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Robert Stoltz, MD, PhD

Principal Investigator at Georgia Retina

Dr. Stoltz was born in New York and grew up in the city of North Babylon, New York. He graduated with honors from Union College and received a combined M.D./Ph.D. degree in medicine and pharmacology from New York Medical College. His ophthalmology residency at the University of Pennsylvania Scheie Eye Institute was distinguished by his appointment as Chief Resident. Upon completing a two-year medical retina and vitreoretinal surgery fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania, he joined the faculty as an Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology. During this time, he also served as Chief of the Retina Service at the Philadelphia Veterans Administration Medical Center.

Dr. Stoltz was the first person in his family to attend college and become a doctor. He learned at an early age the importance of doctors and other health care providers in someone’s life when type 1 diabetes affected his family. He recounts that if it were not for the supportive compassion and empathy of the team taking care of his family, dealing with the demanding lifestyle changes that impacted his entire family would have been unmanageable. Because of this experience, Dr. Stoltz chose a career in medicine.

Dr. Stoltz is a board-certified ophthalmologist and has actively participated in numerous clinical trials pertaining to ophthalmology, including his role as Principal Investigator of the Photograph Reading Center involved with the Complications of Age-Related Macular Degeneration Prevention Trial as well as the Diabetic Retinopathy and Retinal Vein Occlusion trials. Dr. Stoltz currently serves as the Director of Clinical Research Studies at Georgia Retina. He has also authored multiple clinical and research papers and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the College of Physicians of Philadelphia.

Dr. Stoltz chose his particular specialty due to a volunteering experience with the Swiss Red Cross during his junior year of college while on the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Exchange Scholarship.  He had the pleasure of befriending an elderly blind woman who he helped weekly with accompanying her on excursions to local parks, guiding her through hiking trails, and helping her with home chores. On the excursions, he often took her by the surrounding rose bushes so she could smell and feel the flowers. Dr. Stoltz would describe the surrounding scenery to her so that she could envision the world around her, which was both a humbling and inspiring experience for Dr. Stoltz. This woman knew of Dr. Stoltz’s desire to attend medical school and because of their friendship, he made a commitment to helping people with their vision.

When asked about the most rewarding aspect of his career, Dr. Stoltz highlights that being able improve a person’s quality of life by helping to restore their vision and independence is at the top of his list. As a retina specialist, Dr. Stoltz is constantly challenged by the intricacies of retinal surgery, the interplay between medicine and ophthalmology, and the ever-evolving nature of research in the field of retinal disease.

When Dr. Stoltz is not at the office, he can be found volunteering at his church, Catholic Church of St. Ann in East Cobb, where he is an active mentor in the Middle School Youth Ministry Program. During his free time, Dr. Stoltz enjoys cooking, baking, cake decorating, and spending time with his wife, Christine, who is a physician of internal medicine, and their two daughters, Gillian and Mikayla.

Undergraduate School

  •  Union College, Schenectady, NY
    • BS in Biological Science
    • Cum Laude
    • Recipient of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (E.T.H.) Exchange Scholarship

Medical School

  • New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY
    • Combined MD/Ph.D. Program (Ph.D. in Phamacology)
    • Heed Research Fellow Award

Ophthalmology Residency 

  • University of Pennsylvania/Scheie Eye Institute, Philadelphia, PA
    • Chief Resident

Retina Fellowship

  • University of Pennsylvania/Scheie Eye Institute, Philadelphia, PA

Professional Affiliations

  • American Academy of Ophthalmology
  • American Society of Retina Specialists
  • Georgia Society of Ophthalmology
  • American Medical Association
  • Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology
  • Fellow of the Philadelphia College of Physicians

Medical Staff

  • Northside Hospital
  • Emory Decatur

Awards and Publications

Publications
Honors
Chapters
Presentations
Abstracts

Publications

  • Anthony PK, Stoltz RA, Pucci ML, and Powers CA. The 22k variant of rat prolactin: Evidence for identity to prolactin-(1-173), storage in secretory granules, and regulated release. Endocrinology. 1993; 132(2): 806-14.
  • Stoltz RA, Conners MS, Dunn MW, and Schwartzman ML. Effect of metabolic inhibitors on arachidonic acid metabolism in the corneal epithelium: Evidence for cytochrome P450-mediated reactions. J. Ocular Pharm. 1994; 10(1): 307-17.
  • Yamamoto S, Nishimura M, Conners MS, Stoltz RA, Falck JR, Chauhan K, Schwartzman ML. Oxidation and keto-reduction of 12-Hydroxy-5,8,10,14-eicosatetraenoic Acid in bovine corneal epithelial microsomes. Biochim. Biophys. Acta. 1994; 1210: 217-25.
  • Schwartzman ML, Lavrovsky Y, Stoltz RA, Conners MS, Falck JR, Chauhan K, Abraham NG. Activation of nuclear factor-DB and oncogene expression by 12(R)-hydroxyeicosatrienoic acid, an angiogenic factor in microvessel endothelial cells. J. Biol. Chem. 1994;269(39): 24321-7.
  • Stoltz RA, Laniado-Schwartzman M, Chauhan K, Ravi D, Falck JR. Angiogenic factors: synthesis of 12(R)- and 12(S)-hydroxyeicosa-5(Z), 8(Z), 14(Z)-trienoic acid and their 14,15-dehydro- analogs. Bioorganic Med Chem. Lett. 1994; 4(22): 2689-92.
  • Conners MS, Stoltz RA, Webb SC, Rosenberg J, Dunn MW, Abraham NG, Schwartzman ML. A closed eye contact lens model of corneal inflammation. I: Induction of cytochrome P450 arachidonic acid metabolism. Invest. Ophtha/mol. Vis. Sci. 1995; 36(5): 828-40.
  • Conners MS, Stoltz RA, Davis KL, Dunn MW, Abraham NG, Levere RD, Schwartzman ML. A closed eye contact lens model of corneal inflammation. II: Inhibition of cytochrome P450 arachidonic acid metabolism alleviates inflammatory sequelae. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 1995; 36(5): 841-50.
  • Abraham NG, Lavrovsky Y, Schwartzman ML, Stoltz RA, Levere RD, Gerritsen ME, Shibahara S, Kappas
    A. Transfection of the human heme oxygenase gene into rabbit coronary microvessel endothelial cells:
  • Protective effect against heme and hemoglobin toxicity. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 1995; 92(15): 6798- 6802.
    Neil TK, Stoltz RA, Jiang S, Laniado-Schwatizman M, Dunn MW, Levere RD, Kappas A, Abraham NG. Modulation of corneal heme oxygenase expression by oxidative stress agents. J. Ocular Pharm. 1995; 11: 445-68.
  • Abraham NG, da Silva J-L, Lavrovsky Y, Stoltz RA, Kappas A, Dunn MW, Laniado-Schwatizman M. Adenovirus-mediated heme oxygenase-1 transfer into rabbit ocular tissues. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 1995; 36(11): 2202-10.
  • Conners MS, Stoltz RA, Schwartzman ML. Chiral analysis of 12-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid formed by calf corneal epithelial microsomes. J. Ocular Pharm. 1996;12:19-26.
  • Stoltz RA, Conners MS, Gerritsen ME, Abraham NG, Schwartzman ML. Direct stimulation of limbal microvessel endothelial cell proliferation and capillary formation in vitro by a corneal-derived eicosanoid. Am. J. Path. 1996; 148(1):129-39.
  • Stoltz RA, Abraham NG, Laniado-Schwartzman M, The role of NF-DB in the angiogenic response of coronary microvessel endothelial cells. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 1996; 93(7): 2832-7.
  • Stoltz RA, Laniado-Schwartzman M. High affinity binding sites for 12(R)-hydroxyeicostrienoic acid [12(R)-HETrE] in microvessel endothelial cells. J. Ocular Pharm. & Thera. 1997; 13(3):191-9.
  • The Complications of Age-Related Macular Degeneration Prevention Trial study group. The Complications of Age-Related Macular Degeneration Prevention Trial (CAPT): rationale, design and methodology. Clinical Trials 2004; I: 91-107.
  • Stoltz RA, Glazer-Hockstein C, Tolentino MJ, Dunaief J, Maguire AM. Transmission of Retinal Laser Wavelengths Through Blood. Retina 2005; 25(4): 498-502.
  • Kim S, Volpe NJ, Stoltz RA. Contemporaneous retinal and optic nerve infarcts, choroidal nonperfusion, and Hollenhorst plaque: Are these all embolic events? Journal of Neuroophthalmology. (In press, 2006).
  • Ranchod TM, Guercio JR, Ying GS, Brucker AJ, Stoltz RA., Effect of aspirin therapy on photodynamic therapy with verteporfin for choroidal neovascularization. Retina2008 May;28(5):71 l-6.

Honors

  • ARVO/Eye Research Foundation AmroseNandeboncouer Travel Fellowship Grant (1995)
  • Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association Foundation Fellowship (Award: $14,000.00) (1995)
  • Young Investigators Award, Association of Ocular Pharmacology & Therapeutics (1994)
  • First Place, Annual Pharmacology Research Forum New York Medical College (1993)
  • The Roche Laboratories Award for Excellence in Basic Science Research (1993)
  • Second Place, Annual Pharmacology Research Forum, New York Medical College (1993)
  • First Place, Fourth Annual Medical Student Research Forum New York Medical College (1990)

Chapters

  • Stoltz RA and Brucker AJ. Lasers in Diabetes. In: Methods Related to Lasers in Ophthalmology. Basic, Diagnostic and Surgical Aspects. (ed. Franz Frankhauser et al.). Amsterdam: Kugler Publications. 2003.

Presentations

  • Stoltz RA, Escalante BA, McGiff JC. Changes in transmembrane potential induced by arachidonic acid in LLC-PKI cell monolayers. The 8th Intemational Conference on Prostaglandins and Related Compounds (Montreal, Canada), 1992.
  • Stoltz RA, Conners MS, Schwartzman ML. 12(R)-hydroxyeicosatrienoic acid [12(R)-HETrE], an inflammatory mediator, stimulates microvessel endothelial cell growth via a putative receptor mediated mechanism. Eicosanoids and Other Bioactive Lipids in Cancer, Inflammation, and Radiation Injury-3’·d International Conference (Washington, D.C.), 1993.
  • Conners MS, Stoltz RA, Dunn MW, Abraham NG, Schwartzman ML. Complications of contact lens wear are alleviated by manipulation of corneal cytochrome P450. The 7th Scientific Meeting of the International Society for Contact Lens Research. (Hayman Island, Australia), 1993.
  • Schwartzman ML, Stoltz RA, Conners MS. Cytochrome P450 arachidonate metabolites are mediators of the inflammatory response in the cornea. Symposium on Ocular Pharmacology (Novi, MI), 1993.
  • Schwartzman ML, Stoltz RA, Conners MS, Abraham NG. Cytochrome P450 Arachidonate Metabolites are Mediators of the Inflammatory Response in the Cornea. 10th International Symposium on Microsomes and Drug Oxidations (Toronto, Canada), 1994.
  • Stoltz RA, Abraham NG, Laniado-Schwartzman M. Cellular signaling of 12(R)-hydroxyeicosatrienoic acid [12(R)-HETrE], a corneal derived angiogenic factor in microvessel endothelial cells. Association of Ocular Pharmacology and Therapeutics (New Orleans, LA), 1995.
  • Dunn MW, Conners MS, Stoltz RA, Laniado-Schwartman M, Abraham NG. Heme oxygenase (HO-1) induction: a possible factor in suppression of ocular surface inflammation. Association of Ocular Pharmacology and Therapeutics (New Orleans, LA), 1995.
  • Laniado-Schwartzman M, Stoltz RA, Conners MS, Dunn MW, Abraham NG. Cytochrome P450 (CYP) arachiconic acid (AA) metabolites are mediators of the inflammatory response in the cornea. Association of Ocular Pharmacology and Therapeutics (New Orleans, LA), 1995.
  • Stoltz RA, Abraham NG, Dunn MW, Laniado-Schwartzman M. Cellular signaling of 12(R)­ hydroxyeicosatrienoic acid [12(R)-HETrE], a corneal derived angiogenic factor. The Clinical Research Meeting (San Diego, CA), 1995.
  • Stoltz RA, DaSilva J-L, Lavrovsky Y, Abraham NG. Transfection of the human heme oxygenase gene in rabbit microvessel endothelial cells: protective effect against heme and hemoglobin toxicity. The 911′ Symposium on the Molecular Biology of Hematopoiesis (Genoa, Italy), 1995.
  • Abraham NG, Stoltz RA, DaSilva J-L. Stress protein (HSP32/HO) gene transfer activated microvessel endothelial cells and hematopoietic progenitor cell adhesion. The 911′ Symposium on the Molecular Biology of Hematopoiesis (Genoa, Italy), 1995.
  • Stoltz RA, Conners MS, Abraham NG, Dunn MW, Schwartzman ML. Cellular mechanisms underlying the angiogenic activity of 12(R)-hydroxyeicosatrienoic acid, a corneal epithelial arachidonate metabolite. Association of Ocular Pharmacology and Therapeutics (Los Angeles, CA), 1996.

Abstracts

  • Stoltz RA, Rios AP, Conners MS, Abraham NG, Schwartzman ML. Effects of metabolic inhibitors on arachidonic acid metabolism and cytochrome P450 isozyme composition in the corneal epithelium. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 1993; 34: 1405.
  • Stoltz RA, Conners MS, Rapacon MM, Schwartzman ML. 12(R)-hydroxyeicosatrienoic acid [12(R)­ HETrE] stereoselectively stimulates microvessel endothelial cell growth via high affinity binding sites. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 1994; 35(4): 1887.
  • Schwartzman ML, Stoltz RA, Rapacon MM, Lavrovsky Y, Conners MS, Abraham NG. Rapid and stereospecific activation of NF-DB by a corneal angiogenic eicosanoid in microvessel endothelial cells. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 1994; 35(4): 1466.
  • Conners MS, Stoltz RA, Dunn MW, Abraham NG, Schwartzman ML. Cytochrome P450 monooxygenase and lipoxygenase are irnp01iant in generating a powerful stereospecific inflammatory eicosanoid in the corneal epithelium. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 1994; 35(4): 1944.
  • Abraham NG, Lavrovsky Y, Stoltz RA, Schwartzman ML, Kappas A. Novel regulatory transcriptional factors may be involved in activation of heme oxygenase and cell injury. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 1994; 35(4): 2135.
  • Stoltz RA, Abraham NG, Dunn MW, Laniado-Schwartzman. Cellular signaling of 12(R)­ hydroxyeicosatrienoic acid [12(R)-HETrE], a corneal-derived angiogenic factor. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 1995; 36(4).
  • Laniado-Schwartzman M, Stoltz RA, Conners MS, Dunn MW, Abraham NG. Involvement of cytochrome P4501Al (CYPIAI) in the generation of arachidonic acid (AA)-derived inflammatory mediators in the cornea. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 1995; 36(4).
  • Neil TK, Laniado-Schwartzman M, Stoltz RA, Weinstein BI, Araki K, Dunn MW, Abraham NG, Kappas A. Corneal epithelial heme oxygenase: a potential protective enzyme against oxidative stress-induced injury. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 1995; 36(4).
  • Abraham NG, Lavrovsky Y, Stoltz RA, DaSilva J-L, Dunn MW, Laniado-Schwartzman M, Levere RD, Kappas A. Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-I) gene transfer into rabbit ocular tissues. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 1995; 36(4).
  • Dunn MW, Lavrovsky Y, Stoltz RA, Abraham NG. protection of human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells from hemoglobin toxicity by adenovirus-mediated transfer of human heme oxygenase cDNA. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 1995; 36(4).
  • Conners MS, Stoltz RA, Dunn MW, Araki K, Laniado-Schwartzman M, Abraham NG. Corneal epithelial heme oxygenase (HO-I) induction and suppression of ocular surface inflammation. Invest. Ophtha/mo/. Vis. Sci. 1995; 36(4).
  • Stoltz RA, Jiang S, Dunn MW, Schwartzman ML, Abraham NG. Heat shock protein heme oxygenase-1 mRNA levels in retinal pigment epithelium from diabetic subjects. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 1996; 37(3).
  • Schwartzman ML, Stoltz RA, Conners MS, Dunn MW, Mastyugin V, Abraham NG. Cytochrome P450 (CYP:IAI) expression and monooxygenase-derived arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism in the rabbir corneal epithelium following injury. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 1996; 37(3).
  • DaSilva J-L, Sharma S, Laquis S, Lerea KM, Stoltz RA, Abraham NG. Adenovirus-mediated heat shock (heme oxygenase-1) gene transfer into retinal ganglion cells. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 1996; 37(3).
  • Conners MS, Urbano F, Vafeas C, Stoltz RA, Dunn MW, Schwaitzman ML. Alkali burn-induced time­ dependent synthesis of 12-HETE enantiomers in rabbit corneal epithelium. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 1996; 37(3).
  • C Glazer-Hockstein, RA Stoltz, MJ Tolentino, J Dunaif, AM Maguire. Transmission of thermal, PDT and TTT laser wavelengths through blood. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2002, ARVO Abstracts.
  • Whitlock ER, Elsner KS, Alexander J, Javornik NB, Stoltz R. Comparison of evidence of low-intensity laser burns on immediate post-treatment color photographs and post-treatment 12-month angiograms in the Complications of Age-related Macular Degeneration Prevention Trial (CAPT). Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2003, ARVO Abstracts.
  • Stoltz RA, Ying G, Alexander JA. Fundus features of untreated eyes with visual acuity loss in CAPT.
    Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2004, ARVO Abstracts.
  • Alexander JA, et al. Characteristics of exudation m patients with bilateral large drusen. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2004, ARVO Abstracts.
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