered the use of palladium-103 plaque radiation to treat choroidal melanoma and 3D and high-frequency ultrasound to image intraocular tumors.
Education
Dr. Finger received his medical doctorate from Tulane Medical School in 1982. He completed his residency at Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat HospitalManhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital
Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital is a specialty hospital in New York City that was founded in 1869 and is currently located on the Upper East Side of Manhattan at 210th East 64th Street...
, and his fellowship in ocular oncology at North Shore Hospital
North Shore Hospital
North Shore Hospital is a large public hospital in Takapuna, North Shore City, serving the northern part of the Auckland area. Located on Shakespeare Road near Lake Pupuke, it is administered by the Waitemata District Health Board, serving around 47,000 people a year.-Facilities:The hospital...
in Manhasset, New York.
He is now a Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology at NYU School of Medicine.
Career
Dr. Finger is certified by the American Board of OphthalmologyAmerican Board of Ophthalmology
The American Board of Ophthalmology is an independent, non-profit organization responsible for certifying ophthalmologists in the United States of America. Founded in 1916, the ABO was the first American Board established to certify medical specialists.The ABO is the founding member of the...
and is a Fellow of both the American College of Surgeons
American College of Surgeons
The American College of Surgeons is an educational association of surgeons created in 1913 to improve the quality of care for the surgical patient by setting high standards for surgical education and practice.-Membership:...
and the American Academy of Ophthalmology
American Academy of Ophthalmology
The American Academy of Ophthalmology is the largest national membership medical association of ophthalmologists–medical doctors specializing in eye care and surgery including medical, surgical and optical care. More than 90 percent of practicing U.S. Eye M.D.s are Academy members, and the...
and treats patients from around the world.
His research has focused on melanoma
Melanoma
Melanoma is a malignant tumor of melanocytes. Melanocytes are cells that produce the dark pigment, melanin, which is responsible for the color of skin. They predominantly occur in skin, but are also found in other parts of the body, including the bowel and the eye...
of the choroid
Choroid
The choroid, also known as the choroidea or choroid coat, is the vascular layer of the eye, containing connective tissue, and lying between the retina and the sclera. The human choroid is thickest at the far extreme rear of the eye , while in the outlying areas it narrows to 0.1 mm...
, ciliary body
Ciliary body
The ciliary body is the circumferential tissue inside the eye composed of the ciliary muscle and ciliary processes. It is triangular in horizontal section and is coated by a double layer, the ciliary epithelium. This epithelium produces the aqueous humor. The inner layer is transparent and covers...
and iris
Iris (anatomy)
The iris is a thin, circular structure in the eye, responsible for controlling the diameter and size of the pupils and thus the amount of light reaching the retina. "Eye color" is the color of the iris, which can be green, blue, or brown. In some cases it can be hazel , grey, violet, or even pink...
. He has written extensively about new ways to detect and treat retinoblastoma
Retinoblastoma
Retinoblastoma is a rapidly developing cancer that develops in the cells of retina, the light-detecting tissue of the eye. In the developed world, Rb has one of the best cure rates of all childhood cancers , with more than nine out of every ten sufferers surviving into...
, conjunctiva
Conjunctiva
The conjunctiva covers the sclera and lines the inside of the eyelids. It is composed of rare stratified columnar epithelium.-Function:...
l melanoma
Melanoma
Melanoma is a malignant tumor of melanocytes. Melanocytes are cells that produce the dark pigment, melanin, which is responsible for the color of skin. They predominantly occur in skin, but are also found in other parts of the body, including the bowel and the eye...
, squamous carcinoma, metastatic cancer to the eye and orbital tumors.
He has helped produce multiple medical textbooks on age-related macular degeneration
Macular degeneration
Age-related macular degeneration is a medical condition which usually affects older adults and results in a loss of vision in the center of the visual field because of damage to the retina. It occurs in “dry” and “wet” forms. It is a major cause of blindness and visual impairment in older adults...
and eye cancer.
Prevention Campaign
Under the slogan, "Think of sunglasses as sunblock for your eyes," Dr. Finger has campaigned on television to increase the use of sunglasses in order to prevent eye cancers before they happen.EYECANCERBIG (Bio-informatics Grid)
Dr. Finger is spearheading a project by the American Joint Committee on CancerAmerican Joint Committee on Cancer
The American Joint Committee on Cancer is an organization best known for defining and popularizing cancer staging standards, officially the AJCC staging system....
and the International Union Against Cancer
International Union Against Cancer
The International Union Against Cancer, or UICC is the only non-governmental organization dedicated exclusively to the global control of cancer. Its vision is of a world where cancer is eliminated as a major life-threatening disease for future generations...
to create a common terminology and set of standards to pool treatment data from eye cancer specialists around the world. This promises to bring major breakthroughs in evaluating competing treatment regimes, and allow doctors to more easily communicate their research to one another.