About Us
Derek B. Lauritzen, M.D.
Upon completion of Medical School at Tufts University School of Medicine, Dr. Lauritzen served in the US Air Force as an Emergency Services Physician for four years and completed his residency in Ophthalmology at the State University of New York Health Science Center in Syracuse. 
He was awarded a Fellowship in Vitreo-Retinal Surgery from Harvard Medical School (HMS), as well as served as a Clinical Fellow in Ophthalmology there.
He currently holds an academic appointment at the University of Utah School of Medicine and continues to build upon his expertise through collaboration with thought leaders in medicine to concentrate on providing the highest quality retina care for his patients.
Derek B. Lauritzen, MD
Formative years for Dr. Lauritzen were spent in Salt Lake City, Utah performing service projects and camping with The Boy Scouts of America program, where he achieved the rank of Eagle Scout, playing sports (including basketball, football, volleyball, track, and wrestling) which led to a scholarship to play college basketball in Wyoming, and visual arts where he achieved Utah State finalist status as his High School’s Sterling Scholar representative.
Dr. Lauritzen went on to graduate Magna Cum Laude from The University of Utah after which he was accepted to Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston, Massachusetts where he graduated in the top 5% of his class. General Surgery internship at UC Davis Medical Center followed after which he began a 4 year active duty tour for the U.S. Air Force. He was trained, and worked as a Flight Surgeon and Emergency Services Physician at Mather and McClellan Air Force Bases in Sacramento and Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield, CA. Dr. Lauritzen was awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal for meritorious service and advanced to the rank of Major.
Dr. Lauritzen then trained in ophthalmology in Syracuse, New York for three years during which he was named Chief Resident and was awarded an ARVO research travel award as well as the Schepen Society’s Research Award. Dr. Lauritzen then was fortunate to be selected to perform a two year retinal surgery fellowship at the prestigious Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary of Harvard Medical School. During this two years he was awarded another Schepen’s Society Research Award for his study of stem cell transplantation in the retina and he presented this research to ophthalmologists in Hamburg, Germany, Goiania, Brazil, and Las Vegas, Nevada among other places.
Dr. Lauritzen has authored or co-authored many scientific articles and published multiple book chapters. He is board certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology and is an active Fellow of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
Besides caring for the general population of the Central Coast Dr. Lauritzen partners with neonatologists at Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center to screen and treat pre-mature infants that are at risk for Retinopathy of Prematurity and other ocular diseases. At this time Dr. Lauritzen is the only ophthalmologist in the South County to take hospital emergency department call.
Dr. Lauritzen has lived and worked on the Central Coast since 2004. He has raised 5 lovely children in San Luis Obispo. When not caring for patients he enjoys cycling, kayaking, paddle boarding, skiing, and travel.