Ophthalmologist, surgeon, inventor, jazz musician, entertainer and Broadway producer
Known for
Inventing phacoemulsification as well as other surgical techniques and instruments
Honors
Lasker Award
National Inventors Hall of Fame
National Medal of Technology
Charles David Kelman (May 23, 1930 – June 1, 2004) was an American ophthalmologist, surgeon, inventor, jazz musician, entertainer, and Broadway producer. Known as the father of phacoemulsification,[1][2] he developed many of the medical devices, instruments, implant lenses and techniques used in cataract surgery. In the early 1960s, he began the use of cryosurgery to remove cataracts and repair retinal detachments. Cryosurgery for cataracts remained in heavy use until 1978, when phacoemulsification, a procedure Kelman also developed in 1967, became the modern standard treatment. Kelman was given the National Medal of Technology by President George H. W. Bush and recognized as the Ophthalmologist of the Century by the International Congress of Cataract and Refractive Surgery in Montreal, Canada. He was also inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in Akron, Ohio, and received the 2004 Lasker Award.
Born in New York, Kelman graduated from Tufts University and earned his medical degree from University of Geneva before returning to New York to intern at Kings County Hospital and complete his residency at Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia. He was later an attending surgeon at the Manhattan Eye, Ear & Throat Hospital and the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary, and maintained a private practice. Kelman served as clinical professor of ophthalmology at New York Medical College and individually taught his techniques to many surgeons around the world.
Kelman pursued a career as an entertainer alongside his medical career. He began playing the harmonica at a young age and performed on a radio show, The Horn and Hardart Children's Hour. He later learned to play the clarinet and saxophone. As a teenager, he formed a big band, began composing music, and played in his high school band and as first clarinet on the New York All-City Orchestra. While in medical school in Geneva, he appeared on two jazz radio shows and one on television. After returning to New York, he recorded a song, "Telephone Numbers", released by Chancellor Records to some success in national billboard charts. After inventing phacoemulsification, in part to promote the procedure, he began appearing regularly on television, first on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson in 1975. He developed a musical comedy routine which he performed on television as well as in Atlantic City, Las Vegas, and Carnegie Hall in New York, alongside several notable jazz musicians and entertainers. He co-produced several Broadway musicals and wrote at least two off-Broadway musicals.
^Pandey, Suresh K; Milverton, E John; Maloof, Anthony J (October 2004). "A tribute to Charles David Kelman MD: ophthalmologist, inventor and pioneer of phacoemulsification surgery". Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology. 32 (5): 529–533. doi:10.1111/j.1442-9071.2004.00887.x. ISSN 1442-6404. PMID 15498067. S2CID 25230092.
^Vasumathi, R. (2018). "Remembering Dr. Charles D. Kelman and Development of phacoemulsification". TNOA Journal of Ophthalmic Science and Research. 56 (1): 45. doi:10.4103/tjosr.tjosr_36_18. ISSN 2589-4528.
Charles David Kelman (May 23, 1930 – June 1, 2004) was an American ophthalmologist, surgeon, inventor, jazz musician, entertainer, and Broadway producer...
invented a surgical cure for cataract, and he developed scleroplasty. CharlesKelman (1930–2004) (United States) developed the ultrasound and mechanized...
and director Ari Kelman (born 1968), Chancellor’s Leadership Professor of History at University of California, Davis CharlesKelman (1930–2004), ophthalmologist...
surgery a more efficient, effective, and comfortable process. In 1967, CharlesKelman introduced phacoemulsification, which uses ultrasonic energy to emulsify...
and for the method of surgery named after him, the Ilizarov surgery CharlesKelman (Invented phacoemulsification, the technique of modern cataract surgery)...
and may not be clinically relevant. CharlesKelman and Anton Banko introduced phacoemulsification in 1967. Kelman had the idea to use ultrasonic vibrations...
Institutes of Health 1947 – Thomas Parran Jr. 1949 – Haven Emerson 1952 – Charles-Edward Amory Winslow 1956 – Alan Gregg 1959 – J. Lister Hill and John E...
Frankel, Jujamcyn Theaters, The Rodgers and Hammerstein Organization, CharlesKelman Productions, Simone Genatt Haft, Marc Routh, Jay Binder and Robert Halmi...
Archived from the original on 1 August 2008. Retrieved 22 September 2014. Kelman, John (14 July 2004). "A Salute To Buddy Rich". All About Jazz. Retrieved...
probe tip to freeze the encapsulated lens to the probe. In 1967, CharlesKelman introduced phacoemulsification, which uses ultrasonic energy to emulsify...
enhancing their ability to compete in the global marketplace." 1992 CharlesKelman "For his innovations in cataract surgical technology resulting in reduced...
original on January 12, 2020. Retrieved January 5, 2020. "NIHF Inductee CharlesKelman Invented Cataract Surgery". www.invent.org. June 5, 2024. Archived from...
84, English Roman Catholic bishop. Liu Kang, 93, Singaporean artist. CharlesKelman, 74, American ophthalmologist, surgeon, jazz musician, and Broadway...
2008). "Anton Banko, the Slovenian inventor behind the success of CharlesKelman". Acta Ophthalmologica. 86: 0. doi:10.1111/j.1755-3768.2008.229.x. v...
known as "Gadget Gimbel". In January 1974, Gimbel took a course with CharlesKelman in phacoemulsification, a surgical technique for the removal of cataracts...
and Gabor Szikla create the Talairach coordinates for brain mapping. CharlesKelman introduces phacoemulsification for cataract surgery. St Christopher's...
Topsy, African-American rhythm and blues singer (d. 1964) May 23 – CharlesKelman, ophthalmologist (d. 2004) May 27 John Barth, fiction writer (d. 2024)...
United Kingdom he invited Dr CharlesKelman MD, the inventor of phacoemulsification ("phaco"), to address the Society. Kelman had found a method of removing...
American History Professor George Rappaport, and is the cousin of Dr. CharlesKelman, inventor of phacoemulsification. Here is the list of some other exhibits...
Jewish. Zuboff joined Harvard Business School in 1981 where she became the Charles Edward Wilson Professor of Business Administration and one of the first...
Archived from the original on 28 September 2012. Retrieved 19 September 2016. Kelman, John (2011). Interview. AllAboutJazz. Retrieved August 10, 2013. Bass Desires...
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