Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Dillman marks 30 years in city

DANVILLE — A cataract surgery pioneer who continues to lead the way by helping to develop and teach some of the most advanced procedures available is celebrating the 30th anniversary of the practice he founded.

Dr. David Dillman, of Dillman Eye Care, is embarking on three decades practicing ophthalmology in Danville.

He opened the practice Nov. 2, 1981, and said he didn’t know a soul in Danville back then. Earlier, he had graduated cum laude with his bachelor of science degree from the University of Notre Dame, received a medical degree from Indiana University, did an internship at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Indianapolis and then an ophthalmology residency at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota.

After a year-long stint practicing at the Olmsted Medical Center in Minnesota he was recruited to practice in Danville, though he had no connections here otherwise.

During that time period two hospitals served the Danville area — Lakeview (now Provena United Samaritans Medical Center) and St. Elizabeth (no longer in existence). Dillman said it was a “Hatfield and McCoy” environment, with the two hospitals vying hard to better the other.

“Lakeview Hospital had a very impressive recruiting department to bring new doctors to Danville,” Dillman said.

One of the incentives offered to new doctors at the time were home loans with favorable interest rates. The rate he received was 13.5 percent, which was much lower than the standard at the time of around 18 percent interest.

Dillman jokes about the rate now, but said it was a good deal then.

“By today’s standards, that (interest rate) would be unthinkable,” Dillman said.

He purchased two suites in a new medical office building adjacent to Lakeview. They had just gravel on the floor and he designed them specifically for ophthalmology.

“In a very short time we outgrew that and I bought a third suite and in a short time we outgrew that and I realized I couldn’t just keep buying suites,” Dillman said. “It just wasn’t practical.”

So in November 1986 the practice moved into the newly built location at 600 North Logan Avenue, where the business continues to thrive.

During Dillman’s first decade of practice he did general ophthalmology, which encompassed a little of everything in the field of eyes. Then in 1991, he limited his practice to just cataract and refractive surgery, which made sense considering his passion and expertise in the areas. Though, Dillman is humble about is roots.

“I was in the right place at the right time in the world of cataract surgery,” Dillman said.

In the early 1980s a cataract procedure called phacoemulsification was just beginning to make waves in the field of ophthalmology.

“That was a technology that in the early ’80s was extremely controversial,” Dillman said. “Mainly because it was a radical departure from the traditional way of doing cataract surgery.”

Dillman became involved with “phaco” in 1985, during a period when less than 5 percent of surgeons were employing the procedure.

“I got in on the ground floor of ‘phaco’,” Dillman said. “By the mid to late 1980s, its popularity started to blossom and in the 1990s it just skyrocketed. When I started it, it was controversial, but now it is pretty much standard of care.”

Because of his early involvement in “phaco” and due to his advocacy for the procedure, Dillman has traveled extensively to lecture on the subject and has taught at least 200 courses around the world. In the end, he helped to develop better technologies and techniques in ‘phaco’.

Dillman also has written articles on the subject and textbook chapters and has appeared in instructional videos. He also co-authored a textbook on refractive surgery, another procedure altogether.

His expertise on phaco has led more than 300 ophthalmologists to come to Danville to observe him in action, viewing Dillman performing the surgery.

He performs around 1,000 cataract surgeries a year now, but has performed 25,000 during his three decades of service.

Proud of the 30-year benchmark the practice is celebrating this year, Dillman also is looking ahead.

The practice added two new doctors to its staff this past summer, which will broaden Dillman Eye Care’s spectrum of services.

Dr. Andrew Dvorak is an ophthalmologist who also will perform cataract surgery and many of the services Dillman discontinued in the early 1990s. He will treat patients with macular degeneration, diabetes, glaucoma and performing procedures like eyelid surgery.

Dr. Monica Kalia is a general optometrist who will focus on diseases of the eye and family eye care. She has a special interest in children and pediatric conditions, such as eye muscle issues.

“Together, they’re going to bring new ideas and new energy,” Dillman said.

Lori Keith, head of the refractive surgery division and marketing, said the arrival of the two new doctors has already added much more to the practice. Before, patients with certain issues would be referred away, but now they can do most anything in-house.

“Patients are not going to have to leave Danville to get the care they need,” Keith said.

Keith, who has worked at Dillman Eye Care for 26 years, also spoke about the office atmosphere after decades of employees working together.

There are 20 employed there, including Dillman, with at least 10 being there for at least a decade. Of those, seven have been there at least 15 years, with a few being there more than 20 years.

“It’s more like a family,” Keith said. “We care about each other and our patients. When you get up each morning you’re glad you’re coming here to work.”

Keith said much of that is because of Dillman himself, who is not only a talented surgeon, but a good person.

“It all resonates from him,” Keith said.

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