Doctors & Staff
STANLEY BRAVERMAN MD, FACS
A graduate of the University of Miami School of Medicine, Dr. Stanley Braverman completed his residency in ophthalmology at the Duke University Eye Center before joining his brother in a private practice at the Braverman Eye Center in Hallandale Beach, Florida in 1981. He practiced together with his brother until 1998 before assuming sole ownership of the Braverman Eye Center.
In addition to treating patients, Dr. Braverman, a board-certified ophthalmologist, is an active medical researcher, the inventor of several eye surgical instruments, and the author of a chapter in an authoritative book on small incision cataract surgery as well as many articles for medical journals. He has frequently been asked to speak at medical conferences around the country in order to describe his techniques in modern, small incision cataract surgery (phacoemulsification). He is currently a manuscript reviewer for one of the most prestigious peer reviewed journals in ophthalmology, the American Journal of Ophthalmology.
As a result of the volume of laser vision correction procedures that he performs and his resultant experience Dr. Braverman has taught many other ophthalmologists how to use excimer lasers to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. He was the first ophthalmologist in Broward County to use an excimer laser to perform LASIK (laser assisted in-situ keratomileusis). He was medical director of TLC The Laser Eye Center in Fort Lauderdale and Miami from 1996 until 2002.
Dr. Braverman is a Voluntary Assistant Clinical Professor at the University of Miami's Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, where he has been teaching cataract surgery to third-year residents for more than twenty years with no pay. Bascom Palmer is the most prestigious residency program in the United States, and Dr. Braverman is one of only a very few outside ophthalmologists given the stamp of approval to teach its residents, a rare privilege that attests to his exceptional skills and superb teaching abilities.
In addition to his position at Bascom Palmer, Dr. Braverman is an Adjunct Associate Professor for the University of Houston College of Optometry and the New England College of Optometry as well as a Clinical Adjunct Professor at Nova Southeastern University College of Optometry in Fort Lauderdale. He is also past Chief of Ophthalmology at Hollywood Memorial Hospital. Dr. Braverman looks forward to meeting any prospective patient who is interested in achieving the goal of a life with less dependency on glasses or contact lenses.
HOWARD BRAVERMAN OD
Dr. Howard Braverman founded the Braverman Eye Center in 1973, and practiced until 1999 when he left clinical practice to become the CEO of Vision Care Inc. in Tampa.Honored as "Optometrist of the Decade" by the Florida Optometric Association and as one of the "Best and Brightest Optometrists in the United States by 20/20 magazine, Dr. Howard Braverman served South Florida patients for more than twenty five years.
Dr. Braverman received his B.S. degree from the University of Miami and his OD from the University of Houston College of Optometry, which named him its Distinguished Optometry Alumnus for 1994. In 1990, Dr. Braverman was appointed by the Governor to the Florida State Board of Optometry, and he served on that Board for nine years, including 2 years as Chairman.
Dr. Braverman was President of the American Optometric Association and had held national office in the AOA since 1994. He is a past president of the Southern Council of Optometrists, a 13-state regional organization known for it's professional education seminars. In addition, he previously served as President of the Florida Optometric Association, President of the Broward County Optometric Association, and on the editorial council of the Southern Journal of Optometry.
As a past president of the Hallandale Rotary Club and a member of the Hallandale Chamber of Commerce, Dr. Braverman continues to be involved in the community.
ERIC F. CILIBERTI MD, MS
Dr. Ciliberti is one of only a few physicians with residency training in both Ophthalmology and Neurology specialties, having done his Ophthalmology residency at Tulane University and his Neurology residency at the Cleveland Clinic. He recently completed subspecialty fellowship training in Neuro-ophthalmology with two of the most prominent names in Neuro-ophthalmology, Joel Glaser, M.D. and Norman Schatz, M.D. He is a native of New York, he has resided in South Florida since 1971. He currently living in Boca Raton, FL. In his spare time, Dr. Ciliberti enjoys cycling, boating, and racquetball. He is also a Captain in the Air Force Reserve Medical Corps.
RYAN HARGREAVES OD
Dr. Ryan Hargreaves is originally a Massachussetts native having completed his Bachelor of Science degree at Boston College, and received his Doctorate in Optometry cum laude from the New England College of Optometry, where he earned numerous awards for clinical excellence, scholarship and literature research. He completed internships at the New England Eye Institute, Brighton Marine Health Center, MA and the Veteran’s Administration Medical Centers of Manchester, NH and Brocton, MA. He then completed an Optometric Residency in Ocular Disease at the Braverman Eye Center.
Dr. Hargreaves continues to be active in private practice, and has returned to the Braverman Eye Center as its Clinical Optometric Director. As a Board Certified Optometric Physician, he provides full-scope primary care optometric services for all age groups from pediatric to geriatric. This includes comprehensive eye examinations, specialty contact lens fitting, ocular disease diagnosis and management, dry eye treatment with punctal plugs and co-management of all types of ocular surgeries including cataract and glaucoma surgeries, PRK and LASIK.
As Clinical Director, Dr. Hargreaves serves as Attending Physician to optometric interns from five different optometric colleges, as well as coordinator for the site’s Residency Program affiliated with Nova Southeastern University College of Optometry. He is an associate adjunct clinical professor for the University of Houston College of Optometry, Nova Southeastern University College of Optometry and The New England College of Optometry, a member of the Beta Sigma Kappa International Optometric Honor Society and is actively involved in the Broward County, Florida and American Optometric Associations.
ALAN S. LANE MD, FACS
Dr Alan Lane was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., but has resided in south Florida for over thirty years. He did his undergraduate training at Tufts University in Medford, Mass., and received his medical degree from the State University of New York, Downstate Medical School in Brooklyn, New York. After interning at Long Island Jewish Hospital in New Hyde Park, N.Y., he completed his residency in Ophthalmology at Mt. Sinai Hospital in NYC.
Upon completing his training, Dr. Lane was the Chief of Ophthalmology at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. Following this, Dr. Lane moved to Florida and has practiced general Ophthalmology in Hollywood for over 30 years. He is a past Chief of Ophthalmology at Hollywood Memorial Hospital, and is on the staff of Bascom Palmer Eye Institute and Hollywood Medical Center.
He is Board Certified in Ophthalmology and a fellow of the American College of Surgeons.
TIRSO MARK LARA MD, FACS
Dr. Tirso Mark Lara is the newest member of the Braverman Eye Center's physician team. Born in Washington D.C. and raised in Mexico, Dr. Lara graduated from LaSalle University School of Medicine. He then completed a surgical research fellowship at Harvard Medical School and the Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts. During this time, he was the recipient of the National Research Service Grant Award from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). He also received the Society of Black Academic Surgeons (SBAS) grant award to support research.
Following a surgical internship at the University of Illinois at Chicago, he continued his residency training at Vanderbilt University Department of Ophthalmology in Nashville, Tennessee. He furthered his studies with a two-year fellowship in diseases and surgery of the retina and vitreous at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and Retina Specialists of Alabama. As a fellow he learned the latest and most advanced methods of treatment for retinal diseases. Dr. Lara also served as a Clinical Instructor of Ophthalmology for the Department of Ophthalmology and was actively involved in teaching residents.
He is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the American Society of Ocular Trauma, the American Medical Association, the Florida Academy of Ophthalmology, and the Broward County Ophthalmology Society. Dr. Lara is board certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology.
Dr. Lara specializes in the diagnosis, treatment and care of patients with all retinal disorders. He has a special interest in macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, uveitis, and severe ocular trauma. He routinely uses state-of-the-art surgical and laser techniques for various problems such as retinal detachments, macular holes, and eye injuries. Dr. Lara has actively written and published articles in peer-reviewed medical journals, and has participated in large multi-center scientific studies.
He is fluent in both English and Spanish, and travels to underserved communities in Central America to donate his services. On a personal level, he dedicates his time to his wife Daniela, as well as playing piano and guitar.
JASON OILAR OD
Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, Dr. Oilar graduated from South Umpqua High School in Myrtle Creek, Oregon. He received a Bachelor's degree in Economics from Florida International University and then a Master's in Business Administration from Oregon State University. Dr. Oilar received his Doctor of Optometry degree from Nova Southeastern University in 2009, is a licensed optometrist in Florida, and is currently a resident in Ocular Disease at the Braverman Eye Center.
JULIO PEREZ MD, FACS
Dr. Perez is originally from Puerto Rico, a US commonwealth island in the Caribbean. He obtained his undergraduate and medical degrees at the University of P.R. in San Juan and later completed his accredited residency in ophthalmology at the University District Hospital. Subsequently he became the first physician of Hispanic origin to complete a fellowship in vitreoretinal diseases and surgery at the Mount Sinai and Beth Israel Medical Centers in New York City. In 1989 Dr. Perez established his practice in Fort Lauderdale promptly understanding the importance of a close working relationship with the Optometric community and welcoming NSU students to his practice and the operating room ever since.
His research experience ranges from his undergraduate investigation on the regenerative potential of iris cells from newts in 1980 to the clinical efficacy of the topical antibiotic norfloxacin in 1986 to being the lead clinical researcher in the state of Florida for the development of the novel anti CMV retinitis drug fomivirsen in 1997 (Formivirsen opened the door for other messenger RNA drugs to evolve making it possible to treat disease at the genetic level).
Among other achievements; Dr. Perez became certified by American Board of Ophthalmology in 1989, was elected fellow of the American Academy of Ophthalmology in 1990 and is currently an adjunct assistant professor at Nova Southeastern University and a member of the American Society of Retinal Specialists. In other aspects of his personal life, he has been class valedictorian for the Fitness Institute International and has been certified by the American College of Sports Medicine, the National Strength and Conditioning Association and the National Academy of Sports Medicine. His pastimes and passions include nitrox and advanced scuba diving, snow skiing, motorcycle riding, sporting clays, collecting guitars and producing instructional videos for beginner musicians.
KEVIN STEWART MD
Dr. Kevin Stewart served as Associate Director of Glaucoma Clinical Services at world-renowned New York Eye and Ear Infirmary before moving to Miami to start a multi-specialty practice in 2008. He is an Associate Clinical Professor at New York Medical College, and serves as the Chief Ophthalmic Surgeon of the Africa Surgical Assistance Program.
Dr. Stewart began his career in medicine by completing a degree in biochemistry and spending two years as a Research Associate in Medicinal Chemistry at the University of Washington. He then earned a medical degree at Rosalind Franklin University's Chicago Medical School, completed an internal medicine internship at Albert Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia, and underwent residency training at St. Vincent's Medical Center in Manhattan, where he served as Chief Resident of Ophthalmology in his final year. After completing ophthalmology training, Dr. Stewart completed a joint fellowship in glaucoma at Mount Sinai Hospital and Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital in Manhattan.
Following his training, Dr. Stewart opened a private glaucoma practice on the Upper East Side of Manhattan and served as the Assistant Director of Glaucoma Clinical Services at the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary under Dr. Robert Ritch, a world-renowned glaucoma clinician and scientist, and founder of the Glaucoma Foundation. During his Associate Directorship, Dr. Steward received the "John S. Hermann, M.D. Memorial Award for Excellence in Teaching" in 2006, and the "Residents' Award for Outstanding Teaching and Dedicated Service" from the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary in 2007.
Dr. Stewart is a member or the American Glaucoma Society, the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the New York State Ophthalmological Society, the New York Glaucoma Society, the New York Society for Clinical Ophthalmology and the Florida Society of Ophthalmology.
In addition to clinical activities, Dr. Stewart is Vice President of Pharmaceutical Development at CLS Pharmaceuticals, and Senior Vice President and Director of Marketing for Echophalanx Pharmaceuticals.
RASHID TAHER MD, FACS
Dr. Rashid Taher is a Board Certified Ophthalmologist with subspecialty training in Vitreoretinal surgery. Dr. Taher completed a two year vitreo-retinal fellowship at Boston University Medical Center. He finished his ophthalmology residency at the University of Florida and his medical school training at the George Washington University Medical School. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in history at the University of Michigan.
Dr. Taher has authored several chapters in the text "Retinal Disorders and Acute Visual Loss." He has been involved in the research of surgical treatment of retinal vascular occlusions and diode laser use in macular degeneration. He also has an interest in ocular trauma and the management of intraocular foreign bodies.
Dr. Taher has served as a consultant to several health care related internet corporations and was a partner in three health care related internet startups. He is on the Board of Directors for CardiacAmerica, Teleradiology America and Pediatric Radiology of America. He is also on the Medical Executive Committees for multiple Ambulatory Surgical Centers.
DAVID TENZEL MD, FACS
Dr. David Tenzel has been a resident of Florida for more than 35 years and has always considered Florida his home. His training began at the University of Miami, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology in 1980. He completed two years at Chicago Medical School and then transferred to the University of Miami School of Medicine, completing his medical degree in 1985.
Dr. Tenzel completed an internship at Deaconess Hospital in St. Louis. His three-year Ophthalmology residency was completed in Los Angeles, California, where he served as Chief Resident and earned an award for outstanding achievement.
Upon returning to Florida, Dr. Tenzel completed a Fellowship in Oculoplastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute. He has been in private practice in South Florida since 1990. A board-certified ophthalmologist, Dr. Tenzel has written many book chapters and journal articles on oculoplastic procedures, cosmetic eyelid surgery, reconstructive procedures and lacrimal surgery. He has lectured on oculoplastic surgery topics at several optometric meetings, trained ophthalmologists and optometry students in oculoplastics, diagnostics and treatment.
Dr. Tenzel, a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, has served as Chairman of Ophthalmology at Doctor’s Hospital in Hollywood and is a former Chairman of Ophthalmology at Columbia Aventura Hospital. He is currently listed in Who’s Who in America, and has also been listed in Best Doctors in America and Best Doctors in the Southeast Region.
Dr. David Tenzel is well-versed in oculoplastic and reconstructive surgery techniques, which include surgery of the eyelids and ocular adnexa, as well as all many types of cosmetic procedures of the brows, eyelids and the upper face. He has been performing cosmetic procedures for more than 17 years, including Botox, fillers (such as Restylane and Juvederm) and laser treatment regimens.
TIMOTHY ZEIGLER OD
Dr. Tim Zeigler is from Tampa, Florida, a flight medic Gulf War veteran who has completed a Chemistry B.A. at the University of South Florida, followed by a Doctorate in Optometry at Nova Southeastern University College of Optometry in Ft. Lauderdale. He completed internships at Liane Downtown Eye Associates, Macdill Air Force Base, and at Nova Southeastern University College of Optometry. In July 2000, Dr. Zeigler completed a residency in Primary Care/Ocular Disease at the Braverman Eye Center. As a Board Certified Optometrist, Dr. Zeigler continues to practice primary care optometry and serve as Attending Physician to the optometric interns at the Braverman Eye Center, and has rejoined the Air Force Reserve as a Captain, to serve weekend duty as a primary eyecare provider for Homestead Air Reserve Base.
