Herbert L. Cantrill, MD
Dr. Cantrill graduated magna cum laude from Yale University and received his Doctor of Medicine degree cum laude from Harvard Medical School. He completed an internship in internal medicine at Barnes Hospital in St Louis, followed by a year of glaucoma research at Washington University. He completed his ophthalmology residency at Washington University followed by retina fellowship training with the Retina Consultants of St Louis.
Dr. Cantrill served on the fulltime faculty of the University of Minnesota Department of Ophthalmology from 1978 until 1989, rising to the rank of Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology. In 1989, he joined Dr. Robert Ramsay in the foundation of VitreoRetinal Surgery, a private practice specializing in the treatment of retinal and macular diseases. VRS has grown over the past 30 plus years and is now the largest group retinal practice in the upper midwest with over 20 physicians in the new entity, Retinal Consultants of Minnesota. Dr Cantrill remains the longest serving member of the practice.
At the University, he was involved in the training of over 75 residents and fellows in ophthalmology. He was involved in basic and clinical research and participated as a clinical investigator in multiple major NIH supported clinical studies as well as numerous industry-sponsored clinical trials. Dr. Cantrill has authored or co-authored over 60 scientific articles and book chapters and has made numerous presentations locally, nationally and internationally. He has served as a scientific reviewer for all of the major ophthalmology journals.
In addition to his academic and clinical work, Dr. Cantrill has participated in multiple medical mission projects in Central America, Africa and Southeast Asia. These projects sponsored by SEE international, Christian Blind Mission, and Voluntary Eye Surgeons are designed to train local ophthalmologists in advanced retinal surgical techniques. As a result of his humanitarian efforts, Dr. Cantrill was awarded the George Tani Humanitarian Award by the Minnesota Academy of Ophthalmology in 2011.
For the past several years, Dr. Cantrill has worked on a part-time basis for RCM, which has allowed him to serve as the president of the VitreoRetinal Surgery Foundation. VRSF supports research by young investigators at academic ophthalmology training programs across the country. VRSF is also the sponsor of the annual Retina Update Course. Finally, VRSF promotes awareness of retina disease through community outreach programs.
Dr Cantrill and his wife, Katherine, have three grown children and five grandchildren. He remains physically active as a swimmer, biker, hiker, golfer and cross-country skier. He is devoted to his family, especially his grandchildren!