Robert Burch Family Eye Center Opens at Lincoln Center
Columbia faculty, leaders, and friends celebrated the grand opening of the Robert Burch Family Eye Center at Lincoln Center on October 6, 2025.
Made possible through the generosity of Robert Burch III and his wife, Dale, the Center is the Department of Ophthalmology’s new flagship clinical facility. It reflects a decades-long partnership with the Burch family and their deep personal gratitude to Stanley Chang, MD, the K.K. Tse and Ku Teh Ying Professor of Ophthalmology and the former Edward S. Harkness Professor and chair of the Department of Ophthalmology, who restored Mr. Burch’s sight more than a decade ago.
“This department has always been one of the crown jewels of Columbia,” said James M. McKiernan, MD, Senior Vice Dean for Clinical Affairs at Columbia University Irving Medical Center and CEO of ColumbiaDoctors, in welcome remarks at the event. “Now, with this spectacular space, the facilities truly match the exceptional talent of its physicians.”
The project was shaped by a deeply collaborative process among faculty, staff, and designers from Gensler.
“Every square inch of this space was thoughtfully planned,” says G.A. (Jack) Cioffi, MD, Jean and Richard Deems Professor, Edward S. Harkness Professor, and Chairman of the Department of Ophthalmology. “The technology is second to none, and patients tell me every day what a joy it is to be here. A state-of-the-art space, the best technology, and the best doctors--that’s a great combination.”
The Burches’ generosity is visible in every detail of the new Center, from the patient reception area named for Louis V. Gerstner, Jr., to the refined finishes, colors, and furnishings.
The Burch family’s philanthropy has transformed ophthalmology and medicine at Columbia for more than a decade. In addition to endowing the Robert L. Burch III Professorship, they have established the Chang-Burch Scholars Program to nurture early-career physician-scientists and have advanced major initiatives in aging and longevity research.
Their support has pushed science, education, and medicine forward, Dr. Cioffi said at the event.
“Bob’s philanthropy has touched every part of our mission: clinical care, research, and education,” he said. “He’s helped us recruit leaders, build new programs, and train the next generation of ophthalmologists. He and Dale have not just given generously; they’ve given with vision.”
Dr. Cioffi recalled a moment from the opening of the first Robert Burch Family Eye Center, at the Lighthouse Guild in 2014.
“Robby Burch was just a little boy then,” he said. “He sat up on the check-in desk when we cut the ribbon. Tonight, he’s sixteen, and now his younger cousin is holding the scissors. That continuity says everything about this family’s spirit.”
