James A. Katowitz, MD

James A. Katowitz, MD, is an attending surgeon and Director of Oculoplastic and Orbital Surgery in the Division of Ophthalmology at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP).

It’s important to him that the families and children he works with feel understood and cared for.

“I want every family to know that we are always here to listen and to support them in addition to treating their child’s condition,” he says.

Dr. Katowitz specializes in surgery to improve the function and appearance of facial structures, in particular the eyelids, orbits and tear-draining systems. He was instrumental in developing CHOP’s multidisciplinary approach to treating children with these issues in CHOP’s Craniofacial Program and the Edwin & Fannie Gray Hall Center for Human Appearance at both CHOP and the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.

As a researcher, Dr. Katowitz is involved with a variety of projects to improve surgical techniques. He is also working on broadening the definition of “function” to include the psychosocial effects of deformities and how this affects a person’s ability to function in society. 

Along with his role at CHOP, Dr. Katowitz has authored over 100 articles and chapters and edited several books on oculoplastic subjects, including the first major textbook on children’s oculoplastic disorders, “Pediatric Oculoplastic Surgery.”

Of all of his work, Dr. Katowitz says helping children and families is most fulfilling.

“My greatest enjoyment is seeing the happy response in children and their families when we are able to help them both to see better as well as look better, which very much affects their identity and psychosocial well-being,” he says.