About Kenneth W. Wright, MD

My name is Dr. Kenneth Wright, and I’m running as an Independent (No Party Preference) for US Congress 33rd District. I’m a pediatric eye surgeon and grew up in the South Bay, graduating from South Torrance High School and California Lutheran University. I finished my surgical training at Johns Hopkins University. As a father, I helped raise five children in and around the South Bay. I still enjoy surfing at Torrance Beach.

I was fortunate to have a wonderful career and have treated patients from all walks of life. I started a foundation to improve children’s eye care and a clinic in Los Angeles for underprivileged children where we never turn a child away. I authored the major textbooks in my field and published over 100 scientific articles. In 2015, I was invited as Guest of Honor lecturer at Harvard University and Boston Children’s Hospital. I have participated in numerous international lectures and medical/surgical missions worldwide including the Middle East, Asia, Latin America and Africa. Recently, I received a service medal of honor from the President of Panama for over 20 years of service to Panamanian children. I have previously worked for large institutions as an employee and now am in private practice as a small business owner. With this past experience I feel I can truly understand the issues of both employee and business owner.

I have dedicated my life to the care and well-being of others. At this time I feel there is a real need for leadership that will unite America rather than divide America. We need to work together to solve the homeless crisis, revitalize our inner cities, improve our health care system, and reform our immigration policies. As I reflect both inward and outward, I feel compelled to run for Congress in my home District 33 to bring nonpartisan honest and forthright citizen leadership in our government. I love America and I sincerely want to do the best for our country.

Personal Note

As fate would have it, my youngest child developed crossed eyes in early infancy. Incredibly, I had researched this disorder and pioneered early surgery which has greatly improved visual outcomes. Rather than refer out, I performed “early surgery” on my son and with the grace of God we had an excellent result. My son later qualified as an expert marksman in the United States Marines.

Education

Present appointments:

• Medical Director of the Wright Foundation for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus
• Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology, USC Keck School of Medicine
• Staff Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles
• Staff Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles

HONORS AND AWARDS

• Alumni Association Career Achievement Award, California Lutheran College, 1982
• Faculty Teaching Award for Residents Training in Ophthalmology, LAC USC Medical Center, 1985
• Ophthalmology Faculty Teaching Award, Hollywood Presbyterian Hospital, 1985
• Faculty Teaching Award for Residents Training in Ophthalmology, LAC USC Medical Center, 1988
• Faculty Teaching Award for Residents Training in Ophthalmology, LAC USC Medical Center, 1989
• Faculty Teaching Award in Ophthalmology, White Memorial Hospital, 1990
• Honor Award, American Association of Pediatric Ophthalmology & Strabismus, 17th Annual Meeting, Montreal, Canada, 1991
• American Academy of Ophthalmology Achievement Award, 1991
• Alumni Association Certificate of Excellence, Career Achievement, Cal. Lutheran College, 1991
• The Best Doctors in America, Pediatric Ophthalmology, National, Woodward and White, 1994-1995
• Special Guest Speaker, New Orleans Academy of Ophthalmology, 1995
• Staff of the Year Teaching Award, Division of Ophthalmology, Cleveland Clinic Foundation,1996
• Outstanding Teacher and Mentor, Awarded by Cleveland Clinic Foundation ophthalmology residents, June 20, 1997
• Best Doctors in America, Pediatric Ophthalmology, Western Division, Woodward and White, 1996-1997, 1999
• Who’s Who in Medicine and Healthcare, Marquis Who’s Who, 1997-1998
• American Academy of Ophthalmology Senior Achievement Award – 2000
• Accepted to American Ophthalmological Society (AOS) – 2000
• Annual faculty teaching award, Cedar-Sinai Medical Center, Department of Pediatrics – 2000
• Special Guest Speaker, New Orleans Academy of Ophthalmology, 2003
• Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. Recognition as a 2004 Top Doctor – 2004
• A Guide for Vision Testing In California Public Schools. Contributor, 2005
• Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. Recognition as a 2005-2006 Top Doctor – 2005-2006
• Keynote Speaker World Congress Pediatric Ophthalmology Barcelona Spain 2009
• Distinguished Alumni, Doheny Eye Institute – 2006
• Presidential medal from Panama for community service in pediatric ophthalmology – 2012
• Harvard University and Boston Children’s Hospital Guest of Honor 2015

Dr. Wright has authored more than 100 scientific research papers and 7 textbooks on ophthalmology and eye surgery including the renowned thousand-page text; Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus, by Oxford University Press, the award-winning Atlas of Strabismus Surgery, by Springer Publishing, and the top selling book Pediatric Ophthalmology for Primary Care, by the American Academy of Pediatrics. His publication in Pediatrics 2003 on preventing ROP with physiologic low oxygen has changed the way we treat premature infants and saved countless babies from blindness worldwide.

Dr. Wright is a national and international speaker giving over 100 invited lectures worldwide including; Hong Kong commission trainer, Oxford University named lecture, lecturer at the Hospital for sick Children London Millennium symposium, Queen’s University Kingston Canada visiting professor, World Congress of Pediatric Ophthalmology keynote Speaker Barcelona Spain, inaugural keynote speaker Belgrade Serbia, and this year Harvard University and Boston Children’s Hospital Guest of Honor and the Robb – Petersen Lecturer at the Strabismus Fall Festival.