Edward Glinski, DO, MBA, spent his career restoring sight, mentoring future physicians and serving communities around the world. Now, the longtime supporter and 1975 graduate of the College of Osteopathic Medicine at Kansas City University (KCU) is bringing that same spirit of service and leadership to a new role as the 2026 president of the KCU Alumni Association.
A distinguished physician, educator and global health advocate, Dr. Glinski brings decades of professional experience and a deep commitment to the osteopathic profession. Throughout his career, he has combined clinical and business excellence with a firm belief that giving back is both a privilege and a responsibility.
A defining element of Dr. Glinski’s work has been his dedication to global service. As an ophthalmologist, he has participated in and led surgical mission trips to Ecuador, Brazil, Liberia and Peru, helping expand access to eye care for underserved populations. He also founded and equipped the Clinica Santa Lucia Surgery Center in Piura, Peru, a lasting resource for patients in the region.
For Dr. Glinski, that commitment to service is rooted in early experiences and a lifelong connection to osteopathic medicine. He grew up in Detroit, Michigan, where osteopathic physicians were a visible and respected part of the community. Many of the doctors in his neighborhood were DOs, and with the help of his father, a pharmacist, he was exposed early to patient care and the trusted relationships between physicians and their communities.
“At that time, osteopathic medicine was very present and respected in certain parts of the country,” Dr. Glinski said. “Prospective students who pursued it knew exactly what they were getting into.”
Drawn by that sense of purpose and connection, Glinski earned his undergraduate degree from Wayne State University before graduating from KCU in 1975. He completed a surgical internship at Detroit Osteopathic Hospital Corporation, advanced training at Stanford University and multiple residencies in ophthalmology, including at Grandview Hospital in Dayton, Ohio and the Kresge Eye Institute in Detroit. He later established a successful private ophthalmology practice in Oklahoma City, where he practiced from 1979 to 2011. During that time, he opened the first accredited eye surgery center in the State of Oklahoma.
Over the past decade, Dr. Glinski has supported KCU through philanthropic giving and service. He served on the Alumni Board from 2017 to 2020, returned in 2023 and now begins his second term as president of the KCU Alumni Association for 2026.
In this role, Dr. Glinski hopes to foster a more active and engaged alumni presence, one that strengthens connections between graduates, students and the university.
“I see tremendous value in the alumni sharing real-world perspectives with students,” he said. “It is the alumni that have the clinical and business experiences that can help prepare students for the realities of health care delivery in this modern digital age.”
With more than 10,000 graduates Glinski believes the KCU alumni network is a powerful resource to support students, strengthen the profession and advance the university’s mission.
For Dr. Glinski, service remains at the heart of everything he does.
“I’ve been very blessed,” he said. “Giving back, whether through mission work, mentoring or supporting KCU, sharing experiences in the clinical and business setting is about gratitude and responsibility. KCU has indeed helped shape who I am, and I want to help ensure future generations have the same opportunities and purposes.”
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