Meet Dr. Phelps
Paul Phelps, MD, FACS
Oculofacial Plastic Surgeon
Dr. Paul Phelps, MD, FACS, is a renowned oculofacial plastic surgeon from the Midwest. He holds distinguished undergraduate degrees in Chemistry and Neuroscience from the University of Minnesota and earned his medical degree from Drexel University College of Medicine. As a Fulbright Scholar, he gained invaluable international experience at Aravind, India’s most productive eye hospital. Dr. Phelps completed a demanding ophthalmology residency at Cook County Health, where he performed hundreds of intricate eye and periocular surgeries. He further advanced his career by excelling in prestigious fellowships in ophthalmic pathology and ophthalmic plastic and reconstructive surgery. Today, Dr. Phelps leads Chicago Oculofacial Plastic Surgery, mentors aspiring surgeons, and dedicates his expertise to serving the underserved at Cook County Health. In his free time, he enjoys traveling, skiing, and spending quality time with his family.
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Dr. Paul Phelps, MD, FACS, is a native of the Midwest, the son of an electrical engineer and a primary school teacher. He completed his undergraduate degrees in Chemistry and Neuroscience at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. With a strong interest in world cultures, Dr. Phelps spent his junior year abroad at the University of Lancaster, England, studying physical chemistry and history. After graduation, he worked for two years as a Research Associate at MIT.
General Information:
- Affiliation
- Past Academic Affiliation
- Clinical Associate Professor of Ophthalmology (3/31/2021 – 9/30/2021)
University of Chicago, Pritzker School of Medicine - Clinical Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology (7/01/2017 – 3/31/2021)
University of Chicago, Pritzker School of Medicine
- Clinical Associate Professor of Ophthalmology (3/31/2021 – 9/30/2021)
- Present Hospital Privileges
- Northwestern Memorial Hospital
251 E Huron St, Chicago, IL 60611 - John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital
1969 W Ogden Ave, Chicago, IL 60612
- Northwestern Memorial Hospital
- Present Ambulatory Surgery Privileges
- 900 N Surgical Center
60 E Delaware Pl, Chicago, IL 60611
- 900 N Surgical Center
- Expertise
- Oculofacial Plastic Surgery
- Languages
- English
- Board Certified
- American Board of Ophthalmology
- American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
- Medical Licensure
- Illinois, #036.131388, Date Granted 9/13/2012, Expiration Date 7/31/2026
- Wisconsin, #62016-20, Date Granted 3/17/2014, Expired 10/31/2015
- New York, #60276931, Date Granted 8/19/2014, Expired 11/30/2017
Education Training, Memberships & Fellowships:
- Medical School
- Drexel University College of Medicine (8/08/2005 – 5/21/2010)
Philadelphia, PA 19129
Degree: Doctor of Medicine - Fulbright Scholar to Aravind Eye Hospital (8/25/2008 – 5/02/2009)
Madurai, India
- Drexel University College of Medicine (8/08/2005 – 5/21/2010)
- Undergraduate
- University of Minnesota Twin Cities (9/08/1998 – 6/20/2003)
Minneapolis, MN 55455
Bachelor of Science, Chemistry
Bachelor of Arts, Neuroscience - Junior Year Abroad (10/06/2000 – 3/23/2001)
Lancaster University
Lancaster, United Kingdom, LA1 4YW
Coursework in History, Physical Chemistry, and Culture
- University of Minnesota Twin Cities (9/08/1998 – 6/20/2003)
- Internship
- Internal Medicine (6/24/2010 – 6/30/2011)
University of Illinois College of Medicine – Chicago, IL 60612
Fred A. Zar, MD, Program Director
- Internal Medicine (6/24/2010 – 6/30/2011)
- Residency
- Ophthalmology (7/01/2011 – 6/30/2014)
Division of Ophthalmology
John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County – Chicago, IL 60612
Surendar Dwarakanathan, MD, Program Director
- Ophthalmology (7/01/2011 – 6/30/2014)
- Professional Society Membership
- American College of Surgeons
- American Academy of Ophthalmology
- American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery
- American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
- American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
- Fellowship
- Oculofacial Plastic Surgery (7/01/2015 – 6/30/2017)
Department of Ophthalmology
Albany Medical College Albany, NY 12208
Dale R. Meyer, MD, FACS, Program Director - Ophthalmic Pathology (7/01/2014 – 6/30/2015)
Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences
University of Wisconsin – Madison, WI 53792
Daniel M. Albert, MD, MS, Program Director
- Oculofacial Plastic Surgery (7/01/2015 – 6/30/2017)
- Clinical Research
- A Phase 2b, Study of Linsitinib in Subjects with Active, Moderate to Severe Thyroid Eye Disease (TED) (LIDS) (2024, PI)
- Teprotumumab Expanded Access Program Illinois (2020, PI)
- Clobetasol Topical for Treatment of Chalazion (2019, Co-I)
- Use of Oxymetazoline Ophthalmic for Ptosis (2019, Co-I)
Dr. Phelps attended medical school at Drexel University College of Medicine. He then spent another year studying abroad, this time as a Fulbright Scholar at the world’s most productive eye hospital in Madurai, India. It was at this time that Dr. Phelps was first exposed to Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. This experience resulted in his first case report describing a new entity within oculofacial plastic surgery.
Dr. Phelps completed his residency at the John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County, gaining significant surgical experience within ophthalmology and oculofacial plastic surgery. After residency, Dr. Phelps completed a fellowship with Daniel M. Albert at the University of Madison, Wisconsin, in Ophthalmic Pathology. Dr. Phelps then completed a two-year Oculofacial Plastic Surgery Fellowship (ASOPRS) with Dr. Dale Meyer in Albany, New York. During his fellowship, he was awarded an EyeWiki Contest Award from the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) for his publication on Canalicular Trauma.
In his four years as an Attending Surgeon at NorthShore University HealthSystem, Dr. Phelps was honored to teach both ophthalmology and plastic surgery residents of The University of Chicago. He was awarded two grants to teach a simulation lab course on Functional and Cosmetic Oculofacial Plastic Surgery and received a Physician Excellence Award by the operating nursing staff. Dr. Phelps was also promoted from Clinical Assistant Professor to Clinical Associate Professor and authored numerous publications during his tenure at NorthShore.
As the founder of Chicago Oculofacial Plastic Surgery, Dr. Phelps is excited to provide the highest quality for his patients and continue his service and academic missions in Chicagoland. He teaches residents and cares for the underserved at Cook County Health several times per month. Dr. Phelps is an Clinical Associate Professor who also lectures medical students at Chicago Medical School. He spends his free time exploring the excellent restaurants and sights in the city and spending time with his wife and sons. Dr Phelps loves downhill skiing and is an avid traveler.