Andrew Thliveris, PhD, MD received the Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Wisconsin Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences (DOVS) — an honor that, in his words, belongs not to him alone, but to the DOVS family.
“Words cannot express how I feel about this award,” Dr. Thliveris said. “It came from great mentors like Jim Allen, Burton Kushner, and Fred Brightbill—individuals who were incredibly dedicated and excited about passing knowledge forward to the next generation with no strings attached.”
Dr. Thliveris received the honor at the DOVS Alumni and Friends reception at the American Academy of Ophthalmology conference in Orlando, FL on October 18, 2025.
His nearly 30-year journey with DOVS began as a resident and culminated in leadership roles including Veteran’s Administration Hospital service chief, vice chair of resident education, and residency director. In 2023, he retired to a quiet orchard in Colorado, leaving behind a legacy defined by selfless teaching and transformative mentorship.
Teaching was never just a duty—it was a calling. He recalls early lessons in humility, like being told his refraction error was “like putting tractor tires on a Volkswagen.” That spirit of patience and growth shaped his philosophy: “We are in the heads of our trainees forever.”
But it wasn’t always easy. In his second year at the VA, he struggled with the ethical weight of cataract surgery as a young surgeon. But with the support of his colleagues, he found a way forward—safe, ethical, and transformative. Alongside Drs. Stephen Sauer and Daniel Knoch, Dr. Thliveris helped revolutionize residency training that ultimately resulted in a complication rate just over 1%—better than any other resident program in the country.
“So, we did it,” he said simply. But behind that modest statement lies a legacy of excellence.
Dr. Thliveris credits his modest upbringing with helping shape who he became as a teacher, acknowledging that he was never tempted by the economic pressures that weigh on many surgeons. Instead, he gave his all to the teaching mission at the Veterans Administration.
“The best memories of Madison are the people,” Dr. Thliveris says. “People in the Midwest are the most gracious individuals. Our faculty are an extension of that—humble, gracious, and always doing the right thing for our residents.” He recalls a family practice doctor who once told him, “Be humble and live among the people. Because as the face and economics of medicine change, you will never be compromised.”
Dr. Thliveris considers his greatest accomplishment training the next generation. “The residents taught me to be a better teacher,” he said, recalling a moment when he flipped roles with a struggling learner, and it worked.
His advice to current residents is profound: “Live among the people. Know what you don’t know. Be self-aware. If you change, you’ve obtained the ability to continuously evolve. And that is an amazing thing.”
Teaching, he insists, is never boring. “If you open your mind, every resident will teach you something.” Ocular surgery, he says, is multi-dimensional. “Every resident is unique in the different dimensions it takes to become an amazing surgeon. Your techniques must reflect that.”
In receiving the Distinguished Alumni Award, Dr. Thliveris feels the credit belongs to the entire DOVS community—and to their families. “If there was one thing I overlooked, it was my own family,” he says. “The system puts pressure on them, and they feel it. Their commitment is enormous and often unrecognized.”
“This award is an incredible honor,” he continued, “and I wish I could spread around to include everyone in my life. It is a testament to our department, our process, and our faculty- the entire DOVS family.”
