Cat Burkat, MD, FACS, a professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences (DOVS) at the University of Wisconsin—Madison School of Medicine and Public Health formally received the inaugural appointment to the Lions Eye Bank of Wisconsin (LEBW) Professorship at a special celebration at the Health Science Learning Center in Madison, WI on May 12, 2025. The professorship recognizes Dr. Burkat’s outstanding achievements in oculofacial plastic and reconstructive surgery and her unwavering dedication to patients locally, nationally, and internationally.
“The Lions Eye Bank of Wisconsin is honored to support the endowed professorship awarded to Dr. Cat Burkat, whose groundbreaking work in global ophthalmology and corneal neurotization reflects our shared commitment to reducing blindness and expanding access to vision-restoring treatments,” said LEBW Chief Executive Officer Stacey Troha. “Dr. Burkat’s leadership in advancing sustainable care models, particularly in economically disadvantaged regions, and her focus on applied stem cell therapies, exemplify the innovative spirit this professorship was designed to foster. We are confident that this collaboration will accelerate the discovery of new therapeutic processes and broaden the use of donated corneal tissue in treating curable blindness worldwide. We look forward to the transformative impact this partnership will have on patients, practitioners, and the future of eye care.”
Dr. Burkat earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1995 and her Doctor of Medicine degree at the University of Rochester in Rochester, New York in 1999. She completed her internal medicine internship and ophthalmology residency training at Strong Memorial Hospital at the University of Rochester, where she was selected to lead as chief resident in her final year. Dr. Burkat then completed dual fellowship training in ophthalmic plastic and reconstructive surgery and facial cosmetic surgery at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics in 2005 and immediately joined the faculty at DOVS.
Dr. Burkat is Professor of Oculoplastics, Facial Cosmetic and Orbital Surgery in the School of Medicine and Public Health and is considered an international expert in orbito-facial prosthesis. Throughout her career, Dr. Burkat has been active in associations both at home and abroad. She has been honored with leadership and teaching awards by the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus, just to list a few. She has been invited to lecture worldwide in Canada, Mexico, Italy, Puerto Rico, Nepal, Brazil, Vietnam, India and the Philippines.
Dr. Burkat currently serves as the Co-Director of the DOVS Global Ophthalmology Initiatives Program and has been instrumental in establishing collaborative medical, research and educational exchange programs between DOVS and the University of Santa Tomas, Cardinal Santos Medical Center, and the Tzu Chi Eye Center in Manila, Philippines. As an esteemed authority in oculoplastics and global ophthalmology, Dr. Burkat recently published a textbook as editor in chief entitled “Global Oculoplastics: A Guide to the Care of Patients in Resource-Poor Environments” and has directed over 80 skill courses/breakfast roundtables at annual American Academy of Ophthalmology meetings to help advance the education of ophthalmologists around the world.
Dr. Burkat also works with local middle and high school students, especially those from underrepresented populations, to expose them to medicine and ophthalmology, while also working to increase vision screenings for young children.
“Dr. Burkat’s leadership and service portfolio is exemplary, with expansive local to international impact, and she is more than deserving of this recognition,” said Department Chair Terri Young, MD, MBA. “Dr. Burkat’s pioneering academic and clinical work in corneal neurotization procedures aligns with broader efforts to increase the availability and use of donated ocular tissues, helping to improve outcomes for patients who may not benefit from traditional treatment options. Her efforts in both developed and underserved regions align with the UW and Lions Eye Bank of Wisconsin’s commitment and ethos to reduce healthcare disparities and expand access to treatment for all.”
This professorship is for a 5-year term January 1, 2025, through December 31, 2029, and is renewable.
About Lions Eye Bank of Wisconsin
The Lions Eye Bank of Wisconsin is a non-profit organization dedicated to restoring sight through the recovery and transplantation of corneal tissue. The LEBW is honored to support Wisconsin corneal tissue donors and their families and to collaborate with the state’s leading transplant surgeons to ensure that residents of our state have access to the life-changing gift of sight through transplantation.
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