Cat N. Burkat

Dr. Cat Burkat is a board-certified ophthalmologist with expertise in plastic and reconstructive surgery and aesthetic surgery around the eyes. Dr. Burkat has been uniquely dual-fellowship trained in both an American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery fellowship, as well as cosmetic facial surgery, which allows her to offer an approach that combines the microsurgical precision of ophthalmology with the concepts of aesthetic facial surgery. She graduated from Harvard University and the University of Rochester, followed by a dual fellowship at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

In addition to clinical practice, Dr. Burkat has published numerous peer-reviewed articles and over 88 book chapters and is on the review board of many prestigious journals. She is an editor for 2 large compendium textbooks in oculofacial surgery, as well as one focused on the complications of blepharoplasty.

She is active in several education and leadership committees of the American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Society, and the American Board of Ophthalmology. She is the current ASOPRS Program Chair for a 4-year elected term. She also leads multiple skills courses and breakfast expert roundtables at the annual AAO scientific meeting and has been given the American Academy of Ophthalmology Senior Achievement Award as well as the nominated Secretariat Award (2019).

Recently, Dr. Burkat was chosen as the American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery- WOC Liaison Chair to represent ASOPRS in the International Council of Ophthalmology and to coordinate scientific sessions at the upcoming World Ophthalmology Congress (WOC) Symposia. She also is a senior examiner and mentors for the American Board of Ophthalmology National Board Qualifying Exams.

She has been invited to speak at numerous national and international courses and participates in volunteer medical trips to Southeast Asia, India, Africa, Central America, and the South Pacific. She serves as the Co-Director of the International Ophthalmology Initiatives division at the University of Wisconsin. She has also received multiple awards including the American Journal of Cosmetic Surgery Richard B. Aronsohn Founder’s Award for the year’s Best Scholarly Manuscript published, the Shapiro Research Program Award, and University of Wisconsin McPherson Eye Research Institute Award, and several “Outstanding Surgical Teaching” Awards from Ophthalmology residents. She has received the Madison Magazine “Top Doctors” Award for Top Doctor in both Ophthalmology, and Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, categories.

She is a Preceptor for the University of Wisconsin Fellowship in Ophthalmic Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and is the Administrative Director of the International Fellowship in Ophthalmic Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the University of Wisconsin.

She also serves as the University of Wisconsin Ophthalmology Champion for the American Academy of Ophthalmology/Association of University Professors of Ophthalmology (AUPO) Minority Ophthalmology Mentoring program. She serves as the Editor-in-Chief of the popular EyeWiki online education website, and prior Lead Editor of the Oculoplastics Section, as well as sits on the National Examining Board of Ocularists.