The Surgeons at FW Specialty Surgicare
Dr. Richard Chu
Ophthalmic Surgeon, Medical Director
Richard Chu, D.O. is the medical director at FW Specialty Surgicare. He is a board-certified ophthalmologist who has had sub-specialist fellowship training in laser vision correction, cataract, and cornea surgery. He is a national lecturer and serves in leadership of the American Osteopathic College of Ophthalmology.
Dr. Chu is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, American Osteopathic College of Ophthalmology, American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons, and the International Society of Refractive Surgeons. Dr. Chu is a native Texan and graduated from Fort Worth Country Day School. From there, he went on to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Emory University.
Dr. Chu is proud to come from a family of eye care professionals. His mother Lena Chu, OD and brother, Robert Chu, OD, have practiced in Fort Worth for nearly 40 years combined. This family experience has helped him gain a deep appreciation for ocular disease and a compassion for patient care which served him well throughout medical school.
He graduated from the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2007 and was awarded the Marilyn A. Schaffner Award Scholarship for being an outstanding physician. Dr. Chu completed his Ophthalmology residency at Michigan State University where he served as chief resident. During residency, he was awarded the distinguished Patrick Murray Award for 2010 and was honored to be elected as the national Chair of the Council of Residents and Fellows.
Following residency, Dr. Chu completed fellowship training in Cornea and Refractive Surgery at the Pepose Vision Institute in St. Louis, MO. Dr. Chu trained extensively under Jay Pepose, M.D., a pioneer of refractive laser surgery and a clinical professor of ophthalmology at the Washington University. Dr. Chu specializes in advanced cataract surgeries, corneal transplantation, and LASIK surgery.
Dr. Chu has been involved in numerous clinical research projects and invited to present to his peers at national meetings. He is published in the field of corneal disease and dry eye. He has also served as a clinical instructor for University of Missouri at St. Louis optometric students.
Dr. Chu is delighted to be home in Fort Worth and rejoin his family at FW Specialty Surgicare.
Dr. Ivan Vrcek
Oculoplastic Surgeon
Ivan Vrcek, M.D., F.A.C.S was born in Jackson, Mississippi to parents from Ireland and Croatia. He was raised in Oklahoma and Texas. It was in high school at Strake Jesuit where Dr. Vrcek first developed his passion for medical science and his dedication to being a man for others.
Dr. Vrcek attended The College of the Holy Cross in Massachusetts where he delivered an honors thesis in comparative anatomy and graduated with honors. He then attended medical school at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas where he was president of his class.
After Dr. Vrcek's intern year at Baylor University Medical Center, Dr. Vrcek completed his Ophthalmology Residency (Eye Disease and Eye Surgery) at Parkland Hospital where he published numerous scientific articles in the field of ophthalmic plastic surgery and honed his interest in the field.
He was the first applicant from UT Southwestern in over a decade to be accepted into a prestigious American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ASOPRS) fellowship. During fellowship, Dr. Vrcek performed over 2,000 ophthalmic plastics, reconstructive, orbit, lacrimal, trauma, and cosmetic facial surgery procedures.
Dr. Vrcek also trained numerous residents, wrote more than 20 peer reviewed publications and book chapters, and distinguished himself by being awarded two American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery Research Grants. Dr. Vrcek also completed a fellowship in Facial Cosmetic Surgery accredited by the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery during which time he was trained in complex full facial cosmetic and reconstructive surgery. He is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons (F.A.C.S).
While Dr. Vrcek has training and experience in full facial cosmetic and reconstructive surgery, he has chosen to focus his practice on the area around the eyes. The periocular region is arguably the most important part of the face and deserves a specialist solely devoted to this complex and critical area. Dr. Vrcek offers a wide range of reconstructive and cosmetic surgery in the eye region