James A. Katowitz, MD

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James A. Katowitz, MD, is an Attending Surgeon and Director of Oculoplastic and Orbital Surgery at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

Areas of Expertise: Oculoplastic and orbital surgery
Locations: Main Campus

Phone: 215-590-2791

Background

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.

Education and Training

Medical School

University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA

Internship

Beth Israel Hospital

Residency

Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA.

Fellowship

Cornea and oculoplastic surgery - Queen Victoria Hospital, Sussex; Moorfields Eye Hospital, London
Pediatric ophthalmology - The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA

Board Certification

American Board of Ophthalmology

Titles and Academic Titles

Attending Surgeon

Conditions Treated

Departments and Services

Publications

Papers

2018

Revere KE, Binenbaum G, Li J, Mills MD, Katowitz WR, Katowitz JA. Simultaneous versus sequential ptosis and strabismus surgery in children. Ophthalmic Plast Reconstr Surg. 2018;34(3):280-283.

2017

Khatib L, Nazemzadeh M, Revere K, Katowitz WR, Katowitz JA. Use of the Masterka for complex nasolacrimal duct obstruction in children. J AAPOS. 2017;21(5):380-383.

Avery RA, Katowitz JA, Fisher MJ, Heidary G, Dombi E, Packer RJ, Widemann BC; OPPN Working Group. Orbital/periorbital plexiform neurofibromas in children with neurofibromatosis type 1: multidisciplinary recommendations for care. Ophthalmology. 2017;124(1):123-132.

2016

Revere KE, Katowitz WR, Katowitz JA, Rorke-Adams L, Fisher MJ, Liu GT. Childhood optic nerve glioma: vision loss due to biopsy. Ophthal Plast Reconstr Surg. 2016 Apr 4.

2010

Lane KA, Anninger WV, Katowitz JA. Expanding the phenotype of a neurofibromatosis type 1-like syndrome: a patient with SPRED1 mutation and orbital manifestations: retraction. Ophthal Plast Reconstr Surg. 2010 Mar-Apr;26(2):145. No abstract available.