Background
Blumenkranz was born in New York City and grew up in upstate New New York
Blumenkranz was born in New York City and grew up in upstate New New York
He attended Brown University, where he earned a bachelor"s degree, medical degree, and master"s degree in biochemical pharmacology. He attended Stanford University for residency in ophthalmology, where he was chief resident, and University of Miami Bascom Palmer Eye Institute for a vitreoretinal fellowship.
He is a trained ophthalmologist and vitreoretinal surgeon, and has served as H.J. Smead Professor and Chairman of Ophthalmology of the Byers Eye Institute at Stanford University since 1997. He has founded or served on the Board of Directors of a number of companies, including Oculex, Peak Surgical, Optimedica Corporation, MacuSight, and Avalanche Biotechnologies. In addition, he serves as a trustee of Brown University.
Blumenkranz began his academic career as an Assistant Professor at University of Miami Bascom Palmer Eye Institute from 1980–1985.
He moved to Michigan in 1985, where he became a Clinical Associate Professor at Kresge Eye Institute, Wayne State University School of Medicine. He has been a Professor at Stanford University since 1992, and has served as the Chairman of Ophthalmology at Stanford since 1997.
Blumenkranz has founded a number of successful Silicon Valley start-up companies, beginning in the 1980s. Notably, he was on the Board of Directors of Oculex Pharmaceuticals, which was later sold to Allergan.