The renowned refractive cataract surgeon will oversee IOR’s mission to deliver exceptional office-based surgical solutions that prioritize patient safety and satisfaction.
iOR Partners, the leader in ophthalmic office-based surgery (OBS), announced that Lance J. Kugler, MD, has been named Chairman of the Strategic Advisory Board.
Dr. Kugler has played a key role in the evolution of OBS, opening one of the first OBS suites in 2017 and publishing a study on the safety of office-based lens surgery in The Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery in 2023.
During this time, iOR Partners has become synonymous with excellence in ophthalmic OBS through its model that empowers surgeons with turnkey OBS suites and support services, including space planning, capital equipment acquisition, staff training, materials management, accreditation, billing, and day-to-day oversight.
In the role of Chairman of the Strategic Advisory Board, Dr. Kugler will provide physician guidance to the iOR leadership team and help form and lead the Strategic Advisory Board.
"As chairman of the Strategic Advisory Board, I am excited to help iOR Partners further advance its mission of delivering exceptional office-based surgical solutions that prioritize patient safety and satisfaction," said Dr. Kugler, founder and CEO of Kugler Vision, Omaha, NE.
Dr. Kugler’s dedication to fostering safety in lenticular ophthalmic surgery is reflected in his leadership roles across the specialty. Dr. Kugler was the first president and a founding member of the Refractive Surgery Alliance (RSA), the RSA’s liaison to the American Refractive Surgery Council, and previously served as the director of Refractive Surgery at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, where he led resident education and research programs to advance the field of refractive cataract surgery.
iOR Partners provides practices with all the support they need for a successful OBS program so surgeons can focus solely on their patients’ surgery without leaving their clinic. iOR’s comprehensive services include planning, development and launch, accreditation and compliance, materials management, OBS billing expertise, and operational oversight.
“Dr. Kugler is one of the most experienced OBS surgeons in the country and he brings a deep understanding of the ophthalmic office-based surgery paradigm, as well as the challenges that ophthalmologists face. His expertise will be invaluable as iOR Partners continues to expand its reach and innovate in the field,” said James Williams, iOR’s CEO.