Getto Know Dr. Sheppard

Professor of Ophthalmology, Eastern Virginia Medical School

Dr. John Sheppard is a Board Certified Ophthalmologist and fellowship-trained corneal eye surgeon. As the President of Virginia Eye Consultants, Dr. Sheppard oversees our overall mission of providing a leading academic, clinical, and research center for excellence in ophthalmology. He is committed to providing the highest quality eye care solutions and he is widely regarded as a leader in his field.

Dr. Sheppard is originally from Pittsburgh. He received a full Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship, and for four years he served with the U.S. Navy, acting as the 6th Fleet Medical Officer and Chief of Family Practice.

In 1989, Dr. Sheppard joined the Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS) faculty and is now Professor of Ophthalmology, Microbiology, and Molecular Biology. He also serves as Research Director of the Ophthalmology Residency Program at EVMS. As Clinical Director of the Thomas R. Lee Center for Ocular Pharmacology, he not only coordinates clinical trials, but is also instrumental in translational research bringing preclinical studies into practice. He holds a patent for photodynamic therapy of the ocular surface. During a period of major socio-political changes in transplantation reimbursement, he was Chairman of the Board of the Lions Bank of Eastern Virginia and now serves as a Medical Director.

Dr. Sheppard is actively involved in numerous clinical trials and has participated as principal investigator in over 120 clinical research trials sponsored by many major pharmaceutical companies and for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. In addition, Dr. Sheppard has served on the medical advisory board for over 81 pharmaceutical and medical device companies. He has authored over 115 peer review abstracts, journal articles, and chapters.

An acclaimed speaker, Dr. Sheppard has presented over 700 invited lectures and visiting professorships worldwide. He is also active in publishing, holding such positions as uveitis section editor for eMedicine.com, editorial board member for EyeNet, the AAO online uveitis committee, Clinical Ophthalmology and Eye & Contact Lens, and a reviewer for dozens of peer review journals. Dr. Sheppard currently serves as the COO of EyeRx Research, Inc., a pharmaceutical development company, and founder of ProVision-Network.com, a major buying group for Ophthalmologists and Optometrists.

In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his wife and four children. His hobbies include swimming, playing the organ during church services, the piano accompanying his children, and the keytar at rock and roll gigs with friends and fellow physician musicians.