Melanie Ho Erb, M.D.

A Surgeon's Hands, A Woman's Touch

Publications, Credentials and Qualifications

Alpha Omega Alpha logo
American Board of Ophthalmology
Vitals Patients Choice
American Academy of Ophthalmology
Medical Society in China Logo
University of California Irvine Logo
Super Doctors Logo
orange county society ophthalmology
UCI School Of Medicine
Pasadena Magazine Top Doctors
University of California Los Angeles
USC Eye Kek School Of Medicine

National Board of Medical Examiners

2001

American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

June 2008

Each year, about 20 surgeons in the US and Canada are trained in this field.

American Board of Ophthalmology

June 2006

Training & Education

College: B.A. — UCLA

Medical School: M.D. — U.C. Irvine

Internship: Surgery — U.C. Irvine

Residency: Ophthalmology — U.C. Irvine

Fellowship: Oculoplastic Surgery, ASOPRS — Eyesthetica, Los Angeles

Academic Appointments/ University Affiliations

  1. Clinical Assistant Professor, USC Roski Eye Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, 2014 – present
  2. Clinical Instructor, Dept of Ophthalmology, University of California at Irvine, 2006 – 2011
  3. Clinical Instructor, Dept of Ophthalmology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, 2006 – 2009

Teaching Responsibilities

  1. Associate Preceptor ASOPRS fellowship at Eyesthetica: Staff Oculoplastic surgery for Eyesthetica fellows, 2007 – 2016.
  2. Associate Preceptor ASOPRS fellowship at USC Roski Eye Institute: Staff Oculoplastic surgery for USC Eye Institute fellows, 2014 – 2016
  3. Clinical Assistant Professor, USC Roski Eye Institute: Teach Surgery and Non-invasive Oculoplastic procedures to USC ophthalmology residents, 2014 – 2016
  4. Instructor, Basic Oculoplastics Skills Lab, AAO: Teach Oculoplastic surgery to general ophthalmologists, 10/17/2010
  5. Clinical Instructor Ophthalmology: Staff Oculoplastics clinic, surgery, and lectures for UC Irvine ophthalmology residents at Long Beach Veterans Administration Medical Center. 2006 – 2011
  6. Clinical Instructor Ophthalmology: Staff Oculoplastics surgery for USC ophthalmology residents. 2006 – 2009

Committee Appointments

  1. ASOPRS Journal committee (2014 – present)
  2. Board of Directors, Asian American Physician Association (2008 – 2014)
  3. Treasurer, Chinese American Ophthalmological Society (2007 – 2010)
  4. President Elect, Chinese American Ophthalmological Society (2010 – 2012)
  5. President, Chinese American Ophthalmological Society (2012 – 2014)
  6. Past President, Chinese American Ophthalmological Society (2014 – 2016)
  7. Board of Directors, Chinese American Ophthalmological Society (2007 – present)

Professional Society Affiliations

  1. American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
  2. American Academy of Ophthalmology
  3. Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society
  4. Orange County Society of Ophthalmology
  5. Asian American Physician Association
  6. Chinese American Ophthalmological Society

Honors and Awards

  1. Southern California Super Doctor, Los Angeles Magazine (2010 – present)
  2. Top Doctor, Pasadena Magazine (2013 – 2016)
  3. Patients’ Choice Award, Vitals (2010 – present)
  4. Compassionate Doctor Award, Vitals (2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2016)
  5. “Best Paper of Session” winner for “Microkeratome-assisted keratoprosthesis implantation”. American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ASCRS) Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA, 2004
  6. Pfizer (Pharmacia) Research Award, 2003
  7. Dr Henry & Lilian Nesburn Research Award, 2003
  8. Janet M Glasgow Memorial Achievement Award (women in top 5% of class), 2000
  9. Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society (inducted Junior Year, top 4% of class), 1999
  10. Dean’s Award for Excellence in Basic Sciences (top 5% of class), 1998
  11. Dr. Grace Bell Award (top student in Biochemistry), 1996

Media Appearances

  1. PodCast: Erb MH as Guest Doctor: LA Talk Radio: Up on Medicine 11-28-14
  2. Walk-on Role: [scrubs] , Touchstone TV, NBC. Episode “My Common Enemy,” Season 4 Episode 7, originally aired 10/19/04
  3. Erb MH, Dresner SC. Letter to Editor re: External (Subciliary) vs Internal (Transconjunctival) Involutional Entropion Repair. Am J Ophthalmol. 2005 Dec;140(6):1166.

Book Chapters

  1. Erb MH, Kuppermann BD. Surgical Approaches to Uveitis. In: Hartnett ME, Trese M, Capone A, Keats BJB, Steidl SM, eds. Pediatric Retina: Medical and Surgical Approaches. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2004:445-466.
  2. Erb MH, Lu SY, Kuppermann BD. Surgical Approaches to Uveitis. In: Hartnett ME, Trese M, Capone A, Keats BJB, Steidl SM, eds. Pediatric Retina, second edition. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2014:636-659.
  3. Erb MH. Accommodating Intraocular Lenses. In: Puliafito CA ed. Ophthalmic Hyperguide. Thorofare: Slack Publishers Inc, 2003.
  4. Erb MH, Dresner SC. Muller’s muscle-conjunctival resection procedure tips. In: Hartstein ME, Holds JB, Massry GG, eds. Pearls and Pitfalls of Cosmetic Oculoplastic Surgery. Springer, 2009.
  5. Erb MH, Dresner SC. Muller’s muscle-conjunctival resection pearls: Phenylephrine and Resection considerations. In: Hartstein ME, Holds JB, Massry GG, eds. Pearls and Pitfalls of Cosmetic Oculoplastic Surgery. Springer, 2009.
  6. Dresner SC, Erb MH. Blepharoplasty in Blacks and Latinos. In: Grimes PE, ed. Aesthetics and Cosmetic Surgery for Darker Skin Types. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2007.
  7. Erb MH, Burnstine MA. Entropion. In: Probst LE, Tsai JH, ed. Ophthalmology: Clinical and Surgical Principles. Thorofare: Slack Publishers Inc, 2011.
  8. Samimi DB, Erb MH, Dresner SC. Muller’s Muscle-Conjunctival Resection Pearls: Phenylephrine and Resection Considerations. Pearls and Pitfalls of Cosmetic Oculoplastic Surgery. Springer, New York, NY. 2014
  9. Samimi DB, Erb MH, Dresner SC. Muller’s Muscle-Conjunctival Resection Procedure Tips. Pearls and Pitfalls of Cosmetic Oculoplastic Surgery. Springer, New York, NY 2014

Peer Reviewed Journal Articles

  1. Erb MH, Sioulis CE, Kuppermann BD, Osann K, Wong CG. Differential retinal angiogenic response to sustained intravitreal release of VEGF and bFGF in different pigmented rabbit breeds. Current Eye Research. 2002 Apr;24(4):245-252.
  2. Nastanski F, Mueller M, Erb M, Wallace WC. Mesenteric venous thrombosis after splenectomy. Surgical Rounds. 2002 Aug;25(8):381-386.
  3. Erb MH, Kersten RC, Yip CC, Hudak D, Kulwin DR, McCulley TJ. Effect of unilateral blepharoptosis repair on contralateral eyelid position. Ophthal Plast Reconstr Surg. 2004 Nov;20(6):418-422.
  4. Erb MH, Taban M, Barsam CA, Sweet PM, Chuck RS. Mechanical stability of microkeratome-assisted intracorneal keratoprosthesis implantation. Arch Ophthalmol. 2004 Dec;122(12):1839-1843.
  5. Erb MH, Uzcategui N, Dresner SC. Efficacy and complications of the transconjunctival entropion repair for lower eyelid involutional entropion. Ophthalmology. 2006 Dec;113(12):2351-6.
  6. Zoumalan CI, Erb MH, Rao NA, See R, Burnstine MA, Shah SB, McCulley TJ. Periorbital xanthogranuloma after blepharoplasty. Br J Ophthalmol. 2007 Aug;91(8):1088-9.
  7. Erb MH, Uzcategui N, See RF, Burnstine MA. Orbitotemporal Neurofibromatosis: Classification and Treatment. Orbit. 2007 Dec;26(4):223-8.
  8. Samimi DB, Erb MH, Lane CJ, Dresner SC. The modified fasanella-servat procedure: description and quantified analysis. Ophthal Plast Reconstr Surg. 2013 Jan-Feb;29(1):30-4.
  9. Samimi DB, Erb MH, Perry AC, Burnstine MA, Dresner SC. On-Q Pump for Pain Control After Orbital Implant Surgery. Ophthal Plast Reconstr Surg. 2014 Sep-Oct;30(5):396-9.

Invited Speaker, International Meetings:

  • Erb MH. Mueller’s Muscle Conjunctival Resection. The 18th Congress of Chinese Ophthalmological Society. Xiamen, China, Sept 2013.
  • Course director for Chinese/American Presentations. The 18th Congress of Chinese Ophthalmological Society. Xiamen, China, Sept 2013.
  • Erb MH. Congenital Ptosis Repair. 17th Afro-Asian Congress of Ophthalmology /19 th Congress of Chinese Ophthalmological Society. Xian, China, Sept 2014.

Invited Speaker, Regional Meetings:

  1. Erb MH.  South Bay Optometry Society meeting, Torrance, 10/18/07.
  2. Erb MH.  Los Angeles County Optometric Society meeting, West Los Angeles, 11/02/08.
  3. Erb MH.  Chinese American Ophthalmological Society meeting, San Gabriel, 11/06/08.
  4. Erb MH. Kaiser Permanente Optometry meeting, Anaheim Marriott, Anaheim, Feb 2009.
  5. Erb MH. South Bay Optometry Society Meeting. Torrance, Feb 2011.
  6. Erb MH. Benign Essential Blepharospasm Research Foundation Support Group Meeting. Northridge, May 2012.
  7. Erb MH. San Gabriel Valley Optometry Society Meeting. Arcadia, Nov 2013.
  8. Erb MH.  Retina Macula Institute Fifth Annual Symposium and Dinner, Manhattan Beach Marriott, Manhattan Beach, April 2015.
  9. Erb MH.  Southern California College of Optometry, Ocular Disease CE program, Marshall B. Ketchum University, Jul 2017.

Presentations, National

  1. Wong CG, Liaw LHL, Hammer-Wilson M, Taban M, Berns MW, Erb MH, Hsu HT, Carvalho R, Kuppermann BD, Cohen D, Papaioannou T, Grundfest WS. Florid irreversible vascular response in rabbit retina to sustained intravitreal release of VEGF & bFGF and subtle vascular response in chick CAM to either adult rabbit RPE sheet or VEGF & bFGF: Implications for therapeutic interventions of posterior segment neovascular diseases. Western Eye Research Conference, Laguna Beach, 2001.
  2. Erb MH, Uzcategui N, Dresner SC. Refinements and management of complications in transconjunctival lower eyelid involutional entropion repair. (paper) ASOPRS Annual Meeting, Anaheim, Nov 2003.
  3. McCulley TJ, Erb MH. Another plastic surgery disaster? Frank B Walsh society session, NANOS Annual Meeting, Orlando, Mar 2004.
  4. Erb MH, Taban M, Barsam CA, Sweet PM, Chuck RS. Microkeratome-assisted keratoprosthesis implantation. (paper) ASCRS Annual Meeting, San Diego, May 2004. “Best Paper of Session” winner, ASCRS Annual Meeting, San Diego, May 2004.
  5. Erb MH, McCulley TJ, Kersten RC. Effect of unilateral blepharoptosis repair on contralateral eyelid position. (paper) ASOPRS Annual Meeting, New Orleans, Oct 2004.
  6. Erb MH, Dresner SC, Marshak H, Burnstine MA, Perry AC. Evaluation of a Continuous Infusion, Pain Management System for Post-Operative Pain Control after Enucleation, Evisceration, or Secondary Orbital Implantation. (paper) American Society of Ocularists Meeting, Las Vegas, Nov 2006.
  7. Dresner SC, Erb MH. Modified Pinch Technique for Combined Skin-Muscle Flap Lower Blepharoplasty/Midface Lift. (paper) ASOPRS Annual Meeting, Las Vegas, Nov 2006.
  8. Erb MH. Modified Pinch Technique for Combined Skin-Muscle Flap Lower Blepharoplasty/Midface Lift. Snowbird Symposium, Facial Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Snowbird, Feb 2007.
  9. Erb MH, Burnstine MA. Small Incision External Levator Resection for Congenital Ptosis, ASOPRS Annual Meeting, New Orleans, Nov 2007.
  10. Erb MH. Mueller’s Muscle Conjunctival Resection. AAO Annual Meeting, Orlando, Oct 2011.

Presentations, Local

  1. Erb MH.  Update on Oculofacial Plastic Surgery, California Hospital Medical Center, Los Angeles, Feb 2006.
  2. Erb MH, Dresner SC, Marshak H, Burnstine MA, Perry AC. The “On-Q” Pain Management System for Continuous Postoperative Pain Control after Enucleation or Evisceration. Doheny Days, USC Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, June 2006.
  3. Erb MH.  Second Annual Update on Oculofacial Plastic Surgery, California Hospital Medical Center, Los Angeles, Feb 2007
  4. Erb MH.  Third Annual Update on Oculofacial Plastic Surgery, California Hospital Medical Center, Los Angeles, Feb 2008.
  5. Erb MH. Fourth Annual Update on Oculofacial Plastic Surgery, California Hospital Medical Center, Los Angeles, Feb 2009.
  6. Erb MH.  Fifth Annual Update on Oculofacial Plastic Surgery, California Hospital Medical Center, Los Angeles, Feb 2010.
  7. Erb MH.  Sixth Annual Update on Oculofacial Plastic Surgery, California Hospital Medical Center, Los Angeles, Feb 2011.
  8. Erb MH.  Seventh Annual Update on Oculofacial Plastic Surgery, California Hospital Medical Center, Los Angeles, Mar 2012
  9. Erb MH.  Eighth Annual Update on Oculofacial Plastic Surgery, California Hospital Medical Center, Los Angeles, Mar 2013.
  10. Erb MH.  Ninth Annual Update on Oculofacial Plastic Surgery, California Hospital Medical Center, Los Angeles, Mar 2014.
  11. Erb MH.  Tenth Annual Update on Oculofacial Plastic Surgery, California Hospital Medical Center, Los Angeles, Mar 2015.
  12. Erb MH.  Eleventh Annual Update on Oculofacial Plastic Surgery, California Hospital Medical Center, Los Angeles, Mar 2016.

Scientific abstracts/Posters at national meetings

  1. Ho (Erb) M, Hsu HT, Rich KA, Sioulis C, Kuppermann BD, Lee G, Wong CG. Differences in retinal angiogenic response to sustained intravitreal release of VEGF and bFGF between different breeds of rabbits. ARVO 2000. (Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2000;41:S18.)
  2. Wong CG, Dean N, Sioulis C, Kupperman BD, Chuck RS, Grundfest WS, Ho (Erb) M, Cohen D, Papaioannu T. Anti-sense oligonucleotides block angiogenesis in newly developed model of retinal neovascularization presenting with hemorrhage and subsequent fibrovascular membrane formation. ARVO 2000. (Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2000;41:S641.)
  3. Erb MH, Dresner SC, Uzcategui N, Burnstine MA. Orbitotemporal Neurofibromatosis: Classification and Treatment. ASOPRS Annual Meeting, Orlando, Oct 2002.
  4. Erb MH, Tran NH, McCulley TJ, Bose S. Exophthalmometry measurements in Asians. ARVO 2003. (Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2003;44:S662.)
  5. Hudak D, Erb MH, McCulley TJ, Kersten RC. The effect of unilateral blepharoptosis repair on contralateral eyelid position. ARVO 2003. (Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2003;44:S1944.)
  6. Erb MH, Tran NH, McCulley TJ, Bose S. Exophthalmometry measurements in Asian adults. ASOPRS Annual Meeting, Anaheim, Nov 2003.
  7. Erb MH, Tran NH, Bose S, McCulley TJ. Comparative exophthalmometry: a preliminary study. NANOS Annual Meeting, Orlando, Mar 2004
  8. Memarzadeh F, Shamie N, Chuck RS, Erb MH, McCulley TJ. A novel surgical approach to fornix reconstruction in Stevens Johnson syndrome. ARVO Annual Meeting, Fort Lauderdale, Apr 2004.
  9. Erb MH, Tran NH, Bose S, McCulley TJ. Comparative exophthalmometry between Asian and Caucasian adults. ARVO Annual Meeting, Fort Lauderdale, Apr 2004.
  10. Erb MH, Dresner SC. Fire in the operating room. ASOPRS Annual Meeting, New Orleans, Oct 2004.
  11. Erb MH, Dresner SC, Marshak H, Burnstine MA, Perry AC. Evaluation of a Continuous Infusion, Pain Management System for Post-Operative Pain Control after Enucleation or Evisceration. AAO Annual Meeting, Las Vegas, Nov 2006.
  12. Erb MH, Burnstine MA, Dresner SC. The Functional Margin-to-Reflex Distance: A New Measurement for Evaluating Upper Eyelid Malposition for Dermatochalasis. AAO Annual Meeting, Las Vegas, Nov 2006.
  13. Erb MH, Dresner SC, Marshak H, Burnstine MA, Perry AC. Evaluation of a Continuous Infusion, Pain Management System for Post-Operative Pain Control after Enucleation, Evisceration, or Secondary Orbital Implantation. ASOPRS Annual Meeting, Las Vegas, Nov 2006.
  14. Lin C, Yoon M, Kum C, Erb MH, McCulley T. Ethnic Differences in Globe Prominence. ASOPRS Annual Meeting, San Francisco, Oct 2009.
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