Staff Bios
Michael Sandler, M.D.
Dr. Michael Sandler, a native of Baltimore, serves as medical director of Eye Care Associates of Maryland. He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Maryland and graduated magna cum laude. In 1973, Dr Sandler entered University of Maryland School of Medicine and interned at Maryland General Hospital. His training continued with completing the residency program in 1982 at the University of Maryland. He was board certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology in October of 1983.
Dr. Sandler has privileges at Northwest Hospital and Carrol Hospital Center. He specializes in medical and surgical eye care. He performs cataract surgery without needles or stitches thereby allowing a more rapid recovery. He is regarded as a leader in the field of Ophthalmology.
Dr. Sandler is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the Medical and Chirurgical Faculty of Maryland, the Baltimore County Medical Society and the Pan American Ophthalmologic Association.
- Consultant to the Fairhaven retirement community
- Consultant to the Atrium Village retirement community
- Surgical instructor for residents at the Baltimore VA hospital
Howard H. Levin, O.D.
Howard H. Levin, O.D. serves as president of Eye Care Associates of Maryland. Dr. Levin attended the University of Maryland and graduated in 1968. He received his doctorate of Optometry from the Pennsylvania College of Optometry in 1972. Dr. Levin was responsible for building one of the larger optometric practices in the state of Maryland. In order to better serve his patients and the community, he has joined Eye Care Associates of Maryland.
Dr. Levin was one of the founders of MEC healthcare, one of the first managed care companies in the country. He was critical in establishing optometry as the entry point for eye care. He has numerous awards and recognitions for his contributions to the community. He was awarded the Mel Waxman award given for his dedicated service to the community in 1999. He also was named Optometrist of the Year in the state of Maryland in 2003. He currently is senior vice president of Block Vision and also serves on the quality improvement board of Care First Blue Cross Blue Shield.
Dr. Levin is a member of the American Optometric Association and the Maryland Optometric Association.
Richard K. Levin, O.D.
Richard K. Levin, O.D. is clinical director and consultative optometrist of Eye Care Associates. Graduating from the University of Maryland with a bachelor of science degree in 1999, he went on to the Pennsylvania College of Optometry graduating in 2003.
Dr. Levin completed internships at the Boston Veterans Hospital as well as studied contact lenses under the tutelage of Miami Dolphins team eye doctors Davis, Semel and Morris. Dr. Levin specializes in comprehensive eye care including the treatment and management of glaucoma, contact lenses, pre and post operative LASIK and pre and post operative cataracts. He is specifically trained in the management of new lens implants; Crystalens, ReStor and ReZoom. He has privileges at Mercy Hospital and sees patients with renowned ophthalmologist, Sheri L. Rowen, M.D.
Dr. Levin is certified by the National Board of Optometry and is a member of the American Optometric Association and the Maryland Optometric Association.
Benjamin Rubin, M.D.
Dr Rubin was one of 300 Ophthalmologists in the US selected to study a new steroid which ws evaluated for use in asthma and allergy. Dr. Rubin was certified in special refraction techniques and in the evaluatiaons of cataracts using the LOCS technique developed by research at the NIH. In 2005 he was the Boucher Lecturer at USC Estelle Doheny Eye Center. Dr. Rubin has lectured at the NIH, the University of Illinois Eye and Ear Hospital and at the Jules Stein Eye Institute at UCLA. He was at the NIH for 15 years and has been involved in the care of patients with many eye disease and those related to receiving treatment for Melanoma, Bone Marrow/Stem Cell Transplant, Sickle Cell Disease, Cystanosis and NOMID. The latter two are very rare diseases, the treatments of which have resulted in remarkable benefit to the patients. Another interest has been in the treatment of severe dry eye. He will be the recipient of the prestigious Richard C. Troutman Award in Ophthalmology at SUNY Downstate Medical College in April 2007. Dr. Rubin was a co-author in a number of prestigious journals this year, including the New England Journal of Medicine. Together with Dr. James Fielding Hejtmanick, he was involved in the discovery of the gene responsible for Francois Neetans Cornea Dystrophy. Dr. Rubin has recently submitted a patent for a drug that inactivates MMP’s. This will be a major contribution to the treatment of eye and medical diseases. He continues to collaborate with Dr Hejmanick looking for the gene responsible for Pterygium, Fuch’s Dystrophy, Familial Macula Degeneration.
Brian M. Granek, O.D.
Brian M. Granek, O.D. is a Contact Lens Specialist and Consultative Optometrist at Eye Care Associates of Maryland. Following his graduation from University of Maryland, College Park in 1997 with a Bachelor of Science degree, he went on to graduate from Nova Southeastern University College of Optometry in Fort Lauderdale,
Florida in 2001.
Dr. Granek completed clinical rotations at Katzen Eye Group in Baltimore and The Eye Institute at NSU in Fort Lauderdale. Additional internship experience led Dr. Granek to study and practice at the world-renowned Bascom Palmer Eye Institute in Miami and Visual Health and Surgical Center in West Palm Beach. He also worked with physicians from Johns Hopkins-Wilmer Eye Institute and the Baltimore Orioles at their spring training facility. While at Nova Southeastern University, Dr. Granek was active in student admissions, serving on interview committees and speaking at orientation programs.
After his clinical rotation, Dr. Granek moved back home to Baltimore where he was born and raised. He has privileges at Mercy Hospital and sees patients with renowned ophthalmologists. Dr. Granek is certified by the National Board of Examiners in Optometry and has been a member of the American Optometric Association and the Maryland Optometric Association.
Dr. Granek resides in Owings Mills with his wife, Jennifer, and two daughters, Riley and Cameron.