When he was only fifteen, Michael Cornell encountered an accident in his Oklahoma high school chemistry class and had to spend a week in a sterile and uninviting hospital with a serious eye injury. Little did he know that experience would be instrumental in shaping what became his lifelong passion. After high school Mike enrolled in the Army ROTC program and graduated from Panhandle State College of Oklahoma in 1971. He knew he was good with his hands and good with people and when given the opportunity to attend Oklahoma School of Medicine, he marched forward, earning his MD degree in 1975.
Upon completion of his internship at Fitzsimons Army Medical Center in Denver, Colorado, he became a flight surgeon and was stationed with the 2nd Armored Division at Fort Hood, Texas. He then returned to Fitzsimons to complete his Residency in Ophthalmology in 1980.
Because of his unique surgical abilities, Dr. Cornell was selected to attend one of the premier Cornea and External Disease fellowship programs at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. After completing this specialized training in 1983, Dr. Cornell returned to Fitzsimons as Director of the Ophthalmology Residency Training Program.
Over the next ten years, Dr. Cornell distinguished himself as a gifted teacher and was promoted to Chairman of the Department of Ophthalmology at Fitzsimons. He also held the positions of Medical Director of the Rocky Mountain Lions Eye Bank, Vice-President for the Joint Commission of Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology (JCAHPO) and President of the Society of Military Ophthalmologists.
During a JCAHPO board certification exam in 1985, Dr. Cornell met Beth, an inspired and career driven assistant. In 1993 after 22 years of active military service, Dr. Cornell retired with the rank of full Colonel and was awarded the Legion of Merit for his contributions to ophthalmology. Two years following his military retirement in 1995, Mike and Beth were married in Minnesota.
Beth’s motivation to reach Certified Ophthalmic Medical Technologist® (COMT®), the highest level of training awarded at JCAHPO, is one of the reasons she and Dr. Cornell are such a dynamic team. Dr. Cornell and Beth opened a private practice upon their move to Oregon in 2005 and have continued to be active in their community and their pursuit of better vision for their patients.
Dr. Cornell is board certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO). He most recently served on the AAO's Committee far Allied Heath Education. He has received recognition and awards from the AAO, Eye Bank Association of America, and the Joint Commission for Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology for his contributions to the field of ophthalmology. His work also extends to the Columbia Gorge area where he performs surgeries at Mid-COLUMBIA Medical Center in the Dallas, OR and Skyline Hosptial in White Salmon, WA two half days per month.
Dr. Cornell has been alleviating the effects of ocular blepharospasm for many years with BOTOX injections. Following FDA approval, he expanded his us of BOTOX to include the treatment of unwanted facial expressions and firmly believes, as other experts do, that only a licensed medical physician specifically trained and experienced in BOTOX injections should provide this care.
Dr. Cornell and Beth enjoy many outdoor activities such as golf, sailing, skiing and biking and some day hope to return to the mission field to setup and supply medical services. They also enjoy spending lots of time with their granddaughters.