VisionAmerica - Cullman, AL
James W. Marbourg, OD
Robert W. H. Mason, MD
Donald P. McCurdy, MD
Mamta Somaiya Patel, MD
James R. Veal, MD
James W. Marbourg, O.D.
Regional Vice President - VisionAmerica of Alabama
Executive Vice President - Eye Health Partners, Inc.
Dr. Jim Marbourg is the Executive Vice President for Eye Health Partners and Regional Vice President for VisionAmerica. He serves on the Board of Directors for Eye Health Partners and also practices consultative optometry in each of the centers.
Dr. Marbourg received dual Bachelor of Science degrees in Aerospace Engineering and Physiological Optics and his Doctorate of Optometry at the University of Alabama School of Optometry. Before joining VisionAmerica in 1992, Dr. Marbourg enjoyed his own private optometry practice in Birmingham, Alabama. During Dr. Marbourg’s tenure with VisionAmerica, the practice has grown to include centers across Alabama and Tennessee with the goal to provide patients with comprehensive eye care while also serving the optometric community.
Dr. Marbourg maintains his commitment to promoting the optometric profession through his participation in professional organizations including his membership in the Alabama Optometric Association. In addition to serving in multiple capacities in this organization, Dr. Marbourg holds a faculty position at the UAB School of Optometry. His dedication to maximizing education of optometric students opened the door to the externship programs now offered at VisionAmerica and Eye Health Partner centers. These externships provide students from UAB (Alabama), Nova (Florida), and Waterloo (Canada) experience in the treatment and management of a variety of eye conditions.
Robert W. H. Mason, M.D.
Vitreoretinal Surgeon
Dr. Robert Mason is a fellowship-trained and board-certified ophthalmologist sub-specializing in medical and surgical treatment of conditions affecting the retina and vitreous, including diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration. With a dual fellowship in cornea and external disease, Dr. Mason brings a unique perspective and versatility of practice to his patients and colleagues.
Dr. Mason is the recipient of several awards including a grant for the research of age-related macular degeneration. Additionally, he was the first fellow selected for St. John’s Ophthalmic Hospital’s cornea fellowship in the Middle East where he provided indigent care to the underserved for six months. His other achievements include numerous academic honors.
Over the past 15 years Dr. Mason has participated in several medical research projects. Some of his notable experience includes co-investigating two national clinical trials on break-through medications for treatment of age-related macular degeneration and blood vessel diseases of the eye. He also participated in revolutionary retinal transplant research as well as glaucoma research.
In addition to his leadership in medical research, Dr. Mason has provided lectures to doctors on a variety of topics and was a course instructor at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. Dr. Mason served as one of two ophthalmologists in a major North Carolina practice where he developed a co-managing relationship with more than 100 optometrists. Dr. Mason is a member of the American Society of Retinal Surgeons, the American Ophthalmology Association, the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, the American Medical Association, and other professional organizations.
Dr. Mason earned his undergraduate degree from The University of Oklahoma. He then obtained his medical education at the prestigious Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York. Dr. Mason’s internship and residency were both completed at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Texas. He also completed two fellowships for additional specialized training in Vitreoretinal Medicine from South Texas Retina Consultants as well as Cornea and External Disease from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.
Donald P. McCurdy, M.D.
Anterior Segment Surgeon
Specializing in medical and surgical diseases of the anterior segment of the eye, Dr. McCurdy focuses on cataract, corneal transplants, and procedures for glaucoma.
He is respected by his peers for his unique one handed bevel-down cataract surgery techniques and has performed over 20,000 cataract surgeries in his medical career.
He is board-certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology and is also a member of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery as well as the American College of Eye Surgeons.
Dr. McCurdy graduated Cum Laude from the University of North Carolina in 1973. While at UNC, he was a member of Phi Beta Kappa National Honor Society. Upon graduation, he attended the University of North Carolina School of Medicine and graduated in 1977. He completed his residency in ophthalmology in 1981 at North Carolina Memorial Hospital. Following his residency, he practiced at Carolina Eye Associates in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Dr. McCurdy has been treating Birmingham cataract surgery patients since 1993 and also travels to many satellite offices in Northern and Western Alabama.
In his spare time, Dr. McCurdy loves to play golf.
Mamta Somaiya Patel, M.D.
Medical and Surgical Retina
mpatel@eyehealthpartners.com
Dr. Mamta Somaiya Patel is a board eligible ophthalmologist specializing in diagnosis and treatment of retinal and vitreous disease. Her advanced training and surgical skills are particularly recognized in the treatment of macular degeneration, severe eye injuries, and surgery of the macula.
Dr. Patel graduated from Houston Baptist and later received her medical degree from the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, TX. An outstanding medical student in her class, Dr. Patel went on to complete a residency at The University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, TX. She later completed retina surgical fellowships with the National Retina Institute and with Retina Consultants of Alabama. After Dr. Patel's fellowship in Birmingham she worked with a private multi-specialty practice in Dothan, AL. With her exceptional academic achievement and medical experience, we are excited to have Dr. Patel on our VisionAmerica team. Since she began practicing with VisionAmerica, she has expanded her coverage to serve the retina needs of her patients in four centers in Alabama: Birmingham, Gadsden, Cullman, and Anniston.
Dr. Patel has published numerous articles and has provided several professional presentations. Additionally, she has participated in the training of other vitreoretinal physicians. Having not only contributed in these professional endeavors but also in the care of her patients, Dr. Patel has made a significant impact within the medical community.
Dr. Patel is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin, and Callahan Eye Foundation Hospital Retina Club. She provides treatment for a variety of conditions, including helping Cullman retina disease patients with their eye care needs.
James R. Veal, M.D.
Cataract Surgeon and General Ophthalmologist
jveal@eyehealthpartners.com
Dr. James Veal is an Anterior Segment Surgeon specializing in the treatment of cataracts, glaucoma, and other ocular diseases.
Dr. Veal attended Princeton for three years before transferring to the University of Alabama where he earned his undergraduate degree with a double major in Biology and Art History and a minor in Philosophy. He then was accepted to Tulane University where he graduated as a medical doctor in 1965. Upon graduation, Dr. Veal began an orthopedic residency at the University of Utah where he discovered that his true medical interests were in ophthalmology. As a result, he moved back to Alabama and fulfilled an ophthalmology residency with the Eye Foundation Hospital of Birmingham.
Dr. Veal was in private practice for 25 years in Cullman, Alabama before joining the VisionAmerica team in June 2006. With his extensive experience as an anterior segment surgeon and commitment to patient care, Dr. Veal is well-known Cullman cataract surgery specialist who treats patients throughout the north-central region.
Dr. Veal board certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology.