After operating his own ophthalmology practice in Winston-Salem for three decades, Mark Nelson, M.D., M.B.A., has donated his practice to the Eye Center at Wake Forest Baptist Health and has accepted a faculty position with Wake Forest School of Medicine.
The transfer of the practice, located at 750 Highland Oaks Drive in Winston-Salem, to Wake Forest Baptist became official on Nov. 1, and Nelson’s faculty appointment took effect Nov. 5.
Craig Greven, M.D., chair and professor of Ophthalmology and director of the Wake Forest Baptist Eye Center, said he was thrilled when he learned that Nelson wanted to join the faculty.
“We’ve been practicing in the same town for 29 years,” Greven said of Nelson. “We’ve shared patients over the years and been very comfortable working with each other.
“His is one of the premier retina practices in the region, and his management of retinal care and his approach with patients have been exemplary. He uses cutting-edge technology in retinal imaging that will prove valuable for our patients.”
Nelson will continue to see patients and will expand his work to include teaching and research.
“I’ve always wanted to do research,” said Nelson. “I’ve always admired what the Eye Center here at Wake Forest Baptist has done under Craig’s leadership and how the faculty and staff have grown. This is a great opportunity to work with him and with the Eye Center.”
Nelson earned his medical degree from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, now known as the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School at Rutgers University. He completed an internship and residency at the Medical College of Virginia and a fellowship at Piedmont Hospital in Atlanta. He also holds a master’s in business administration from Wake Forest University’s Babcock Graduate School of Management.
“Our visions for providing patients with the best care from the best providers just meshed,” Greven said. “We’re both passionate about the people of this region getting the best care, and we’re happy to have all of the folks on Mark’s team join us.”
The practice is the fourth to be donated to the Eye Center, along with previous gifts of practices based in Greensboro, Mount Airy and Winston-Salem.
Media Contacts
Joe McCloskey: jmcclosk@wakehealth.edu, 336-716-1273
Eryn Johnson: eryjohns@wakehealth.edu, 336-713-8228