Robert B. Nelson, PA-C
Executive Director
Island Eye Surgicenter, L.L.C.
Carle Place, N.Y.
Robert Nelson, PA-C is Board Certified Physician Assistant and also the Executive Director of Island Eye Surgicenter on Long Island, New York. Island Eye Surgicenter is a six OR, AAAHC accredited, and Medicare Certified facility with over 60 Attending Physicians performing nearly 20,000 Ophthalmic procedures per year. Prior to joining Island Eye, Mr. Nelson served in similar Administrative roles at other Single and Multi-Specialty ASC’s in the N.Y. Metropolitan region, as well as in Connecticut, and has been a key design consultant for Island Eye as well as several other ASC’s.
Having practiced as a Surgical PA since 1977 in areas such as General Surgery, Plastic and Reconstructive, Orthopedic and Vascular Surgery, and with an initial 13 years affiliated with prominent Park Ave. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery practices, Mr. Nelson brought this extensive surgical experience to the field of Ophthalmology in 1993 and never left. In addition to his day to day management responsibilities running a busy ASC, Mr. Nelson still finds time to assist surgeons in the OR with Cornea Transplantations, complicated Glaucoma and Retina cases as well as many Oculoplastic and Reconstructive surgical procedures every week.
Possessing the very unique combination of clinical experience and management expertise affords Mr. Nelson the qualities, knowledge and skill necessary to understand and run an efficient and successful ASC. As Executive Director, Mr. Nelson has day to day operational authority and accountability for the business operations, as well as primary responsibility for maintaining local, State and Federal statutory compliance. He oversees the centers important state and national Accreditation initiatives and he coordinates numerous pharmaceutical and device research studies conducted by Island Eye surgeons. He has published peer-reviewed articles on topics in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and has co-authored articles in the ophthalmic literature on TASS and OR Efficiencies. He is a current member of the Board of Directors of O.O.S.S. (Outpatient Ophthalmic Surgery Society), a former Board member (and current member) of The ASC Association - Quality Collaboration, and a current member of the Editorial Board of “The Ophthalmic ASC”, an industry publication. He is well known in the industry and the ASC arena, and has personal contacts at the highest levels of industry.
In addition to his primary responsibilities at Island Eye, Mr. Nelson also serves as Vice President of the Vision Center Network of America, LLC (VCNA). VCNA (www.vcna.net) is a Clinically Integrated Network (CIN) of 9 Ophthalmic ASC’s in the Tri-State area and Albany that perform over 75,000 surgical procedures per year. VCNA was organized in 2013 and operationalized in September of 2015, and is the only Ophthalmic CIN in the country. Mr. Nelson was involved early on and is active on many sub-committees of the organization.
A 1977 graduate of the Physician Assistant Program at Harlem Hospital Center, a Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons affiliate, he holds a Bachelor of Science degree in the Medical Sciences from The New School in New York City, and he has maintained his national Board Certification as a PA since 1978, recently celebrating his 41st year as a Board Certified PA. He and his wife have three children, and six grandchildren. He is an avid golfer and enjoys spending time with his growing family.