Kenya M. Williams, MD
Dr. Kenya M. Williams’ journey to oculoplastic surgery is one marked by persistence, purpose, and a series of transformative moments that guided her toward the specialty she ultimately came to love. Raised in Chicago, she pursued her undergraduate education at Spelman College in Atlanta, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology in 1994. After graduation, she returned home and worked as a Research Assistant in the Department of Emergency Medicine at Stroger Hospital of Cook County—an early immersion in the intense, high‑acuity clinical environment that shaped her passion for caring for underserved communities.
While continuing part-time as a Research Assistant, she was accepted in 1997 into a pre‑matriculation program at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science. She completed the program in 1998 and matriculated into the medical school class of 2002. After her first year, she received a National Medical Fellowship for Academic Excellence in Medicine, allowing her to participate in a summer research program at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota—an experience that broadened her academic and research exposure and deepened her interest in surgical disciplines.
During a third-year surgical rotation at her beloved Stroger Hospital while sitting at the slit lamp for the very first time, she discovered her passion for Ophthalmology. This randomly assigned two‑week Ophthalmology elective changed the trajectory of her career—and ultimately, her life. Dr. Williams completed her residency training in Ophthalmology at the State University of New York, Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn. During the first year of her ophthalmology residency, she discovered her passion for oculoplastics and has remained devoted to the subspecialty ever since.
In 2006, ASOPRS fellowship positions were extremely limited, with only about a dozen spots available nationwide. Fortunately, a handful of non‑ASOPRS fellowships offered additional oculoplastics training. That year, Dr. Williams began her fellowship in Oculoplastic and Reconstructive Surgery with Dr. Jack Kennerdell and Dr. Randall Beatty at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Following fellowship, Dr. Williams joined a multispecialty practice in the Chicagoland area. Shortly thereafter, she realized her ongoing desire to participate in academic medicine and began volunteering in the Ophthalmology Resident Clinic at Stroger Hospital. She formally joined the medical staff in 2010, spending the next twelve years teaching residents and caring for underserved patients. This period brought her full‑circle at Stroger and affirmed her commitment to mentorship and education.
In 2016, she joined the faculty at Rush University Medical Center, where she continues to teach ophthalmology residents. Her dedication to academic development extends beyond residency training; she has mentored numerous medical and undergraduate students and has served as a Medical Student Faculty Advisor at both Rosalind Franklin University and Rush University.
Dr. Williams pursued ASOPRS membership through the society’s alternative pathway, completing her thesis, written examination, and oral examination following the mandatory five‑year waiting period. She was proudly inducted into ASOPRS in the spring of 2025. She is also a Fellow of the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) and a member of the North American Society for Academic Orbital Surgeons (NASAOS), the Illinois Society of Eye Physicians and Surgeons (ISEPS), and the Chicago Ophthalmological Society (COS). She additionally serves as a Committee Member for Ophthalmic Mutual Insurance Company (OMIC).
Dr. Williams has an expanding interest in global ophthalmology. She completed a surgical mission to Haiti through the Haiti Health Promise of Holy Name (formerly the CRUDEM Foundation) and serves as volunteer faculty with Orbis International. She looks forward to continued opportunities to teach her fellow ophthalmologists and treat patients worldwide. Outside of her professional responsibilities, Dr. Williams enjoys antiquing, traveling, and spending time with her husband and two sons.
Professional Societies
- 05/2004 – present – American Academy of Ophthalmology
- 07/2011 – 03/2015 – North American Neuro-Ophthalmology Society
- 12/2012 – present – Chicago Ophthalmological Society
- 12/2012 – present – Illinois Society of Eye Physicians and Surgeons
- 05/2018 – present – North American Society of Academic Orbital Surgeons
- 05/2025 – present – American Society for Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons