Natalie Wolkow, MD, PhD
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.
Clinical Interests:
- Ocular oncology
- Ophthalmic pathology
- Ophthalmic plastic and reconstructive surgery
Treats:
- Adult
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
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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.
Very thorough, patient, caring,competent.
My surgeon, she was very competent and she knew what she was doing. I would recommend her to anyone.
[redacted] I got a call from the office in advance of coming in that she was in emergency surgery earlier in the day and that my appointment would be late. That was in fact the case. Everything else about the appointment was exactly as I hoped and I was not at all disappointed to be seen later in the day. [redacted]
Dr. Wolkow is very professional, kind and extremely knowledgeable. I would highly recommend her.
Excellent manner and very professional
Dr Wolkow was extremely knowledgeable and understanding of my condition, and the questions I had.
And the professionals have treated me well every time I've visited, that's all there is to it. They've treated me well and very well the last time I went, which was just this month.
Top notch service!
Explanations of procedures, objectives, limitations after surgery, stages of recovery, results anticipated as to increased field of vision, potential sight improvement ,
I went with my sister to the consultation and I am very happy because they showed me a lot of respect. They were very patient and they explained to me what they had to explain very respectfully, and I am very happy. I also recommend my friends and family to go because they are respectful.