Diana H. Kersten, MD, FACS
Specialist in Cataract and Refractive Surgery
Associate Clinical Professor, UC-Irvine Department of Ophthalmology

Dr. Kersten has been a busy ophthalmic surgeon with Harvard Eye Associates since 1988. Her lifelong dedication to improving sight has led her to specialize in the laser correction of refractive (focusing) errors. Dr. Kersten performs LASIK and other refractive procedures to precisely correct near and farsightedness and astigmatism. She has successfully treated thousands of patients including many doctors, family members and even her own husband!

Her ophthalmology training was completed at Harvard Medical School (The Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary). For two years (1986-1988) she volunteered her surgical skills while working in underdeveloped countries in Africa and Asia. She has continued this volunteer work by donating her time to cataract clinics in underprivileged countries. To date she has worked in 18 developing countries and has performed thousands of ocular surgeries all over the world.

Dr. Kersten received her medical school training at the University of Iowa and her internship was at the University of California at San Francisco. Dr. Kersten is a fellow of The American College of Surgery and she is board certified in ophthalmology by the American Board of Ophthalmology.

Her professional affiliations include memberships in The American Academy of Ophthalmology, The California Medical Association, The American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, The Orange County Medical Association and The Orange County Society of Ophthalmology. Dr. Kersten has served as an associate professor in the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of California in Irvine.

Curriculum Vitae

Education

1983-1986 — Residency, Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts Eye and
                    Ear Infirmary
1982-1983 — Internship, Internal Medicine, UC San Francisco, Mt. Zion Hospital
1978-1982 — MID, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
1975-1978 — BS, University of Iowa, with high honors, after 3 years.

Medical Licenses & Certification

1989 — Board Certified, American Board of Ophthalmology
1986 — California Medical License

Academic Appointments

1994 — Associate Clinical Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, UC Irvine

Medical and Volunteer Teachings

1987-1988 — For one year, Dr. Kersten was an ophthalmologist on The Project Orbis plane,
                    providing eye surgery and ophthalmology training in ten countries in Eastern Europe
                    and Africa.
1986-1987 — For four months, Dr. Kersten was a volunteer cataract surgeon in Nepal with the
                    SEVA Foundation.
1986 —         For two months, Dr. Kersten provided ophthalmic care and cataract surgery on
                    St. Lucia with the International Eye Foundation.

Medical Missions

1999 — Burma (Myanmar) - cataract surgeon, Surgical Eye Expeditions
1998 — Laos - cataract surgeon, Surgical Eye Expeditions
1994 — Sudan - cataract surgeon and consultant, Project Orbis
1993 — Tblisi, Georgia - cataract surgeon and consultant, Project Orbis
1993 — Tirana, Albania - cataract surgeon and consultant, Project Orbis
1992 — Varna, Bulgaria - cataract surgeon and course instructor, Project Orbis
1991 — Nigeria - cataract surgeon and course instructor, Project Orbis
1990 — Nigeria - cataract surgeon and consultant, Project Orbis
1989 — Nigeria & Mali - consultant ophthalmologist, Project Orbis

Honors

1991 — Outstanding Clinical Professor Award, UC Irvine
1979 — Barry Freeman Research Award, University of Iowa
1978 — Phi Beta Kappa, University of Iowa
1975-1978 — Honors Society, University of Iowa
Multiple publications in professional journals

Professional Societies