Dr. Tawansy earned a Bachelors degree in Biomedical Engineering with Tau Beta Pi Honors at Johns Hopkins University and a doctorate of medicine with Honors at the University of Michigan. He completed Residencies in Internal Medicine at the University of California and in Opthalmology at Henry Ford Medical Center, where he was awarded Resident of the Year by the faculty. He subsequently performed Fellowship training in Ocular Ultrasound at John Hopkins University, Vitreoretinal Surgery at the University of British Columbia, Retinal Pathophysiology and Muscular Disease at Vanderbilt University with Professor Donald Gass, Ocular Ultrasound and Trauma at the Schepens Retina Foundation, and Pediatric Retinal Diseases and Uveitis at Harvard School of Medicine. During his training, He became part of the teaching faculty and founded pediatric retinal programs at Vanderbilt University and University of British Columbia. He received Faculty Teacher of the Year and Surgical Instructor of the Year awards from Vanderbilt University. In 2001, the University of Southern California recruited him.
After 5 years, he left pediatric retina at USC and founded the Children's Retina Institute and Arroyo Vision Care in order to advance clinical management, teaching, and research for complicated retinal diseases. He pioneered Pars Plana and Open Sky Vitrectomy Surgical Techniques for Retinal Detachment associated with Complex Trauma, ROP, Chorioretinal Coloboma, Stickler Syndrome, Proliferative Vitreoretinopathy, Familial Exudative Vitreoretinopathy, Microphthalmos, Subretinal Neovascularization, and Bullous Retinoschisis. He leads the California Arm of the multi-center FDA monitored BEAT-ROP study that demonstrated the benefits of Anti-VEGF therapy with Avastin in Aggressive Posterior ROP. He directs the Ocular Trauma Service at several California hospitals, and has performed over 10,000 Vitrectomy and Scleral Buckle procedures. He is a founding member of the American Pediatric Retina Society and a fellow of the European Retina Society, where he lectures annually. He received a senior fellow honor award from the American Society of Retina Surgeons and a Shine Award from Ronald McDonald House Charities. He has also been selected as one of America's top Ophthalmologists and California Patient's Choice Physicians.
Dr. Tawansy's commitment to providing his patients with excellence in eye care prompted him to develop the Raymond Renaissance Center for Eye Surgery and Education in Old Town Pasadena. The facility is marveled for its historic architecture and unique approach to patient care. The team accepts referrals for patients with complex eye issues from all over the world for intense treatment and visual rehabilitation. They strive to provide all patients with inspired care and creative solutions in a respectful and comforting environment.
Dr. Tawansy’s passion for eye care has lead to his association with several community based organizations. He has trained fellows from six continents, started the highly successful R0P screening and surgery program in northern Mexico, and collaborated with a sister program at Bangalore's Vydehi Medical School where he is part of the teaching faculty. As an authority in retinal hemorrhage in children, he serves as a national forensic expert witness in cases of potential child abuse.
Dr. Tawansy was born in Cairo, Egypt and was raised in Detroit, Michigan. He currently lives in Pasadena and remains always accessible to his patients and often gives them his personal cell phone number for pressing questions or concerns.
If you don't find Dr. Tawansy in the eye clinic or the operating room, you might find him near the Rose Bowl enjoying various outdoor activities or partaking in the local Jazz and Rock scene.
Dr. Tawansy is a world-renowned Vitreo-Retinal surgeon and a Professor of Ophthalmology and pediatrics. He directs a busy clinical practice in Southern and Central California dedicated to the management of complicated Pediatric and Adult Retinal Disorders, including Trauma, Retinal Detachment, Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP), Diabetic Retinopathy, Surgical complications, Uvetis, Macular Degeneration and Hereditary Vitreo-Retinopathies. He is a regular lecturer at various universities teaching rounds in California and internationally.