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Prema Abraham, MD
Dr. Abraham joined the Black Hills Regional Eye Institute in 1995. She is fellowship trained in retina and has been the acting Medical Director since 2001. Dr. Abraham is a leading physician in retina and provides services that normally would only be found in major metropolitan areas. The Retina Center at the Eye Institute has state-of-the-art equipment including; Spectral Domain OCT, high resolution fundus photography and angiography. Dr. Abraham also participates in numerous clinical research trials related to diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration and vein occlusions.
Education:
1980-1984 - B.A., Chemistry, Stephens College, Columbia, MO
1985-1989 - M.D., University of Arkansas College of Medicine, Little Rock, AR
1989-1990 - Internship, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT
1990-1993 - Residency in Ophthalmology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT
1993-1995 - Vitreoretinal Fellowship, Wills Eye Hospital, Philadelphia, PA
1995 - Board Certified Ophthalmologist
Specialties:
Vitreoretinal Diseases and Surgery
Macular Disease and Surgery
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Monte Dirks, MD
Dr. Dirks joined the Black Hills Regional Eye Institute in 1999. Dr. Dirks retired from military service with the Department of Army as a full Colonel having served 20 years as a military surgeon. He is fellowship trained in glaucoma and participates in numerous clinical research trials related to dry eye and glaucoma.
Education:
1970-1974 - B.S. Metallurgy-Honors-South Dakota School of Mines & Technology, Rapid City, SD
1980-1984 - Doctor of Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Services, Bethesda, MD
1984-1985 - Flexible Internship, Brooke Army Medical Center, San Antonio, TX
1985-1988 - Residency, Brooke Army Medical Center, San Antonio, TX
1991-1992 - Fellowship, University of Louisville Hospital, Louisville, KY
1989 - Board Certified Ophthalmologist
Specialties:
Glaucoma Clinical Research
Comprehensive Ophthalmology
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Daniel Hafner, MD
Dr. Hafner was one of the founding partners of the Black Hills Regional Eye Institute in 1982. Dr. Hafner provides general ophthalmology services and cataract surgery at the Eye Institute, Fort Meade VA Hospital as well as several satellite locations.
Education:
1962-1966 - B.S. Boston University, Boston, MA
1966-1970 - M.D., Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA
1970-1971 - Internship, University of Pittsburg, Pittsburg, PA
1973-1976 - Ophthalmology Residency, Boston University Medical Center, Boston, MA
1978 - Board Certified Ophthalmologist
Specialties:
Cataract Surgery
Comprehensive Ophthalmology
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Stephen Khachikian, MD
Dr. Khachikian joined the Black Hills Regional Eye Institute in 2009 and is fellowship trained in cornea, external disease and refractive surgery. He has performed extensive clinical research in the areas of keratoconus, corneal topography and endothelial keratoplasty. His work with Dr. Michael Belin helped define a new reference surface for elevation based corneal topography as well as new screening criteria for subclinical keratoconus. This research has resulted in an award from the Corneal Society and multiple publications and international presentations.
Education:
1996-2000 - B.S., Biology, Siena College, Loudonville, NY
2000-2004 - M.D., Albany Medical College, Albany, NY
2004-2005 - Internship, Albany Medical Center, Albany, NY
2005-2008 - Residency in Ophthalmology, Albany Medical Center, Albany, NY
2008-2009 - Cornea, External Disease and Refractive Surgery Fellowship, Albany Medical College/Cornea Consultants of Albany, Albany, NY
Specialties:
Corneal Disease
Cataract Surgery
Refractive Surgery (LASIK and PRK)
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Terry Spencer, MD
Dr. Spencer joined the Black Hills Regional Eye Institute in 2010 and comes to us from Denver, CO. He is fellowship trained in Ophthalmic Pathology and Intraocular Lens Research. Dr. Spencer has special interest in cataract surgery using presbyopia correcting intraocular lenses and in difficult or complicated cataract surgery. He has experience using the IFS Advanced Femtosecond Laser and also has expertise with Phakic Intraocular Lenses. Having performed thousands of cataract and refractive procedures, the Eye Institute is excited to have a surgeon of Dr. Spencer's caliber join our team.
Education:
1996 Graduate - B.S., Psychology, Idaho State University
2000 Graduate - M.D., University of Utah School of Medicine
2000-2001 - Ophthalmic Pathology and Intraocular Lens Research Fellowship, University of Utah Moran Eye Center
2001-2002 - Internal Medicine Internship, University of Utah School of Medicine and Affiliated Hospitals
2002-2005 - Ophthalmology Residency, University of Utah Moran Eye Center
2006 - Board Certified Ophthalmologist
Specialties:
Cataract Surgery including Premium Multifocal Lens Technology
Implantable Collamer Lens (ICL) Technology
Refractive Surgery (LASIK and PRK)
Anterior Segment Reconstruction
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Scott Schirber, OD
Dr. Schirber joined the Black Hills Regional Eye Institute in 2007 and serves as the Laser Center Director at the Eye Institute. After completing his education, he moved to Minneapolis, MN, where he worked at one of the busiest laser centers in the country. He spent three years there caring for approximately 40,000 patients who underwent laser eye surgery.
Education:
1996-2000 - B.S., Interdisciplinary Science, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, Rapid City, SD
2000-2004 - Doctor of Optometry, Pacific University College of Optometry, Forest Grove, OR
Specialties:
Refractive Surgery (LASIK, PRK, and CK)
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Robert Nixon, MD
Dr. Nixon joined the Black Hills Regional Eye Institute in 1985 and is fellowship trained in glaucoma, pediatric ophthalmology and strabismus.
Education:
1970-1974 - B.S. University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
1974-1977 - M.D. University of Alberta School of Medicine, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
1977-1978 - Rotating Internship, Holy Cross Hospital, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
1978 - Basic Sciences of Ophthalmology, Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, England
1979-1980 - Resident in Family Medicine, Holy Cross Hospital, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
1980-1983 - Resident in Ophthalmology, Boston University Hospital, Boston, MA
1983-1984 - Fellowship in Glaucoma, University of Iowa Hospitals, Department of Ophthalmology, Iowa City, IA
1984-1985 - Fellowship in Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus, University of Indiana Medical Center, Indianapolis, IN
1984 - Board Certified Ophthalmologist
Specialties:
Pediatric Ophthalmology
Strabismus
Glaucoma
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Paul Zimmerman, MD
Dr. Zimmerman joined the Black Hills Regional Eye Institute in 2002. He is fellowship trained in uveitis. and provides services in cataract surgery and refractive surgery. Prior to coming to the Eye Institute, Dr. Zimmerman was an Assistant/Associate Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Utah's Moran Eye Center. He worked in resident surgical training and medical training in corneal and intraocular inflammation and infections.
Education:
1970 - B.S., General Science, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR
1979 - M.S.T., Biology, Portland State University, Portland, OR
1984 - M.D., Oregon Health Sciences University School of Medicine, Portland, OR
1984-1985 - Internship, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, UT
1985-1988 - Residency in Ophthalmology, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, UT
1988-1989 - Uveitis Fellowship, University of Southern California School of Medicine, Doheny Eye Institute, Los Angeles, CA
1990 - Board Certified Ophthalmologist
Specialties:
Cataract Surgery including Premium Multifocal Lens Technology
Anterior Segment Reconstruction
Uveitis and Ocular Inflammation
Refracitve Surgery (LASIK, PRK, and CK)
Implantable Collamer Lens (ICL) Technology