JULIA A. HALLER, MD NAMED CEO OF WILLS EYE HOSPITAL
PHILADELPHIA, July 17, 2025 – Wills Eye Hospital today announced its Ophthalmologist-in-Chief, Julia A. Haller, MD, will expand her duties to take on the role of Chief Executive Officer of the non-profit specialty hospital. Haller will oversee patient care, strategic planning, financial performance, and philanthropic advancement for the organization. She assumes her duties on July 18th, and she succeeds Joseph P. Bilson, who announced his retirement in May after more than 40 years of service to the institution.
“Julia is a trailblazing retina surgeon, internationally renowned ophthalmologist, and remarkable individual. The next era of Wills Eye is in excellent hands with her,” said Hon. Michael A. Nutter, President, Board of Directors of City Trusts, which administers the James Wills Trust that operates the Hospital. “She brings a unique level of continuity and deep understanding of Wills Eye Hospital’s influence on global ophthalmology to this role. On behalf of the Board of Directors of City Trusts, it is my pleasure to welcome her to this next chapter.”
While she will remain as Ophthalmologist-in-Chief, Dr. Haller’s duties as CEO will expand to include working closely with the Wills Eye leadership team, physicians, and staff to continue ensuring the highest standards of patient care. In addition to its Center City location, Wills Eye operates a network of physician practices, surgery centers, and optical shops in the Greater Philadelphia area, all of which will be under Dr. Haller’s purview as CEO. The organization sees more than 350,000 patients annually.
“After serving as Ophthalmologist-in-Chief for nearly 20 years, it is an honor to become yet more deeply embedded in this venerable institution,” said Dr. Haller. “I look forward to growing our impact locally, regionally, and internationally, serving as a champion for the hundreds of thousands of patients who walk through our doors each year, and continuing to elevate the Wills Eye name as a relentless force for excellence and innovation, shaping the future of ophthalmology across the globe.”
“It has been my privilege to have worked with Julia Haller for the last 18 years at Wills, the best eye hospital in America,” said Bilson. “I saw first-hand that she is an enormously talented professional who is uniquely prepared to take Wills to the next level. I know she’ll be great, and I wish her every success.”
Dr. Haller is one of the world’s most renowned retina surgeons and has served as Ophthalmologist-in-Chief for Wills Eye Hospital since 2007. She is Professor and Chair of Ophthalmology at Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University, and a consultant for Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. A graduate of Princeton University, Harvard Medical School and the Wilmer Eye Institute at Johns Hopkins Hospital, Dr. Haller is an innovator in treatments for retinal disorders and a strong voice for equity and mentorship in medicine. She has been instrumental in bringing advanced treatment methods from theory to reality in the fight against blindness, including sustained drug delivery devices, ocular pharmacotherapy, retinal "chip" implants, and gene therapy.
Click here for a professional headshot for Dr. Haller.
About Wills Eye Hospital
Wills Eye Hospital is a global leader in ophthalmology, established in 1832 as the nation's first hospital specializing in eye care. U.S. News & World Report has consistently rankedWills Eye as one of America's top ophthalmology Hospitals since the survey began. Wills also boasts the most Castle-Connelly nationally ranked ophthalmologists in the country. The famed Wills Eye residency training program is regularly voted at the top of academic programs in the U.S. by physicians in the nation. Wills Eye is a premier training site for all levels of medical education. Its resident and post-graduate training programs are among the most competitive in the country. The Vickie and Jack Farber Vision Research Center at Wills harnesses the core strengths of Wills, the close connection between innovative research and advanced patient care, to discover therapeutic breakthroughs. Wills provides the full range of primary and subspecialty eye care for improving and preserving sight, including cataract and primary eye care, cornea, emergency care, glaucoma, neuro-ophthalmology, ocular oncology, oculoplastics, pathology, pediatric ophthalmology, refractive surgery, retina, and strabismus. Ocular Services include the Wills Laser Correction Center and Diagnostic Center. Its 24/7 Emergency Service is the only one of its kind in the region. Wills Eye also has a network of five multi-specialty, ambulatory surgery centers throughout the tristate area.
CONTACT: London Faust, lfaust@bellevuepr.com