Saul Merin

Saul Merin is an Israeli ophthalmologist specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of retinal and genetic eye diseases. Merin's contributions include his seminal book, Inherited Eye Diseases now in in its second edition.

A Professor of Ophthalmology at Israel's Hadassah Hospital, Merin also works at the St John of Jerusalem Eye Hospital Group's East Jerusalem hospital, where he has developed good relationships with ophthalmologists working in the area of the Palestine Authority.

While based primarily in Israel, Merin has a 25-year relationship with and visiting professorship at the The University of Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary[1].

Personal history

Merin escaped deportation by train to Auschwitz on August 3, 1943, and was hidden by Aniela (Zawadzka) Szwajce in Będzin, a town in southwest Poland, until arrival of the Soviet army in January 1945 [2]. He emigrated to Israel in 1949.

Training & Positions held

• Medical School, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, 1953-1960
• Duty Army Service, I.D.F., 1961-1963
• Training in ophthalmology at Hadassah Medical Center under Professor I.C. Michaelson, 1963-1969
• Specialist in ophthalmology, 1969
• Service in Africa: Malawi, 1965-1967
• Several professional tours in Africa
• Fellowships and additional training, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (Pediatric ophthalmology); University of Illinois at Chicago, Illinois, USA (Medical Retina)
• Professor of Ophthalmology, Hebrew University, since 1979
• Chairman of Israel Ophthalmological Society, 1976-1982
• Chairman of Israel Society for Vision and Eye Research, 1985-1995
• Chairman, Israel Board of Ophthalmology, 1989-1995
• Chairman, Unit of Ophthalmology, Hadassah Mt. Scopus, 1979-1998

Selected references

• Merin, Saul (2005). Inherited Eye Diseases: Diagnosis and Management, Second Edition. New York: Dekker. ISBN 1-57444-839-0. 
• Blumenthal EZ, Papamichael G, Merin S (1998). "Combined hamartoma of the retina and retinal pigment epithelium: a bilateral presentation". Retina (Philadelphia, Pa.). 18 (6): 557–9. PMID 9869468. CS1 maint: Multiple names: authors list (link)

• Merin S (1982). "Cataract formation in retinitis pigmentosa". Birth Defects Orig. Artic. Ser. 18 (6): 187–91. PMID 7171754. 

• Merin S, Auerbach E (1976). "Retinitis pigmentosa". Surv Ophthalmol. 20 (5): 303–46. doi:10.1016/S0039-6257(96)90001-6. PMID 817406. 

Preceded by Michael Belkin

Chairpersons of the Israel Society for Vision and Eye Research 1986-1989

Succeeded by Shabtay Dikstein