Alon Kahana, M.D., Ph.D.
Dr. Alon Kahana is an internationally renowned expert in orbital and ophthalmic plastic surgery.
Dr. Kahana is a sought-after lecturer and a respected leader of our field and is Professor of Oculoplastic Surgery and Vice Chair for Academic Affairs in the Department of Ophthalmology, Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine. He is a Program Director for an ASOPRS-approved fellowship in oculofacial plastic surgery, and teaches ophthalmology residents from Beaumont, Ascension and Kresge/Wayne State University.
In his spare time, Dr. Kahana enjoys family activities with his wife and 4 children, participating in athletic activities (especially golf, tennis, skiing, and jogging), listening to and playing music (guitar, piano and bass), and reading history books and mystery novels.
Dr. Kahana was born in Ramat Gan, Israel, and grew up in Connecticut. He completed his undergraduate studies in Biochemistry at Brandeis University, graduating Summa Cum Laude and with Phi Beta Kappa honors. Dr. Kahana received his MD (with Honors) as well as a PhD in Molecular Genetics and Cell Biology from The University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine. He completed his residency in ophthalmology and a prestigious ASOPRS fellowship in oculofacial plastic and reconstructive surgery at the University of Wisconsin under the preceptorship of Dr. Mark Lucarelli. He simultaneously completed a facial cosmetic surgery fellowship under the preceptorship of Dr. Bradley Lemke. Dr. Kahana’s fellowship thesis won the prestigious Marvin Quickert Award from the American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ASOPRS).
In 2007, Dr. Kahana was recruited to the University of Michigan Kellogg Eye Center, where he rose up the ranks to become tenured faculty, with an international reputation in orbital surgery – particularly thyroid eye disease – and pediatric oculoplastics – particularly blepharophimosis and congenital ptosis. He has authored over 80 peer-reviewed publications, multiple book chapters and reviews, and has given more than 100 lectures throughout the United States and internationally, including several endowed lectures and visiting professorships. In 2020, Dr. Kahana was given the honor of delivering the annual Ralph E. Wesley ASOPRS Foundation Lecture. Dr. Kahana has served in numerous leadership positions, including as President of the North American Society of Academic Orbital Surgeons (NASAOS) and Chair of the Thesis Committee and the Scientific Advisory Committee for ASOPRS. He is also a Program Director for his own ASOPRS fellowship.
Dr. Kahana’s research has been awarded grants from the National Eye Institute of the National Institutes of Health, as well as philanthropic organizations and industry. Dr. Kahana was awarded career development and physician awards from Research to Prevent Blindness, and has run a major prospective clinical trial on the treatment of advanced orbital and periocular basal cell carcinoma. Dr. Kahana is also a noted educator, and has won resident teaching awards at both the University of Michigan and the University of Wisconsin.
Dr. Kahana’s practice covers all aspects of orbital and periocular plastic surgery. While continuing to serve the community as the surgeon of last resort for the most complex orbital blinding disorders and for repairing the most challenging complications, Dr. Kahana is also able to bring his considerable experience to the care of more straight-forward concerns, including eyelid and facial cosmetic surgery.
Dr. Kahana draws patients from throughout Michigan and the greater Midwest, as well as destination patients from throughout the United States. He has a national reach for rare and complex disorders, in particular thyroid eye disease, orbital surgery, congenital ptosis and blepharophimosis. Dr. Kahana performs over 250 orbital surgeries per year, in addition to hundreds of eyelid, lacrimal and facial plastic surgeries.
