IN REMEMBRANCE : Dr . Melvyn Koby 10 / 12 / 1938-10 / 22 / 2024
New Year ’ s Day this year I missed hearing from my friend , mentor and colleague , Dr . Melvyn Koby . He left us in October , and I miss hearing from him . He always called on holidays , wishing peace , health , love and prosperity . He retired at our practice Koby Karp Doctors Eye Institute in 2012 . He was a valued friend , and I learned so much working with him . He continued at UofL helping residents with patient evaluations for a few years . Undoubtedly , he brought a kind of practical “ real world ” education to the program . As a great honor , the Melvyn Koby Educational Excellence Award was created and is awarded annually to a University of Louisville resident in the Department of Ophthalmology who displays clinical and surgical excellence along with compassion toward patients and families . Mel was always a compassionate physician , well loved by his patients , colleagues and staff .
Mel grew up in Louisville , where he attended Atherton High School and worked as a clerk in his father ’ s drug store , Koby Drug Company . He earned a B . A . in Chemistry from Vanderbilt University and attended the University of Louisville School of Medicine . After training for two years in internal medicine at Barnes Hospital in St . Louis , he served as Captain in the U . S . Air Force during the Vietnam War . Mel returned to Barnes Hospital to complete his ophthalmology residency in 1971 and founded the Doctors Eye Institute and The Right to Sight program in Louisville the same year .
Dr . Koby had a pioneering spirit , involved in research in glaucoma and refractive procedures . He performed the earliest refractive procedures in Kentucky : radial keratotomy , keratomileusis and intraocular lens implants with cataract surgery .
Mel and I shared many years of collegial partnership , and his wisdom , wit and skills were inspiring . We attended many academy meetings , dinner lectures and social gatherings together . I was honored to attend many personal events , family milestones and birthdays with Mel . He orchestrated grand parties to celebrate life events , with great support from his wonderful sons . He loved fine food and wines . He loved teaching people how to order , what to order and how to get the chef to customize the meal somehow . He had a mischievous spirit , in the best way . He was endlessly entertaining and witty . It was a joy to watch him “ stir the pot .”
Mel was a member of the Temple-Congregation Adath Israel Brith Sholom , Congregation Adath Jeshurun , Kosair Temple , St . George Masonic Lodge # 239 F & AM , Scottish Rite and was a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and the American Academy of Ophthalmology . Mel was inducted into the Atherton High School Hall of Fame in 2013 .
While his professional accomplishments were significant , Mel cherished time with his friends and family above all else . He was always there for his two sons and two grandchildren . His humor and affability were adored by all , and he was always quick with a joke or a prank , along with a smile and hearty laugh .
Mel will be sorely missed by his great family , Dr . David Karp and me , our practice team and patients , UofL residents and all of his close friends . I think of him often . He was a great man , an ophthalmologist and educator of the highest level , and a dear friend . Memories of our time with him will be our lasting blessing .
-R . Scott Hoffman , MD
Dr . Koby was a GLMS member for 53 years .
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