Dr. Steven E. Stein

Dr. Aakalu serves as chair of the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences and is an ophthalmologist and oculofacial plastic surgeon. He completed his undergraduate training at Johns Hopkins University and earned his medical degree from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. He subsequently completed residency and fellowship training at University of Illinois Chicago, where he later held multiple leadership roles. He went on to serve as section leader and medical director of Eye Plastics, Orbital, and Facial Cosmetic Surgery at the University of Michigan.Dr. Aakalu’s clinical interests include functional and aesthetic eyelid and facial surgery, thyroid eye disease, orbital and periorbital neoplastic conditions, and lacrimal surgery.An internationally recognized clinician-scientist, Dr. Aakalu has authored more than 100 peer-reviewed publications and has received funding from the NIH, Department of Defense, and the VA. His research focuses on ocular surface disease and translational therapeutics for rare conditions such as Niemann-Pick disease type C. He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and the American Academy of Ophthalmology, and a Gold Fellow of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology. He has also contributed extensively to national organizations, including service with the American Board of Ophthalmology and the American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. Dr. Aakalu is highly rated in 11 conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Ptosis, Eyelid Drooping, Blocked Tear Duct, and Graves Disease. Dr. Aakalu is board certified in Ophthalmology. Dr. Aakalu is currently accepting new patients.

Christian J. Vercler, M.D. is a faculty member in the Section of Plastic Surgery in the Department of Surgery with a joint appointment in the Department of Neurosurgery at Michigan Medicine. He serves as Co-Chief of the Clinical Ethics Service of the Center for Bioethics and Social Sciences in Medicine at the University of Michigan. He is a diplomate of both the American Board of Surgery and the American Board of Plastic Surgery.Dr. Vercler received his Bachelor of Science in Biology and Master of Arts in Theological Studies from Wheaton College (IL). He attended medical school at the University of Illinois College of Medicine. He completed general surgery training at Emory University and plastic surgery at the Harvard Plastic Surgery Program. He then did an additional fellowship in Craniofacial Surgery at the University of Michigan.Dr. Vercler has a special interest in medical ethics. He completed a Fellowship in Clinical Ethics at the Emory University Center for Ethics and earned a Masters of Arts degree in Bioethics from Trinity. He currently serves as the Chair of the Pediatric Ethics Committee of C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital and is Co-Chair of the Adult Ethics Committee at Michigan Medicine. Additionally, he is chair of the Bioethics Committee of the Michigan State Medical Society and past chair of both the ASPS Ethics Committee and Ethics Interest Group of the American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association.Clinical Specialization:Dr. Vercler focuses primarily on pediatric plastic surgery and craniofacial deformities in children and adults. Dr. Vercler is highly rated in 47 conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Metopic Ridge, Craniosynostosis, Plagiocephaly, Bone Graft, and Myringotomy. Dr. Vercler is board certified in Surgery and Plastic Surgery. Dr. Vercler is currently accepting new patients.

Michael Freedman is a Plastic Surgeon and an Otolaryngologist practicing medicine in Riverview, Michigan. Dr. Freedman is highly rated in 30 conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyps (CRSwNP), Infant Hearing Loss, Empyema, and Sinusitis. Dr. Freedman is board certified in American Osteopathic Board Of Ophthalmology & Otolaryngology. Dr. Freedman is currently accepting new patients.