WILLS EYE HOSPITAL APPOINTS NEW RETINA SERVICE CHIEF
Sunir Garg, MD will oversee the largest retina service in the United States
PHILADELPHIA, September 2, 2026 – Wills Eye Hospital has announced new leadership for its Retina Service. Dr. Sunir Garg has been elevated from his role as Co-Director of Retina Research to serve as Chief of the department.
“We look forward to a wonderful new era for Retina, building on the tremendous legacy of the service, and the remarkable leadership of its outgoing chief, Dr. Carl Regillo,” said Dr. Julia A. Haller, Chief Executive Office and Ophthalmologist-in-Chief, Wills Eye Hospital. “Dr. Garg has spent more than 20 years establishing himself as a world-renowned retina expert through his work here at Wills Eye and contributions to countless professional organizations. With Dr. Garg at the helm, I know the Retina service will continue to work tirelessly to protect and preserve the vision of our patients.”
Wills Eye operates its Retina Service in partnership with Mid-Atlantic Retina. It is staffed by 30 physicians, the most in the department’s 65-year history, making it the largest retina service in the United States. In 2025, the retina team performed more than 4,000 surgical cases, published more than 100 peer-reviewed papers based on original research conducted at Wills Eye, and served lead roles in many important multicenter clinical trials. Over the past two decades, Wills Eye’s retina service has helped drive revolutionary improvements in eye care including injectable biologics and advanced imaging as well as safer and less invasive vitrectomy techniques. The Retina Service continues to train the next generation of retina specialists, many of whom have made large impacts on the profession
Dr. Garg is a nationally and internationally recognized leader in retina care, research, education, and clinical innovation. His professional service includes past presidency of the Greater Philadelphia Ophthalmology Society, Chair of the Wills Eye Annual Conference, Chair of the American Academy of Ophthalmology’s Annual Meeting Retina Committee, service on the Academy’s Ethics Committee, and as the Academy’s clinical spokesperson. Dr. Garg’s honors include three American Academy of Ophthalmology Secretariat Awards, the American Society of Retina Specialists’ Presidential Award, and the Inaugural Women in Retina Champion Award. He is sits on the executive committee of the American Society of Retina Specialists and will be the Academy’s Secretary for Online Education in 2027.
“Wills Eye remains the leading center of excellence in eye care, and this is a huge privilege for me. I look forward to building on the momentum put in place by my amazing colleagues on the retina service, especially my predecessor, Dr. Regillo,” said Garg. “My goal is to continue to expand our services, foster an exceptional environment for leading surgeons and educators, and foster our research and partnerships with industry to develop the next generation of cures for eye disease.”
Drs. Garg assumed his role as chief on July 1, 2026.
About Wills Eye Hospital
Wills Eye Hospital is dedicated to the preservation and restoration of vision. As a trusted leader in ophthalmology, the clinical skill and innovative research of top-ranked, compassionate physicians combined with state-of-the-art diagnostic and treatment facilities make Philadelphia a global destination for eye care. As an independent specialty hospital, with four regional surgical centers, Wills Eye serves as a comprehensive center for ophthalmology focused on patient care, research, and education. Founded in 1832 through a bequest by Quaker merchant James Wills and registered as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Wills Eye Hospital has consistently earned top national ranking on U.S. News & World Report’s annual “Best Hospitals” survey. To learn more, please visit www.willseye.org.