Aug. 20, 2026
by Kiley Mallard

During its earliest days, when the University of South Florida’s medical school was developing an ophthalmology department, the late Dr. Benjamin Martin, then a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Air Force and chief of ophthalmology and surgical services at MacDill Air Force Base, was named an assistant clinical professor. He was likely the program’s first.

Every Monday, from 1971 until he moved to the Fort Myers area in 1980, he joined grand rounds at the university’s fledgling medical school. He always looked forward to this opportunity to help educate the next generation of eye doctors.

Dr. Martin spent the rest of his 57-year medical career in greater Fort Myers, where he founded a thriving ophthalmology practice — the Cape Coral Eye Center, with one of Florida’s first ambulatory surgery centers (now dba Tyson Eye). But the family’s connections to USF didn’t end there and, after his death in 2023, would lead to a game-changing gift in his honor.

Dr. Martin’s contributions will be forever celebrated thanks to a $5 million gift naming the USF Health Tyson-Martin Eye Institute and future satellite clinics. It was bestowed by his widow, Caroline Sue “Suzi” Martin, PhD ’83, and son, Farrell “Toby” Tyson, MD ’97.

The gift establishes the Tyson-Martin Endowed Chair in Ophthalmology within the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine Department of Ophthalmology and enhances the Ophthalmology Medicine Fund, which supports the department's highest priorities by providing flexible funding that can be directed where it will have the greatest impact.

It also creates the Dr. Suzi Martin Endowed Ophthalmic Technician Training Program, which will train allied eye care professionals who work alongside ophthalmologists to perform patient workups, diagnostic tests and clinical documentation.

“Your ophthalmology practice is only as good as your least competent allied health staff,” says Suzi Martin, who became both a certified ophthalmic assistant and a certified ophthalmic surgical assistant after completing her doctorate at USF. 

Tyson also recognized the importance of skilled support staff early in his career, becoming a certified ophthalmic technician as an undergraduate. He later established a popular ophthalmic technician training program at a vocational school in Cape Coral.

“You’ve got practices fighting over a very limited pool of technicians, so this is one way the ophthalmology department can give back to the community,” says Tyson.

USF celebrated the gift on Aug. 18 — what would have been Dr. Martin’s 95th birthday.

“Gifts like this can change lives for generations to come,” says USF President Moez Limayem. “The Tyson-Martin family’s generosity will expand access to exceptional eye care, prepare the next generation of ophthalmologists and technicians, and accelerate our ambition to build one of the nation’s leading vision health programs.”

Game-changing philanthropy such as the Tyson-Martin family’s is crucial to maintaining the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine’s stature as a Tier 1 medical school, one of only 16 in the nation to hold that distinction for research from U.S. News & World Report. USF became the first medical school in Florida to achieve Tier 1 status last year and is the only one in the state to have held the honor consecutively.

“As we continue to grow one of the nation’s leading academic health centers, philanthropic investments like this are transformative,” says Charles J. Lockwood, MD, MHCM, executive vice president of USF Health and dean of the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine. “The Tyson-Martin family’s gift advances our ability to attract expert physicians, expand educational opportunities and elevate the Department of Ophthalmology’s clinical and academic excellence.”

Martin and Tyson hope their gift will help USF graduate the best clinical ophthalmologists. They envision USF Health’s ophthalmology department rising to No. 1 in Florida and, ultimately, among the top in the nation.

“I believe we can make this the premier ophthalmology department for developing the field’s next generation of leaders,” Tyson says. Reaching that goal, he explains, requires building strong industry partnerships, honing students’ clinical skills and carefully selecting residents.

“Intelligence and surgical ability are not enough,” he says. “We must also foster the ethics, character and professional values that define an exceptional ophthalmologist.”

Ramesh Ayyala, MD, chair of the Department of Ophthalmology, says it was clear from his earliest conversations with Tyson and Martin that their vision extended far beyond a building or a name.

“They wanted to invest in people, in education and in the future of eye care,” he says. “Their generosity aligns perfectly with our goal of developing the next generation of leaders in ophthalmology while advancing groundbreaking clinical care and research. We are honored by their trust and excited to bring that shared vision to life.”
 

About Suzi Martin, PhD

In Tampa, Suzi Martin served as chief staff psychologist and supervisor of psychological services for the Hillsborough County Department of Children’s Services. She was named one of the Top Women in Tampa by Celebration of Women.

After relocating to Fort Myers, she participated in the groundbreaking for the USF Fort Myers regional campus (1974-2007), served on its Regional Campus Advisory Council and spearheaded a campaign that raised over $1 million for an endowed chair of nursing. She was the founding president of the campus’s nonprofit Town & Gown support organization, raised funds to bring USF public radio to southwest Florida and served as chair of the Lee County School Board. Florida Woman magazine named her 1985 Florida Woman of the Year.

She also served as the administrator of her husband’s ophthalmology practice. The Martin family participated in nine medical missions to Africa, Honduras, China, Russia, Panama and Mexico.

“Ophthalmology is a family passion,” says Martin.

About Toby Tyson, MD

Inspired by his father to pursue ophthalmology, Tyson studied biomedical engineering at Johns Hopkins University. He worked in the cornea division of the Wilmer Eye Institute, conducting research on the excimer laser, later used in LASIK surgery.

When he applied to medical school, his resumé was already strong in published ophthalmology research, including letters of recommendation from the Johns Hopkins ophthalmology department and his ophthalmic certifications.

“When I showed up at USF for my interview, the ophthalmology department grabbed me, and I spent most of the day effectively interviewing with them,” he says. “You always really appreciate it when somebody takes a personal interest in you, and you’re not just a number.” 

Tyson went on to earn his medical degree from USF. Looking back, he credits his time at the university as a defining influence on his career. 

“I wouldn’t be as successful as I am in ophthalmology if Dr. Jim Rowsey and his department didn’t show interest in me,” he says of the former chair of USF’s ophthalmology department.

His involvement in ophthalmology research during medical school and residency has continued into private practice. Now known as Tyson Eye, the practice is thriving under Dr. Tyson’s leadership. It is recognized throughout the region for its compassionate care and innovative approach to eye health and has been honored four times as one of Florida Trend's Best Companies to Work for in Florida.

Tyson Eye’s research division has completed more than 45 FDA Phase 1, 2 and 3 trials. Tyson is also involved with multiple ophthalmic companies and has founded Visionary Ventures, the largest ophthalmology venture capital fund.

“This gift allows me to pass on my knowledge,” he says. “If I perform cataract surgery, I help one person. If I can train multiple young doctors and surgeons on the latest and greatest technique, that effort is exponentially multiplied.”
 

A Passion, Continued

“The Tyson-Martin family has devoted decades to advancing education, health care and their community, and this gift is a powerful reflection of those values,” says USF Foundation CEO Jay Stroman. “The generosity of Suzi and Toby will leave a lasting legacy at USF while helping countless patients, students and faculty members achieve their full potential.”

The family passion for eye care doesn’t end with Martin and Tyson. Both of Tyson’s children are in the field — his daughter serves as an academic representative for the state at Bausch + Lomb and his son works at the glaucoma surgical company Iantrek as a data analyst.

“So, it’s not like ophthalmology ends with me,” he says. “The next generation is already involved and helping push the boundaries of innovation.”

The Tyson-Martin Eye Institute is now part of that future, a celebration of the legacy Dr. Benjamin Martin began so long ago.