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Spotlight: Byron H Demorest MD, Father of OMIC’s Risk Management Program

Byron H. Demorest MD

Byron H. Demorest, MD (1925-2011) was a giant in the field of ophthalmology. He was widely considered, along with Jerome Bettman, MD to be on the forefront of modern day ophthalmic ethics. A member of the original OMIC steering committee, Dr. Demorest was a founder of our company and was OMIC’s first Risk Management Committee Chair. He was on OMIC’s first Board of Directors and served until 1996.

First OMIC Board of Directors

During his tenure, Dr. Demorest co-authored the OMIC-published book Practice Without Malpractice in Ophthalmology. The book was the first comprehensive look at ophthalmic professional liability and loss prevention from the physician’s point of view. Dr. Demorest and Dr. Bettman drew from years of experience working on behalf of the American Academy of Ophthalmology to improve patient safety and protect eye care providers from malpractice lawsuits.

In addition to authoring books and articles for OMIC, Dr. Demorest oversaw the introduction of The OMIC Digest, our newsletter which recently celebrated its 100th edition. He also presided over the creation of OMIC’s popular seminar series, which have been presented at venues across the country over 1,000 times, and the OMIC Hotline which has assisted insureds more than 20,000 times since its debut in 1993.

Dr Demorest at first OMIC Board Meetings

Dr. Demorest was born on May 1, 1925 and died October 14, 2011. Byron was married to Phyllis on September 2, 1947, and they had two daughters, Katheryn and Susan, and one son, John. Byron’s undergraduate education was obtained at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln. It was completed at Omaha University (now of University of Nebraska in Omaha). He obtained his BS degree in 1947 and his medical degree in 1948. His internship was obtained in Charles T. Miller hospital in St. Paul, MN. His residency in ophthalmology was at Washington University in St. Louis, MO from 1951 to 1954. He was an assistant clinical instructor in Ophthalmology at Stanford University from 1955 to 1960. Byron was the founding chairman of the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of California, Davis. He was certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology and subsequently was an Associate Examiner for the Board until 1965. Byron was a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and he served as its president in 1985. Other memberships included The Pacific Coast Ophthalmological Society, the California Association of Ophthalmology, the American Association of Ophthalmology. He also served as president of these organizations. Byron also had active duty with the navy, ending up as a Lieutenant Commander and Chairman of the Eye Department at the Great Lakes Naval Hospital.His Sacramento involvement included being the 1975 president of the Golden Empire Council, BSA, Elder of Fremont Presbyterian Church, Chairman of Sacramento Symphony Association in 1968, moderator of a daily television program, called ‘Doctor’s Notebook’ on KCRA Channel 3 from 1970 to 1973.