James C. Fleming, MD, FACS, is a distinguished ophthalmologist whose career has been defined by clinical excellence, academic leadership, and service to patients locally and globally. He is the director of the Hamilton Eye Institute (HEI) at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC), the Philip M. Lewis Professor of Ophthalmology, and former chair of the Department of Ophthalmology in the UTHSC College of Medicine.
Dr. Fleming joined UTHSC in 1997 after being recruited by the late Dr. Barrett Haik to lead HEI’s oculoplastic services. Under his leadership, HEI expanded its clinical and academic impact, including the successful unification of Baptist and Methodist health care systems to establish the HEI ambulatory surgery center, a collaboration that strengthened ophthalmic care across the region.
Dr. Fleming has been consistently recognized by Best Doctors in America and has authored or co-authored more than 100 peer-reviewed publications and delivered over 110 national and international presentations. His professional service includes leadership roles within the Tennessee Medical Association, the American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, and the American Academy of Ophthalmology. In 2017, he received the Tennessee Medical Association’s Outstanding Physician Award.
Dr. Fleming’s commitment to service extends worldwide through volunteer surgical missions with ORBIS International and the World Cataract Foundation. His early diagnosis with uveitis as a teenager shaped his path into ophthalmology and reinforced his belief that medicine is a calling rooted in advocacy and patient relationships.
