H. Logan Brooks, M.D.
As founder of Southern Vitreoretinal Associates, Dr. Brooks has always viewed the practice of medicine as a ministry. He considers caring for patients made in the image of God to be a blessing and a privilege. Helping patients see more clearly, physically and/or spiritually, is the passion that drives Dr. Brooks to excellence.
A recognized surgical innovator, Dr. Brooks developed ILM peeling for macular holes in 1992. He presented and published his early findings at the Vitreous Society meeting in 1995 and to the Retina Society in 1998. The seminal article comparing macular hole treatment, with and without ILM peeling, was published in the peer-reviewed journal Ophthalmology in 2000. In addition, Dr. Brooks was the first to report ILM peeling success in retinal detachment with PVR, a standard of care which has now been adopted worldwide.
As retinal care has transformed into treating diseases with medications injected into the eye, Dr. Brooks has also been on the forefront. He authored an early publication in 2004 that highlighted the role of growth factors which contribute to the development of abnormal blood vessels in diabetic patients. Dr. Brooks is also the lead investigator of many clinical trials and is well versed in current research protocols. This leadership is helping to keep Southern Vitreoretinal Associates the leader in retinal research within a 100-mile radius of Tallahassee.
The practice of medicine continues to evolve, and “big data” analysis can enhance both diagnosis and treatment for patients. In light of this, Dr. Brooks serves as Vice President of US Retina, a group of over 300 doctors collaborating to improve the management of retinal diseases. The use of big data promises to improve clinical pathways and outcomes, as well as provide both education and advocacy for retinal specialists nationwide.
Robert Steinmetz, M.D.
Dr. Steinmetz was born and raised in Iowa and will always be a Hawkeye. His undergraduate degree is from Luther College and he attended medical school at the University of Iowa. After an ophthalmology residency in San Francisco and a vitreoretinal fellowhip at UCLA in Los Angeles he went to London, England for a medical retinal fellowship. He held academic positions in Essen and Bonn, Germany before joining Southern Vitreoretinal Associates in 1993. He is married and has 2 children. He enjoys traveling , reading and exercising in his spare time.
Charles Newell, M.D.
Dr. Newell is a native of the Florida Panhandle. He is from Panama City, Florida and graduated from Bay High School. He attended Florida State University where he graduated with a Bachelors of Science in Biology. He holds both a Masters of Science and Doctor of Medicine degree from The University of Tennessee. His Masters Thesis was centered on the Immunopathology of Herpetic Kerititis one of the most common causes of corneal blindness worldwide. Following Medical School Dr. Newell completed his residency in Ophthalmology at The University of Florida. Following his residency he completed a two year Vitreoretinal Fellowship at the University of Alabama, Birmingham. Dr. Newell returned to Tallahassee in 1999 to join Southern Vitreoretinal Associates. Currently he see’s patients in both Tallahassee, Florida and Albany, Georgia. Dr Newell’s clinical areas of interest include macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, macular surgery, and retinal detachment repair. He also enthusiastically participates in numerous national clinical trials provided at Southern Vitreoretinal Associates. Dr. Newell presents on various subjects which award continuing education to eye doctors in the region. He is active in national and local medical societies and was the Chairman of Ophthalmology for many years at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital. Despite dedicating a tremendous amount of time to his patients, Dr. Newell enjoys the outdoor activities provided in the panhandle region, traveling, and spending time with his family.
Christopher Willingham, M.D.
Dr. Willingham grew up in LaGrange, Ga. He obtained his Bachelors degree in biology from LaGrange College. While in college he meet the love of his life and they now have two daughters. Between college and medical school he did a year of graduate studies and participated in research in pharmacology at the Medical College of Georgia, in Augusta. From there, he obtained his M.D. from Mercer University in Macon, Ga. Dr. Willingham then finished a year of Internal Medicine and an Ophthalmology residency at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, in Jackson, MS. After that, he completed a two year medical and surgical fellowship at the prestigious Charles Retina Institute, in Memphis TN. In 2004, he joined Southern Vitreoretinal Associates and practices in the Panama City office. When not in the office Dr. Willingham takes advantage of the awesome area where he lives. He enjoys paddle boarding, boating, fishing, diving, reading, and spending time with his family.
Nicholas Farber, M.D.
Dr. Farber is a Board-Certified Ophthalmologist and fellowship-trained vitreoretinal surgeon. He was born and raised in Longwood, Florida, and graduated Summa Cum Laude with honors from Florida State University. He received his M.D. from the University of Virginia and completed his ophthalmology residency at SUNY Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York. While there he was elected and served as chief resident. He subsequently completed a two-year fellowship in vitreoretinal surgery at the University of North Carolina where he was also thoroughly involved in teaching, including an award for best teacher by the residents.
Dr. Farber is a member of the following Associations
American Society of Retina Specialists
American Academy of Ophthalmology
Dr. Farber has authored multiple papers, presented at regional and national meetings, is a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Alpha Omega Alpha, and is actively involved in research at Southern Vitreoretinal Associates. Dr. Farber and his wife are excited to be back where they met in Tallahassee with their two boys. They enjoy hiking, traveling, and cheering on the Florida State Seminoles!