Rachel W. Kuchtey, M.D., Ph.D.
Education
M.D., West China University of Medical Sciences, Chengdu Sichuan
Ph.D., Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
Postgraduate Training
Postdoctoral Research Fellowship
Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
Internship
Brown University, Providence, RI
Residency
Ophthalmology, Cole Eye Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH
Fellowship
Glaucoma, Cole Eye Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH
Board Certification
American Board of Ophthalmology
Professional Affiliations
American Academy of Ophthalmology
American Glaucoma Society
International Society for Eye Research
Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology
Tennessee Academy of Ophthalmology
Nashville Academy of Ophthalmology
Honors & Awards
1995-1996 Fight for Sight Research Fellowship in Vision and Related Sciences
2000-2001 National Research Service Award Postdoctoral Fellowship Award
2004-2005 Pfizer Glaucoma Fellows Award for Excellence in Glaucoma Research
2006-2007 Fight for Sight Young Faculty Research Award
2007 Vanderbilt Eye Institute David K. Wilson Discovery Award
2007-2009 American Glaucoma Society Young Clinician Scientist Award
2008 American Glaucoma Society MAPS Award
2009 Nashville Academy of Ophthalmology Service Award
2009 Vanderbilt Eye Institute Chairman’s Discovery Award
2009-2013 Research to Prevent Blindness Career Development Award
2013-2014 American Glaucoma Society Mid-Career Clinician Scientist Award
2014-2016 The Marfan Foundation Research Award
2018-2022 The Glaucoma Foundation Research Award
2019 American Academy of Ophthalmology Secretariat Award
2019-2020 Glaucoma Research Foundation Shaffer Award
2023 Glaucoma Research Foundation Shaffer Price winner
Areas of Clinical Expertise
Glaucoma diagnosis, medical and surgical management
Cataract surgery
Ocular complications of connective tissue disorders
Research Interests
Laser treatment for glaucoma
Glaucoma Genetics
Aqueous humor outflow regulation
Glaucomatous optic nerve damage
Background
Dr. Kuchtey joined Vanderbilt faculty as an Assistant Professor on tenure track in 2005 immediately after completing her ophthalmology residency and glaucoma fellowship training at the Cole Eye Institute of the Cleveland Clinic Foundation. She is currently a tenured Full Professor of Ophthalmology as well as a Full Professor in the Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics at Vanderbilt. She specializes in diagnosing and managing different forms of glaucoma, many are challenging cases referred by her colleagues. In addition to her clinical duties, Dr. Kuchtey is Vanderbilt site PI for a NIH sponsored multicenter prospective clinical trial evaluating laser treatment for glaucoma (COAST). Her laboratory research on glaucoma pathogenesis has been continuously funded by her R01 grant from the NIH since 2010. She joined Ophthalmology Editorial Board in 2017 and subsequently became an inaugural editorial board member of Ophthalmology Glaucoma and Ophthalmology Science.