The University of Missouri-Kansas City is honoring a pioneer in ophthalmology and a longtime champion of the School of Medicine, Felix Sabates, Sr., M.D. (1930-2026).

Sabates’ connection to UMKC began at the inception of the School of Medicine in 1971. Working alongside founders such as E. Grey Dimond, Sabates formed a cutting-edge ophthalmology department at UMKC. After retirement from the school, he was honored with professor emeritus status.

School of Medicine Dean Alexander Norbash has known the Sabates family since he was a teenager. Norbash and Felix’s son, Nelson (B.A. ’83/M.D. ’86), went to school together from high school all the way through medical school at UMKC. Norbash said the elder Sabates had a rare combination of skills for a healthcare provider.

“Felix was three sides to an amazing triangle,” Norbash said. “He was simultaneously a creative physician-scientist helping to develop the then-new subspecialty of retinal surgery, an astute and brilliant clinical ophthalmologist, and a visionary and successful entrepreneur.”

Born in Cuba, Sabates earned his medical degree from the University of Havana Medical School in 1955 and moved to Boston, Massachusetts, for postgraduate training. His fellowship at the Retina Foundation in Boston enabled him to train under the renowned retinal surgeon Charles Schepens, regarded as the father of modern retinal surgery. This put Sabates at the forefront of the developing subspecialty.

After the fellowship with Schepens, Sabates accepted a position to lead retinal care services at the University of Missouri School of Medicine in 1961. A few years later he moved to Kansas City to establish his private practice, which would eventually become Sabates Eye Centers, now with clinics all over the Kansas City metropolitan area.

Sabates established the practice at the Kansas City General Hospital (now University Health), a safety-net hospital for the area. According to Norbash, safety-net hospitals are frequently under-resourced, while providing care to individuals with complex healthcare needs who are limited financially.

“Starting his practice at a safety-net hospital is a testament to Sabates’ work ethic, vision and compassion for serving the underserved while building a world class ophthalmology department,” Norbash said. “It’s a very unique legacy.”

Mark Steele (B.A/M.D. ’80), associate dean and executive chief clinical officer at University Health, has had a first-hand look at Sabates’ “immense and lasting impact” on both University Health and the UMKC School of Medicine.

“Dr. Sabates was extremely passionate about and an unwavering supporter of both institutions during the early years of their development and through their evolution up until his retirement in 2016,” Steele said.In the 1970s, Sabates was appointed founding chairman of the Department of Ophthalmology at the new UMKC School of Medicine, transforming an emerging, part-time eye program into a fully accredited academic department.

Sabates was proud of his Cuban heritage and adored his family. He was a devoted husband to Carmen Corripio Sabates; a dedicated father to Carmen Maria, Felix Jr. and Nelson; and beloved grandfather to Alexandra, Victoria, Catherine, Nelson Jr., Olivia and Spencer.

His son Nelson is carrying on the Sabates legacy at UMKC and beyond. Nelson is professor of ophthalmology and chairman of the Department of Ophthalmology at UMKC’s School of Medicine – just as his father was a half century ago - as well as the president and chief executive officer of Sabates Eye Centers.

Norbash said it is heartwarming to have Nelson as a friend and colleague, seeing first-hand the influence Felix has had on UMKC as well as on his son.

“It’s been great for me to see Nelson adding luster and growing the department and service created by his father,” Norbash said. “Two generations elevating the stature of the department while increasing the amount of research and growing the recognition, all while expanding the number of clinics. You go all over Kansas City, and you’ll see a Sabates Eye Center.”

A funeral service will be held Friday, Oct. 2, in Key Biscayne, Florida. A celebration honoring Felix and Carmen will be held Friday, Oct. 30, in Kansas City, Missouri.