About Natalie Wolkow, MD, PhD

Dr. Wolkow is a member of the Ophthalmic Plastic Surgery Service and the Ophthalmic Pathology Service at Mass Eye and Ear. She sees patients with diseases of the orbit, eyelids, and lacrimal system, and also reviews pathology slides in the laboratory. She specializes in the surgical treatment of orbital and eyelid cancers, tear drainage system dysfunction, reconstructive surgery, orbital fractures, traumatic lacerations, thyroid eye disease and orbital inflammation. She performs cosmetic eyelid and eyebrow lift surgery, as well as cosmetic injections, such as Botox.

Dr. Wolkow completed her ophthalmology residency at Harvard Medical School, and two fellowships at Mass. Eye and Ear – the first was in ophthalmic pathology and the second in oculoplastics. She is a board certified ophthalmologist. She earned her MD and PhD (cell and molecular biology) at the University of Pennsylvania.

Dr. Wolkow is strong proponent of medical education, and is involved in teaching Harvard medical students, residents and fellows. She delivers lectures in ophthalmic pathology and oculoplastics, organizes hands-on educational sessions for students in the wet lab, and she has residents and fellows assisting her in the clinic and operating room.

With her background in laboratory research and ophthalmic pathology training, Dr. Wolkow has many research interests, including novel treatments for orbital and eyelid cancers, orbital and eyelid infections, histopathology of periocular foreign materials, and the development of new surgical techniques such as corneal neurotization for patients with neurotrophic keratopathy.

Departments, Centers, & Programs:

Clinical Interests:

Treats:

Locations

Mass Eye and Ear at Longwood
800 Huntington Ave.
Boston, MA 02115
Phone: 617-936-6156

Mass Eye and Ear
243 Charles St.
Boston, MA 02114
Phone: 617-523-7900

Medical Education

  • MD, Raymond & Ruth Perelman School of Med. at the University of Pennsylvania
  • Residency, Massachusetts Eye and Ear
  • Fellowship, Massachusetts Eye and Ear

American Board Certifications

  • Ophthalmology, American Board of Ophthalmology

Research

Dr. Wolkow has a strong laboratory research background, with PhD training in cell and molecular biology and fellowship training in ophthalmic pathology. She combines this background with her clinical interests in ophthalmic plastic surgery to engage in research that strives to improve patient care and develop novel treatments for patients with orbital, eyelid and lacrimal diseases.

Dr. Wolkow has several current research interests and ongoing projects, including research into orbital and periorbital malignancies. Recently, she published on the expression of PD-L1 and PD-L2 in ocular adnexal sebaceous carcinoma, squamous carcinoma and adenoid cystic carcinoma. She is recognized for her expertise in the histopathology of periocular foreign materials, such as cosmetic facial fillers and orbital implants, and has several publications on the subject. Dr. Wolkow has ongoing collaborations studying the periocular microbiome and periorbital infections, and she contributes to the international thyroid eye disease biobank. She has a strong commitment to improving resident and fellow surgical training, and is invested in the continued surgical growth of established surgeons and surgical innovation. She has developed a wet lab based surgical curriculum in Oculoplastics for the Mass Eye and Ear ophthalmology residents and is evaluating its effect on resident and fellow surgical performance.

Publications

  • 1. Wai KM, Wolkow N, Freitag SK. Orbital Fat Herniation Through the Superior Orbital Fissure in Thyroid Eye Disease. Ophthalmic Plast Reconstr Surg. 2020 Jul 30. 

    2. Wolkow N, Jakobiec FA, Afrogheh AH, Pai SI, Faquin WC. High Expression of PD-L1 and PD-L2 in Ophthalmic Sebaceous Carcinoma: The Case for a Clinical Trial of Checkpoint Inhibitors. Am J Ophthalmol. 2020 Jul 27. 

    3. Chiou C, Wolkow N, Freitag SK. Eyelid Keratoacanthoma in an 86-Year-Old Man: Clinical and Histopathologic Features. Ophthalmic Plast Reconstr Surg. 2020 Jul 23. 

    4. Zhou C, Singh A, Qian G, Wolkow N, Dohlman CH, Vavvas DG, Chodosh J, Paschalis EI. Microporous Drug Delivery System for Sustained Anti-VEGF Delivery to the Eye. Transl Vis Sci Technol. 2020 Jul; 9(8):5.

    5. Wai KM, Wolkow N, Yoon MK. Displaced bone fragment simulating an orbital foreign body. Orbit. 2020 Jun 11; 1-2.

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