A UC Davis Special Faculty Permit Committee on Webex recommended approval of a special faculty permit for Dr. Kanishka Iyasundara, an ophthalmologist at the University of Michigan, to serve as chair of ophthalmology and director of the Ernest Shannon Eye Institute, the committee said. The committee’s recommendation will be provided to the full board at the board’s August 2025 quarterly meeting.

The recommendation followed a presentation by Dr. Lowe, who summarized Iyasundara’s training and academic record. Dr. Lowe said Iyasundara earned an MB ChB at the University of Auckland, completed ophthalmology residency training through the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists, and completed fellowships at the University of Michigan (retinal dystrophy, uveitis, electrophysiology) and McGill University (vitreoretinal surgery and medical retinal diseases). Since February 2011, Iyasundara has been on the faculty at the University of Michigan’s Kellogg Eye Institute and is a full professor with tenure, Dr. Lowe said.

“They selected him after a national search,” Dr. Lowe said, adding that Iyasundara is “a true national and international authority on retinal disease.” The transcript shows no public comments during this agenda item.

The committee moved into closed session to review the permit application. When the committee returned to open session, Ms. Chung reported that the committee recommends approval of the special faculty permit appointment. The committee also recorded that Dr. Lowe would not participate in deliberations or the vote on the application.

Background and significance: the special faculty permit request was presented pursuant to the committee’s authority under the California Business and Professions Code as referenced in the meeting. Committee members did not record a roll-call vote on the recommendation in open session; the committee’s recommendation will be forwarded to the board for final action at the August 2025 quarterly meeting.