Dr. James D. Auran's clinical interests include comprehensive ophthalmology, eye trauma, cataract surgery, dry eye, blepharitis, and corneal infections. He has authored or co-authored more than 30 papers in the field of ophthalmology.

Dr. Auran graduated with honors from Harvard College with a B.A. in Biology and received his M.D. degree from Cornell University Medical College. He performed his ophthalmology residency training at the Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital (MEETH), followed by fellowship training in Cornea and Anterior Segment Surgery with Richard Gibralter, M.D. at MEETH and Anthony Donn, M.D. at Columbia University.

Dr. Auran is listed in Castle Connolly's Top Doctors in the New York Metro Area, New York Super Doctors, and Best Doctors in America.

Dr. Auran served as Chief of the Department of Ophthalmology at the NYC Health and Hospitals/Harlem from January, 2016 to June, 2022 and now serves as the Associate Program Director for the Columbia University Ophthalmology Residency at that site.

He cofounded and is now the Executive Vice-President and Immediate Past President of the American Society of Ophthalmic Trauma, an organization dealing with the prevention and treatment of eye injuries, as well as eye care after disasters and during wartime.

He received the Alfred Markowitz Service Award from the Society of Practitioners of the Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center in 2004, the American Academy of Ophthalmology Achievement Award in 2004, and the Columbia University Department of Ophthalmology Resident Teaching Award (in recognition of teaching advanced cataract surgical techniques) in 2008 and the Philip Knapp Memorial Teaching Award in 2018.

His many other interests include gardening, photography, reproductive health, and history.