William R. Katowitz, MD

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William R. Katowitz, MD, is an attending surgeon in the Division of Ophthalmology at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. He works with children with thyroid conditions, hemangiomas and vascular malformations.

Areas of Expertise: Oculoplastic and orbital surgery, Lacrimal (tearing) disorders, Ptosis, Facial trauma, Eyelid and ocular surface tumors, Vascular malformations, Pediatric ophthalmology, Hyperthyroidism (Graves' disease), Tear duct problems
Locations: Main Hospital; Specialty Care, King of Prussia

Phone: 215-590-2791

Background

William Rocamora Katowitz, MD, is an attending surgeon in the Division of Ophthalmology at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). He works closely with children with tearing abnormalities, droopy eyelids (ptosis), facial trauma, eyelid and orbital tumors, as well as patients with thyroid conditions and vascular malformations.

“I enjoy treating children and their families and specifically am inspired by the challenges they face when born with orbital and facial abnormalities,” he said.

Dr. Katowitz is excited about the promising direction of orbital imaging. His research focuses on pediatric ptosis, orbital tumors and tearing.

In addition to his role at CHOP, Dr. Katowitz is an Associate Professor of Ophthalmology at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. He is also the Fellowship Director of a 2 year-fellowship in the American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic Reconstructive Surgery (ASOPRS).

Dr. Katowitz hopes that children and families come away from their experience at CHOP knowing how special the place is.

“I hope each family can appreciate not only just how much we care for their child, but for their overall  experience in receiving that care here at CHOP,” he says.

Education and Training

Medical School

MD - University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA

Internship

Transitional Internship - Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA

Residency

Ophthalmology - Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA

Fellowship

Pediatric Ophthalmology - The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
Oculoplastic and Orbital Surgery - The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
Orbital and Lacrimal Surgery, Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Trust, London, England

Board Certification

Ophthalmology – American Board of Ophthalmology

Titles and Academic Titles

Attending Surgeon

Fellowship Director

Associate Professor of Ophthalmology, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania

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.

Chua MR, Tomlinson LA, Binenbaum G, Katowitz WR. Pediatric thyroid eye disease: clinical characteristics and orbital decompression outcomes. Ophthalmic Plast Reconstr Surg. 2018;4S(Suppl 1):S52-S55.

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.

Swanson JW, Aleman TS, Xu W, Ying GS, Pan W, Liu GT, Lang SS, Heuer GG, Storm PB, Bartlett SP, Katowitz WR, Taylor JA. Evaluation of optical coherence tomography to detect elevated intracranial pressure in children. JAMA Ophthalmol. 2017;135(4):320-328.

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

Iyengar SS, Chambers CB, Katowitz WR. Update on pediatric lacrimal disorders. Int Ophthalmol Clin. 2010 Fall;50(4):67-72. No abstract available.

Eftekhari K, Chikwava KR, Katowitz WR. Idiopathic Orbital Inflammation Leading to Unilateral Blindness Over a 2-Day Presentation in a Child. Ophthal Plast Reconstr Surg. 2010 Sep 20.

2009

Castelo-Soccio L, Katowitz WR, Katowitz JA, Shah KN, Treat JR, Yan AC. Picture of the month. Eyelid pilomatricoma. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2009 Oct;163(10):955-6. Review. No abstract available.

Metry DW, Garzon MC, Drolet BA, Frommelt P, Haggstrom A, Hall J, Hess CP, Heyer GL, Siegel D, Baselga E, Katowitz W, Levy ML, Mancini A, Maronn ML, Phung T, Pope E, Sun G, Frieden IJ. PHACE syndrome: current knowledge, future directions. Pediatr Dermatol. 2009 Jul-Aug;26(4):381-98.

Awards and Honors

2022, Philadelphia Magazine's Top Doctors in Ophthalmology