Melvin L. Rubin

Trained initially as an optometrist, Rubin later studied medicine at the University of California, San Francisco. After completing his internship he earned a masters degree and completed his residency at the University of Iowa in Iowa City. He worked with the US Public Health Service as executive secretary of the NIH Research Training Committee in Bethesda, Maryland, before moving to Gainesville, Florida.

A professor of ophthalmology at University of Florida Shands Health Center from 1963, he was Chair of the Department of Ophthalmology from 1977-1995. After stepping down, he remained at Shands as the Richardson Eminent Scholar Chair. He became professor emeritus in 1997.{{cite news | date=2014-02-23|title=Melvin L. Rubin, MD '57 : Refocusing the field of ophthalmology | url=https://alumni.ucsf.edu/stories/melvin-l-rubin/# |website=UCSF Alumni |access-date=21 October 2024}}

Well-known as a retinal surgeon, Rubin also held a number of distinguished positions in ophthalmic organizations. He was president and late on the board directors of the American Academy of Ophthalmology (1988); president of the Foundation of the AAO; and chairman of the American Boards of Ophthalmology (ABO). He was instrumental within the American Ophthalmological Society Council, modernizing the organization’s educational programs at annual meetings; and trustee as well as president (1979) of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO). Additionally, he was as an editor for industry journals including "Survey of Ophthalmology" and the "Archives of Ophthalmology," and served on advisory boards of nonprofits dedicated to the prevention of blindness.

Rubin was a prolific writer and author of several textbooks central to ophthalmic education.{{Cite news |date=June 2014 |url=https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaophthalmology/fullarticle/1862752#google_vignette# |title=Obituary |website=JAMA Ophthalmology |access-date=21 October 2024}}{{cite news | date=2014-02-23|title=Melvin Rubin Obituary | url=https://www.arvo.org/membership/member-stories2/obituaries/melvin-rubin-md/# |website=ARVO |access-date=22 October 2024}}{{Cite book |last=Henderer |first=Jeffrey D. |title=Dictionary of Eye Terminology |date=2019 |location=American Academy of Ophthalmology, San Francisco, California |pages=vii Tribute |edition=7 }} While secretary for instruction for the Academy of Ophthalmology, he created the Ophthalmic Knowledge Assessment Program (OKAP) which remains an annual part of residency training programs. During his career, Rubin traveled widely teaching optics and refraction, presented dozens of named lectures, and wrote more than 100 scientific papers.{{cite news | date=2014-02-23|title=Melvin Rubin Obituary | url=https://www.mdeye.org/content/memory-melvin-l-rubin-md# |website=Florida Society of Ophthalmology |access-date=22 October 2024}} Two of his books, Optics for Clinicians and The Fine Art of Prescribing Glasses, according to JAMA Ophthalmology, were "the cornerstone of education in these fields for a generation of ophthalmologists." In 1979 The Fine Art of Prescribing Glasses won an "AMMY" from the American Medical Writers Association as the best medical book of the year. He also received a Special Recognition Award from The American Academy of Ophthalmology for accomplishments in eye science and education. Rubin was reportedly most proud of having been named 2012 Alumnus of the Year, by his UCSF Medical School class.

Rubin was married to Lorna (née' Isen),{{Cite news |date=July 2, 1953 |title=Weddings |pages=59 |work=The Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/385618523/?terms=%22Melvin%20Rubin%22&match=1 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=January 30, 2023 |archive-date=January 30, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230130180336/https://www.newspapers.com/image/385618523/?terms=%22Melvin%20Rubin%22&match=1 |url-status=live }} an independent publisher and had three children, Gabrielle, Daniel, and Michael.{{Cite news | date=2014-02-23|title=Melvin and Lorna Rubin Fund | url=https://www.uff.ufl.edu/giving-opportunities/006915-melvin-and-lorna-rubin-fund/ |website=UF Giving |access-date=22 October 2024}}

He was also interested in photography—he built a large and significant collection of 20th century photographs.

According to JAMA Ophthalmology, Rubin was "one of the foremost scholars and teachers of his generation."

The copyrights for The Dictionary of Eye Terminology were gifted to the American Academy of Ophthalmology in 2015, which has produced new editions of the work. The dictionary is currently in its 8th edition.

The Florida Society of Ophthalmology named their only named lectureship for Rubin.

The Melvin and Lorna Rubin endowment was established in 1997 to support the acquisition of photography for the Samuel P. Harn Museum of Art’s collections. In recognition for this and other contributions, there is a "Melvin and Lorna Rubin" gallery in the Harn, dedicated to showing photographic works.

• {{Cite book |last1=Rubin |first1=Melvin |last2=Walls |first2=Gordon |title=Studies in Physiological Optics |publisher=Charles C. Thomas Publisher |year=1965}}

• {{Cite book |last1=Rubin |first1=Melvin |last2=Walls |first2=Gordon |title=Fundamentals of Visual Science |publisher=Charles C. Thomas |year=1972 |isbn=0398016259}}

• {{Cite book |last=Rubin |first=Melvin |title=Optics for Clinicians |publisher=Triad Publishing Co. |location=Gainesville, FL |year=1974 |isbn=0937404349}}

• {{Cite book |last1=Rubin |first1=Melvin |last2=Milder |first2=Benjamin |title=The Fine Art of Prescribing Glasses (Without Making a Spectacle of Yourself) |edition=2nd |publisher=Triad Publishing Co. |location=Gainesville, FL |year=1978 |isbn=0960047220}}

• {{Cite book |last1=Rubin |first1=Melvin |last2=Cassin |first2=Barbara |title=The Dictionary of Eye Terminology |edition=6th |publisher=Triad Publishing Co. |location=Gainesville, FL |year=1980 |isbn=093740473X}}

• {{Cite book |last1=Rubin |first1=Melvin |last2=Winograd |first2=Lawrence |title=Taking Care of Your Eyes |publisher=Triad Publishing Co. |location=Gainesville, FL |year=2002 |isbn=0937404616}}

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Category:1932 births

Category:2014 deaths

Category:American ophthalmologists

Category:American medical academics

Category:University of California, Berkeley alumni

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