After 28 years of dedicated service to the University of Wisconsin’s Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences (DOVS), Andrew T. Thliveris, PhD, MD retired in 2023 to his peaceful 30-acre fruit orchard in Colorado. But his heart never left DOVS.
Known for his wisdom, warmth, and humor, Dr. Thliveris continues to be a cherished presence at department events, especially graduation and the phacoemulsification cataract extraction course he once directed. His commitment to nurturing future ophthalmologists remains unwavering — both through mentorship and generous philanthropy.
A spirit of philanthropic giving runs deep in his family. Dr. Thliveris serves as co-trustee of the Carl and Mary Ann Berg Charitable Remainder Trust. Carl Berg, a real estate entrepreneur and venture capitalist, is Dr. Thliveris’ second cousin. Raised in New Mexico by a schoolteacher mother after his father died heroically in a workplace accident in an effort to save the life of a co-worker, Berg built his fortune in Silicon Valley by investing in over 100 tech startups, and co-founding the biopharma company Berg Health, now known as BPG Bio.
“Carl is one of the humblest men you’ll ever know,” Dr. Thliveris said. “He could be in the middle of a large group of people, and you’d never know how accomplished he had become. He grew up to be a risk-taker, and he understood the true meaning of sacrifice. He recognized early on the importance of serving a veteran population that put everything on the line, and paid the ultimate sacrifice, like his dad, with their lives.”
As co-trustee, Dr. Thliveris has helped funnel needed financial support into transformative DOVS initiatives such as the Global Ophthalmology and Teaching Enhancement Funds. These programs open doors for learners to gain global patient care experience, attend clinical and vision research conferences, and access vital tools.
Perhaps most meaningful, however, is the establishment of the Carl and Mary Ann Berg Family Professorship of Ophthalmology, awarded to Dr. Daniel Knoch in 2023. Dr. Knoch is a full professor in the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, and Chief of the Ophthalmology Service of the Middleton Veteran’s Administration Hospital in Madison. This first-of-its-kind professorship ensures top-tier care for veterans and empowers its holder to make important decisions and impact change for that service.
Dr. Thliveris credits his enduring dedication to one simple value: family.
“Greeks are all about family,” he said. “And DOVS has always been one of mine. We’ve grown together, faced challenges together, and built something lasting.”
As he looks back on his career, his biggest piece of advice to the future generation of ophthalmologists is something he lives by to this day – know that you don’t know everything.
“Serving as co-trustee of Carl and Mary Ann’s estate has been challenging to say the least,” Dr. Thliveris said, “but it’s been incredibly fascinating and rewarding at the same time. When I started doing all of this trustee work, I didn’t know about initial public offerings, venture capital, and real estate. I had a lot to learn. But I stand by the notion that if you have strong principles and you know that you don’t know, then you’ll find out what you need by seeking out individuals who do have the expertise or by educating yourself. It may take a while, but if you are surrounded by the right people, you can make good decisions.”
When asked if he misses practicing ophthalmology, he smiles. “Truthfully, I can say that I just haven’t thought about it – because I’m trying to grasp the complexity of other endeavors. But my heart swells every time I return to UW Madison to see the ophthalmology residents and faculty. DOVS has been a huge part of my life, and they are my family. It’s been an honor to be part of this incredible DOVS village.”
