Bascom Palmer 60th Anniversary Images Edition

Bascom Palmer Eye Institute | University of Miami Health System

part of UHealth – University of Miami Health System, serves as the department of ophthalmology for the University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine in Miami, Florida. Its mission is to enhance the quality of life by improving sight, preventing blindness, and advancing ophthalmic knowledge through compassionate patient care and innovative vision research.

In addition to an international reputation as one of the premier providers of eye care in the world, Bascom Palmer is the largest ophthalmic care, research and educational facility in the southeastern United States. In addition to providing excellent care to more than 185,000 patients annually, Bascom Palmer’s faculty members conduct innovative biomedical research and present progressive, industryleading academic programs to ophthalmologists and other physicians in the community and worldwide.

For additional information, please visit www.bascompalmer.org

“I predict that Miami will eventually be home to an ophthalmology institute in a medical center second to none in the nation.”

“Bascom Palmer’s tradition of excellence drives every aspect of its operation.”

– Bascom Headon Palmer, M.D.

“The tremendous amount of clinical and pathologic material at Bascom Palmer is essential to the expansion of our research efforts on a national and international level.”

“Dr. (Edward) Norton saw himself as a gardener. His role was to till the soil, plant the seeds, pull the weeds, and stand back and watch the luxuriant growth.

He inspired openness and trust. That transparency and integrity created a foundation that allowed Bascom Palmer to grow in reputation and strength.”

– John G. Clarkson, M.D.

– Eduardo C. Alfonso, M.D.

– Sander R. Dubovy, M.D. “A patient’s problem is an opportunity to innovate.”

– David T. Tse, M.D.

“When I arrived at Bascom Palmer in 1969, Dr. Norton told me that my job would be simply to become the best academic ophthalmologist of which I was capable.

He explained this his job was to provide the best environment within which that could happen.

“There is tremendous potential to positively impact patient care through education.

Graduating residents and fellows can elevate the quality of care that is delivered in their local communities. As they in turn educate others, they participate in the global dissemination of scientific and clinical knowledge.”

– Douglas R. Anderson, M.D.

– Steven J. Gedde, M.D.

“Responding to huge demand for the vitrectomy instruments we designed, Bascom Palmer launched a global training program. We knew every patient could not come to us for surgery, so we trained the top ophthalmologists around the world so they could do the procedure in their own countries.”

“I stayed at Bascom Palmer not to be a teacher, but to remain a student for the rest of my life. A day does not pass that I learn far more from the residents, fellows, and my patients than I teach them.”

– Jean Marie Parel, Ing.ETS-G, Ph.D.

– Richard K. Parrish II, M.D. “I could see a rainbow for the first time.”

– 9-year old Creed Pettit following leading-edge gene therapy

$60.00 ISBN 978-0-9849442-1-7

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Bascom Palmer Eye Institute’s

Images • Bascom Palmer Eye Institute • 60 Years of Excellence

Bascom Palmer Eye Institute,

story dates back to the 1920s when Bascom H. Palmer, M.D., opened one of Miami’s first ophthalmology practices. His dream was to establish an eye clinic dedicated to saving sight and preventing blindness. Looking to the future with hope, he predicted Miami would eventually be home to an ophthalmology institute second to none in the nation.

The opening in 1962 of Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, named in honor of Dr. Bascom Palmer, was the first step in the long journey to the Institute’s global leadership in ophthalmology. Under the dynamic 33-year leadership of Edward W.D. Norton, M.D., and the chairs who followed him, Bascom Palmer has become one of the world’s foremost academic centers for scientific discovery and clinical innovation.

This special edition of Images looks back on the long and distinguished history of the Institute, its excellence in clinical care, its discoveries and inventions, its commitment to service, and its bold vision for the future. However, Bascom Palmer’s strength has always been its people. The physicians, scientists, staff members, donors, patients, and friends who have helped the Institute thrive are truly second to none.

“Bascom Palmer Eye Institute is a testimonial to human integrity, energy, and commitment, expressed by example more than words.”

– Edward W.D. Norton, M.D.

60 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE 9 780984 944217

1962-2022

60 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE

1

Dedication This publication is dedicated to the residents and fellows of Bascom Palmer Eye Institute – past, present, and future.

May you enjoy rewarding careers in service to your patients, institutions, and communities, while contributing to our understanding of vision disorders and diseases.

Acknowledgments Bascom Palmer Eye Institute gratefully acknowledges the many Bascom Palmer physicians, alumni, and employees who contributed to this publication.

A special thank you to Steven J. Gedde, M.D., chair of Bascom Palmer’s 60th anniversary committee, for his invaluable contribution and unwavering support. Thank you also to chapter editors: Eduardo C. Alfonso, M.D., Douglas R. Anderson, M.D., Hilda Capó, M.D., John G. Clarkson, M.D., William W. Culbertson, M.D., Harry W. Flynn Jr., M.D., Thomas E. Johnson, M.D., Carol L. Karp, M.D., Byron L. Lam, M.D., Richard K. Lee, M.D., Ph.D., Richard K. Parrish II, M.D., and Vittorio Porciatti, D.Sc. Thanks as well to our donors large and small. Bascom Palmer’s success in patient care, vision research, medical education, and community service would not be possible without the generosity of our friends who have provided support to the Institute since its founding.

About Bascom Palmer Eye Institute Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, part of UHealth – University of Miami Health System, serves as the department of ophthalmology for the University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine in Miami, Florida. U.S. News & World Report has ranked Bascom Palmer as the #1 ophthalmology program in the United States, an honor it has received for the 21st time since the publication began its annual rankings 33 years ago. Ophthalmology Times has also ranked the Institute as the best overall program in the United States numerous times, and Bascom Palmer’s ophthalmology residency program is ranked the best training program in the United States by Doximity, an online professional network for U.S. physicians.

In addition to its international reputation as one of the premier providers of eye care in the world, Bascom Palmer is the largest ophthalmic care, research, and educational facility in the southeastern United States. Each year, more than 285,000 patients with nearly every ophthalmic condition are treated, and more than 19,000 surgeries are performed.

In addition to treating patients at five locations in Florida (Miami, Palm Beach Gardens, Naples, Plantation, and Coral Gables), Bascom Palmer faculty members also staff the Miami Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Jackson Memorial Hospital, and Nicklaus Children’s Hospital. Additionally, the Institute has a long-standing relationship with community physicians in treating patients from the West Palm Beach Veterans Medical Center.

The sponsored research enterprise at Bascom Palmer has grown from $3.8 million in 2004 to $16.6 million in 2021. For additional information, please visit www.bascompalmer.org.

This book draws on Twenty-Five Years of Vision, a history of Bascom Palmer Eye Institute written by Todd Ellenberg in 1987, The Chief, a biography of Edward W. D. Norton, M.D., written by John T. Flynn, M.D., in 2002, and Bascom Palmer Eye Institute: 50 Years of Vision written in 2012 by Richard Westlund.

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BASCOM PALMER EYE INSTITUTE

60 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE

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Bascom Palmer Eye Institute’s mission is to enhance the quality of life by improving sight, preventing blindness, and advancing ophthalmic knowledge through compassionate patient care, innovative vision research, and education.

Distinction A Global Leader

6

Vision Delivering Exceptional Care

32

48

Service Reaching Out Globally and Locally

62

68

76

Synergy People Are Our Strength

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BASCOM PALMER EYE INSTITUTE

Photo Credits Alexander Rodriguez Project Specialist Bascom Palmer Eye Institute

Marketing Support Natali Latorre Director, Marketing Healthcare Bascom Palmer Eye Institute Jessica Fleitas Manager, Communications Bascom Palmer Eye Institute

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Editor’s Note: Endpapers of a book are typically beautifully decorated patterns or illustrations.

In honor of Bascom Palmer’s 60th anniversary, I chose to display the history of the Institute’s signature magazine, Images, from its first issue in 1981 to the latest issue in January 2022. While I have had the pleasure of producing and editing Images for 20 years, I would like to recognize and thank my predecessor, Debra Durant, who brought Images to light at its inception.

Marla Bercuson

Printing Darren Taylor Miami Print Inc.

Bascom Palmer Eye Institute Archives

Going Forward Advancing the Frontiers of Vision Care

Elizabeth Lane Lawhorn Synapse

Donna Victor Photography

Family Welcoming Generations

Editor Marla Bercuson Executive Director, Business Operations Bascom Palmer Eye Institute Art Direction & Design Kim A. Foster Kim A. Foster Graphic Design

Education Training Generations

Author Richard Westlund

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Innovation Discoveries and Inventions

Six Decades of Vision Leadership

Copyright @2022 Bascom Palmer Eye Institute ISBN 9780984944217

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior, written permission of Bascom Palmer Eye Institute.

Miami Hits A Million. That was the headline in 1962, the year the Magic City welcomed its one-millionth permanent resident, the year Bascom Palmer Eye Institute officially opened its doors as South Florida’s first academic center dedicated to vision care. Prospects for the burgeoning metropolis at the edge of Biscayne Bay were unlimited—and no man saw that more clearly than Edward W. D. Norton, M.D., founding director of Bascom Palmer. With his wit, charm, and uncompromising vision, he attracted talented clinicians and researchers who quickly began making major contributions to virtually every field of ophthalmology.

Six decades later, Bascom Palmer is one of the world’s leading eye institutes, known for excellence in vision research, clinical care, ophthalmic education, and community service.

And much like our hometown, we have experienced growth.

We have opened multiple locations throughout South Florida to provide our patients with convenient access to care. We have developed robust telehealth and virtual education services to connect with patients and vision professionals almost anywhere in the world. Furthermore, our scientists and clinicianresearchers are making important discoveries that hold the promise of better treatments in the future.

As we celebrate our 60th anniversary, I want to thank our devoted physicians, employees, trainees, philanthropic donors, and the leadership of the University of Miami for your deep commitment to excellence in every aspect of our operations.

Thanks to your support, we can look forward to the future with great confidence.

Eduardo C. Alfonso, M.D. Kathleen and Stanley J. Glaser Chair in Ophthalmology Chair, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine Director, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute

60 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE

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C H A P T E R 1

A Global Leader in Vision Research, Education, and Clinical Care Since its founding in 1962, Bascom Palmer

surveying U.S. physicians for its annual “Best

Eye Institute at the University of Miami

Hospitals” rankings 33 years ago.

Miller School of Medicine has made multiple

research program has also grown through the

in South Florida and around the world.

decades and covers a broad spectrum, from

By developing innovative diagnostic and

the most basic investigations of molecules,

treatment procedures, training generations

cells, and tissues involved in the sense

of skilled professionals, and delivering

of vision, to the development of devices

compassionate clinical care, Bascom Palmer’s

for new clinical applications, including

clinicians, scientists, trainees, and staff

telehealth, artificial intelligence, and

members have touched the lives of millions

computer-augmented vision to transform

of patients around the world.

vision diagnostics and personalized vision

“For six decades, we have been dedicated

Reflecting on his 42-year career at

patients and finding effective treatments for

Bascom Palmer, Paul F. Palmberg, M.D.,

blinding diseases,” said Eduardo C. Alfonso,

Ph.D., professor of ophthalmology, said, “It

M.D., director and chair of Bascom Palmer

is wonderful to see the fulfillment of Dr.

Eye Institute, and the Kathleen and Stanley

Norton’s dream of a world-class center for

J. Glaser Chair in Ophthalmology. “We are

clinical care, teaching, and research and to

also committed to serving our diverse South

see the torch of empowerment passed from

Florida community and beyond to promote

generation to generation.”

Guided by the vision of founding director Edward W.D. Norton, M.D., the Institute has grown from a modest program with two full-time faculty members to the largest

the insightful ophthalmologist who founded Bascom Palmer Eye Institute and guided its growth

ophthalmic care, research, and educational facility in the southeastern United States, providing care to more than 285,000 patients annually.

Norton and his successors have all been committed to advancing the Institute’s mission: “To enhance the quality of life by

for more than three decades. He

improving sight, preventing blindness, and

created the foundation that allowed

compassionate patient care, innovative

Bascom Palmer to grow in excellence, reputation, and strength.

correction.

to delivering the best possible vision care to

equitable access to excellent vision care.”

Edward W.D. Norton, M.D., was

Bascom Palmer’s multidisciplinary

distinctive contributions to vision care

advancing ophthalmic knowledge through vision research, and education.”

One indicator of their success is Bascom Palmer’s #1 ranking as the nation’s best in ophthalmology by U.S. News & World Report – the 21 time, and the 19 consecutive st

th

year that the Institute has received the

Bascom Headon Palmer, M.D., 1925

Lighthouse for the Blind and helped create

“Miami will eventually be home to an ophthalmology institute in a medical center second to none in the nation.”

community outreach programs.

– Bascom H. Palmer, M.D.

A longtime dream Back in 1923, Bascom Headon Palmer, M.D., opened one of Miami’s first ophthalmology practices. Palmer was the first surgeon in Florida to perform corneal transplants. He was also an active volunteer with the Miami

In 1943, amid World War II, Palmer began discussing the feasibility of establishing an eye clinic in Miami dedicated to saving sight and preventing blindness. Five years later, the Miami Lighthouse purchased land for the proposed clinic. However, there were no funds available for design or construction.

In 1952, the University of Miami established a School of Medicine, and at Palmer’s urging, created the division of ophthalmology in the department of surgery for the 1954-55 school year.

top ranking since the publication began

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BASCOM PALMER EYE INSTITUTE

60 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE

7

“Dr. Curtin was also known as the conscience of Bascom Palmer Eye Institute.

Whenever Dr. Norton faced an ethical dilemma, he would turn to Dr. Curtin for advice.

Dr. Norton himself was a man of the highest integrity, and he knew a discussion with Dr. Curtin would provide a consensus of two honest men.”

The founding five ophthalmologists were (left to right) Lawton Smith, M.D., John Flynn, M.D., Donald Gass, M.D., Edward Norton, M.D., and Victor Curtin, M.D.

– Douglas Anderson, M.D.

Victor Curtin, M.D. and Edward Norton, M.D., circa 1960.

Norton set to work to build a nationally

work began the next week. It took less than

ophthalmologists who flourished in the Miami

he outlined his hope that Miami would

recognized ophthalmology program and an

a year to complete the four-story medical

sunshine. In less than a decade, the new

eventually be home to “an ophthalmology

eye clinic that would fulfill a long-standing

building, designed by Miami architects John

department of ophthalmology had become a

institute in a medical center second to none

community dream. Joining Norton in this

Skinner and Harold Stewart.

national center of medical excellence.

in the nation. It will be a clinic where both

quest was Victor T. Curtin, M.D., who had

the indigent and others may be treated. It

completed his residency with Norton at

will serve this community as a clearinghouse

Cornell from 1955-1958. Curtin and Norton

for research and reliable information on

took and passed their Florida medical boards

the care of the eyes and the conservation of

together in 1958.

Before Palmer died on September 4, 1954,

sight.”

The arrival of “The Chief” In December 1957, upon his first visit to the University of Miami, Norton said, “When I looked at the city of Miami, I realized this city had great potential and I thought that we could develop a very good department here.” A month later, John Farrell M.D., chair of the department of surgery at the young school of medicine, selected the 35-year-old Norton, an excellent neuroophthalmologist, master retinal surgeon, and assistant professor of surgery at Cornell Medical Center, to be the chief of the division of ophthalmology at an annual salary of $10,000. Norton would be known as “The Chief” throughout his career.

Driven by a desire to make a lasting contribution to the field of ophthalmology, 8

BASCOM PALMER EYE INSTITUTE

Along with his clinical and teaching responsibilities, Norton soon established a close relationship with the Miami Lighthouse, which set aside $200,000 in 1959 to build an eye institute. Norton also became friends with leaders of the Florida Lions Club, which led to the formation of the Florida Lions Eye Bank.

While the donation from the Miami Lighthouse had increased to $305,000 by 1961, the construction bid on the project was $510,378 – $200,000 more than they had in hand. To obtain the balance, Norton and Kenneth Whitmer, M.D., a longtime Miami ophthalmologist, paid a visit to Claude Hemphill, a founder and chair of the CIT Finance Corporation in Tampa. He agreed to donate the needed funds on the condition that construction begin immediately. The ground was broken on March 6, 1961, and

The early years When Bascom Palmer Eye Institute opened its doors on January 21, 1962, no one could have foreseen that it would become one of the world’s leading centers. At that time, there was no hospital dedicated to only eye surgery in Florida or anywhere else in

“Dr. Norton chose quality people and then let them decide where they could make the greatest contribution,” said Douglas Anderson, M.D., a professor emeritus of ophthalmology.

“When I arrived in 1969, he told me that my job would be to become the best

These first ophthalmologists became known as Bascom Palmer’s “founding five” as they were the initial clinical faculty members for several years before others joined the team.

ophthalmologist of which I was capable.”

the Southeast United States. The largely voluntary faculty members of the University of Miami School of Medicine’s division of ophthalmology had only one operating room at Jackson Memorial Hospital available for eye surgery, three half-days per week.

There were no specialized surgical tools for residents, and the operating room was neither configured nor lighted for eye surgery. It was hardly an ideal situation for clinical care, medical education, or research.

However, “The Chief” focused on building a center that would offer the highest level of clinical care and bring advanced treatments to the South Florida region.

Under Norton’s leadership, Bascom Palmer attracted a remarkable collection of talented 60 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE

9

photographed in detail. Known as the “Father

go on to leave their mark on the field of

of Macular Diseases,” Gass conceptualized

ophthalmology as clinicians, researchers,

how macular holes form, creating the

educators, and administrators. In 1972,

foundation for surgery on a formerly

Bascom Palmer hired its first female faculty

untreatable condition.

member, Mary Lou Lewis, M.D., who had just

In his nearly 40 years at Bascom Palmer,

completed her fellowship in vitreoretinal

Gass revolutionized the diagnosis and

diseases. “Bascom Palmer was a great place to

treatment of more than a dozen macular

work, but a few patients were uncomfortable

and vitreoretinal disorders. He also wrote the

because I was a woman,” said Lewis. “I

Stereoscopic Atlas of Macular Diseases: Diagnosis

received a lot of support from the staff.”

and Treatment, one of the most important Thorne Shipley, Ph.D., and Sam Rawlings, Ph.D., in 1967, working on a haploscope.

During the 1970s, Lewis primarily

ophthalmological texts. In a fitting tribute to

performed retinal detachment and

his career, in 1999, the Association of Cataract

The founding five

and Refractive Surgeons named Gass as one

For the first three years, Norton and Curtin

of the 10 most influential ophthalmologists

were the only full-time faculty members

of the 20th century. His knowledge of

improve the vision in patients with macular

chorioretinal diseases is unparalleled in the

would discuss cases and bounce ideas back

history of ophthalmology.

teaching, Norton launched the department

it is easier to treat the condition medically

of ophthalmology’s laboratory research

with injections,” said Lewis, who retired in

Flynn, M.D., launched a treatment program for

program soon after his arrival. In 1960, from

2001.

handle a variety of administrative projects

amblyopia (“lazy eye”) in pediatric patients.

the University of Miami’s department of

while also seeing patients, interviewing

He studied retinopathy of prematurity (ROP),

psychology, he recruited Thorne Shipley,

of remarkable growth. It became evident

residency candidates, and maintaining the

known in the 1960s as retrolental fibroplasia,

Ph.D., an expert in binocular and color vision

that the Institute had outgrown its original

department’s high standards.

a condition that can lead to blindness in

whose research focused on neuro-physiology.

As a researcher, Curtin tracked ocular

serious cases. He developed an international

Two years later, Norton hired Duco I.

tumors in patients with small or medium

five-stage classification for ROP and the first

Hamasaki, Ph.D., a researcher focused on

melanomas. “Rather than remove the eye

accepted therapy for the disorder. Supported

neurophysiology who soon became known

right away, our study found that monitoring

by a $1.2 million grant awarded by the

for his electrophysiological single-cell studies

the tumor was a better strategy,” he said.

National Eye Institute, he published a major

and his work on retinal pigments. Shipley

“So, we were able to preserve vision in

study in 1984 examining the various risk

and Hamasaki were laboratory scientists who

many patients.” Throughout his life, Curtin

factors for the condition. Noting his lifelong

rounded out the five clinicians as the initial

was devoted to better treatments of retinal

research interest in this condition, Flynn said

faculty members and laid the foundation

diseases and advancing ophthalmic

in 2011, “I’m still working on ROP.”

upon which the Institute’s basic science

pathology.

After joining the faculty in 1965, John T.

These first ophthalmologists became

said, “I came to Bascom Palmer because

for the third faculty member, focused his

as they were the initial clinical faculty for

Dr. Norton had a strong commitment to

practice on diagnosing neurological disorders

several years before others joined the team.

research, as well as teaching and patient care.”

and soon became one of the nation’s top

As future chair, John Clarkson, M.D., said,

neuro-ophthalmologists. An exceptional teacher, he organized the nation’s first

“Perhaps the most remarkable thing about

clinical postgraduate educational session

those early days was Dr. Norton’s ability to

devoted to neuro-ophthalmology in 1963

choose that first group of faculty members.

and continued the annual Bascom Palmer

All of them were extraordinary clinicians and

Neuro-Ophthalmology Course for more than

educators. Through the years, our advances

15 years.

in clinical care, research, and education have all begun by selecting people with skills and

J. Donald M. Gass, M.D., who joined

integrity who always put the patient first.”

the faculty in 1963, studied diseases of the macula and became a pioneer in the emerging field of fluorescein angiography, a technique in which intravenously injected dye allows the blood vessels in the eye to be

For Bascom Palmer, the 1970s was a decade

research program was built. As Hamasaki

known as Bascom Palmer’s “founding five”

J. Lawton Smith, M.D., Norton’s choice

BASCOM PALMER EYE INSTITUTE

degeneration. “Lasers are now passé because

evaluating whether laser surgery could

In addition to experts in clinical care and

partnership, Norton relied on Curtin to

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work on the Macular Photocoagulation Study,

in the department of ophthalmology. They and forth. Throughout their long professional

Duco Hamasaki, Ph.D.

vitreoretinal surgeries. In 1979, she began Edward Norton, M.D., at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute with his son, Kevin Edward Norton, March 6, 1961.

J. Donald M. Gass, M.D., known as the “Father of Macular Diseases,” described and classified many of the diseases of the macula.

Growth in the 1970s Throughout the 1970s, Bascom Palmer attracted new faculty members who would

Bascom Palmer Eye Institute opened its doors on January 21, 1962.

60 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE

11

Into the 1980s One of the major advancements of the early 1980s was the completion of the Edith and Earl Retter Education Center, a stateof-the-art teaching facility connected to the eye hospital by an enclosed skywalk.

Other projects included the renovation and expansion of two floors of the McKnight Vision Research Center, expanding the Ophthalmic Biophysics Laboratory, and creating the Ophthalmic Microbiology Laboratory. In 1983, the Florida Lions Eye Bank and Ocular Pathology Laboratory moved from the McKnight building to the third floor of the eye hospital where they remain today.

Anne Bates Leach proudly displays a rendering of the new hospital named in her honor. With her is her husband Willaford Leach (center) and Fred Barcroft, the first development officer for the Institute.

The eye hospital opens in July 1976. Dr. Norton wanted the hospital’s design to have a human touch, welcoming patients and family members while incorporating the latest technology.

A new capital campaign to expand the Institute’s research facilities brought further progress. “In the early 1980s, I asked Dr. Norton how additional researchers could be accommodated, and his reply astonished

building and would need a new and much larger eye hospital. In these early years,

new Anne Bates Leach Eye Hospital opened

one of Norton’s many priorities was raising

in July 1976. George Blankenship, M.D., did

funds to build this new center. He reached

the first procedure in the hospital’s new

out to Anne Bates Leach, a resident of Palm

operating rooms that October. “The entire

Beach and a grateful patient of the Institute.

faculty loved the new hospital,” said Lewis. “It

She contributed more than $1.5 million and

had well-designed examining rooms, and the

received additional support from her friends

operating suites were very well equipped. It

in the Southern Dames of America, including

provided a very nice, welcoming atmosphere

Celeste Sanford, who donated more than $1

for our patients.”

million to the hospital fund.

With that private-sector support and bond

BASCOM PALMER EYE INSTITUTE

When the hospital opened, floors one and two were used for outpatient clinics, floors

money from the University of Miami, about

three and floor were uncompleted shell

$6 million was available to build a state-of-

space, and floors five and six were dedicated

the-art, seven-story facility on a 1.54-acre

to surgery and patient beds, while Bascom

site at 900 NW 17th Street. Norton hired

Palmer’s ophthalmic library was designed for

Hilario Candela, FAIA, lead architect of the

the lower level. The hospital was originally

Miami architectural firm Spillis Candela. The

licensed for 100 beds. Today as ophthalmic

exterior of the building was designed with

care has shifted to fewer hospitalizations,

poured concrete and steel that reflected the

and most surgeries are performed on an

mid-century modern architectural style with

outpatient basis, the facilities have been

curves that softened the interior. Norton and

transformed accordingly to serve patients in

Candela were able to work collaboratively

a state-of-the-art facility.

with the leadership of the City of Miami

12

Three years after breaking ground, the

With the opening of the Anne Bates Leach

and its mayor Maurice A. Ferre, the Public

Eye Hospital, the Institute’s original building

Health Trust, and with the leadership of the

was renamed the William L. McKnight Vision

University of Miami, including its president

Research Center. McKnight, a grateful patient

Henry King Stanford to accomplish this

and retired chair of the 3M Company, had

seminal project in the history of the Institute.

donated $2.5 million for vision research.

me,” said Palmberg. “He said, ‘When our building was constructed in 1962, we made sure that the foundation could support expansion to eight stories, and we already have funds for the work.’”

On October 17, 1985, the ground was broken for the $5.5 million expansion of the McKnight Vision Research Center. Taking part in the ceremony was Evelyn McKnight, whose $4 million gifts in honor of her husband helped to fund the addition of four floors to the original building. The expansion project increased the building’s total space to 70,000 square feet. However, no additional structural work was needed because of Norton’s foresight. Upon its completion, the building was rededicated as the Evelyn F. and William L. McKnight Vision Research Center.

In 1985, Charlotte Breyer Rodgers, an heir to the Breyer’s Ice Cream founder, donated more than $5 million to establish a professorship in ophthalmology and the Charlotte Breyer Rodgers Research Pavilion in the McKnight Vision Research Center.

Northwest 10th Avenue, the street between the eye hospital and the research center, became a pedestrian mall. Rodgers also created an endowment fund to establish a flower garden between the two buildings, now fondly known as “The Breyer Patch.”

The Norton Principles Integrity Organization Predictable Behavior Ability to Prioritize Credibility Flexibility Encouragement Development of Key Faculty Ability to Listen Capacity to Delegate Utilization of Support Personnel Role as Caretaker Implementation of Decisions Vision Loyalty to the Institution 60 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE

13

“We’re excellent, but how can we become even better? That will come by making decisions in the best interest of our patients, the acquisition of medical knowledge, and society at large.”

– Richard Parrish II, M.D. John Clarkson, M.D.

Another major gift came from James L.

Carmen Puliafito, M.D.

specialist Richard K. Parrish II, M.D., who had

M.D., served as Bascom Palmer’s interim

completed a fellowship in 1982 before joining

chair as a nationwide search was underway.

the faculty, succeeded him. “We’re excellent,

Forster, who completed a residency in

Puliafito expanded Bascom Palmer’s residency

but how can we become even better?” he

ophthalmology and served as chief resident

program from six to seven physicians a

“We succeeded in regaining Bascom Palmer’s core research grant from the National Eye Institute. Over the next few years, we moved into the top ten in terms of NIH research grants. We also recruited eight scientific researchers and established a Center for Molecular Ophthalmology.”

asked at the time. “That will come by making

at Bascom Palmer in 1970, said, “My focus

year. In 2002, the Institute was named

decisions in the best interest of our patients,

was to maintain our culture and values.

“Best Residency (Teaching) Program” by

– Carmen Puliafito, M.D.

the acquisition of medical knowledge, and

We continued to provide the best possible

Ophthalmology Times, which annually ranks

society at large,” he said.

patient care, educate physicians, residents,

the top ophthalmology programs in the

each year at the newly renamed William and

importance of building new networks,

selected to lead Bascom Palmer into the new

Norma Horvitz Children’s Clinic, including

including the Institute’s first satellite facility

century. An author, inventor, teacher, surgeon,

Newspapers, Inc. He contributed $5 million

many referrals from the Caribbean and Latin

in Palm Beach County. On November 17, 1996,

and researcher, Puliafito was the founding

to complete the addition of the McKnight

America.

Parrish, Clarkson, and other faculty members

director of the New England Eye Center and

celebrated the grand opening of Bascom

chair of the department of ophthalmology

was ranked “Best in Ophthalmology” in the

Palmer Eye Institute of the Palm Beaches.

at Tufts University. A vitreoretinal specialist,

United States by ophthalmologists surveyed

More than 240 Bascom Palmer friends and

he was a co-inventor of optical coherence

by U.S. News & World Report for its annual Best

benefactors attended the reception in the

tomography (OCT), which produces clear

Hospitals issue. Shortly after learning of that

5,000-square-foot medical leased office made

images of retinal tissue during a non-invasive

honor, Norton died at age 72. Reflecting on

possible by major gifts from the Walter G.

examination.

his mentor, Clarkson said, “Dr. Norton saw

Ross Foundation and The Jewish Guild for the

himself as a gardener. His role was to till

Blind.

vision research activities.

A decade of progress Following Norton’s 1991 retirement, Clarkson, a graduate of the Institute’s training programs, became the Institute’s second chair. After graduating from the University of Miami School of Medicine, he completed his ophthalmology residency at Bascom Palmer, became chief resident, and joined the faculty in 1975. Under Clarkson’s leadership, the Institute steadily attracted more women residents, fellows, and faculty members. “By the time I became chair, more than half of our residents were women,” he said. “That reflects a positive change – not just in our program, but medicine nationally as well.”

Recognizing the national shift to a managed care system, Clarkson developed the Bascom Palmer Eye Care Network, including ophthalmologists and optometrists who would provide primary care in their offices and refer patients to Bascom Palmer for more complicated issues. He also led a $10 million capital campaign to complete the interior of the hospital’s fourth floor, which included expanded services for children, glaucoma, and oculoplastics.

Among the first contributors were William and Norma Horvitz, who had a special interest in pediatric eye care. “We hope that more children will have the opportunity to receive earlier ophthalmic treatment and thus avoid some of the vision miseries of later life,” they said at the time. By the mid1990s, more than 7,000 children were treated BASCOM PALMER EYE INSTITUTE

Richard Forster, M.D.

Knight, chair emeritus of Knight-Ridder

Center in 1988 and to further endow its

14

Richard Parrish II, M.D.

In 1994, Bascom Palmer for the first time

the soil, plant the seeds, pull the weeds, and

In 1999, Parrish, who holds the Edward

As the first chair from outside the Institute, Puliafito became an agent of change, advancing Bascom Palmer’s missions of

stand back and watch the luxuriant growth.

W. D. Norton Chair in Ophthalmology,

clinical care, education, vision research, and

Right from the start, Dr. Norton inspired

stepped down as Institute chair to spend

community service. Under his leadership,

openness and trust. That transparency and

more time on his glaucoma research,

the size of Bascom Palmer’s clinical faculty

integrity created a foundation that allowed

residency education, and clinical care, as

doubled to 70, including more women and

Bascom Palmer to grow in reputation and

well as editing a comprehensive reference

minorities. For instance, Hilda Capó, M.D.,

strength.”

textbook, the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute Atlas

became Bascom Palmer’s first Hispanic female

of Ophthalmology, a collaborative effort of the

professor of ophthalmology in 2002. As a

entire faculty published in 2000.

pediatric ophthalmologist, she emphasized

Two years later, Clarkson became dean of the medical school, while continuing to see ophthalmology patients. Glaucoma

Parrish’s priorities included improving

From 1999 to 2001, Richard K. Forster,

preserving the vision of Bascom Palmer’s youngest patients.

Along with recruiting faculty members,

and medical students, and maintain our

United States. He also strengthened Bascom

the Institute’s computer network and taking

ongoing research without missing a beat.”

Palmer’s research program by attracting more

advantage of the rapidly evolving Internet

While Forster enjoyed his two-year tenure,

grants and private donations. “We succeeded

to connect with ophthalmologists in other

the corneal and external diseases specialist

in regaining Bascom Palmer’s core research

countries. “I foresee having real-time

said he was happy to return to clinical

grant from the National Eye Institute,” he

interactive videos so that whether you’re in

responsibilities, including regular trips to

said. “Over the next few years, we moved into

Maracaibo or Madrid, you’ll be able to key

treat patients in Palm Beach Gardens. “It

the top ten in terms of NIH research grants.

in Bascom Palmer and find out what’s being

was a good two years,” he said, “and we kept

We also recruited eight scientific researchers

presented at Grand Rounds or in our courses

Bascom Palmer moving forward.”

and established a Center for Molecular

for practicing physicians.”

Responding to the changing healthcare landscape, Parrish also recognized the

Into the 21st century In 2001, Carmen Puliafito, M.D., M.B.A., was

Ophthalmology.”

Under Puliafito’s direction, Bascom Palmer regained the No. 1 ranking in U.S. News & 60 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE

15

Miller School of Medicine Dean Pascal Goldschmidt, M.D., University of Miami President Donna Shalala and five Bascom Palmer chairs: Richard Parrish II, M.D., Eduardo Alfonso, M.D., Carmen Puliafito, M.D., Richard Forster, M.D., and John Clarkson, M.D., celebrate Bascom Palmer’s 50th anniversary.

World Report’s rankings of eye hospitals in

Community Hospital and in Plantation

and the national search concluded that the

celebrated its golden anniversary. Nearly

2004, three years after his arrival, and it has

in keeping with the Institute’s long–time

strongest candidate was already at Bascom

650 ophthalmologists from around the

maintained that position every year since.

commitment to serving the region. He also

Palmer. “Dr. Alfonso embodies the best of

world, including 300 Bascom Palmer

led a $22 million capital campaign to build a

Bascom Palmer’s tradition,” said Forster, who

alumni, attended the conference at the

a major renovation of the Anne Bates Leach

permanent facility in Palm Beach Gardens.

served on the search committee. “He’s a fine

Biltmore in Miami. With 180 distinguished

Eye Hospital. That resulted in significant

Located on a 7.4-acre campus on PGA

individual with the skills to ensure a bright

presenters, topics in the ever-changing field

improvements throughout the hospital,

Boulevard in the PGA National development,

future for our Institution.”

of ophthalmology ranged from research

including expansion of the surgical suites,

the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute at Palm

remodeling of the retina, cornea, glaucoma,

Beach Gardens opened in 2006. The campus

Puerto Rico before moving to the United

therapy to targeted goals of new clinical

and children’s centers, and creation of a new

included the Maltz Center, a 40,000-square-

States to attend college and medical school

trials on the treatment of glaucoma and optic

lobby, as well as additional patient waiting

foot patient care facility made possible with

completing both degrees at Yale University.

nerve diseases.

areas. “Our goal is to serve our patients and

the generous support of Milton and Tamar

In 1984, he completed his residency in

to bring safe and effective treatments to

Maltz, and the Frankino Pavilion, an adjacent

ophthalmology at Bascom Palmer before

philanthropic endowment to support the

them as soon as possible,” said Puliafito.

10,000-square-foot ambulatory surgical

completing fellowships in ophthalmic

growth of faculty and staff, the facilities, and

With growing patient volume, he planned

In 2004, the Vision Van was donated to

breakthroughs in cataract surgery and gene

Alfonso has focused on growing the

center, made possible

pathology, cornea and external diseases, and

the educational, research, and community

with support from

ophthalmic research at the Massachusetts

service programs. Remodeling of the Anne

Foundation, thanks to the generosity of a

Connie and Sam

Eye and Ear Infirmary of Harvard University.

Bates Leach Eye Hospital by converting

longtime patient who dreamed of providing

Frankino.

He joined the Bascom Palmer faculty in

administrative offices into additional clinical

1986. A specialist in corneal transplants

space has led to the establishment of the

It has been used to bring mobile eye care

art medical facility

and corneal infections, Alfonso has been a

Shirley and L. Jules Arkin Laser Vision Center,

services to communities throughout South

is the University of

world leader in the development and clinical

the Cornea Imaging Center, the Samuel

Florida as well as emergency assistance to

Miami’s first major

applications of artificial corneas, a significant

and Ethel Balkan International Pediatric

victims of natural disasters.

construction project

issue for patients in developing nations

Glaucoma Center, and multiple upgrades

outside Miami-Dade

without readily available donor transplant

to existing clinical space. Advancements

County,” said Donna

tissue as well as in the diagnosis and

The next year, a gift from Estelle and George G. Rosenfield led to the creation

“This state-of-the-

Eduardo Alfonso, M.D.

of the Imaging and Macula Center.

Shalala, president of the University of Miami

Containing the most up-to-date and

at the time. “It reflects our commitment to

advanced ophthalmic photography

serving the region’s fast-growing population

Palmer continues to move forward with an

equipment, the center allowed the Institute’s

while continuing to provide the finest

aggressive agenda of internal and external

ophthalmologists to perform advanced

academic medical programs in the state.”

growth. “We will always continue to improve

diagnostic procedures.

One of Puliafito’s priorities was expanding Bascom Palmer’s geographic reach in the South Florida region. In 2004, Bascom Palmer leased medical office space at Naples BASCOM PALMER EYE INSTITUTE

A native of Cuba, Alfonso grew up in

Bascom Palmer by the Josephine Leiser

free eye care to the medically underserved.

16

Bascom Palmer Eye Institute at Palm Beach Gardens opened in 2006.

A change in leadership In 2007, Puliafito left Bascom Palmer to become dean of the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California.

Eduardo Alfonso was named interim chair,

treatment of severe corneal infections.

Under Alfonso’s leadership, Bascom

all of our systems to provide better patient care, nurture our researchers, and enhance our educational programs,” he said.

This ambitious agenda included a three-day global scientific meeting held in February 2012, when Bascom Palmer

Bascom Palmer Eye Institute at Naples opened in 2015.

60 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE

17

“I am very proud of our team’s resiliency and ability to adapt to changing conditions. The pandemic allowed us to examine our processes critically and to develop new ideas, instruments, and protocols that will serve patients, education, and research now and into the future.”

– Eduardo Alfonso, M.D. The real heroes during the COVID-19 pandemic included Bascom Palmer’s physicians, residents, fellows, nurses, technicians, and the other staff members who continued to provide the best possible patient care despite the many challenges of the pandemic.

in 2015 included an expansion of clinical

J. Daily Inherited Retinal Diseases Center.

international organizations including the

programs. The Institute responded with

space at the Plantation center which

The Institute has maintained robust support

International Council of Ophthalmology, the

new resilient and effective protocols to

included the new Ocular Surface Center.

for its research programs from the National

Pan American Association of Ophthalmology,

protect patients, physicians, and staff while

That year featured the opening of the new

Institute for Health and the National Eye

the American Academy of Ophthalmology,

continuing to provide all of its services, most

Bascom Palmer Eye Institute at Naples, a

Institute (NIH/NEI), and foundations like

the Association for Research in Vision

importantly, emergency eye care.

$25 million state-of-the-art, award-winning

Research to Prevent Blindness, Fight for Sight,

and Ophthalmology, the Florida Society of

clinical care and ambulatory surgery center

and others.

Ophthalmology, the Miami Ophthalmological

Bascom Palmer’s physicians began offering

Society and many other specialty groups and

telehealth consultations and assessments,

societies.

followed by “hybrid” visits, to maximize

where an extensive array of clinical and surgical services, research clinical trials, and

Kaleidoscope Electronic Health Record

medical education seminars are offered. In

System in 2012 was a major investment

2017, Bascom Palmer opened at the Lennar

that has led to a marked improvement

leadership role at the University of Miami,

clinical services. “Through emergency

Foundation Medical Center in Coral Gables.

in clinical care, research, and education.

the Miller School of Medicine, and the

surgery, timely clinic visits, video

Bascom Palmer pioneered the module for

University of Miami Health System, major

conferences, and old-fashioned phone calls,

Palmer’s Palm Beach Gardens campus, a $15

eye care and has been one of the early

achievements have been attained. For

our physicians continued providing the

million project, was opened – the Lois Pope

adopters, resulting in collaborative clinical

example, the centralization of key clinical

best possible patient care despite the many

Center for Retinal & Macular Degeneration

research with vision institutes worldwide. In

administrative operations included the

challenges of COVID-19,” said Alfonso.

Research. The Center is equipped with the

addition, a significant level of collaboration

implementation of the electronic health

latest research, diagnostic and imaging

has existed with the American Academy

record EPIC and Kaleidoscope – its eye care

research program, forcing a temporary halt to

technology, and training facilities. It

of Ophthalmology’s Intelligent Research

module, and the consolidation of hospital

clinical trials and some laboratory projects.

serves as the premier hub of national and

in Sight (IRIS) Clinical Registry, which has

licenses into one single hospital system

However, many scientists and clinicians

international clinical research studies on

tracked clinical outcomes, thus identifying

– the University of Miami Hospital and

made significant contributions to timely

new treatments for retinal and macular

areas for continued clinical improvement.

Clinics, thus changing the Anne Bates Leach

COVID-19 studies regarding the impact of the

Eye Hospital from a hospital to a center.

virus on optical tissues.

In 2019, the third building on Bascom

diseases. Bascom Palmer also increased its

BASCOM PALMER EYE INSTITUTE

Philanthropy fuels the Institute’s

Through Bascom Palmer Eye Institute’s

patient safety and minimize in-person

The pandemic also affected the Institute’s

care of patients in the Middle East and began

educational mission. The total remodeling

The Bascom Palmer Eye Institute gained

construction of a new eye center in Abu

of the Edith and Earl Retter Education

recognition by the University of Miami Board

members took advantage of the worldwide

Dhabi, slated to open in 2023.

Center was made possible by a gift from

of Trustees as an Institute at the University

move to video platforms to offer new

the family of Dr. José Berrocal. The Global

and a Translational Institute at UHealth, the

learning programs such as virtual Grand

Palmer’s laboratory and vision research

Center for Ophthalmic Education was also

other being the Sylvester Comprehensive

Rounds “attended” by physicians, residents,

facilities located within the McKnight

established with gifts from the Braman

Cancer Center.

and medical students from throughout the

Vision Research Center and the Stem Cell

Family Foundation. To continue to support

Institute. These include: The Adrienne Arsht

both the education and academic missions

Hope for Vision Laboratory; Ophthalmic

in perpetuity, the Institute’s endowment has

Biophysics Center; Artificial Intelligence and

grown by more than 50% in the last ten years.

Computer Augmented Vision Laboratory;

During that same time period, the number

Miami Integrative Metabolomics Research

of endowed chairs held by faculty members

Center; William Thode Ocular Microbiology

has grown from eight to 18 endowed chairs

Center; Dr. Nasser Ibrahim Al-Rashid Orbital

and one professorship. The education and

Vision Research Center; Dr. Lola Gisela Rais

leadership missions of the Institute have

de Lerner Clinical Trials Unit; and the Mark

also been evident in regional, national, and

Also continuing to grow are Bascom

18

The establishment of the EPIC

Supported by technology staff members,

Through the pandemic For Bascom Palmer, the COVID-19 pandemic posed perhaps the biggest challenge the Institute faced in six decades.

In March 2020, the rapid spread of the coronavirus forced a shutdown of nonemergency clinical services to patients, the suspension of research activities, and cancellation of the in-person educational

In training and medical education, faculty

U.S. and beyond.

Looking back on the crisis, Alfonso said, “I am very proud of our team’s resiliency and ability to adapt to changing conditions. The pandemic allowed us to critically examine our processes and develop new ideas, instruments, and protocols that will serve patients, education, and research now and into the future.”

60 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE

19

C H A P T E R 2

Delivering Exceptional Care Back in 1957, internationally renowned

opening the door to career opportunities,”

calypso singer Harry Belafonte was having

said Gittleman. “Many of our nurses and

trouble with his vision. He sought out Edward

technicians have been with us for more than

Norton, who was the only retinal surgeon

20 years, as we provide support for their

in New York City to use the new binocular

journeys in health care.”

indirect ophthalmoscope, which allowed for detailed examination of the interior of the eye. The retinal surgery was a success and Belafonte later would visit Norton in Miami for vision checkups and fundraising events to support Bascom Palmer.

“For Dr. Norton, patient care and safety were paramount,” said Wayne E. Fung, M.D., (fellow 1968). Fung, the recipient of a lifetime achievement award from the American Academy of Ophthalmology, spent more than 50 years in San Francisco as a renowned ophthalmologist. “The Chief would treat his patients with care and compassion, regardless of social or economic status.”

Through the decades, Bascom Palmer has stayed on the leading edge of clinical care, treating patients of all ages with care and compassion. “Our goal is to deliver the best

For 60 years, Bascom Palmer’s doctors on the

possible vision care to patients throughout

vitreoretinal service have been leaders in the field.

around the world,” said Eduardo Alfonso.

Their unparalleled level of innovation includes developing the Vitreous Infusion Suction Cutter; performing the world’s first pars plana vitrectomy; paving the way for improvements in the diagnosis and treatment of retinal detachments, diabetic retinopathy, and macular holes; and revolutionizing

Bascom Palmer is committed to excellence in every area of vision care, with a focus on seven subspecialty services: cornea; retina; glaucoma; pediatric ophthalmology and adult strabismus; neuro-ophthalmology; oculoplastics; and ocular oncology.

“Our physicians and researchers have been on the leading edge of vision care for six decades,” said John Clarkson. “Their remarkable contributions to ophthalmology have been instrumental in preventing blindness, halting disease progression, and restoring vision for patients throughout South Florida and around the world.”

Diagnostic, treatment, and vision preservation services are provided at five

In 1989, a patient with a particularly difficult pterygium required a surgical procedure that involved surgeons from three different subspecialties. On the left is pediatric ophthalmologist, John Flynn, M.D.. Behind him is oculoplastic specialist, Jan Kronish, M.D., and corneal specialist, Eduardo Alfonso, M.D., is on the right. A medical student observes from the background.

our diverse South Florida community and “We are committed to equity in healthcare, and our team is reaching out to marginalized neighborhoods to provide screening and access to appropriate vision care.”

Delivering excellent clinical care is a team effort, adds Michael Gittleman, Bascom Palmer’s chief administrative officer. “In

the treatment for neovascular and exudative eye diseases by pioneering

addition to having great faculty, our staff is

the use of intravitreal bevacizumab therapy and

and therapists to our patient schedulers,

optical coherence tomography.

professionals, we focus on supporting our

Harry W. Flynn Jr., M.D., has led the

Subspecialty care

second to none,” he said. “From our nurses maintenance workers, and technology clinicians, researchers, and educators, while delivering an excellent experience to our

service for the past 25 years –

patients and families.”

its excellence continues.

faculty and staff members in the Institute’s

Altogether, Bascom Palmer has about 1,200 South Florida facilities. “We believe in

20

BASCOM PALMER EYE INSTITUTE

60 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE

21

“Our faculty are involved at the highest level of national and international developments in diseases and surgery of the cornea. As a result, we are ready and able to provide the latest and most appropriate treatments to all of our patients.”

– William Culbertson, M.D.

William Culbertson, M.D.

locations in Florida, including the Institute’s Miami flagship eye center located at

retinal specialists, including Philip J. Rosenfeld, M.D., Ph.D., (Fellow 1996), have

technology, femtosecond laser-assisted

made major advancements in treating

cataract surgery is now providing greater

age-related macular degeneration (AMD) –

precision compared with manual techniques

including pioneering the use of anti-VEGF

and may be better for patients overall,” said

medications to maintain vision – as well

Culbertson, who has been at the forefront of

as conditions like diabetic retinopathy and

vision correction surgery since its earliest days.

retinitis pigmentosa.

“Advances in optical coherence

Palmer has made significant contributions

tomography (OCT) have been very effective

to corneal transplant techniques, including

in evaluating macular diseases and response

partial transplants involving only a thin

to treatment,” said service director Harry W.

membrane and layer of cells.

Flynn Jr., M.D., professor of ophthalmology

Laser surgery, eyeglasses, or contact lenses

and the J. Donald M. Gass Chair in

the University of Miami Miller School of

with an appropriate prescription can correct

Ophthalmology. “OCT has been particularly

Medicine campus, Palm Beach Gardens,

nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism,

helpful in understanding the value of anti-

Naples, Plantation, and Coral Gables. Bascom

or other refractive errors. The Institute’s

VEGF treatments for wet AMD and diabetic

Palmer’s doctors also treat veterans and their

specialists also offer advanced approaches to

macular edema.”

family members at the Miami VA Hospital,

treating dry eye, tear disorders, and conditions

adults and children at the Jackson Health

affecting the iris, and eyelids, such as

small-gauge vitrectomy instruments, which

Care System, and young patients at Nicklaus

keratoconus, pterygium, endophthalmitis, and

allow for suture-less surgeries, said Flynn.

Children’s Hospital in Miami.

Fuch’s Dystrophy.

“We participated in clinical case series, which

patients to be seen in the comfort of their homes, increasing accessibility to care. “The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated our drive to provide virtual care,” said Gittleman.

“Now, we are continuing to come up with new ideas and approaches to better serve patients from home.”

Retina Edward Norton had a strong interest in treatments for retinal and vitreous diseases, including diabetic retinopathy. Working with the newly formed National Eye Institute, part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), he helped organize the Diabetic Retinopathy Study, the first major clinical trial in ophthalmology. This study showed the benefit

Another clinical advancement is the use of

showed significant patient benefits including less pain, shorter procedures and quicker recovery times.”

The Institute’s retinal specialists have evaluated various antifungal agents to manage endophthalmitis, an infection of the eye’s inner fluids and tissues. “Our ocular microbiology laboratory led by Dr. Darlene Miller is essential in our research. Our group has also reported that the combination of

Richard Parrish II, M.D.

“We carefully review medications and surgical procedures to determine the most effective approach for individual patients.” The Institute’s specialists perform comprehensive glaucoma screenings to determine the nature of the underlying disease and the extent of vision loss. Treatments include prescription

Cornea

of panretinal photocoagulation in reducing

Bascom Palmer’s cornea and external

blindness in diabetic patients. The Diabetic

disease specialists have decades of

Retinopathy Vitrectomy Study demonstrated

experience in treating damage to the corneal

the value of early vitrectomy in Type I diabetic

tissues and optical surfaces. “Our faculty are

patients. George W. Blankenship Jr., M.D., led

involved at the highest level of national and

the Institute’s efforts in the management of

Glaucoma

international developments in diseases and

patients with diabetic retinopathy for nearly 20

For more than five decades, Bascom Palmer

surgery of the cornea,” said service director

years. At Bascom Palmer, he served as principal

has been a leader in developing better

for opening clogged drainage channels inside

William W. Culbertson, M.D., (fellow 1979), the

investigator on the NIH-sponsored Diabetic

treatments for glaucoma, a blinding disease

the eye, releasing fluid build-up. Another

Lou Higgins Chair in Ophthalmology. “As a

Retinopathy Study, the Early Treatment

that still holds many secrets. “The focus of

option is filtering surgery to create a new

result, we are ready and able to provide the

Diabetic Study, and the Diabetic Vitrectomy

our research over the years has been finding

passage for drainage. To enhance filtering

latest and most appropriate treatments to all

Study, each of which demonstrated a beneficial

therapies to improve patient care,” said

surgery, tiny drainage devices or “aqueous

of our patients.”

effect of treatment.

professor of ophthalmology Richard Parrish,

shunts” may be inserted to keep the surgically

who leads Bascom Palmer’s glaucoma

created opening from closing. “We also have

service.

extensive experience in minimally invasive

For example, several surgical options are

BASCOM PALMER EYE INSTITUTE

vision. Through the years, the Institute’s

normal vision.

Under Culbertson’s direction, Bascom

expanded its telehealth program, allowing

22

surrounding cells that provide peripheral

patients typically regain all the benefits of “As cataract surgery evolves as significant

In recent years, Bascom Palmer has also

George Blankenship, M.D.

is removed and a new lens put into place,

Vascular diseases, genetic disorders, aging,

available for treating cataracts, which can

and cancer can lead to the degeneration of

develop from normal aging, an eye injury,

light-sensitive retinal tissues, including the

disease, or other causes. Once the cataract

macula that provides central vision, or the

vitrectomy with scleral buckling had better outcomes for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment than vitrectomy alone,” said Flynn.

“Each year we treat nearly 40,000 patients who have advanced glaucoma,” said Parrish.

eye drops to decrease intraocular pressure by reducing the amount of fluid the eye produces or by increasing the outflow of fluid from the eye. Oral prescription medications may also reduce pressure inside the eye.

Laser therapy can be an effective strategy

glaucoma surgery to lower eye pressure and prevent disease progression,” said Parrish.

60 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE

23

“We are a team of experienced,

M.D., a pioneer in the field of ocular motor

ophthalmologists with access to advanced

research at Bascom Palmer. This is chronicled

technology,” said service director Hilda Capó,

in The Golden Age of Neuro-Ophthalmology at

a professor of clinical ophthalmology and the

the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, written in

John T. Flynn Chair in Ophthalmology. “Our

2002 by Joel Glaser in the Journal of Neuro-

goal is to provide comprehensive evaluations

ophthalmology.

and the most up-to-date treatments to

Hilda Capó, M.D.

“For many conditions, early intervention with the appropriate course of treatment is essential for a successful outcome.

Bascom Palmer’s resources, vast experience, and extremely dedicated team of specialists provide our youngest patients a major advantage.”

– Craig McKeown, M.D.

“These procedures are indicated in certain types of glaucoma and work by using microscopic-sized equipment and tiny incisions.”

Bascom Palmer is also a world leader in the diagnosis and treatment of pediatric glaucoma with a team led by Alana Grajewski, M.D., (fellow 1989), a professor of clinical ophthalmology, holder of the Kolokotrones Chair in Ophthalmology, and director of the Samuel and Ethel Balkan International Pediatric Glaucoma Center.

Although this disease most commonly affects the elderly, childhood glaucoma (from birth to 18 years of age) affects one in 5,000 children. With the clinical team’s expertise in this rare vision condition, families come to the Institute from throughout the U.S. and many international locations.

a large spectrum of vision problems, some

children and adults. We take great pride in

of which are life-threatening,” said service

using our expertise to deliver top-quality

director Byron L. Lam, M.D., (fellow 1991),

care to our patients.”

professor of ophthalmology, and the Robert

Since the 1960s, Bascom Palmer has been

Z. & Nancy J. Greene Chair in Ophthalmology.

treating children with amblyopia, strabismus

“We have extensive experience in diagnosing

(misalignment of the eyes), retinopathy of

complex issues, such as disorders of the

prematurity, cataracts, optic nerve anomalies,

optic nerve and central nervous system, and

tumors of the eye, and other vision disorders.

treating tumors of the optic nerve, orbit, and

The Institute provides compassionate care to

brain with visual implications.”

children and advises and educates parents

Many neuro-ophthalmology patients

and other family members who come to

come to Bascom Palmer with unexplained

the William and Norma Horvitz Children’s

vision loss. A careful and comprehensive

Clinic, designed specifically for our youngest

assessment could identify a nutritional,

patients.

inflammatory, or metabolic problem affecting

“Children with certain medical

the optic nerve, brain, or eye. For instance,

conditions, such as intellectual disabilities,

inflammatory and infectious disorders can

developmental delay, Down syndrome,

affect the visual pathway. Other patients

or behavioral issues benefit greatly from

have vision problems related to inherited

a comprehensive eye examination by a

retinal diseases or eye movement disorders,

pediatric ophthalmologist,” said Capó. “Our

such as double vision or abnormal eye

pediatric team also evaluates adults with

alignments.”

strabismus and double vision who may

“We work closely with other subspecialists to provide coordinated care for these types of conditions,” said Lam. “We also offer the nerve inflammation, thyroid eye disease, and macrovascular decompression causing facial spasms.”

“At Bascom Palmer, we have the ability to collaborate with our colleagues in neuroophthalmology as well as colleagues in other clinical specialties at the University of Miami, including neurology, neurosurgery, endocrinology, and rheumatology, who are all

benefit from surgery.”

experts in the field to determine the best plan

“For many conditions, early intervention

for each patient. We are not just helping our

with the appropriate course of treatment

patients with their vision, we are delivering

is essential for a successful outcome,” said

compassionate patient care at the same

Craig A. McKeown, M.D., professor of clinical

time,” said Joshua Pasol, M.D., (fellow 2007), an

ophthalmology. “Bascom Palmer’s resources,

associate professor of clinical ophthalmology.

vast experience, and extremely dedicated patients a major advantage.”

Oculoplastics

Children’s eye care needs are different

Neuro-ophthalmology

joined the Institute’s faculty in 1986, Bascom

from those of adults. Early diagnosis and treatment of childhood eye diseases and disorders significantly affect a child’s physical, emotional and social development.

Bascom Palmer’s pediatric ophthalmologists

children, and adolescents with a wide range of vision conditions.

Under the direction of David T. Tse, M.D., who

From the days of early faculty members

Palmer was one of the first academic centers

like Norton and Smith, Bascom Palmer’s

to create a dedicated oculoplastic medical

neuro-ophthalmologists have been treating

and surgery service. Tse pioneered the use of

challenging conditions that affect both the

adjuvant intraarterial chemotherapy for the

eyes and the brain. In the early years, they

management of adenoid cystic carcinoma

recruited and trained a world-class neuro-

of the lacrimal gland, a treatment that has

ophthalmology team, including Noble David,

significantly improved the prognosis of

M.D., Joel Glaser, M.D., (fellow 1967), Norman Schatz, M.D., (fellow 1966), John McCrary,

J. Lawton Smith, M.D., and Mitchell Strominger, M.D., examine a skull.

“Alas, poor Yorick!”

latest treatments for problems like optic

team of specialists provide our youngest

experts to diagnose and treat infants,

BASCOM PALMER EYE INSTITUTE

“We treat a variety of patients spanning

improve the vision and quality of life of

Pediatric ophthalmology and adult strabismus

work closely with other ophthalmology

24

M.D., (fellow 1967), and Robert B. Daroff,

dedicated, and compassionate pediatric

this aggressive cancer. Now, the specialists Byron Lam, M.D. 60 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE

25

“Our oculoplastic surgery group is wonderful and is on the cutting edge of clinical and basic science research.

Our doctors continually learn from each other, honing their surgical skills and continuing to improve and develop novel techniques for the benefit of their patients.”

– Thomas Johnson, M.D.

Thomas Johnson, M.D.

Ocular oncology While primary ocular cancers are rare, they can occur within the eye, on the eye’s surface, in the skin cells around the eye, or in glands that produce tears. Secondary eye cancers resulting from tumors from other parts of the body that have spread to the eye occur more frequently.

Bascom Palmer’s ocular oncology experts take a holistic approach to eye cancer care After years of research and development, David Tse, M.D.’s team developed the world’s first 3-D printed prosthetic eye and orbit, giving patients a positive alternative to wearing an eye patch.

treat conditions of the orbit (bony socket

Service director Thomas E. Johnson,

containing the eye, eyelids, and surrounding

M.D., (fellow 1993), professor of clinical

structures), the lacrimal system (tear glands

ophthalmology, joined the Bascom Palmer

and ducts), the eyelids, and the face. Disease

faculty in 1992 and helped build the service

processes range from cancer to trauma to

to enjoy a reputation as the country’s best.

serious infections. Treatment often requires

“Our oculoplastic team is a wonderful and

a multidisciplinary approach. All age groups

collaborative group on the cutting edge of

are treated, from newborn infants to the

clinical and basic science research,” said

elderly.

Johnson. “Our doctors continually learn from

Tse, a professor of ophthalmology and

each other, honing their surgical skills, and

the Dr. Nasser Ibrahim Al-Rashid Chair

continuing to improve and develop novel

in Ophthalmology, also led a team that

techniques for the benefit of their patients.”

and research. “We are in a unique position to support our patients from the initial diagnosis through surgery, medication or radiation treatment and follow-up care if issues arise later in life,” said specialist Zelia M. Correa, M.D., Ph.D. “No other ocular oncology center in the U.S. has the same support to patients whose disease may

department. A unique medical resource for

have spread beyond the eye.” Correa

patients from throughout South Florida and

follows J. William Harbour, M.D., (fellow

beyond, the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute

1995), as director of the ocular oncology

Emergency Department also provides

service. Bascom Palmer has comprehensive

exceptional training for ophthalmology

oncology treatment for intraocular tumors

residents, who learn surgical procedures and

with Correa, ocular surface tumors with

medical treatments for an exceptionally wide

Carol Karp, M.D., and orbital and lid tumors

range of eye problems.

created a 3-D printed prosthesis in 2014 for

Today, the Institute has the nation’s

a woman who could not afford a traditional

largest ophthalmic plastic surgery team,

orbital-facial prosthesis. By scanning the

performing medical, reconstructive, and

undamaged side of her face and merging the

cosmetic procedures on the delicate anatomy

Emergency eye care

image with her orbital defect, the software

of the orbit, face, and eyelids. Professor of

While a Miami man was hammering in his

application merged the scans and sent them

clinical ophthalmology, Wendy W. Lee, M.D.,

workshop, a metal splinter flew up into his

to a 3-D printer, which created a facial and

(fellow 2004), has developed Bascom Palmer’s

eye. “A doctor near his home told him the

ocular prosthesis with colored pigments

multispecialty aesthetic center that offers

eye was lost because it was bleeding and

matching the patient’s skin tone.

cosmetic treatments that vary from the least

had become infected,” said Kenneth L. Fan,

invasive topical treatments to injectables,

M.D., M.B.A., (chief resident 2022). “By the time

lasers, and surgery.

he reached Bascom Palmer’s Emergency

“Our team has performed pioneering

Kara Cavuoto, M.D.

resources and ability to provide coordinated

managed by the oculoplastic service.

Department, his vision was almost gone, but

work for many types of conditions and

our team has seen many injuries like this.

treatments,” said Johnson. “We use our

We were able to save his eye and even restore

imagination, experience, and skills to find

his vision to 20/40. Helping patients with

solutions to problems, no matter how

emergency blinding conditions is what keeps

difficult or complex.”

us going every day.”

From traumatic injuries to lifethreatening tumors, swollen blood vessels, viral infections, and unusual diseases, patients who need emergency eye care

“The Emergency Department is a jewel for Bascom Palmer,” said Kara M. Cavuoto, M.D., (resident, fellow 2012), associate professor of clinical ophthalmology and director of the Emergency Department, which is located at Bascom Palmer’s Miami center. “We are open 24/7/365 and typically see 75 or more adult and pediatric patients a day – more than 25,000 each year.

“The Emergency Department is a jewel for Bascom Palmer.

We are open 24/7/365 and typically see 75 or more adult and pediatric patients a day – more than 25,000 each year.”

– Kara Cavuoto, M.D.

Patients receive a diagnosis, emergency care, and treatment of eye problems from a trained ophthalmic team of board-certified physicians, fellows, residents, registered nurses, ophthalmic technicians, and optometrists. “We are the gatekeepers,” said Fan. “We never know who is going to walk through our doors. It might be someone who lives nearby or a patient who has flown all night to see one of our specialists.”

turn to Bascom Palmer – one of the few U.S. hospitals with a specialized eye emergency

26

BASCOM PALMER EYE INSTITUTE

60 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE

27

Naples

Beginning in the 1990s, Bascom Palmer

Bascom Palmer Eye Institute at Naples

glaucoma, oculoplastics, and neuro-

Bascom Palmer’s newest location is in the

expanded its South Florida footprint, based,

first opened in 2004 in an office at Naples

ophthalmology,” said Kendall E. Donaldson,

Lennar Foundation Medical Center on the

in part on population studies indicating

Community Hospital. “Initially, we had

M.D., M.S., (resident, fellow 2004), professor of

University of Miami’s Coral Gables campus.

projected growth in Collier and Palm Beach

several specialists driving over from Miami to

clinical ophthalmology and medical director.

The 200,000-square-foot LEED-certified

counties. Drs. Norton and Clarkson focused

see patients,” said Stephen G. Schwartz, M.D.,

“We also have a dry eye and a pediatric

ambulatory center provides area residents

initially on Palm Beach County, home to

M.B.A., professor of clinical ophthalmology

cornea service.”

with easy access to vision care.

many Bascom Palmer patients and donors.

and medical director. “Through the years, we continued to grow and serve our community.”

Palm Beach Since its early days, Bascom Palmer physicians have provided care to residents of Palm Beach County. Under Clarkson’s visionary leadership, the Ophthalmology Research Foundation (ORF) purchased seven

in Ophthalmology, and vice chair for academic affairs for the department of ophthalmology.

Today, the doctors at Bascom Palmer’s campus at Palm Beach Gardens serve about 50,000 patients and perform 3,000 procedures annually. “Our volume probably exceeds most ophthalmology programs around the country,” said Greenfield. “We also host a multidisciplinary fellowship program, as well as elective rotations by medical students from the UM Miller School, Florida Atlantic University, Yale University, and other institutions.” The current medical director is Jorge A. Fortun, M.D., an associate professor of clinical ophthalmology and retina and vitreous diseases specialist.

28

BASCOM PALMER EYE INSTITUTE

medical director Rahul S. Tonk, M.D., (fellow

extension of the main Institute just 25 miles

2017), a specialist in cornea and external

away. “

diseases, cataract, and LASIK.

One of the major sources of endowment support for Bascom Palmer is the

followed by cataract surgery several years

Ophthalmology Research Foundation, Inc.

later,” Donaldson said. “We used OCT to

(ORF). The ORF is recognized by the IRS as a

examine her eye and found a cleft between

501(c)(3) supporting organization. Initially

the LASIK cap and the underlying cornea. We

funded partially through faculty donations,

were able to replace the corneal lining, her

the ORF was incorporated with the sole

advanced subspecialty care increased,

swelling disappeared and she now sees 20/20

purpose of supporting the University’s

philanthropic donors supported the

in her eye.”

department of ophthalmology. For more

Beaches. “Our goal was

Douglas R. Anderson Chair

centers, with full diagnostic services,” said

Donaldson. “We consider ourselves an

“She had a LASIK treatment a decade ago,

of Bascom Palmer Eye Institute of the Palm

of ophthalmology, the

of Bascom Palmer’s world-class eye care

post-operative visits closer to home, added

was having pain and swelling in her left eye.

M.D., (fellow 1995), to be the medical director

who is now a professor

being able to take care of their pre- and

The Ophthalmology Research Foundation

In 1996, Parrish hired David S. Greenfield,

region,” said Greenfield,

same extraordinary care provided at all

of patients, like a woman in her 60s who

campus.

surgical care to a wider

“Our Coral Gables location delivers the

surgery done in Miami, they appreciate

Donaldson continues to see a steady increase

as a future site for a permanent satellite

to provide clinical and

While Plantation’s patients have their

Coral Gables

Like the other medical directors,

acres of land in Palm Beach Gardens in 1996

David Greenfield, M.D.

“Our services include retina, cornea,

Regional growth of facilities

Stephen Schwartz, M.D.

As patient demand for the Institute and

construction of a dedicated center on U.S. 41,

than 50 years, the ORF has supported the

a few miles north of downtown Naples. That

department’s mission.

is now the professional home of eight full-

Rahul Tonk, M.D.

The ORF’s governing board is led by the

time physicians. Bascom Palmer’s surgery

department chair, and all board members

center in Naples, is under the medical

are faculty members of the department of

direction of Allister Gibbons, (fellow 2015), an

ophthalmology. Funds from the ORF have

associate professor of clinical ophthalmology

provided support for vision research and

“We offer our patients the benefits of an

have financed the purchase of property to

academic medical center, including access to

provide medical center patient and staff

retinal clinical trials,” said Schwartz. “We also

parking as well as clinical facilities and

provide telehealth services to our community

surgical centers in Palm Beach Gardens

and hope to expand our facility to serve more

and Naples.

patients from Southwest Florida.”

The ORF was established by Drs. Norton, Curtin, and Gass, with the assistance of Gaby

Plantation

Kressly, the department’s administrator.

Since opening in 2004, Bascom Palmer Eye

The Ophthalmology Research Foundation

Institute at Plantation has provided Broward

continues as an enduring contribution both

County patients with convenient access to

now and in the foreseeable future.

vision care. It is a 12,000-square-foot facility in the Miller School’s multidisciplinary office center, where 35,000 patients are seen annually.

Kendall Donaldson, M.D.

60 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE

29

Ocular Pathology Laboratory With more than 50,000 samples of eye tissue dating back to the 1960s, the Bascom Palmer Florida Lions Ocular Pathology Laboratory provides a unique resource for studying cancers of the eye. Led by medical director Sander R. Dubovy, M.D., professor of ophthalmology and pathology, the Institute’s pathology lab analyzes more than 3,000 new biopsy specimens each year. Dubovy holds the Victor T. Curtin Chair in Ophthalmology.

“We are one of the busiest ocular pathology laboratories in the country,” said Dubovy, a retina specialist who is one of the few U.S. physicians board-certified in both ophthalmology and pathology. “We continue to expand by investing in new equipment, adding additional staff as needed, and most importantly, training young physicians through our pathology fellowship program who will become the next generation of

Sander Dubovy, M.D.

ocular pathologists.”

Victor Curtin founded Bascom Palmer’s

“The Florida Lions Eye Bank’s mission is

ocular pathology laboratory in 1962 in a

to recover, process, and distribute corneal

unique association with the Florida Lions Eye

and scleral tissue for sight-saving transplant

Bank. He started the laboratory’s collection of

surgery,” said Elizabeth Fout-Caraza,

specimens and remained a consultant to the

executive director. “To make this happen, we

Eye Bank for 57 years until his death in 2016.

rely upon the selflessness of the individuals

That historical perspective is particularly

and their families who choose to donate

important for oncology patients who return

their eyes upon their death.” Since 1962,

for further treatment since past and present

nearly 65,000 corneas have been provided

specimens can be easily compared.

for transplant, restoring sight to tens of

Through searches of the laboratory database for rare ophthalmic conditions,

thousands of recipients.

With the opening of Bascom Palmer, Victor

Dubovy and his colleagues have been able

Curtin, became the first medical director

to assemble and publish case studies that

of the Eye Bank, serving in that volunteer

have shed new light on the diagnostics,

role through 1996. With the support of the

pathophysiology, and clinical outcomes of

medical examiners in Dade and Broward

several disease entities. Since the pathology

counties, the supply of donor corneas

laboratory team processes the specimens

increased rapidly and it became one of the

within the Institute, Bascom Palmer

largest eye banks in the country in terms of

clinicians can get results very quickly.

sending out tissues. For many years, the Eye Bank would send out 2,000 corneas annually

Admired throughout the world, Victor T. Curtin, M.D., was

The Florida Lions Eye Bank

the first faculty member to be recruited to Bascom Palmer,

Also celebrating its 60th anniversary, the Florida Lions Eye Bank was founded in 1962

dedication, the South Florida Lions endowed

where he served on the faculty for 57 years. He was the

in cooperation with the Lions Clubs of Florida

$500,000 toward a chair at Bascom Palmer in

consummate teacher, physician, and clinician-scientist.

and Bascom Palmer Eye Institute. Realizing

his name; the funds were matched to create

the importance of an eye bank, founding

a $1 million contribution. “It was a complete

chair Edward Norton requested the first

surprise to me,” said Curtin at the time. “It

eye bank in the State of Florida be located

is an honor to be remembered in this way.”

within the Institute. Bascom Palmer and the

Today, Dubovy is the Eye Bank’s medical

Eye Bank have evolved side by side for six

director.

for free – mostly to recipients in Florida.

In 1983, in gratitude for Curtin’s

decades.

30

BASCOM PALMER EYE INSTITUTE

60 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE

31

C H A P T E R 3

To date, more than 350 surgical instruments and clinical devices have been developed by Bascom Palmer’s Ophthalmic Biophysics Center, with many more in the works. Shown here is a drawing of one of the most notable devices – the Vitreous Infusion Suction Cutter (VISC), designed for the first vitrectomy.

Making Discoveries and Inventions Pioneering achievements

Machemer in a 2007 interview. “It was in this

Under the dynamic leadership of Dr. Edward

supportive environment that the new art of

Norton and the chairs who followed him,

vitreous surgery evolved.”

we learned to do as a result of the research

Hotel in Coral Gables to Bascom Palmer’s

“Many things we do in patient care today we learned to do as a result of the research conducted by preceding generations.

Therefore, this generation has an obligation to make its own contributions for future generations.”

conducted by preceding generations,” said

residents including Gordon Miller, M.D.,

– Edward Norton, M.D.

Norton in a 1984 interview. “Therefore, this

(resident, fellow, chief resident 1966). Miller

generation has an obligation to make its own

brought to Kasner’s attention the first

Bascom Palmer Eye Institute is one of

In fact, Bascom Palmer was a natural

the world’s foremost academic medical

home for this revolutionary eye surgery, as

centers for scientific discovery and clinical

Norton and volunteer faculty member David

innovation.

Kasner, M.D., (honorary alumnus), had been

For six decades, Bascom Palmer’s

engaged in clinical research on the vitreous

clinicians and researchers have made major

throughout the 1960s. In his curiosity about

contributions to virtually every aspect of

ocular anatomy, Kasner created an anatomy

vision: retinal diseases, corneal transplants,

laboratory in his garage in Coral Gables.

glaucoma, and cancers of the eye and orbit.

He became interested in creating eyes

Norton himself was an innovator who found

embedded in plastic that could be used for

a new way to treat partial tears of the retina.

anatomical demonstrations. In the process,

He would inject a gas bubble into the eye

he discovered that the application of acrylic

to unroll the loose retinal flap, so it could

chemicals to partial cadaver specimens

be reattached safely – a breakthrough that

that he obtained from the Florida Lions Eye

helped surgeons treat other types of retinal

Bank turned the vitreous white and opaque.

detachments.

Kasner was teaching cataract surgery at the

“Many things we do in patient care today

Miami V.A. Hospital located at the Biltmore

contributions for future generations.”

A pioneering surgery On April 20, 1970, Bascom Palmer retinal specialist Robert Machemer, M.D., (fellow 1968), performed the world’s first pars plana vitrectomy on a Miami patient who had not seen with his right eye for five years. Until then, ophthalmologists had considered the vitreous body forbidden territory because of the risk of causing a retinal detachment.

Machemer’s successful procedure opened the door to many new types of treatment for retinal tears, detachments, scar tissue, macular holes, vitreous hemorrhage, traumatic injuries, and other conditions. “For a young researcher, Bascom Palmer offered an ideal environment, where credit was given to any individual who made a discovery,” said

32

BASCOM PALMER EYE INSTITUTE

In the early 1970s, Bascom Palmer’s Ophthalmic Biophysics Center made this rotating table for retinal detachment surgery. Gas was injected into the eye and the patient remained face down during the surgery.

60 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE

33

Building a bioengineering program

and ophthalmology, and Marco Ruggeri,

Throughout the 1970s, biomedical research

Ph.D., a research assistant professor of

and development blossomed at Bascom

ophthalmology, as well as every other

Palmer. Under Parel’s leadership, the

scientist at Bascom Palmer who needs

Ophthalmic Biophysics Center (later

technology support. In return, these gifted

named for benefactor Walter G. Ross) began

scientists help the OBC by sharing their

developing new equipment to advance

knowledge and practical know-how that

clinical care. For instance, Parel developed

ultimately benefits patient care.

the first modern programmable eye for a

Improving clinical imaging

patient mannequin, with features like a sensor that would close the iris in response to light. “We were able to mimic conditions like retinopathy of prematurity,” Parel said.

“A student could recreate an intravenous injection and use fluorescein angiography to see the changes in real-time.”

In the 1980s, Parel’s team designed the world’s smallest motorized scissors, which were used to cut retinal membranes that William Smiddy, M.D.

Robert Machemer, M.D.

Jean-Marie Parel, Ph.D.

and stimulus to the development of the

generation” fluid control system that

lost vision because of an accumulation of

modern automated vitreous surgery

improved surgical precision in vitrectomies.

a cloudy protein (amyloid) in the vitreous

subsequently pioneered by Machemer. Back

Later in that decade, Parel worked with

cavity. After getting the approval from

in 1969, Machemer met Jean-Marie Parel,

Norton and Francisco E. Fantes, M.D.,

Norton to proceed, Kasner and Miller

Ph.D., Ing. ETS-G, a Swiss-born biomedical

(resident, fellow 1987), who created the Fantes

utilized Kasner’s technique for manually

engineer who was developing motorized

ordinal grading scale for assessing corneal

removing vitreous material from the eyes

microsurgical instruments in Melbourne,

hazing – on a study of the accommodative

of those patients resulting in a significant

Australia. They conceived the idea for

power of soft polymer lenses.

improvement in vision for both eyes. “This

an instrument (later called the vitreous

was something that has previously been

infusion suction cutter or VISC) that could

decades, Parel

considered taboo in ophthalmology,” said

be introduced through the pars plana to

and his team

Jerome P. Fisher, M.D., (resident 1980). “The

aspirate, cut, and remove the diseased

have invented or

two doctors then published what is believed

vitreous while maintaining the shape of

improved more

to be the first case reports of planned

the eye through the continuous infusion of

than 350 devices,

therapeutic vitrectomy in the ophthalmic

saline solution. “It provided the foundation

and at one point,

literature,” he added. This was the precursor

for doing intraocular microsurgery while

Parel alone had

preventing the collapse of the eye,” said

more patents than

Parel, research associate professor and

the rest of the

Ophthalmology.

Two decades later, retinal specialist

BASCOM PALMER EYE INSTITUTE

with John Clarkson in developing a “next-

patient, and eventually a second who had

holder of the Henri and Flore Lesieur Chair in

34

obscure vision. Parel also worked closely

In 1973, Robert W. Knighton, Ph.D., (fellow 1979, research professor emeritus), joined the research faculty and began studying how to improve clinical imaging of the tissues of the eye. He took over the clinical electrophysiology research program, exploring how to improve electroretinograms (ERGs) that provided clearer diagnostic images to ophthalmic surgeons. “In the early days of vitrectomies, the physicians needed ways to assess the retina when it was screened by dense blood in the vitreous body,” he said. “It took brighter and brighter flashes of light to get an ERG to see if the retina was functioning,” he said.

Robert Knighton, Ph.D.

Through the

Marco Ruggeri, Ph.D.

entire faculty of the UM medical

school. “Dr. Norton had a view of the future

William E. Smiddy, M.D., holder of the

so far-reaching it was unbelievable,” said

M. Brenn Green Chair in Ophthalmology,

Parel. “He recognized how biophysical

contributed to the development of vitrectomy

engineering could make a huge difference

for the treatment of macular holes, which

in ophthalmology. He was much more

occur in the central part of the retina.

interested in the instrumentation than many

Today, retina specialists collectively perform

of his peers.” The OBC closely collaborates

thousands of vitrectomies each year thanks

with Fabrice Manns, Ph.D., (research fellow

to this Bascom Palmer innovation.

1997) a professor of biomedical engineering 60 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE

35

ophthalmology, served 47 years on Bascom

David T. Tse, M.D., (second from left), instructing Cassandra Onofry, M.D. (resident, fellow 2002), on a case of eyelid reconstruction after Mohs excision.

Two physicians from Egypt observe from the background.

Palmer’s faculty.

Pioneering laser surgeries In 1978, Bascom Palmer’s ophthalmic biophysics center added a laser research laboratory led by Parel and Hanspeter Loertscher, a Swiss scientist who developed the infrared YAG laser earlier in the decade.

Parel and Sidney H. Mandelbaum, M.D., (fellow 1982), clinically led the lab, which is credited for the development of a non-contact laser trephination technique for corneal transplantation.

Meanwhile, Bascom Palmer’s clinicians were quick to put this advanced technology to clinical use. In 1982, they performed approximately 4,000 laser procedures.

Ophthalmologists began using the excimer laser to reshape the cornea in a procedure known as photorefractive keratectomy.

Douglas Anderson, M.D.

Advancing glaucoma research Meanwhile, clinicians and scientists in Bascom Palmer’s research laboratories were studying glaucoma and a wide range of other vision-impairing conditions.

Shortly after joining the faculty in 1969, Douglas R. Anderson, M.D., divided his time between clinical care and groundbreaking scientific research. He showed how a rise in intraocular pressure (IOP) could damage the optic nerve – one of the most important discoveries in the field, as it was the first demonstration of physilogic abnormality in response to elevation of pressure in the eye.

Anderson also contributed to the use of visual field testing to detect early optic nerve changes in glaucoma patients. Early in his career, he also worked closely with Ralph Kirsch, M.D., a member of the voluntary faculty, in reviewing photos of the optic nerves in his patients. After five years of work, Anderson mounted images taken

by Bascom Palmer photographer Freddy Gonzalez and presented their findings at the 1975 meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Their paper won a gold medal, and Anderson later wrote an authoritative textbook on visual fields.

Anderson, now a professor emeritus of 36

BASCOM PALMER EYE INSTITUTE

In 1988, Clarkson directed a multicenter

cancerous tumor in the tear-producing

resources, Parel created tiny implants made

central vein occlusion study funded by the

lacrimal gland that extended into his brain.

from biodegradable synthetic polymers that

National Eye Institute that analyzed whether

“Based on actuarial data at that time, 80

released drugs at a constant rate for several

early photocoagulation (laser) therapy

percent of all patients with this lethal orbital

days, weeks, or months, depending on the

was the best treatment to prevent further

tumor would die within ten years,” said Tse.

desired outcome. Eventually, the body would

complications and loss of vision. The findings,

“We decided to try something new in order to

absorb the biodegradable implant.

published in 1993, confirmed the importance

save this young man’s life.”

of frequent follow-up examinations, including

Tse had developed an innovative

The 5-FU also held the promise of more effective treatments for some glaucoma

an undilated slit-lamp examination of the iris

approach to deliver high concentrations

patients. Ophthalmologists frequently

in all patients with recent onset of central vein

of chemotherapy directly to the tumor,

perform a glaucoma filtration procedure

occlusion.

shrinking it before surgery. “This protocol

called a trabeculectomy to open a new exit

has produced a survival rate of more than

passage for the fluid inside the eye, thereby

laboratory research on the retinal nerve fiber

80 percent, a dramatic improvement over

lowering the pressure. However, the body’s

layer, which is damaged by glaucoma at

surgery alone,” said Tse. Within a year,

natural healing defenses sometimes respond

an early stage well before the loss of visual

Downey’s adenoid cystic carcinoma was

by closing the passage. Administering

sensitivity. His work led the way to better

gone. “Short-term and long-term, Dr. Tse

5-FU or other medication following the

explanations of why some nerve bundles

saved my life,” said Downey a decade ago.

Meanwhile, Knighton was conducting

worked better than others did. “There is a huge benefit to being a researcher in a clinical

Developing drug delivery implants

department,” said Knighton. “You can interact

In the early 1980s, Parel began studying the

with the physicians and learn what would be

biochemistry of the eye in hopes of finding

most useful to them. Later on, you can see the

a better approach to cases of advanced

results of your laboratory work being put into

diabetic retinopathy, a condition that occurs

practice in the patients’ eye clinics.”

when a retinal membrane grows back

Treating an aggressive cancer

Richard Parrish II, M.D.

after surgical removal. Collaborating with Richard Parrish, Parel began developing a

Soon after David Tse joined the Bascom

system to insert a controlled-release drug

Palmer faculty in 1986, he was faced with an

called 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) into the eye. The

extremely challenging case. A 21-year-old

medication is often used in chemotherapy

patient, Steve Downey, was facing a deadly

to inhibit cellular growth. Using the OBC’s 60 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE

37

diabetic patients. The findings convinced the

in collaboration with Juan F. Batlle, M.D.,

National Institutes of Health to launch the

(resident, fellow, chief resident 1984), in

Diabetes Control and Complications Clinical

the Dominican Republic, he focused on

Trial. Palmberg served for a decade on the

transplanting just the back membrane and

monitoring committee for the trial, which

cells of the cornea. “The benefits include

found that tightly controlling blood sugar

better vision without large amounts of

– guided by frequent home monitoring by

astigmatism or nearsightedness,” he said.

diabetic patients – significantly lowered the

Currently, Culbertson is working with Jeffrey

risk of retinal and kidney damage.

L. Goldberg, M.D., Ph.D., (resident, fellow

“My participation in glaucoma surgery

Guillermo Amescua, M.D., (fellow 2012), in

maculopathy and bleb problems, resulted

transplanting cells tagged with magnets to

in my coining of the term ‘target pressure’

direct them to the appropriate place in the

in 1988,” said Palmberg, who helped write

cornea.

the American Academy of Ophthalmology’s Paul Palmberg, M.D., Ph.D.

first Preferred Practice Pattern for Primary

related macular degeneration, and other

“The results were dramatic from the very

open so the eye drains properly.

Open-Angle Glaucoma. He shared the World

vitreoretinal diseases, Thomas A. Albini,

first patient,” said Karp, holder of the Richard

Glaucoma Prize in 2000 for showing that

M.D., a professor of clinical ophthalmology,

K. Forster Chair in Ophthalmology and the

the laboratory, Parrish began using 5-FU for

glaucoma damage could be halted with

is well-published on the risks of alternative,

Dr. Ronald and Alicia Lepke Professorship in

glaucoma surgery in a randomized clinical

consistently low intraocular pressures.

unproven “stem cell” therapies for eye

Corneal and External Diseases. Karp’s work

disorders. His findings in 2017 led to

helped to change the standard of care for the

significant changes in U.S. federal policy.

treatment of ocular surface tumors.

trial funded by the National Eye Institute called the Fluorouracil Filtering Surgery

Helping uveitis patients

Study. The study demonstrated that using

In the 1980s, vitreoretinal specialist and

5-FU resulted in substantially higher success

professor, Janet L. Davis, M.D., M.A., (fellow

rates in terms of controlling intraocular

1987), an internationally recognized expert

pressure.

in uveitis, focused on the treatment and

“Dr. Norton gave me the time to do the

disease mechanisms of ocular inflammations

research,” Parrish said. “That gave me the

and infections. She quickly became a leader

tremendous satisfaction of contributing

in the fight to save sight in AIDS-related

to the advancement of glaucoma surgery.”

eye disease. “I was involved in taking care

Parrish and others were stimulated to

of HIV patients with ocular infections and

undertake research on surgery for glaucoma.

participated in national research protocols

He and Anderson encouraged Elizabeth A.

for treatment,” said Davis. “We also have

Hodapp, M.D., now an associate professor

made real progress in treating uveitis since

of clinical ophthalmology, to write her 1993

I began my practice.” Davis holds the Leach

book, Clinical Decisions in Glaucoma, which

Chair in Ophthalmology.

displays her astuteness and logical thinking,

After joining the faculty, William

as well as her effective straight-forward

Culbertson worked closely with Davis

succinct manner of teaching. The book is

in setting up one of the nation’s first

frequently cited in the literature, with regard

uveitis clinics. In 1993, he identified the

to an often-used set of criteria for classifying

herpes virus as a cause of acute retinal

the severity of visual loss in patients with

necrosis, a devastating infection that can

glaucoma, “the HAP criteria,” (or the Hodapp-

affect the retina and vitreous and lead to

Anderson-Parrish criteria.)

optic neuropathy. Thanks to this work,

Clarifying diabetes’ impact on glaucoma After joining the faculty in 1980, glaucoma specialist Paul Palmberg discovered that color photographs could replace a more invasive diagnostic technique in some BASCOM PALMER EYE INSTITUTE

In addition to specializing in uveitis, age-

trabeculectomy can help keep the passage After studying the effectiveness of 5-FU in

38

2010, former faculty), Eduardo Alfonso, and

innovation to avoid and fix hypotony

medications and laser treatments are now available to control this severe inflammation of the eye.

More recently, Culbertson pioneered a new surgical technique for corneal transplants for patients with Fuchs dystrophy. Working

New approaches in cataract surgery Sonia H. Yoo, M.D., a surgeon in corneal and refractive surgery, and holder of the Greentree Hickman Chair in Ophthalmology, has investigated the use of lasers to break

Janet Davis, M.D.

When she suspects squamous cell or melanoma cancer, she can do optical biopsies using ultra-high-resolution optical coherence tomography techniques developed

by Jianhua (Jay) Wang, M.D., Ph.D., professor

William Culbertson, M.D., and Sonia Yoo, M.D.

cataracts to facilitate their removal and has been involved in numerous studies aimed at improving the outcomes of patients undergoing cataract and refractive surgery.

For example, advanced intraocular lens designs allow surgeons to correct for nearsightedness and far-sightedness with a single implant. “Many technologies are on the horizon that will bring cataract surgery to the next level,” she said.

Treating squamous neoplasia Carol L. Karp, M.D., (fellow 1994), pioneered a medical treatment for ocular surface squamous neoplasia – cancers that grow on the surface of the eye. While studying the effectiveness of interferon on other diseases, Karp became interested in the drug’s antiviral and anti-neoplastic properties. She designed a protocol to study the drug in patients with ocular surface tumors, curing them of their cancer without surgery.

60 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE

39

she said. “We also offer surgical options for

the Ocular Hypertension Treatment Study

treating squamous tumors, that don’t respond

sponsored by the National Eye Institute of the

to medications. Other tumors, such as ocular

National Institutes of Health. With Parrish

surface melanomas and lymphomas are

as the study co-chair, the study found that

managed with advanced surgical approaches

eye drops to treat elevated pressure could be

and other treatments in partnership with

effective in delaying the onset of glaucoma.

our colleagues at Sylvester Cancer Center for

also took part in the nationwide Advanced

patient’s disease.”

Glaucoma Intervention Study (AGIS), which

Demonstrating the benefit of treatment of normal tension glaucoma Douglas Anderson and Stephen Drance, O.C., M.D., led the highly impactful Normal Tension Glaucoma Study. This landmark multicenter randomized clinical trial demonstrated the benefit of lowering intraocular pressure in the treatment of normal tension glaucoma.

This pioneering study set the standard of care in the clinical practice of glaucoma. Before

Carol Karp, M.D.

of ophthalmology and of electrical and computer engineering. Wang’s research focuses on the development of advanced ophthalmic imaging and its applications in eye research. “We can look at the cell patterns to determine the type of cancer and track the progress of treatment until the cancer is eradicated,” Karp said.

Since the 1990s, Bascom Palmer has been a leader in curing squamous cell cancers

Bascom Palmer’s glaucoma researchers

a comprehensive approach to treating our

examined outcomes of laser and surgical glaucoma treatment. As a member of the AGIS Monitoring Committee, Palmberg suggested analyzing the relationship between pressure and vision loss. “We now have medical and surgical ways of achieving the needed reduction in eye pressure in nearly all cases, and we have learned how to avoid or to fix most complications of surgical treatment,” he said. “That’s great news for patients.”

this study, there were differing opinions

Revolutionizing AMD treatment

about whether IOP was involved in producing

Rosemary Kohler began losing her eyesight

glaucomatous optic nerve damage when

in the early 2000s from age-related macular

the pressure was in the statistically normal

degeneration (AMD). Fortunately, Philip J.

range. Patients who had their IOP lowered

Rosenfeld, M.D., Ph.D., (fellow 1996), professor

by 30% experienced slower rates of visual

of ophthalmology, was quickly able to stabilize

field loss than those who were observed

her eyesight. Rosenfeld had spent two decades

without treatment in the study. The trial

seeking more effective treatments for the

was sponsored by the Glaucoma Research

“wet” form of AMD. When he began studying

Foundation and represented a tremendous

this disorder at Bascom Palmer in the 1990s,

collaborative effort among glaucoma

AMD treatment involved thermal laser

specialists to address an important clinical

photocoagulation and photodynamic therapy

question.

to destroy abnormal blood vessels; however,

without surgery. “We use medications

Delaying the onset of glaucoma

compounded by our pharmacy that are very

In the 1990s, Bascom Palmer was one of 21

effective in curing many of these cancers,”

U.S. eye centers selected to participate in

he felt there had to be a better approach.

Over the years, he tested Retaane®, Macugen®, and Lucentis® , various medications that target the body’s vascular endothelial growth factor, a protein associated with the formation of abnormal blood vessels in the affected eyes. While these treatments proved to be effective in many patients, Rosenfeld kept searching.

In early 2005, Kohler became one of Rosenfeld’s first patients to participate in his clinical study of Avastin®, a drug similar to Lucentis that had been approved for use in

Jianhua (Jay) Wang, Ph.D.

40

BASCOM PALMER EYE INSTITUTE

Philip Rosenfeld, M.D., Ph.D.

“Not only did Avastin halt the progression of wet AMD in his patients, many even regained vision just a few days or weeks after treatment.,” said Carmen Puliafito, a coprincipal investigator with Rosenfeld. “It was truly a revolutionary advancement.”

Bascom Palmer’s director of pharmacy services, Serafin Gonzalez, PharmD, and his staff assisted Rosenfeld’s work. A specialist in ophthalmic compounding, Gonzalez was the first to compound bevacizumab (generic Avastin) for intraocular injection and his protocol is currently used worldwide.

Ophthalmologists around the globe quickly put Rosenfeld’s findings into practice and honored him for his contributions. “I am honored to receive recognition, but what

“Not only did Avastin halt the progression of wet AMD in his patients, many even regained vision just a few days or weeks after treatment.

It was truly a revolutionary advancement.”

– Carmen Puliafito, M.D.

is even more important is that patients all over the world can now see because of these drugs,” said Rosenfeld.

treating colon cancer. Drawing on his medical

Relieving optic nerve pressure

insights, Rosenfeld felt Avastin could also be

In the ophthalmic plastics service, Thomas

effective in repairing damaged blood vessels

Johnson helped advance a surgical procedure

in the retina.

called optic nerve sheath fenestration, which relieves built-up pressure around the optic 60 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE

41

team in the ocular microbiology laboratory

has advanced the understanding and

was again evident. The current tests for

treatment of normal-pressure glaucoma.

COVID-19 use nasal and sputum swabs to

LoGTS was a prospective, randomized

check for respiratory infections, but Miller

clinical trial that investigated visual field

notes, “while the risk of transmission from the

outcomes in normal pressure glaucoma

eye is small, the virus has been documented

patients treated either with a topical beta-

in tears and conjunctiva swabs.”

adrenergic antagonist (timolol maleate 0.5%)

Comparing glaucoma procedures A study with a worldwide impact on glaucoma care was co-chaired by Steven J. Gedde, M.D., (fellow 1996), professor of ophthalmology, and holder of the John G. Clarkson Chair in Ophthalmology. The multicenter, randomized “Tube Versus Trabeculectomy (TVT) Study” Darlene Miller, D.H.Sc.

launched in 2006 compared the safety and nerve that can lead to permanent vision loss

efficacy of a tube shunt implantation with

and blindness. In this proceedure, one of the

trabeculectomy in patients with prior ocular

muscles controlling the movement of the

surgery.

eye is disconnected, allowing the surgeon to

The patients randomized to treatment with brimonidine were significantly less prone to develop visual field progression compared to those treated with timolol despite similar intraocular pressure levels during the course of the study. There was also a trend towards less frequent optic disc hemorrhage in the eyes treated with brimonidine. This was the first randomized clinical trial to demonstrate the possibility of a pressure-independent treatment effect on visual function in patients

Palm Beach Gardens also has a dedicated the direction of Terrence O’Brien, M.D., the Charlotte Breyer Rodgers Chair in

nerve. A window is then cut into the optic

Gedde in announcing the five-year findings

nerve sheath, allowing the excess fluid to

in 2012. “That prompted a shift in practice

escape. The results are immediate, often

patterns throughout the ophthalmology

Personalizing treatment for ocular surface diseases

restoring most of the vision that was lost,

community.” The outcome of the TVT Study

At Bascom Palmer, specialists in ocular

and halting further vision loss.

prompted a second five-year trial. The Primary

surface disorders are leading the way

of ophthalmology, focuses on the peripheral

Tube Versus Trabeculectomy (PTVT) Study

in clinical care, with a wide spectrum

nerves serving the eye, as well as the brain

began in 2016 and involved glaucoma patients

of personalized treatments to preserve

itself, as some eye medications can increase

without prior ocular surgery.

and restore patient’s vision, according to

the sensitivity of nerves serving the ocular

mystery behind a worldwide outbreak of fungal corneal infections among users of soft contact lenses associated with the use of a contact lens solution. Working with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, Alfonso and his colleagues notified ophthalmologists around the world about the findings, reducing the number of new keratitis cases. A global product recall was prompted by his findings.

“Our laboratory team saw an increase in the number of cases of this unusual infection – something a non-ocular laboratory might have missed,” said Alfonso. “Had it not been for our specialized laboratory resources under the direction of Dr. Darlene Miller, we would not

and treatment for dry eye syndromes and ocular surface diseases.

Anat Galor, M.D., (fellow 2008), professor

surface. “One of the biggest challenges we

ophthalmology and medical director of the

face is when a patient has an ocular surface

five-year results at the 2021 AAO meeting.

ocular surface program. “Our researchers have

that looks perfect but still experiences pain or

“There was no difference in failure rates,

developed special medications, biological

dryness in the eye,” said Galor. “We may need

and late-onset complications were similar.

therapies, and photodynamic treatment

to run tests of the nerves, and are researching

Before this study, tube shunts were reserved

while gaining a better understanding of this

to find new treatment modalities to combat

for the most challenging cases. Now, the

important, but often neglected, aspect of

ocular pain.”

findings suggest that tube shunts may be an

vision care,” Amescua said.

appropriate choice as an initial glaucoma procedure.”

While therapeutic interventions for glaucoma typically focus on reducing

Guillermo Amescua, M.D., performing the first mother-to-son corneal transplant at Bascom Palmer.

intraocular pressure, the disease continues to progress in a subset of patients despite adequate control of IOP.

ophthalmology and scientific director of the

David Greenfield served as a principal

ocular microbiology laboratory.

investigator for the multicenter randomized

expertise of Darlene Miller, D.H.Sc., and her

advanced automated equipment for imaging

Amescua, an associate professor of clinical

“Both procedures showed a similar IOP

Comparing glaucoma medical therapy in normal-pressure glaucoma

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the

Ophthalmology. Patients have access to

reduction,” said Gedde, who presented the

epidemic.” Miller is a research professor of

have been able to alert the world to this

with glaucoma.

Steven Gedde, M.D.

center for ocular surface diseases under

success rate with the tube shunt surgery,” said

In 2006, Eduardo Alfonso unraveled the

BASCOM PALMER EYE INSTITUTE

tartrate 0.2%).

rotate the eye and gain access to the optic

Solving a corneal infection mystery

42

“Our collaborative study found a higher

or an alpha2-adrenergic agonist (brimonidine

“Low-pressure Glaucoma Treatment Study,” and for the past three decades, his research 60 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE

43

Advancing gene therapy

functionality, and death of retinal ganglion

Bascom Palmer professor John R. Guy, M.D.,

cells – was one of 57 U.S. researchers honored

was one of the world’s leading experts in

by President George W. Bush in 2004 with

the field of neuro-ophthalmology at the

the Presidential Early Career Awards for

time of his death in 2020. He was known

Scientists and Engineers. His research

for his pioneering gene therapy research

projects on the retina investigate cellular and

for the treatment of Leber hereditary optic

molecular mechanisms underlying injury,

neuropathy (LHON), as well as his research

loss of functionality, and death of retinal

on optic neuritis, multiple sclerosis, and

ganglion cells, which is a fundamental

other diseases caused by mutations in

clinical problem and the cause of blindness

mitochondrial DNA.

in many human diseases.

With research supported by the National

Guided by Byron Lam, founding medical

John Guy, M.D.

director of Bascom Palmer’s Center for

Institutes of Health and private foundations,

Hereditary Eye Diseases, Bascom Palmer’s

Abigail S. Hackam, Ph.D., research professor

team continues to be at the forefront of the fast-growing field of gene therapy – as well as virtually every other field in ophthalmology.

Abigail Hackam, Ph.D.

related macular degeneration, as well as glaucoma and inherited diseases. One focus

innovations include an instrument to assess

is on specifically modifying the retinal

light sensitivity of patients undergoing gene

damage responses in order to halt disease

therapy and an instrument to treat patients

diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa and

“Using the advanced tools of the 21st century,

progression and promote tissue repair

with corneal infections. Under development are

including genetics, cellular biology, molecular

and regeneration. Several years ago, she

an optical system to visualize aqueous humor

diagnostics, biotechnology, imaging, and

found that a diet enriched with grapes had

scleral outflow, subminiature implants releasing

artificial intelligence, our researchers are

a beneficial impact, and is now looking at

medications to treat glaucoma, a biocompatible

poised for another exciting decade of

repurposing growth factors to stimulate

titanium keratoprosthesis (artificial cornea) for

discoveries to prevent and cure eye diseases.”

the development of new nerve fibers called

patients not amenable to cornea transplant, and

axons in laboratory models.

several diagnostic instruments.

choroideremia.

For example, in 2018, with his sight steadily worsening due to a blinding inherited condition, 9-year-old Creed Pettit became the first patient to undergo a landmark gene therapy surgery at Bascom Palmer. Creed was diagnosed at age 2 with Leber congenital amaurosis, a disease caused by an RPE65 genetic mutation. His family came to Bascom Palmer to find a treatment for his condition.

Audina M. Berrocal, M.D., (fellow 2001), a pediatric retinal surgeon and professor of clinical ophthalmology, injected Luxterna®, a product developed by Spark Therapeutics that makes the photoreceptor cells on the retina produce a protein that people with the RPE65 genetic mutation lack.

Professor of clinical ophthalmology Ninel Z. Gregori, M.D., (fellow 2006), has also been involved in pivotal clinical trials focusing on gene therapy for inherited retinal diseases as well as embryonic stem cell-derived RPE cell transplantation for age-related macular degeneration and Stargardt disease. She performed the first Argus II retinal prosthesis implantation in Florida.

“From its foundation, our Institute’s success has been inspired and sustained by novel bench-to-bedside and clinical research,” BASCOM PALMER EYE INSTITUTE

treatments to protect the retina in age-

Davis, has performed more than 100 subretinal director of research, and holder of the James L. Knight Professorship in Ophthalmology. gene therapy procedures for inherited retinal

Bascom Palmer’s surgical team, led by Janet

44

of ophthalmology, is investigating new Vittorio Porciatti, D.Sc.

said Vittorio Porciatti, D.Sc., vice chair and

Exploring new fields In the past decade, Bascom Palmer’s scientists have continued to explore new fields. For instance, Porciatti pioneered a non-invasive electrophysiological tool called PERG (pattern electroretinography) to identify problems with the optic nerve neurons before they die – a critical step in treating LHON to prevent loss of vision.

“One of the great things about Bascom Palmer is the wide-ranging expertise of the faculty,” said Hackam, the Institute’s director

impact research such

of laboratory research. “There are many

as gene therapy, stem

collaborative studies underway involving

cell therapy, and gene

innovative approaches to imaging, medical

editing therapy,” said

therapies, and surgical procedures.”

Porciatti. “Our other

Today’s priorities

Another scientist and professor of

Bascom Palmer’s tradition of innovation

ophthalmology, Sanjoy K. Bhattacharya,

shows no signs of letting up, despite the

Ph.D., is using mass spectrometry to study

challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

the structural and functional damage that

“Reduced laboratory time slowed progress

occurs to the trabecular meshwork and optic

of ongoing experiments but allowed our

nerve in glaucoma. “Our combined proteomic

scientists to produce more papers and grant

and lipidomic approach is providing new

submissions using available data,” said

insights into the pathophysiology of

Porciatti.

glaucoma,” he said.

Valery I. Shestopalov, Ph.D., a professor

“In the next few years, the Institute will be promoting high-

Responding to the pandemic, the Institute’s Ophthalmic Biophysics

of ophthalmology and molecular cell

Center team developed a web-controlled

biologist – whose research projects in the

robotized slit-lamp useful for remote

retina investigate cellular and molecular

patient examinations from anywhere in

mechanisms underlying injury, loss of

the world and useful in a pandemic. Other

Audina Berrocal, M.D., with 9-year-old Creed Pettit in 2018,who said, “I could see a rainbow for the first time,” following his gene therapy surgery.

priorities include developing new technology such as biomaterials, drug delivery vehicles, and imaging instruments.

Our key strengths include our faculty, residents, and fellows. Our ability to bring scientists and clinicians together for the benefit of patients will continue to drive innovation throughout the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute.”

60 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE

45

Timeline of Achievements 1962

2001

Carmen A. Puliafito M.D.’s, inventive work in retinal imaging using optical coherence tomography gives ophthalmologists around the world new diagnostic and treatment tools.

Bascom Palmer Eye Institute opens as the first full-service eye center in the Southeastern United States.

1966

Donald M. Gass, M.D., pioneers the use of intravenous fluorescein angiography for the diagnosis and treatment of retinal disorders, including macular degeneration.

1969

Edward W.D. Norton, M.D., describes use of intraocular air and gases to treat retinal detachment.

Bascom Palmer Eye Institute’s story dates back to the 1920s when Bascom H. Palmer, M.D., opened one of Miami’s first ophthalmology practices. His dream was to establish an eye clinic dedicated to saving sight and preventing blindness.

Looking to the future with hope, he predicted Miami would eventually be home to an ophthalmology institute second to none in the nation.

The opening in 1962 of Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, named in honor of Dr. Bascom Palmer, was the first step in the long journey to the Institute’s global leadership in ophthalmology. Under the dynamic 33-year leadership of Edward W.D. Norton, M.D., and the chairs who followed him, Bascom Palmer has become one of the world’s foremost academic centers for scientific discovery and clinical innovation.

As Bascom Palmer Eye Institute looks ahead to the next 60 years, it will continue to be guided by Dr. Norton’s words, “The patient’s needs always come first.”

46

BASCOM PALMER EYE INSTITUTE

1974

Richard K. Forster, M.D., pioneers the use of intraocular antibiotics for endophthalmitis.

1988 Paul F. Palmberg, M.D., Ph.D., redefines glaucoma treatment throughout the world by determining the proper “target pressure” in the eye.

1991 William Smiddy, M.D., is among the first physicians to perform surgery to close a macular hole.

1993 William W.

1976

Douglas R. Anderson, M.D., discovers that elevated intraocular pressure impairs axonal transport in the optic nerve and is affected by glaucoma.

1970 Robert Machemer, M.D., performs the world’s first pars plana vitrectomy for retinal detachment.

1970

Biomedical engineer JeanMarie Parel, Ph.D., begins a 50-year journey of inventing or improving more than 350 ophthalmic instruments.

1984

Richard K. Parrish II, M.D., introduces the drug 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) to prevent the growth of scar tissue following glaucoma surgery.

Culbertson, M.D., identifies the herpes virus as a cause of acute retinal necrosis, a devastating infection of the retina.

1994

U.S. News & World Report names Bascom Palmer the #1 eye hospital in the country, an honor it receives time and time again.

1998 William W. Culbertson, M.D., performs the first successful posterior lamellar endothelial transplantation.

1974

John T. Flynn, M.D., discovers the appropriate amount of oxygen to be used in incubators will save the retina and vision of infants with retinopathy of prematurity.

1986

David T. Tse, M.D., introduces the use of intra-arterial chemotherapy to treat lethal lacrimal gland cancer.

2006 Philip J. Rosenfeld, M.D., Ph.D., pioneers the treatment for the wet form of age-related macular degeneration using a cancerfighting drug named Avastin®, forever changing the course of treatment for this blinding disease.

2006 Eduardo C. Alfonso, M.D., unravels the mystery behind a world-wide outbreak of fungal infections among contact lens users.

2015

Janet L. Davis, M.D., and Ninel Z. Gregori, M.D., perform the first “Bionic Eye” implantation procedure in Florida.

2016

Alana Grajewski, M.D., performs life-changing pediatric glaucoma surgery that restores sight to a blind toddler from Brazil.

2018

Led by Audina Berrocal, M.D., a Bascom Palmer surgical team using leading-edge gene therapy for an inherited eye disorder, restores sight to a 9-year-old boy.

2020

Bascom Palmer’s new developments in telemedicine make eye care safer and more efficient for patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.

2011

Byron Lam, M.D., discovers a key gene of retinitis pigmentosa.

2013

Guillermo Amescua, M.D., performs the first mother-son corneal transplant in South Florida history.

2022

Bascom Palmer’s Artificial Intelligence and Computer Augmented Vision Laboratory, led by Mohamed Abou Shousha, M.D., Ph.D., is leading the way to transform vision diagnostics and personalized vision correction.

2014 1999

Carol L. Karp, M.D., pioneers the use of interferon for treatment of ocular surface squamous neoplasia.

John Guy, M.D., pioneers gene therapy techniques for treating Leber Hereditary Optic Neuropathy.

60 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE

47

C H A P T E R 4

In 2022, the Bascom Palmer residency program was ranked #1 in the nation by Doximity.

The residency class of 2022: (front row) chief residents Diana Laura, M.D., Kenneth Fan, M.D., (middle row) Julia Hudson, M.D., Daniela ReyesCapó, M.D., Anne Kunkler, M.D., (back row) Jesse Sengillo, M.D., Kevin Clauss, M.D., David Wade Redick, M.D., Humberto Salazar III, M.D.

Training Generations of Clinicians and Researchers In 1973, three years after Robert Machemer

and ophthalmology residents. “Gradually,

performed the world’s first pars plana

the voluntary faculty grew to include many

vitrectomy at Bascom Palmer, top retinal

former residents and fellows who remained

surgeons from around the globe gathered at

in private practice in South Florida after

Key Biscayne, Florida for the meeting of the

completing their training at Bascom Palmer,”

prestigious Club Jules Gonin. Edward Norton

said Jerome (Jerry) P. Fisher, M.D., (resident

invited Jean-Marie Parel to demonstrate

1980), president of the Bascom Palmer

the new VISC system that Machemer and

Alumni Association. From its earliest years,

Parel had conceived. After Parel and the Bascom Palmer’s Ophthalmic Biophysics Center produced 13 automated VISC systems, Norton gave the equipment to the retinal specialists attending the meeting and soon launched a training program for ophthalmologists who wanted to perform vitrectomies using this new equipment.

“Dr. Norton felt this was the best way to help patients around the world,” said Parel.

“The patients could not all come to Bascom Palmer, but we could train the top clinicians to begin doing these procedures in their own countries.

Soon afterward, Norton gave the handdrawn VISC designs and a prototype to a West German surgical instrument company rather than patent the system. Before long, several manufacturers had entered the

when ophthalmology was a division of the

market. “The technology companies had the

medical school’s department of surgery,

funds to accelerate development far beyond

private practitioners contributed their time

our capabilities,” added Parel.

and expertise to teaching students about

This is just one early example of how

of the eye. “After the founding of Bascom

information has enabled Bascom Palmer

Palmer, Dr. Norton continued to foster a

to gain an international reputation for

mutually beneficial relationship with the

ophthalmology leadership in education – a

community ophthalmologists who helped

role that the Institute’s scientists, clinicians,

teach residents and fellows and provided

and educators have embraced through the

the referral source for many patients,” Fisher

decades.

added. “Dr. Norton encouraged community

The voluntary faculty At its inception, Bascom Palmer had only two faculty members. Therefore, Norton relied on volunteer ophthalmologists from the community to teach medical students 48

BASCOM PALMER EYE INSTITUTE

the diagnosis and treatment of disorders

the tradition of unselfish sharing of

First residency class with Victor Curtin, M.D., (left) and Edward Norton, M.D., (right): (front row) Norman Sanders, M.D., Bernd Silver, M.D. (back row) James Major, M.D., Norman Ballin, M.D., Robert Mickatavage, M.D.

physicians to bring in patients with interesting or unusual eye illnesses to Grand Rounds on Thursday mornings, or to staff clinics for the physicians-in-training.”

In addition to David Kasner, who taught cataract surgery to residents for more than 60 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE

49

“Bascom Palmer played a pivotal role in the advance of intraocular lenses, and Dr. Norton was a great ally in what has been called one of the world’s greatest medical innovations as far as improving the quality of life.”

– Norman Jaffe, M.D.

30 years, Richard Shugarman, M.D., was another notable community physician who taught hundreds of residents and fellows throughout his 50-year affiliation with the Institute. Serving as a volunteer faculty member, his involvement in the resident contact lens clinic was legendary.

Harry Horwich, M.D., taught pediatric ophthalmology to residents; Richard Tenzel, M.D., (honorary alumnus), one of Florida’s first oculoplastic surgeons, donated his time for 25 years to teaching oculoplastic surgery; and Ralph Kirsch, M.D., (honorary alumnus), taught residents about glaucoma and cataract surgery.

In addition, Gordon Miller, David J. Singer, M.D. (fellow 1969), and Myron Tanenbaum, M.D., (resident 1985), provided oculoplastics training for residents rotating through the Miami V.A. Hospital. Al Smith, M.D., and members of his group of pediatric ophthalmologists at Miami Children’s Hospital (now called Nicklaus Children’s Hospital) provided assistance in the pediatric ophthalmology clinics, and Wilson (“Bill”) Wallace, M.D., (resident, chief resident 1974), and William R. Stiles, M.D., (resident 1974), drove each week for decades from Boca Raton to attend Grand Rounds and assist residents in the clinics. Another voluntary faculty member, Henry M. Clayman, M.D., (resident 1972, former faculty), made himself available to the residents at Grand Rounds and in the clinic during his active practice as well as in his retirement, always sharing his knowledge with the house staff.

Since the 1960s, Bascom Palmer’s clinicians and scientists have been wellrecognized leaders in clinical care. To take just one example, cataract specialist Norman S. Jaffe, M.D., was one of Bascom Palmer’s early attending physicians and voluntary faculty members. He had a special interest in cataract extractions and wrote a textbook in 1972, Cataract Surgery and its Complications, that went through six editions.

Jaffe was also one of the first U.S. physicians to use intraocular lenses in cataract surgery, implanting the first ones on December 4, 1967. “I did six cases and five

50

BASCOM PALMER EYE INSTITUTE

Daniel Albert, M.D., (center), founding director of the University of Wisconsin McPherson Eye Research Institute, is surrounded by Bascom Palmer faculty members, residents and fellows in the Dr. and Mrs. Ralph Kirsch Rare Book Room.

Henry Clayman, M.D., and Norman Jaffe, M.D.

more the following day,” he recalled. “These 11 patients were so excited to have a lens rather than aphakic spectacles.”

At the time, lens implants were a controversial topic in academic medicine, as some ophthalmologists felt the implant

Bascom Palmer’s Crown Jewel

would create ongoing problems. After 243

Building a library of ophthalmology was

implant cases were completed in Miami,

always a central focus of Norton’s vision.

Norton asked the local ophthalmologists

He often said, “Without a library, each

in private practice to begin a two-year

generation must start from scratch. By

moratorium on new procedures to determine

studying the literature of the last half of the

whether there were any complications.

nineteenth and the first three-quarters of the

After the two-year moratorium, the

twentieth century, one can readily appreciate

Bascom Palmer physicians found that the

the accelerated evolution of knowledge and

implants gave much better vision than the

easily predict that a similar process will

prior “Coke bottle bottom” lenses without

continue at an ever-increasing rate into the

ongoing problems. When the favorable report

21st century.”

was presented, ophthalmologists around

Bascom Palmer’s ophthalmic library

the world resumed the procedure with rigid

was established shortly after the Institute

guidelines for lens implants. Jaffe became

first opened in 1962. Although at the

Bartisch: Ophthalmodouleia Das ist Augendienst

president of the new American Intraocular

time if offered little more than a handful

(1686), published 103 years after the original

Lens Society in 1974 and Norton chaired a

of ophthalmological books transferred

edition. A 1613 book on depth perception

1975 symposium on lens implants for the

from the University of Miami School of

with drawings by Peter Paul Rubens, as well

American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO),

Medicine’s Library, Norton envisioned it

as books on optics by Johann Kepler (1611),

even though he was not a cataract surgeon

as ultimately becoming a repository for all

Rene Descartes (1664), and Sir Isaac Newton

himself.

ophthalmic literature – the most complete

(1704), are also in the collection. In addition

ophthalmological collection in the world.

to modern textbooks, the Norton Library

Lens Implants became a landmark, giving

Thanks to his commitment, generous

includes more than 250 ophthalmic journals

the implant credibility and respectability.

contributors, and the energy and dedication

and old periodicals from around the world

“Nowhere else had there been a study

of Reva Hurtes – the founding library director

including Germany, Great Britain, Italy, and

where physicians would stop doing a certain

who served from 1962-2004 – Norton’s vision

France – some dating from the 1880s.

procedure at the request of an academic

has been fulfilled.

The so-called Miami Study of Intraocular

medical center,” said Jaffe. “Bascom Palmer

Through the years, more than 15,000

Norton Library architectural rendering

In 1987, on the 25th anniversary of the Institute, the library was formally dedicated

played a pivotal role in the advance of

books have been collected, including rare

and named the Mary and Edward Norton

intraocular lenses, and Dr. Norton was a

and historical texts dating back to the 1400s,

Library of Ophthalmology.

great ally in what has been called one of the

some not found anywhere else in the world.

world’s greatest medical innovations as far as

The Dr. and Mrs. Ralph Kirsch Rare Book

renovation. Upon completion, the library will

improving the quality of life.”

Room, known as the crown jewel of Bascom

comprise the Rare Book Room, Global Center

Palmer, preserves 3,000 books dating from

for Ophthalmic Education, offices for the

1496 to 1900, including an exceptionally

residency education and continuing medical

rare copy of the second edition of Georg

education teams, study rooms for residents

The library is undergoing extensive

60 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE

51

the other great U.S. residency programs,” said Hudson.

“First of all, this is a very welcoming center with plenty of support from faculty and fellows,” she said. “In addition, we get a rich exposure to a high volume of very diverse patients, seeing unusual conditions.

Bascom Palmer also allows us to follow our patients from start to finish, preparing us for successful practices in the future.”

Under Gedde’s remarkable 22-year tenure as Bascom Palmer’s residency program director, the program has established

The José A. Berrocal, M.D., Auditorium

attracting a growing pool of highly qualified

associate director. Both have been actively

candidates. “For 60 years, education has

engaged with residents for many years

been an integral part of our mission,” he

while developing innovative approaches to

said. “The success of our residency program

ophthalmic education.

was renamed in his honor. The sophisticated

a very talented faculty who are deeply

excellence, said Alabiad, a professor of

Norton Library for the 21st century will be

closed-circuit TV system allows real-time

committed to teaching the next generation of

clinical ophthalmology and assistant dean

a place where our doctors can gather for

images of diagnostic and surgical procedures

ophthalmologists, as well as our leadership

for student affairs at the Miller School. “We

individual and group study, in a people-

from the operating room to be transmitted to

team, which provides unwavering support for

have great opportunities to blend virtual and

centric, technology-rich environment.

the observers in the auditorium.

medical education.”

digital learning tools with clinical, laboratory,

Edith and Earl Retter Education Center. The Retters, patients of Drs. Gass and Norton, donated $800,000 toward the construction of a state-of-the-art teaching facility.

“Education typically is not as well supported as research,” said Richard Forster. “This gift provided a major step forward for our entire program and helped expand the Institute’s educational mission of advancing ophthalmic knowledge.”

Shortly after the center opened, Coral Gables ophthalmologist James C. Major Sr., M.D., (resident, chief resident 1963), said, “I can bring interesting and unusual patients to Grand Rounds. This benefits our group

For more than 40 years, the center has

and classroom instruction. We must be

been home to the Institute’s Grand Rounds,

and training, Bascom Palmer has often

ready to adapt our residency training to new

held regularly on Thursday mornings for

received the #1 ranking of ophthalmology

conditions since we never know what lies

Bascom Palmer’s faculty, residents, fellows,

residency programs in the United States

ahead in the future.”

and South Florida physicians, regularly

by Doximity, the largest community of

attracting more than 100 ophthalmologists.

healthcare professionals in the country, and

ophthalmology, added, “We have brilliant

Through the decades, the Institute has

Sridhar, an associate professor of clinical

by Ophthalmology Times. In recent American

students and it is a privilege to serve as

continually expanded its robust calendar of

College of Graduate Medical Education

associate director.” Sridhar has developed an

events in the education center. Under the

(ACGME) surveys, 100 percent of residents

educational retina podcast, Straight from the

leadership of Steven Gedde, the Institute’s

and 100 percent of faculty members were

Cutter’s Mouth, that has attracted a worldwide

year-round calendar of in-person, online

“very positive” (highest rating) in evaluating

ophthalmic audience. He also hosts Experts

and hybrid events, including Grand Rounds,

the program.

InSight, a podcast for the American Academy

continuing medical education courses,

In 2021, Chris Raif Alabiad, M.D.,

of Ophthalmology.

an esteemed distinguished lecture series,

(resident, fellow 2010), succeeded Gedde

Each year, Bascom Palmer welcomes

and the popular Inter-American Course in

as the residency program director with

seven new residents to the program. In

Clinical Ophthalmology (CURSO), continues to grow.

because it increases our professional

A dynamic residency program

exposure to rare and unusual cases.”

Growing up in the Midwest, Julia Hudson,

In 2011, the Berrocal family graciously

With its deep commitment to education

The 2022 residency class

“Our program has a long tradition of

and fellows, and a conference room. This

In 1980, Bascom Palmer dedicated the

BASCOM PALMER EYE INSTITUTE

Jayanth Sridhar, M.D., (resident 2014), as

is the result of a collaborative effort among

A hemispheric conference center

52

a worldwide reputation for excellence,

Residents and fellows at work

M.D., (resident 2022), set her sights on

provided the leading gift to completely

becoming a doctor. After earning her medical

renovate the center’s auditorium. To honor

degree at the University of Pennsylvania,

the ophthalmology legacy started by José A.

she chose Bascom Palmer for her residency

Berrocal, M.D., Bascom Palmer’s first fellow,

training in ophthalmology. “There are several

(fellow 1964), the 180-seat conference hall

things that set Bascom Palmer apart from

60 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE

53

Residents and fellows enjoying the Miami lifestyle

the past, residents spent their first year

underserved areas of South Florida while

level of ethics and professionalism while

after graduating from medical school

working with and mentoring University of

building a diverse medical workforce to

degree program is to support entrepreneurs

(“internship”) at a program of their choice,

Miami students for volunteerism and what

serve our multicultural patient population,”

who can bring vision discoveries from the

and then matriculated into the Bascom

is often their first exposure to hands-on

he said. “Our other goals include providing

bench to the patient, said Bhattacharya.

Palmer Eye Institute’s ophthalmology

ophthalmology,” Gedde added.

our residents with laboratory and clinical

Toward that end, Bascom Palmer collaborates

research experiences to help them lay

with UM’s Herbert Business School to develop

residency program for their second, third, and fourth years of post-graduate

program has been at the forefront of

the groundwork for future medical

financial, marketing, and management skills.

ophthalmology training. In 2021, the

deploying virtual learning tools, even before

breakthroughs.”

Students in the MVSIO program also benefit

program transitioned to an integrated format

the COVID-19 pandemic led to a worldwide

where the seven incoming residents spend

transition in medical education. For instance,

their internship year at Jackson Memorial

Bascom Palmer had already introduced a

Hospital/University of Miami as part of the

multifaceted surgical curriculum – including

internal medicine department. During this

simulation training – to assist residents in

exciting year, the residents spend three

transitioning to “live” patients.

months learning ophthalmology under the

revising the didactic lecture series,

faculty both at the Institute and at the Miami

expanding the social services department,

Veterans Affairs Hospital. Thereafter, they

developing a formal mentoring program

will spend the next three years completing

where incoming residents are paired with

an ophthalmology residency training

upper-level residents and faculty members,

program at Bascom Palmer.

and establishing regular conferences

is very steep, and this allows our new trainees to learn from attending physicians

with residents and faculty that focus on optimizing patient care and safety.

For several years, Alabiad has been

and residents while being exposed to the

involved in the Miller School’s transition to

different fields of ophthalmology,” Sridhar

the NextGen curriculum, which includes

said. “We were pleased to grow our program

virtual learning tools, and “flipped

and now have 28 residents in our Bascom

classroom” experiences where students do

Palmer family.”

their homework before attending a class. He

One of the program’s special features

has been a leader in introducing simulation

is an international elective that allows

training, as well as building collaborative

residents to gain firsthand experiences

international educational relationships.

about delivering vision care in underserved

“We are actively working with professionals

regions of the world. “Before the pandemic,

in Mexico and Europe to create validation

our residents traveled the world to such

studies for these simulations as we bring

locations as India, Ethiopia, Guatemala,

them into our program,” he said.

Ecuador, Argentina, and Haiti,” said Gedde.

“Additionaly, closer to home, our residents

BASCOM PALMER EYE INSTITUTE

Other highlights in recent years include

supervision of Bascom Palmer Eye Institute

“The learning curve for ophthalmology

54

Meanwhile, the Institute’s residency

One of the Institute’s goals for the master’s

Looking ahead, Alabiad plans to build on the program’s strong foundation to provide

have also organized outreach programs to

high-quality relevant training to today’s

provide free screening eye examinations in

residents. “We want to maintain the highest

Master’s program in vision science Five years ago, Bascom Palmer launched the Master of Science in Vision Science and Investigative Ophthalmology (MVSIO), a unique graduate degree focused on basic and translational eye research. Like other Bascom Palmer educational programs, the MVSIO attracts students from throughout the U.S. and beyond and had seven graduates last year.

“Our MVSIO program prepares students of different backgrounds for an academic career as physician-scientists or researchers as well as developing entrepreneurial and management skills that can lead to

from access to a diverse professional network, including attorneys, financiers, accountants, and other specialists.

Bhattacharya also founded a researchindustry translation program for UM Miller School of Medicine doctoral students in all specialties. “We invite business executives and other leaders from Palm Beach, Broward, and Miami-Dade counties to take part in student-run roundtables,” he said. “This helps our students build presentation skills while planting seeds for future commercial partnerships. The students also learn how to write applications for National Institutes of Health grants.”

Sanjoy Bhattacharya, Ph.D., (left), and MVSIO students

rewarding careers in the private sector,” said Sanjoy K. Bhattacharya, Ph.D., professor of ophthalmology and graduate program director.

“The program’s curriculum includes laboratory research with experimental models, advanced computing and analytic tools, such as analyzing big data sets to identify drug targets and molecules that will respond to those targets,” said Bhattacharya.

“For researchers, we discuss how to obtain federal grants and manage funding streams for long-term continuity in the laboratory,” he added. “We also focus on navigating the regulatory issues related to investigational drugs and devices.

60 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE

55

show students how to use natural language processing tools to digitize the findings in

Global Center for Ophthalmic Education

written studies printed in different languages

In 2019, Bascom Palmer launched the

from the 1750s to the 1990s. About 35 to 40

Global Center for Ophthalmic Education,

students take part in those study sessions,

incorporating all aspects of ophthalmic

and scientific information to the ophthalmic

which have already resulted in two scholarly

education, including continuing medical

community and take advantage of our

papers published in the journal Annals

education (CME), residency and fellowship

location to advance education throughout

of Eye Science. Other students are sifting

programs, Grand Rounds, observerships,

the Americas and beyond,” Serrano said.

through molecular studies related to neural

a distinguished lecture series, and

degeneration in digital format from 1990 to 2022.

Luis Vazquez, M.D.

Building a pipeline To develop a robust and diverse pipeline

international collaborations.

“The global center coordinates our many

As the pandemic recedes, Bascom Palmer is planning to relaunch its in-person meetings, lectures, and other programs.

“This student research helps advance

educational offerings and supports Bascom

“We will undoubtedly offer them in a hybrid

our understanding of nerve regeneration in

Palmer’s professional learning at every level

format so learners can also attend virtually,”

different species,” said Bhattacharya. “We are

in virtually any location,” said Maria Serrano

added Serrano. “By keeping the online

now collaborating with 15 other laboratories

Brosco, executive director. “We were also

component, we will continue to meet the

worldwide, combining varied data sets

able to pivot to virtual platforms to continue

evolving needs of students, trainees, and

in a multiomics approach that hopefully

our educational leadership despite the

vision professionals from Europe, Asia, Africa,

will lead to new insights and potential

challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Australia, and the Americas.”

“Bascom Palmer also partners with

of future vision specialists, Bascom Palmer

treatments in the future.” Bhattacharya also

One recent development was the launch

offers educational opportunities to medical

created the Miami Integrative Metalobomics

of bascompalmerlearn.org. This new portal

ophthalmic societies and institutions around

students as well as undergraduates and

Research Center which is doing cutting-

provides free access to a wide range of

the world, including the Colombian Society

students in high school.

edge work encompassing collaboration of

vision-related content, including CME

of Ophthalmology and the Pan-American

interdisciplinary investigators within the

courses, ophthalmic images, surgical videos,

Association of Ophthalmology,” said Serrano.

of Medicine, as well as other institutions,

University as well as other major institutions,

lectures, and courses for medical students.

“That multiplies the Institute’s impact on all

rotate at our program,” said Gedde. “During

making Bascom Palmer one of the top

As of early 2022, just one year after its

aspects of vision care.”

the pandemic, our team developed a remote

centers for mass spectrometry in the eye.

launch, the portal had 14,000 users in more

Training future leaders

“Medical students from the Miller School

program where students could view eye

than 100 countries with 110,000 unique page

surgeries while a faculty member narrated

views. “We are fortunate to have the financial

the procedure.”

support to offer so much content free-of-

For graduate, undergraduate, and high

charge to eye care professionals around the

school students interested in medical

world,” said Serrano.

research, Bhattacharya has also incorporated

Lectures, images, and videos are posted

learning opportunities into his laboratory

to the portal regularly, including residents’

studies on the regeneration of axons, the

daily case presentations. “We want to

tiny nerve cell fibers that send signals to

communicate Bascom Palmer’s latest clinical

muscles. “When there is severe damage to

Medical education is one of the most important and successful components of the Institute’s mission. Today, there are 48 chairs of academic medical center programs in the U.S. and beyond who have trained at Bascom Palmer. To take just one example, Robert Machemer left Bascom Palmer in 1978 to become chair of Duke University’s department of ophthalmology.

the spinal column, the ability to move hands, fingers, arms, or legs may be lost,” he said. “If the optic nerve is damaged due to glaucoma or trauma, for example, the result can be loss of vision or blindness.”

Nerve regeneration has been one of the holy grails of medicine for the last 275 years, said Bhattacharya. In 2020, Bhattacharya began holding regular weekend sessions with business school faculty members to

Sanjoy Bhattacharya, Ph.D.

56

BASCOM PALMER EYE INSTITUTE

60 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE

57

“Many of our resident and fellow

“Our educational programs disseminate medical knowledge around the world and help elevate the quality of care delivered to patients.”

– Steven Gedde, M.D.

John C. Merritt, M.D., (fellow 1975) who was

graduates become leaders in academic

Bascom Palmer’s first Black fellow, joined

institutions, where they train future

the faculty of Howard University College of

generations of ophthalmologists,” said

Medicine in 1975, where he later became the

Gedde. “Our educational programs

chair of the division of ophthalmology within

disseminate medical knowledge around the

the department of surgery. Merritt was a

world and help elevate the quality of care

pioneer in the medical use of marijuana as a

delivered to patients.”

treatment for glaucoma.

One of those international leaders is

Noting the ongoing influence of the

Martine Jager, M.D., Ph.D., (fellow 1990).

Institute’s graduates, former director John

Now a professor of ophthalmology at

Clarkson said, “The esprit de corps that exists

Leiden University Medical Center in The

at Bascom Palmer is widely recognized

Netherlands, Jager in 2007 became the first

by other institutions with an eye toward

non-U.S. president of the Association for

transferring our culture as an added benefit

Research in Vision and Ophthalmology

of hiring a faculty member.”

(ARVO), the largest eye and vision research organization in the world.

“After I had finished my training in Amsterdam to become an ophthalmologist, I realized I wanted to combine clinical care with research,” Jager said. “I visited Bascom Palmer and attended Grand Rounds, and was astounded at the level of the faculty.”

Reflecting on her cornea fellowship, Jager said, “At Bascom Palmer, I learned to look not just at the cornea, but everything around it, and to listen to the patient to identify the problem. Today, I teach my residents to do the same thing. They need to investigate all the parts of the eye as well as the ocular surface. I believe in the Bascom Palmer philosophy of treating the person – not just the eye.”

In the 1970s, Mizuo Matsui M.D., (research fellow 1972), was the first ophthalmologist to perform vitrectomies in Japan, and later became president of the Japanese Ophthalmological Society. “There is a strong tradition at Bascom Palmer of training the leading vitreous surgeons of the world,” said William Smiddy, a specialist in macular diseases and diabetic retinopathy.

“Many of today’s department chairs and senior ophthalmologists around the world completed their training and fellowships here in the 1970s and 80s.” Smiddy is recognized worldwide for his extensive, high-quality clinical research regarding complications of anterior segment surgery.

Making an impact Bascom Palmer faculty members have also been active volunteer leaders in regional, national and international ophthalmology associations. Presidents of the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) include Norton in 1980 and George Blankenship in 2001. Douglas Anderson, David Greenfield,

BASCOM PALMER EYE INSTITUTE

48 graduates of Bascom Palmer’s training programs have become ophthalmology department chairmen at medical schools and teaching hospitals throughout the world.

UNITED STATES Saint Louis University

John Clarkson, M.D. Richard Parrish II, M.D. Eduardo Alfonso, M.D.

Oscar Cruz, M.D.

Baylor College of Medicine Dan Jones, M.D.

Boston University Stephen Christiansen, M.D.

Case Western Reserve University Douglas Rhee, M.D.

Cleveland Clinic Froncie Guttman, M.D.

Columbia University

as presidents of the American Glaucoma

Stanley Chang, M.D.

Society, as has Donald L. Budenz, M.D., M.P.H.,

Cornell University

(fellow 1992, former faculty), who is now chair of the department of ophthalmology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Richard Parrish, a member of the Academia Ophthalmologica Internationalis, is the editor-in-chief of the American Journal of Ophthalmology and served as president of the American Ophthalmological Society. In 2021, the American Glaucoma Society recognized

INTERNATIONAL

University of Miami

and Kuldev Singh (fellow 1992), have served

Donald D’Amico, M.D.

Stanford University

Temple University

Queen’s University, Ontario, Canada

Jeffrey Henderer, M.D.

University of Alabama Lanning Kline, M.D.

University of Arkansas John Shock, M.D.

University of Chicago William Mieler, M.D.

University of Florida

Edward Buckley, M.D. Robert Machemer, M.D.

University of Illinois

Elena Barraquer, M.D. Per Soderberg, M.D.

University of Nebraska

Ray Jui-Fang Tsai, M.D.

Raymond Records, M.D.

Greater Baltimore Medical Center

Baskent University, Turkey

University of North Carolina

Dilek Dursun, M.D.

Jayne Weiss, M.D.

Gregory Skuta, M.D.

Medical College of Georgia

University of Texas Southwestern

Malcolm Luxenberg, M.D.

J. William Harbour, M.D.

Medical College of Wisconsin

University of Virginia

is director of the glaucoma service at Bascom

Mount Sinai Health System

University of Washington

Palmer’s practice at Plantation.

James Tsai, M.D.

Philip P. Chen, M.D.

Pennsylvania State University

Wayne State University

George Blankenship, M.D. David Quillen, M.D.

Yale University

members from more than 35 countries in the

University of Lubeck, Germany Horst Laqua, M.D.

Thomas Aaberg Sr., M.D.

Emory University

Brian Conway, M.D.

(PAAO), an international organization with

Freidrich Kruse, M.D.

Chuang-Gung Memorial Hospital, Taiwan

Dale Heuer, M.D.

Eduardo Alfonso served as president of the

University of Erlangen, Germany

Jose Pulido, M.D

Wellik, a professor of clinical ophthalmology,

Pan-American Association of Ophthalmology

Juan Batlle, M.D.

Uppsala University, Sweden

Joern B. Soltau, M.D.

University of Oklahoma

(fellow 2007), and Sarah Wellik, (fellow 2005).

Hospital Dr. Elias Santana, Dominican Republic

University of Louisville

Duke University

Louisiana State University

including Stephen Schwartz, Krishna Kishor,

Martin van Hove, M.D.

University of Barcelona, Spain

Society and the field of ophthalmology.

of the Florida Society of Ophthalmology,

Steven Gilberg, M.D.

William Driebe, M.D. Sonal Tuli, M.D.

Charles Wilkinson, M.D.

members have also served as president

Ana Hofling-Lima, M.D.

University of Ottawa

Parrish for his lifetime contribution to the Three of Bascom Palmer’s current faculty

Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Brazil

Mark Blumenkranz, M.D. Jeffrey Goldberg, M.D.

Donald Budenz, M.D.

Western Hemisphere. Carol Karp is now the 58

Leadership in Education and Training

Gary Abrams, M.D. James Tsai, M.D. 60 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE

59

America and the Caribbean with the latest

Bascom Palmer and other institutions. It

was also honored with the University of

fellow, chief resident 1984), who studied the

information on the diagnosis and treatment

was a wonderful, interactive, educational,

Monterrey’s Catedra Laboris designation,

prevention of blindness. Since then, he has

of vision diseases and disorders.

and social meeting.” During the pandemic,

akin to an honorary chair, after signing a

been engaged in numerous collaborative

cooperation agreement with the Fundación

projects world-wide and has transformed

by Eduardo Alfonso, Carol Karp, and Paul

Ojos para México (the Eye Foundation for

eye care and education in the Dominican

Palmberg, the course material is presented

Mexico) to promote ophthalmic research,

Republic and Latin America.

with simultaneous English-Spanish

physicians in other parts of the world,

translation. One of the CURSO highlights

Bascom Palmer is committed to global

president-elect of the organization. Alfonso

knowledge-sharing, and student outreach.

One example is Juan Batlle, (resident,

William Culbertson collaborated with him

Now in its 43rd year, and currently directed

CURSO attracted many more attendees in its virtual education platform.

When training or consulting with

More recently, he received the prestigious

in clinical studies during the early 2000s on

is the annual Francisco E. Fantes, M.D.

leadership. As Gedde said, “I believe there is

2020 Claes H. Dohlman, M.D. Award

a new form of cataract laser surgery, which

Distinguished Lecture, named in memory of

tremendous potential to positively impact

presented by the Cornea Society and Eye

soon afterward was approved by the U.S.

the dedicated and beloved Bascom Palmer

patient care through education. Graduating

Bank Association of America, and has just

Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Batlle

physician and educator.

residents and fellows can elevate the quality

begun a three-year initial term commitment

also collaborated with Jean-Marie Parel in

on the board of directors of the National

clinical trials of an innovative micro-drainage

one of the most important things that have

local communities. As they educate other

Alliance for Eye and Vision Research and

shunt in glaucoma patients, which is

been done here,” said Norton.

physicians, they participate in the global

the Alliance for Eye and Vision Research

currently awaiting FDA approval.

“Training doctors from other countries is

Today, CURSO continues to be the largest

of patient care that is delivered in their

dissemination of scientific and clinical

meeting in the United States held for

knowledge. Since its founding, Bascom

two-cycle appointment on the NIH/NEI

CURSO

Spanish-speaking ophthalmologists. Topics

Palmer has certainly made a powerful

National Advisory Board.

Bascom Palmer has a long history of

span the entire field of ophthalmology with

impact on ophthalmology. I am confident it

providing medical education and training

particular emphasis on practical clinical

will continue to do so for the next sixty years

president of the Macula Society and the

to Latin American physicians. In 1979,

education.

and beyond.”

American Ophthalmological Society, and CEO

Norton and former faculty member Don

of the American Board of Ophthalmology,

H. Nicholson, M.D., launched the Inter-

of 2019, just before the pandemic,” said Karp.

the independent, nonprofit organization

American Course in Clinical Ophthalmology

“We had more than 800 attendees who heard

responsible for certifying the nation’s

(CURSO) to provide physicians in Latin

presentations from 30 faculty members from

(NAEVR/AEVR) after having completed a

Additionally, John Clarkson served as

ophthalmologists. Furthermore, Janet Davis

“Our last in-person CURSO was in the fall More than 800 ophthalmologists from Latin America and the Caribbean attended CURSO in 2019.

served as chair of the American Board of Ophthalmology in 2016.

Bascom Palmer faculty members are also leaders in supporting diversity in ophthalmology as well as fostering an inclusive culture of belonging and opportunity for all. Raquel Goldhardt (fellow 2010), an associate professor of clinical ophthalmology, chairs the Institute’s diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.

In 2020, the AAO recognized Elizabeth Hodapp as an “unsung hero of ophthalmology.” Nominated by her colleagues, she was honored for quietly serving the underserved, mentoring the next generation of ophthalmologists, and sharing her skills with the world.

With a worldwide alumni network of hundreds of ophthalmologists who have completed residencies and fellowships at the Institute, Bascom Palmer faculty members conduct collaborative scientific projects and clinical trials with their counterparts around the globe.

60

BASCOM PALMER EYE INSTITUTE

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C H A P T E R 5

Reaching Out to Underserved Communities Bailey Peterson, O.D., an optometrist at Bascom Palmer at Naples, knows that better

The 33136 initiative One of Bascom Palmer’s most powerful

vision can change a child’s life. “Last year,

programs is the “33136 Initiative,” designed

Bascom Palmer’s school eye screening

to improve the health and well-being of

program in Collier County identified a 9-year-

residents in the low- and moderate-income

old girl from Guatemala with double vision,”

neighborhoods living in zip code 33136,

she said. “Her family didn’t realize she had

the area surrounding the University of

a problem and couldn’t pay for treatment.

Miami’s Miller School of Medicine campus

Our pediatric ophthalmologist performed the

and Jackson Memorial Hospital. The project

surgery the child needed and we were able

will give the Institute’s specialists a better

to give her normal vision and change the

understanding of how to address preventable

trajectory of her life.”

vision loss in underserved neighborhoods.

Thanks to philanthropic support from the

“From its inception, Bascom Palmer’s

Naples Children & Education Foundation,

mission has included providing impeccable

there were hundreds of other success

care to the Miami community,” said Zubair

stories for the screening program, which

Ansari, M.D., (resident 2018), assistant

reached approximately 15,000 kindergarten-

professor of clinical ophthalmology and

aged through 8th-grade students in Collier

medical director of community clinical

County’s Title 1 schools. Following the vision

services. “Through the years, our faculty and

screening, approximately 25 percent of

staff members have been building on that

the children received full eye exams and

tradition, and this program focuses on the

two pairs of glasses. Students who needed

challenge of addressing vision loss in our

tertiary care came to Bascom Palmer for

back yard.”

further testing and treatment. The program

Treating patients in Louisiana during the Hurricane Katrina relief mission

teaches parents and teachers the importance of glasses and overall eye care. “If a child cannot see the teacher or the classwork, it is very difficult to learn,” Peterson said.

Today, Bascom Palmer’s vision

In times of need, Bascom Palmer responds.

professionals are making a difference in communities throughout South Florida

Bascom Palmer’s three medical relief teams

and around the world. In another example,

of doctors and ophthalmic technicians

assistant professor of clinical ophthalmology

traveled to the Gulf States following

Michelle Falcone, M.D., (resident 2020), an at Bascom Palmer at Palm Beach Gardens and a specialist in pediatric ophthalmology and

Hurricane Katrina rendering care

strabismus, is planning a school screening

to victims of the deadly storm

the Collier County initiative.

as well as to members of the

said chair Eduardo Alfonso. “Last year, we

National Guard.

program in Palm Beach County modeled after “Philanthropy funds our service mission,” received $23 million from donors to support these and other high-impact programs that make a huge difference for children and families in our region.”

62

BASCOM PALMER EYE INSTITUTE

60 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE

63

specialist, on a 2020 paper, “The Role of

Following the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami, the Vision Van was flown to Japan by the world’s largest air transport – the Antonov 124.

Telemedicine in Population-Based Glaucoma Vision Screening,” published in Glaucoma Today. One of the takeaways from their study was the growing importance of telemedicine in providing timely access to vision care in a variety of settings, including urban and rural clinics. Along with Richard Parrish, Lee also published the only study assessing the incidence and severity of glaucoma in the Haitian population through community health fairs in Little Haiti, a neighborhood of Miami.

A Bascom Palmer team at a community health fair

The multidimensional 33136 project includes vision screening, education, preventive care, and clinical services, as well as opportunities to participate in research studies. “We want to keep our community as healthy as possible,” said Ansari. “We hope that this model can be translated for other chronic health conditions, such as heart disease or diabetes.”

When northern Japan was hit by the

are lost eyeglasses. Restoring eye health is a

Tohoku earthquake and tsunami in March

priority, because when people can’t see, they

Van – a 40-foot, custom-designed mobile eye

2011, Bascom Palmer offered help to the

are at high risk for other injuries, as their

clinic for screening and clinical care. Donated

ophthalmologists in Japan. The Japanese

whole environment becomes unfamiliar.

by the Joesphine S. Leiser Foundation, it has

government then arranged for the Vision Van

In addition, closed pharmacies mean that

traveled throughout Florida and around the

to travel to the hard-hit Sendai region aboard

people quickly run out of medications and

world to help people in need of eye care.

the world’s largest air transport – an Antonov

need antibiotics for acute eye injuries.

After Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf

124, arranged by Michael Kelley, director

In 2020, with funding from The Salah

of strategic operations at Bascom Palmer.

Foundation and Canon U.S.A., Bascom Palmer

Health fairs

doctors and staff members traveled with the

Once on the scene, Richard Lee joined forces

obtained a smaller, second Vision Van able to

“Our faculty and residents work with the

Vision Van on a three-week relief mission,

with doctors and staff from Keio University,

go to schools, churches, and other locations

University of Miami medical students for

treating first-responders and hurricane

Iwate University, Tohoku University, and

in Miami-Dade and Broward counties. “This

community vision screening,” said Richard

victims, and dispensing more than $100,000

the Japanese Ophthalmological Society in a

smaller van gives us the added flexibility

K. Lee, M.D, Ph.D., (resident, fellow 2004), an

worth of eye medications, prescription

special eye rescue mission.

to bring our optical instruments and our

associate professor of ophthalmology, holder

glasses, sunglasses, and contact lenses to

of the Walter G. Ross Distinguished Chair in

those in need at no cost.

Lee provided training to Japanese

volunteers to neighborhoods in need of

ophthalmologists who volunteered to use the

eye screening or care,” said Ansari. “We

Vision Van for emergency vision screenings

look forward to expanding our outreach

associate medical director of community

Orleans and Baton Rouge, treating hundreds

and eye treatments and to provide more than

and building more partnerships with local

clinical services. Lee and Goldhardt, an

of patients in areas where there were no

1,000 ready-made eyeglasses for people who

organizations in the future.”

associate professor of ophthalmology, are

medical facilities. Lt. General Russel Honoré,

lost or broke their lenses.

co-faculty advisors of the medical school’s

commander of Joint Task Force Katrina,

Ophthalmology Interest Club. “Health fairs

presented Bascom Palmer with a medallion

support in the healing of Japan,” said Kazuo

give the students an opportunity to gain

honoring its medical service.

Tsubota, M.D., chief of the department

The Institute’s team spent 18 days in New

“We appreciated Bascom Palmer’s

firsthand experience in conducting eye

After a devastating earthquake hit Haiti

examinations while learning from their

on January 12, 2010, Bascom Palmer quickly

School of Medicine in Tokyo and a former

mentors at Bascom Palmer.”

mobilized a response team. The first Bascom

classmate of Eduardo Alfonso. Based on their

Palmer team arrived 48 hours after the

experience using the Vision Van, a team of

canceled during the height of the COVID-19

earthquake with ophthalmic equipment and

Japanese ophthalmologists built a mobile

pandemic, in-person vision screenings safely

supplies, offering general medical aid and eye

clinic that has subsequently been used to

resumed outdoors and at indoor sites with

surgery in a University of Miami field hospital

help victims of natural disasters in Asia.

adequate space and ventilation.

in Port Au Prince that Thomas Johnson and

Although community health fairs were

Thomas Shane, M.D., checking vision in Portau-Prince, Haiti, in the University of Miami tent camp.

of ophthalmology of the Keio University

Closer to home, in 2017, the Vision Van

other volunteers helped establish. In the

traveled to Key West after Hurricane Irma

Institute’s service programs also provide

ensuing months, Bascom Palmer physicians,

destroyed many communities in the Florida

opportunities to contribute to research

nurses, technicians, and employees brought

Keys, providing support to first-responders

studies, added Lee. For instance, medical

medications, eyeglasses, and medical

and other patients with eye emergencies. Eye

students Elaine Han, M.D., and Ryan Nolan,

instruments to Haiti and provided critical

injuries are very common after a disaster, as

M.D., were co-authors with Lee, a glaucoma

ophthalmic and trauma care.

Along with detecting ocular disease, the

BASCOM PALMER EYE INSTITUTE

For nearly 20 years, one of Bascom Palmer’s most important assets has been the Vision

Coast in September 2005, Bascom Palmer’s

Ophthalmic Research, and Bascom Palmer’s

64

Mobile outreach

60 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE

65

Global outreach

recovery, and laser treatment rooms, and

Bascom Palmer’s outreach programs

a 48-seat classroom where healthcare

extend far beyond South Florida. For

residents spend two weeks providing eye

professionals gather for lectures, discussions,

instance, the Institute has a longstanding

care abroad. “We have generous donors

and live broadcasts of surgical procedures by

relationship with physicians in Haiti

who provide support for our residents’

visiting faculty members.

through Project Medishare, a University of

international educational experience,”

Miami Miller School of Medicine initiative

said Steven Gedde. “In many cases, they

organization dedicated to saving sight

that has brought more than 7,000 medical

are supervised by Bascom Palmer alumni.

in underdeveloped countries, the ORBIS

professionals to Haiti since its devastating

When a resident has a terrific experience,

Flying Eye Hospital has invited Drs.

2010 earthquake.

he or she passes that enthusiasm along to

Eduardo Alfonso, Carol Karp, Johnson, Lee,

our next class of residents.” For example,

and other Bascom Palmer specialists to

a laser therapy program to reduce the

Michael Feilmeier, M.D., (resident 2009) now

provide humanitarian vision care. “I try

intraocular pressure in glaucoma patients,

on the faculty at the University of Nebraska,

to take part in as many of their trips as I

helping to save their vision. “Many glaucoma

traveled to Nepal for the Himalayan Cataract

can,” said Johnson, whose more than 15

patients in Haiti have neither access nor

Project and later became involved in

transcontinental itineraries have included

economic resources to pay for glaucoma

developing an ophthalmology program in

Ethiopia, Ghana, Cameroon, China, Mongolia,

medications,” he said. To improve glaucoma

Cap-Haitien, Haiti.

Bangladesh, Armenia, Bulgaria, Nigeria,

surgical operating rooms, Drs. Lee, Goldhardt,

Kenya, Peru, Paraguay, and El Salvador.

Carol Karp, Sandor Dubovy, and Bascom

Through the UM partnership, Lee initiated Bascom Palmer’s annual mission trip to the Galapagos Islands has provided eye care to thousands of residents.

Shown here with a group of children are Raquel Goldhardt, M.D., Richard Lee, M.D., Ph.D., and the government head of Isabela Health from the Galapagos Ministry of Health.

In 2007, Bascom Palmer introduced an international elective rotation in which its

care, Lee is also translating the findings

Just before the COVID pandemic, Johnson,

Operated by a global nonprofit

Palmer alumni including Michael Banitt

Donald Budenz, M.D., examines a patient in Ghana, West Africa, during a 1995 medical mission.

from the Bascom Palmer glaucoma study of

an oculoplastic and reconstructive specialist,

Haitian-Americans in Miami into outreach

flew to Haiti in January 2020 to remove a

during much of the COVID-19 pandemic,

(fellow 2009, former faculty) and Robert

programs in Port-au-Prince.

large orbital tumor that was threatening

Johnson provided remote consultations

Chang (fellow 2009), volunteer with Lifeline

the life of an 11-year-old girl. “I arrived in

through the organization’s online program

Express, an organization that carries

the morning, performed the surgery, and

CyberSight. “I was recently asked to advise

ophthalmologists through underserved

returned to Miami that evening with a

on a complex patient in Africa with extensive

regions of China and Mongolia to provide

biopsy of the tumor ready to be examined

skin cancer of the face and eyelid,” he

advanced training to rural ophthalmologists.

by our pathology laboratory,” Johnson said.

said. “The local doctors had done a nice

“Fortunately, her tumor was not malignant

job of putting the eyelid together but were

said, “Bascom Palmer has always been

and she has been getting follow-up therapy

concerned about residual cancer. I suggested

supportive of my international travel since

in both Haiti and the neighboring Dominican

low-dose radiation to the eye, followed by

I began volunteering with ORBIS in the

Republic. I hear from the family often and

close monitoring, and since then there has

1990s. There is no question that service will

she’s now doing fine.”

been no sign of recurrence.”

continue to remain at the heart of Bascom

“There is no question that service will continue to remain at the heart of Bascom Palmer’s mission.”

Palmer’s mission.”

– Thomas Johnson, M.D.

In the remote Galapagos Islands, located

Although the ORBIS aircraft was grounded

Similar to ORBIS but using trains as

Reflecting on his experiences, Johnson

600 miles off the coast of Ecuador in the Pacific Ocean, a new Bascom Palmer humanitarian initiative is bringing badly needed vision screening and eye care services to more than 3,000 residents.

With the help of the Ecuadorian Society of Ophthalmology and the non-governmental Ecuadorian organization Intercultural Outreach Initiative, a “generous donation of optical equipment has allowed residents of the island of Isabela to be screened for vision problems and referred to doctors on the Ecuadorian mainland for more advanced care,” said Lee. Through the years, Bascom Palmer’s faculty have also traveled around the world in the ORBIS Flying Eye Hospital, a converted DC-10 aircraft equipped with operating, 66

BASCOM PALMER EYE INSTITUTE

Richard Lee, M.D., Ph.D., screens patients prior to surgery while on an Orbis mission in Panama City, Panama.

60 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE

67

C H A P T E R 6

Welcoming Generations of Vision Professionals

Hilda Capó, remembers her early days at

now practices at the University of Iowa, said,

Bascom Palmer in the 1990s. “I was pregnant

“Whether you stay in the Miami area after your

and a senior physician told me that raising

training or go elsewhere in the country, you will

a child would be the most important thing

always be part of the Bascom Palmer family.”

in my life,” she said. “It showed me that the people at the Institute were concerned about me as a person and a future mother – not just as a clinician.”

Today, one of Capó’s three children, Daniela Reyes-Capó, M.D., is following in her mother’s footsteps as a third-year resident at Bascom Palmer and will be moving on to a fellowship in corneal diseases at Baylor College of Medicine. “My daughter is very independent and has rotated with my colleagues here,” said Capó. “But this year she asked me to be her faculty discussant at Grand Rounds and presented a case of a woman with double vision. She called it ‘Double Trouble,’ referring to our mother-daughter bond, and to the double vision of her patient. I am very proud of her work.”

During her tenure, Capó has advised more than 100 residents. She said seeing Daniela go through the training program gave her a fresh perspective. “This is a great program, and our residents make it look easy,” she said.

“However, I could see firsthand how hard my

Little did Dr. José A. Berrocal know when he became the first fellow to train under

daughter was working to build her clinical

Dr. Edward Norton in 1964, that 28 and 37 years later, his two daughters, Maria (left),

that goes into providing great patient care.”

and Audina “Nina” (right), would also graduate from Bascom Palmer’s fellowship

skills, and I can appreciate the preparation For six decades, Bascom Palmer has been a welcoming home for generations

program. Bascom Palmer has had the wonderful privilege of training many members

of family members and alumni who share

of the same family. Parents and children, spouses, and siblings make up this very

excellence. As Erin M. Shriver, M.D., who

special and distinct group.

68

BASCOM PALMER EYE INSTITUTE

a commitment to clinical and research completed a fellowship in ophthalmic plastic and reconstructive surgery in 2008 and

Deep-seated values Bascom Palmer’s dedication to providing compassionate

Daniela Reyes Capó and mother, Hilda Capó

holistic patient care has its roots in the Institute’s supportive culture for physicians, trainees, nurses, and other staff members. That includes valuable mentoring programs for residents and new faculty members beginning their professional careers.

“Bascom Palmer is about family,” said Eduardo Alfonso.

“We value individuals from all backgrounds and foster an inclusive culture of belonging and opportunity for all. Our core values of diversity, integrity, responsibility, excellence, compassion, creativity, and teamwork provide the foundation for welcoming diverse voices, perspectives, and ideas.”

60 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE

69

Michael Yen and wife, Kimberly Yen

Brothers Jeffrey Goldberg and Roger Goldberg

As president of the Bascom Palmer Alumni

Hong Jiang and husband, Jianhua (Jay) Wang

former faculty). “The goals of the program, as

patient’s eye was one of the best things about

defined by Drs. Norton and Curtin, were to

my education at Bascom Palmer,” she said.

national and international graduates stay

give residents and fellows the opportunity

“It’s also very service oriented – the patient

connected with their peers. “Our Institute is

to write and present scientific papers and

still comes first in everything.”

known for the strong feeling of collegiality

defend those presentations,” said Fisher.

among our trainees and faculty,” he said.

“This was good practice for future academic

mecca for ophthalmology training. “It’s a

“Our alumni family continues to benefit

presentations.”

pleasure to work with colleagues who are at

cultures and experiences who have trained at Bascom Palmer.”

That was certainly the case for S. William “Bill” Clark III, (resident 1983), now in a private comprehensive ophthalmology practice in Waycross, Georgia, and an associate professor at Emory University in Atlanta. “When I came here in 1980, the founding five faculty members were approaching the pinnacle of their careers, so I was surrounded by brilliant doctors and eager residents and fellows,” said Clark.

“Outside of the academics, Bascom Palmer had a family culture, and the annual softball game pitting faculty and fellows against residents was a high point,” Clark said. “I can tell you that the Chief and Don Gass could throw some mean pitches. John Flynn was an aggressive shortstop and Victor Curtin could hit the ball a mile. Back then, all the Residents Days skits were live productions with many voices showcasing rewritten songs and great wit shown in the nuances.”

In those earlier years, the Residents Days program directors were “volunteers” from the Institute’s alumni, including Fisher, Gordon Miller, Bill Wallace, Lee Duffner, M.D., (resident 1969), Jan W. Kronish, M.D., (resident, chief resident 1989), and Patrick E. Rubsamen, M.D., (resident, fellow, chief resident 1991, BASCOM PALMER EYE INSTITUTE

Oliver Fischer and wife, Lena Dixit

Association, Jerry Fisher helps the Institute’s

from the diversity of people from different

70

Andrew Moshfeghi and wife, Arlanna Moshfeghi

A family of ophthalmologists In 1964, José Berrocal was the first fellow to train under Edward Norton. Following

Jonathan Russell and father, Stephen Russell

Nina agrees, calling Bascom Palmer a

the top of their fields,” she said. “At the same time, they are still humble about their work and love to teach students.”

his fellowship, he chose to go into private

A father-son team

practice in his native Puerto Rico, as the

Five years ago, Brian Tse, M.D., (fellow

island’s first retina specialist.

2016), assistant professor of clinical

A generation later, his daughters, Maria H.

Melissa Meldrum Aaberg and husband, Thomas Aaberg Jr.

ophthalmology, joined his father, David Tse,

Berrocal, M.D., and Audina “Nina” Berrocal,

in Bascom Palmer’s ophthalmic plastic and

M.D., completed fellowships at Bascom

reconstructive surgery service. “Growing

Palmer in 1992 and 2000 respectively. Maria

up, Brian was able to understand the role

entered practice with her father and became

of a physician and the value of research in

an assistant professor at the University of

advancing vision care,” said Tse. “After an

Puerto Rico. Nina joined the Bascom Palmer

initial interest in orthopedics, he decided

faculty in 2002 as a specialist in vitreoretinal

to go into ophthalmology and specialize

diseases and pediatric clinical care, serving

in ophthalmic plastic surgery. He is also

as medical director of the retinopathy of

working in the laboratory, studying the optic

prematurity service. Many of her patients are

nerve to find new treatment options for

premature babies, born as young as 23 weeks

patients with injuries or disabling diseases. It

of gestation.

is very rewarding to work with him.”

Oculoplastic surgeons David Tse and son, Brian Tse

Invaluable training

Palmer was invaluable – it made my career.

Charles W.G. Eifrig, M.D., (resident, fellow, chief

The collegial atmosphere, combined with

resident 2003), is also a member of a family

intense teaching and the volume of patient

of ophthalmologists. His father, David,

challenges gave me exceptional clinical and

was a retina specialist in North Carolina

surgical experience.”

“My dad and Dr. Norton were very good friends,” said Nina. “The Norton family would come to Puerto Rico in the summer, and their kids would spend time with us. My sister and I got to know Victor Curtin and Donald Gass as well. We would visit the Nortons on our trips to Miami.”

Maria trained under Gass, learning the latest retinal surgery techniques from one of the field’s most highly regarded teachers. “Being able to consult with the best ophthalmologists on every aspect of a

and his older brother, David Jr., became

Even though cockfighting has been illegal

an ophthalmologist later in life. “Now, my

in Florida since 1986, as a resident, Eifrig

oldest daughter, Gabriela, also wants to be an

recalls a memorable and unusual case

ophthalmologist,” he added.

wherein he treated a two-year-old girl whose

Now in private practice in Laguna Hills,

family took her to a cockfight in Miami. “One

California, Efrig said, “My time at Bascom

of the roosters’ heel spurs ripped her eyeball 60 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE

71

Efrem Mandelcorn and father, Mark Mandelcorn

Joel Sandberg and daughter-in-law, Amy Schefler

Korey Jaben and father, Scott Jaben

Juan Batlle and brother, Ivan Batlle

Christopher Blodi and sister, Barbara Blodi, with Edward Norton (center)

Juan Batlle and son, Juan Batlle Logroño

TWO GENERATIONS and ruptured the globe,” he said. “I did the

Resident, Chief Resident 1963

SIBLINGS

classmates in medical school. “We worked

Fellow 1969

emergency repair and later corrected a

as ophthalmologists in different hospitals

Thomas M. Aaberg Jr., M.D.

James C. Major Jr., M.D.

Juan F. Batlle, M.D.

Resident, Fellow, Chief Resident 1995

Resident, Fellow, Chief Resident 2009

retinal detachment. I have kept in touch with

Resident, Chief Resident 1985

and patient care was one of the issues we

the family and talked with her when she

Ivan R. Batlle, M.D.

discussed over dinner tables,” said Wen.

 Juan F. Batlle, M.D.

 Mark S. Mandelcorn, M.D.

was 18. She wound up with 20/40 vision and

Resident 1989

“When we moved to the U.S., I started

Resident, Chief Resident 1985

Fellow 1974

Juan F. Batlle Logroño, M.D.

Bascom Palmer.”

Efrem D. Mandelcorn, M.D.

Fellow 2015

Fellow 2010

 Jose A. Berrocal, M.D.

 Donald G. Puro, M.D., Ph.D.

Fellow 1964

Resident 1980

spouses have worked side by side at Bascom

Maria H. Berrocal, M.D.

Cynthia Puro Nix, M.D.

Fellow 1992

Resident, Fellow 2010

Palmer. “It is very easy to work together and

Audina M. Berrocal, M.D.

 Stephen R. Russell, M.D.

Thomas M. Aaberg Sr., M.D.

Fellow 2001, Faculty

James C. Major Sr., M.D.

was very appreciative of the care she got at

Working side by side Through the years, many professional

we do not need to schedule meetings. We can easily catch up to discuss research projects,

 Maria H. Berrocal, M.D.

brought her experience in neuroscience to

Audina M. Berrocal, M.D.

retinal cell biology. It is wonderful to work

Fellow 2001, Faculty

together in the same field, and we share

 Christopher H. Blodi, M.D. Resident 1983, Former Faculty

Barbara A. Blodi, M.D.

photoreceptors, the physiopathology of research to patient care. Li’s research focuses

Jonathan Russell, M.D., Ph.D.

said Hong Jiang, M.D., Ph.D., (fellow 2011),

Faculty

Resident, Fellow, Chief Resident 2021

Research, Fellow 2010, Former Faculty

associate professor of clinical ophthalmology

Roger A. Goldberg, M.D., M.B.A.

 Joel S. Sandberg, M.D.

M.D., Ph.D., scientific co-director of the

 Stanley Chang, M.D.

Resident 1974

Experimental Imaging Laboratory and expert

Fellow 1979

Amy C. Schefler (Sandberg), M.D.

in the development of advanced ophthalmic

Jonathan S. Chang, M.D.

Resident, Fellow, Chief Resident 2010, Former Faculty

imaging and its applications in eye research.

 Arthur L. Schwartz, M.D.

are a marvelous combination for clinical

Fellow 1973

research as Jay is a basic scientist and I am

Fellow 1990

Kenneth S. Schwartz, M.D.

Sara Fransen Grace, M.D.

Fellow 2003

a clinician,” said Jiang. “We usually relax

Resident, Fellow, Chief Resident 2014

 Stephen Fransen, M.D.

Resident, Fellow 2016

 Wayne E. Fung, M.D.

 Richard Tenzel, M.D. Honorary Alumnus

“Dr. Alfonso once mentioned that we

at home, but oftentimes, we chat about research ideas while doing exercises or driving.”

Working together, the husband-and-wife

The goal of Wen’s research is to understand the biology of the retina and

 Hilda Capó, M.D.

Resident 2022

the office and at home.”

 Jeffrey L. Goldberg, M.D., Ph.D.

grant applications, and publications,”

and neurology, who is married to Jay Wang,

ideas, results, frustration, and failures both in

Resident, Fellow 1992

Resident, 1986

Daniela P. Reyes-Capó, M.D.

working in retinal research, while Yiwen

Fellow 1992

Resident 2012

 Brandon Lee, M.D. Fellow 2011

Bradford Lee, M.D.

retinal diseases, and to translate the bench on the neuroprotective treatment of retinal neurons using neuroprotective agents.

Vittorio Porciatti enjoyed working with his wife, Lori Ventura, M.D. (fellow 1986), who is retired from the faculty. “We met

Resident 2013, Former Faculty

at the Association for Research in Vision

 Pedro Schuchovski, Ph.D.

and Ophthalmology conference in Fort

Research Fellow 1989

Plinio Schuchovski, Ph.D. Research Fellow 1989

 Jack R. Tenzel, M.D. Resident 1987

David B. Tenzel, M.D.

Lauderdale in 1995, after being introduced by common Italian friends,” he said. “It was a wonderful experience and highly successful in terms of National Institutes of Health grants and publications. But we rarely discussed work issues at home.”

Yunhee Lee, M.D., former assistant

Fellow 1968

Jack Tenzel, M.D.

Anne E. Fung, M.D.

Resident 1987

team focuses on the microvasculature and

David Tenzel, M.D.

microstructure of the eye as a window of the

meeting her husband, Steven Gedde, when

central nerve system. Their research, funded

she interviewed for a faculty position in

by grants from the National Institutes of

2001. “I was working at the New England Eye

Health, National Multiple Sclerosis Society,

Center in Boston, and was asked to move to

and Florida Department of Health, explores

Miami to open a refractive surgery service

changes in the eye in age-related dementia.

in the new Palm Beach Gardens facility,”

Fellow 2005

 Alexander Irvine, M.D. Fellow 1970

W. David Irvine, M.D. Resident, Chief Resident 1992

 Scott Jaben, M.D. Chief Resident 1982

Korey Jaben, M.D. Resident 2015

 72

BASCOM PALMER EYE INSTITUTE

Fellow 1990

 David T. Tse, M.D. Faculty

Brian C. Tse, M.D. Fellow 2016, Faculty

Rong Wen, M.D., Ph.D., professor of

Fellow 1990

professor of clinical ophthalmology, recalls

she said. “Steve was very kind and collegial,

ophthalmology, and Yiwen Li, M.D., research

and before long we began dating and were

assistant professor of ophthalmology, were

married. We have different specialties, but 60 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE

73

Rong Wen and wife, Yiwen Lee

Vittorio Porciatti and wife, Lori Ventura

Yunhee Lee and husband, Steven Gedde

Nika Bagheri and husband, Jayanth Sridhar

SPOUSES Melissa Meldrum-Aaberg, M.D. Resident, Fellow 1993

Thomas M. Aaberg Jr., M.D. Resident, Fellow, Chief Resident 1995

 Nika Bagheri, M.D. Fellow 2018

Jayanth Sridhar, M.D. Resident 2014, Faculty

 Barbara A. Blodi, M.D. Resident, Fellow 1992

Justin L. Gottlieb, M.D. Fellow 1995

 Zelia M. Correa, M.D. Faculty

J. William Harbour, M.D. Fellow 1995, Former Faculty

Stephen Fransen and daughter, Sara Fransen Grace

“As residents, we would commend Dr. Norton

together. Working in the same building

for what he created at Bascom Palmer,” Jaben

makes it easy to bring up a cup of coffee or

said. “He instilled confidence in me, and my

Hong Jiang, M.D., Ph.D

Anita Shirodkar Shane, M.D.

go out to lunch together. The days we can do

personal and professional growth during

Fellow 2011, Faculty

Resident, Fellow, Chief Resident 2012

that are always happy ones.” Lee continues

those years was tremendous.”

Thomas S. Shane, M.D.

Palmer Emergency Department.

Resident, Fellow, Chief Resident 2012

From “The Chief” to today

Jianhua “Jay” Wang, M.D., Ph.D., M.S. Faculty

 Anne L. Kunkler, M.D. Resident 2022

J. Daniel Diaz, M.D.

 Rhea (McDonough) Siatkowski, M.D. Resident, Fellow 1999

Fellow 2022

R. Michael Siatkowski, M.D.

 Yunhee Lee, M.D.

Fellow 1993, Former Faculty

Faculty

Steven J. Gedde, M.D. Fellow 1986, Faculty

 Yiwen Li, M.D. Faculty

Rong Wen, M.D., Ph.D

to teach residents and fellows in the Bascom

Bascom Palmer’s tradition of kindness and care began in the 1960s with the inspirational leadership of Edward Norton, known to generations of trainees and faculty as “The

 Kavitha R. Sivaraman, M.D. Fellow 2015

Chief.” Norton’s daughter, Patricia “Patti”

Fred B. Chu, M.D. Fellow 2015

operations. “She has been part of the Bascom

 Lori M. Ventura, M.D.

said Alfonso.

Fellow 1986, Former Faculty

Norton, joined the Institute’s staff in 2016 and serves as manager of clinical business Palmer family since the day she was born,” Norton’s lasting influence extends well beyond his family members. Scott Jaben,

Vittorio Porciatti, D.Sc. Faculty

M.D., (resident, fellow, chief resident 1982),

Fellow 2016

 Arlanna N. Moshfeghi, M.D., M.P.H.

recently retired from private practice in

Oliver G. Fischer, M.D., M.S.

Fellow 2006, Former Faculty

 Kimberly G. Yen, M.D.

Fellow 2016

Andrew A. Moshfeghi, M.D., M.B.A.

 Fumino Ara Iwata, Ph.D. Research Fellow 1993

Takshi Iwata, Ph.D.

Fellow 2006, Former Faculty

Michael T. Yen, M.D.

 Sarah P. Read, M.D.

Resident 2000

Research Fellow 1991

Resident, Fellow, Chief Resident 2018



Daniel S. Choi, M.D. Resident, Fellow 2018



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BASCOM PALMER EYE INSTITUTE

Resident 2000

James Major Jr. and father, James Major Sr.

we enjoy going to professional conferences

Faculty

 Lena A. Dixit, M.D.

Cyntha Nix and father, Donald G. Puro

Charlotte, North Carolina, recalls working with Norton and the early faculty members.

That tradition has continued under Alfonso, who was a first-year resident at the Institute when Jaben was chief resident. Fastforward to 2015, when Jaben’s daughter Korey also completed a residency at the Institute.

“She had a tremendous education and gained great experience at Bascom Palmer,” said Jaben, adding that Korey is now a glaucoma specialist at the Veterans’ Administration hospital in Charleston, South Carolina, providing virtual care to her patients.

“We have stayed in close touch with our Bascom Palmer extended family through the years,” added Jaben, whose family recently endowed Bascom Palmer’s Founders’ Lecture Series dedicated to his advisor, John Flynn, as well as Donald Gass and Lawton Smith.

“I practiced ophthalmology for 40 years, and every day I was deeply appreciative of my experience at Bascom Palmer.”

Founding chair Edward Norton, his wife, Mary, and five children established a warm and welcoming professional culture that has been one of the distinguishing characteristics of Bascom Palmer through the decades. Here, daughter Patricia (“Patti”) Norton (center in brown dress) is surrounded by members of the Norton family during Bascom Palmer’s 50th anniversary celebration.

60 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE

75

C H A P T E R 7

Advancing the Frontiers of Vision Care David Tse has a bold vision for the future.

example of how our clinicians and researchers

After decades of treating patients who

work together on big, bold ideas that could

have lost their eyes to injury or disease, Tse

transform ophthalmology in the future.”

is studying how to tackle the impossible:

Today, Bascom Palmer’s professionals focus

performing a whole eye transplant. “I want

on finding new ways to diagnose, treat, and

Bascom Palmer to be the first eye center in

prevent vision diseases and disorders. “Our

the world to achieve this ‘moon shot’ goal,”

physicians and scientists are using large-

he said. “All of Bascom Palmer has focused on

scale clinical databases, artificial intelligence,

this challenge.”

advanced imaging technologies, and therapies

Currently, Tse is working with colleagues

to benefit our patients,” said Eduardo Alfonso.

like Sanjoy Bhattacharya and Daniel Pelaez

“Every day, our researchers collaborate with

and many others to address the incredibly

colleagues at the Miller School of Medicine,

difficult challenge of joining one optic nerve

sharing ideas and insights, and launching new

to another so the visual signals from a

laboratory and clinical research initiatives that

transplanted eye can flow smoothly into the

have led to advancing personalized health

patient’s brain. “We are looking at molecular

care, and studying the patients from their

and biological approaches to overcoming

genetic makeup to the environmental diseases

the scar tissue that forms a barrier at the

that affect health and disease.”

end of the nerve,” he said. “This is one

Jorge Fortun, M.D., uses new 3-D technology that enhances and magnifies the stereoscopic image and allows surgeons to clearly visualize all aspects of surgery.

Daniel Pelaez, Ph.D., and Galina Dvoriantchikova, Ph.D., inspect a batch of freshly isolated stem cells they will use to create a new human retina in the laboratory as Bascom Palmer’s researchers and scientists continue to advance the frontiers of ophthalmology.

76

BASCOM PALMER EYE INSTITUTE

60 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE

77

several years and has been markedly sped due

Attracting young researchers

to the pandemic. Vision and eye care lends

Vittorio Porciatti also expects significant

itself to telehealth or virtual care because

progress in the next five years. “We have a

digital functional testing of vision and images

very diverse research portfolio that combines

of the eye can be transmitted to specialists

our strengths in scientific discovery and

from anywhere.

clinical care,” he said. “Our professionals

In addition, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute

Natali Townsend, O.D., (left), leads Bascom Palmer’s rapid virtual eye care team as they provide quick eye care to patients for common eye conditions.

Expanding clinical services Within the next few years, the Institute will be expanding its South Florida footprint with new locations in UHealth’s medical centers at SoLé Mia in North Miami and Downtown Doral. “These state-of-the-art

“With these new facilities and virtual eye care, we are committed to making personalized vision care as accessible as possible for the South Florida community.”

– Eduardo Alfonso, M.D.

facilities will bring our services closer to residents of Aventura, Miami Gardens, Doral, Miami Springs, and other northern and western Miami-Dade communities,” said Alfonso. “With these new facilities and virtual eye care, we are committed to making personalized vision care as accessible as possible for the South Florida community.”

Increasing access to care and evolving the paradigms of clinical care drive Bascom Palmer to embrace technological advances so that one day, maintenance of vision health will be available to the patient in personalized devices like smartphones or even implantable aids.

Internationally, Bascom Palmer is also expanding its clinical facilities, including a 70,000-square-foot multidisciplinary eye center scheduled to open in 2023 in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates.

Recognizing the growing importance of telemedicine and virtual healthcare, a project to make Bascom Palmer’s specialty vision care available locally, nationally, and around the world has been in effect for

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BASCOM PALMER EYE INSTITUTE

are experts in many disciplines and they

is validating new paradigms of clinical care

eagerly share ideas while collaborating on

by integrating virtual care into in-person

new strategies and tactics to improve patient

testing. The Institute has developed bold new

care.”

programs such as Bascom Palmer Optical

“Bascom Palmer’s research priorities

Express, rapid virtual eye care, as well as

are promoting high-impact research (gene

opening eye and vision testing centers

therapy, stem cell therapy, and gene editing

throughout South Florida and beyond. These

therapy), developing new technology

new models of clinical care have increased

(including biomaterials, drug delivery,

access, reduced costs, and improved patient

instruments for imaging, electrophysiology,

satisfaction.

surgery, and artificial vision), generating

Investing in research

interdisciplinary collaborations, and using

the Pelaez laboratory are molecular biology of

artificial intelligence to take advantage of

eye diseases and regenerative ophthalmology

large data sets.

with ongoing projects focused on the optic

Bascom Palmer is investing significantly in scientific and clinical research with three primary areas of focus: • Preventative therapies, such as identifying cellular and genetic biomarkers of disease, developing gene therapy, cellular therapy, and advanced surgical procedures.

• Regenerative treatments, such as stem cells transplants, tissue transplants, and retinal implants.

• Biotechnology, bringing together multiple disciplines in medicine, engineering, artificial intelligence, big data, and new biomaterials.

“These exciting programs will spur innovation and discovery, support interdisciplinary collaborations with other Institutes, and create further opportunities for philanthropy,” said Alfonso. “They will also attract graduate students and talented

Vittorio Porciatti, D.Sc.

Porciatti is also proud of Bascom Palmer’s record in recruiting talented young

nerve, retinal neurons, and lacrimal gland regeneration.

researchers in all areas of vision care. For

Cornea and external disease specialist,

instance, Stefan Kurtenbach, Ph.D., (research

Alfonso L. Sabater, M.D., Ph.D., (research

fellow 2017), a research assistant professor,

fellow, fellow 2017), assistant professor of

is studying how genomic aberrations

ophthalmology, is looking for new strategies

and epigenetic changes foster tumor

to protect and regenerate the cornea.

development,

“Corneal damage due to multiple causes can

Molecular biology of eye diseases and

be slowed and even reversed by a variety

regenerative ophthalmology are the drivers

of approaches,” he said. “These include

for Daniel Pelaez, a research associate

activating cell survival and proliferation

professor. “We harness the power of

signaling, blocking strategic cell death.”

stem cells, advanced biomaterials, tissue

Giovanni Gregori, Ph.D., a research

engineering, and molecular genetics to

associate professor of ophthalmology, is

replace cells and tissues and restore the

focused on the clinical applications of

functions that are lost to disease or trauma,”

medical image processing. His research

he said. The two main areas of research in

investigators to Bascom Palmer, as we recruit new doctors and scientists in keeping with the growth of our research, clinical and educational programs.”

Alfonso said the Institute plans to remain on the leading edge of tapping the data in electronic health records (EHR) for research as well as clinical care. “We will be able to look more closely at patient populations to address issues related to epidemiology and public health,” he said. “Drilling into the EHR data will also allow us to deliver more personalized care, leading to better outcomes for patients.”

Stefan Kurtenbach, Ph.D

Alfonso Sabater, M.D., Ph.D.

Giovanni Gregori, Ph.D. 60 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE

79

with ocular surface tumors, Carol Karp

grant from the American Glaucoma Society

director of biostatistics. “Bascom Palmer

collaborates closely with researchers and

for this study, which was also supported by

is fortunate to have a strong biostatistics

clinicians at Sylvester Comprehensive

grants from the National Eye Institute and the

program that receives grant support from our

Cancer Center of the University of Miami

National Institutes of Health.

donors.”

Miller School of Medicine. “We have an

another vision-saving project in the works in

translate the administrative data uploaded

research meetings for eye cancer,” she said.

collaboration with Guillermo Amescua and

from providers into clinical data for research

“We share ideas as well as the latest research

Ellen Koo, M.D., both cornea and cataract

purposes. For instance, an electronic health

findings. This seamless connection benefits

specialists. Koo is committed to improving

record may indicate a visual field assessment

our patients. For instance, we have new

the field of corneal transplantation and eye

was performed on a patient with glaucoma,

treatments for ocular melanomas, including

banking. She has also pioneered innovations

but not give the results. Alternatively, the

checkpoint inhibitors. As a result, we can

in the surgical techniques of Descemet

records might not indicate whether a certain

treat patients more aggressively, saving

Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty and

medication was given to the right or left eye

many lives.”

Descemet’s Stripping Endothelial Keratoplasty.

– a challenge for research since glaucoma

we are taking a cellular biology approach to

other. “While there are shortcomings, the

restoring vision,” said Culbertson. “We grow

Intelligent Research in Sight (IRIS) Clinical

the Mary Lee and Richard E. Bastin Chair

replacements for the defective cells, put

Registry opens the door to new types of

in Ophthalmology, has developed novel

magnetized nanoparticles in the new cells,

research studies, including large-scale

statistical models for disease progression

and use magnets to pull them to the back of

studies that require extensive computing

using the resources of the UM Institute for

the cornea.”

power,” Vanner said.

retinal images in particular those acquired using optical coherence tomography. And, the ongoing studies in the laboratory of Dmitry Ivanov, Ph.D., explore the signaling cascades and the epigenetic mechanisms

rate, a small percentage of patients progress at a fast rate and can rapidly develop a visual disability,” he said. “It is vital to understand a patient’s rate of progression, so treatment can be appropriately initiated or augmented.”

Swaminathan received a Mentoring for the Advancement of Physician Scientists

involved in ocular development and

care. “To understand the drivers of glaucoma, we are analyzing large-scale clinical databases, developing artificial intelligence algorithms, deploying advanced imaging

and once again, Bascom Palmer is at the

the United States to exhibit the results of

forefront. In 2018, the American Academy

their cutting-edge vision research. Included

For example, Peter Chang, M.D, (fellow 2010), professor of clinical ophthalmology, has launched several glaucoma studies using the IRIS Registry data, including a comparative analysis of laser trabeculoplasty and surgical procedures to open a fluid drainage passage based on 79,332 patients/ eyes with primary open-angle glaucoma.

“We know that lasers can have a positive impact, but without access to the registry, it was difficult to determine the real-world impact,” said Chang, whose two papers from the study covered patient responsiveness to laser treatments and the duration of that response. “That indicates laser therapy is Ta Chen Peter Chang, M.D.

of Ophthalmology launched the nation’s

among the impressive NAEVR emerging

first comprehensive eye disease clinical

vision scientists are Pelaez, Sabater,

registry with Bascom Palmer as one of four

Kurtenbach, Mohamed Abou Shousha,

U.S. institutions to be selected for the IRIS

Swarup Swaminathan, Luis Vazquez, M.D.,

Registry Analytic Center Consortium, which is

Ph.D., (fellow 2014), and Florence Cabot,

taking the lead in applying the patient data to

M.D., (fellow, research fellow 2019). Emerging

current vision problems.

scientists also visit members of Congress to

“Statistical analysis of the best treatments

thank them for their essential support of the

for glaucoma is essential because there is a

National Institutes of Health and National

BASCOM PALMER EYE INSTITUTE

technologies to advance the frontiers of vision

glaucoma research is just getting underway,

hosted early-stage investigators from around

80

researchers are using powerful 21st-century

One of the most exciting advances in

and Vision Research has recognized and

To provide leading-edge care to patients

and neuro-ophthalmic care, the Institute’s

said Richard Parrish.

Since 2015, the National Alliance for Eye

Multidisciplinary collaborations

In glaucoma as well as retinal, corneal,

technologies, and studying family genetics,”

neuronal regeneration in the adult retina.

Eye Institute.

Applying biostatistics

Elizabeth A. Vanner, Ph.D.

may advance faster in one eye than the

professor of clinical ophthalmology and

patients with glaucoma progress at a slow of quantitative tools for the analysis of

“Rather than perform a corneal transplant,

Swaminathan, M.D., (resident 2018), assistant

Data Science and Computing. “While most group has been a leader in the development

Vanner said it takes extensive work to

active partnership that includes monthly

Glaucoma specialist Swarup S.

Swarup Swaminathan, M.D.

In the cornea field, William Culbertson has

wide variation in the severity of the disease Carol Karp, M.D., is collecting patient’s tears to determine if eye disease is evident. By evaluating the tears, she and her team have been able to identify the presence of certain ocular cancers and other disorders.

and physicians use different therapies,” said Elizabeth A. Vanner, Ph.D., the Institute’s

60 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE

81

revolutionary technology brings together lightweight 3-D headsets with artificial

Leadership in gene therapy

intelligence algorithms in a cloud-based

Bascom Palmer also

platform that provides real-time information

has an extensive gene

about the immediate surroundings. While

therapy program with

in development, more than 100 patients

ophthalmologists, surgeons,

had tested the prototype digital glasses on

genetic counselors, and

a visual “obstacle course” in the laboratory

research scientists studying

with excellent results.

various forms of inherited eye

“Artificial intelligence is creating a

Lam, the Institute’s medical

Palmer is at the forefront,” said Abou

director of clinical research,

Shousha, associate professor of clinical

is the principal investigator

ophthalmology and director of the Artificial

of a clinical trial for X-linked

Intelligence and Computer Augmented Vision

retinitis pigmentosa (XLRP),

Laboratory in the Institute’s William L. and

which causes blindness in

Evelyn F. McKnight Vision Research Center.

about one in 15,000 men.

To advance this technology for screening, Mohamed F. AbouShousha, M.D., Ph.D.

“Artificial intelligence is creating a revolution in ophthalmology, and Bascom Palmer is at the forefront.”

– Mohamed F. AbouShousha, M.D., Ph.D.

copy of the affected gene

a very viable alternative, particularly for

disorders, the Institute spun off Heru, a

using an engineered viral vector can correct

patients who may find it difficult to adhere

medical technology company. Heru’s first

the underlying cause and induce a long-

to a medication regimen.”

diagnostic application for visual field exams

lasting therapeutic effect,” said Lam, whose

was listed with the U.S. Food and Drug

work is supported by Hope for Vision, a non-

laser trabeculoplasty reduced the need

Administration in 2020 and is now being

profit organization dedicated to promoting

for medications in patients with relatively

used by vision specialists throughout the U.S.

retinal research. “I have tremendous hope

normal eye pressure, Chang said. Because

“Heru’s technology was developed through

Another important finding was that

BASCOM PALMER EYE INSTITUTE

in the doctors and scientists doing this

clinical trials typically enroll patients with

decades of research, innovation, and clinical

life-changing work and am confident that

high intraocular pressure, clinicians would

validation within the accelerator program

RP is one step closer to being treated,” said

not have known the potential benefits of

at Bascom Palmer,” said Alfonso. “Its full

founder Betti Lidsky.

laser treatments in this second group of

technology suite is focused on improving the

Lam and Rong Wen now serve as directors

patients without the IRIS Registry data.

quality of life for people with visual defects.”

of the Adrienne Arsht Hope for Vision Center

“Since it takes six to eight weeks for a laser

of Retinal Degeneration Research at Bascom

treatment to be apparent, it is difficult

Palmer. Their work is supported by Adrienne

for practitioners to make comparative

Arsht Hope for Vision funds and by the

assessments,” he added. “Having access to

National Eye Institute/ National Institutes of

this nationwide database gives us better

Health.

information to guide our clinical decisions.”

“Working collaboratively with our

Another IRIS Registry study is being led

colleagues at the University of Miami,

by Adam L. Rothman, M.D., (fellow 2020), an

Bascom Palmer now has the most robust

assistant professor of clinical ophthalmology

genetics research program in the nation,”

who was awarded a 2020 Research to Prevent

added Alfonso. “That talent has already

Blindness and AAO grant. His current project

enabled us to identify specific genes involved

involves investigating the change in eye

in glaucoma and retinal degenerative

pressure following cataract surgery.

diseases.”

Deploying AI applications

Looking to the future

A team of Bascom Palmer clinicians and

Reflecting on 60 years of visionary leadership,

scientists led by Mohamed Abou Shousha,

Alfonso said Bascom Palmer is committed to

M.D., Ph.D., (fellow 2011), has developed

pursuing bold ideas in research, delivering

expand an individual’s field of vision. This

Rong Wen, M.D., Ph.D.

“Our vision is to transform global ophthalmology and change lives – one patient at a time.”

“Introducing a functional

diagnosing, and treating visual field

digital smart glasses that can dramatically 82

diseases. For instance, Byron

revolution in ophthalmology, and Bascom

– Eduardo Alfonso, M.D. Byron Lam, M.D.

professional team – as well as our alumni around the world – are proud to continue Dr. Norton’s legacy of providing compassionate patient care and investing in world-class scientific discovery and clinical innovation,” he said. “Our vision is to transform global ophthalmology and change lives – one patient at a time.”

Audina Berrocal, M.D.

excellent clinical care, and educating future generations of vision professionals. “Our 60 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE

83

People Are Our Strength Since the founding of the Institute, people have always been our strength.

Meet the Bascom Palmer faculty members as of June 1, 2022.

Mohamed F. Abou-Shousha, M.D., Ph.D. Associate Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology

Professor of Ophthalmology Director and Chair Kathleen and Stanley J. Glaser Chair in Ophthalmology

Chrisfouad R. Alabiad, M.D.

Guillermo Amescua, M.D.

Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology

Associate Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology

Thomas A. Albini, M.D.

Zubair Ansari, M.D.

Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology 84

Eduardo C. Alfonso, M.D.

BASCOM PALMER EYE INSTITUTE

Assistant Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology

Nathan Blessing, M.D.

Ta Chen Peter Chang, M.D.

Janet L. Davis, M.D., M.A.

Assistant Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology

Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology

Professor of Ophthalmology Leach Chair in Ophthalmology

Florence Cabot, M.D.

Victoria Chang, M.D.

Delia DeBuc, Ph.D.

Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology

Assistant Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology

Assistant Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology

Research Associate Professor of Ophthalmology

Sanjoy Bhattacharya, Ph.D.

Kendall E. Donaldson, M.D., M.S.

Audina M. Berrocal, M.D.

Hilda Capó, M.D.

Zelia M. Correa, M.D.

Professor of Ophthalmology

Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology John T. Flynn Chair in Ophthalmology

Professor of Ophthalmology

Elena Bitrian, M.D.

Kara M. Cavuoto, M.D.

William W. Culbertson, M.D.

Sander R. Dubovy, M.D.

Associate Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology

Professor of Ophthalmology Lou Higgins Chair in Ophthalmology

Professor of Ophthalmology Victor T. Curtin Chair in Ophthalmology

Associate Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology

Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology

60 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE

85

Michelle M. Falcone, M.D. Assistant Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology

Yale L. Fisher, M.D.

86

Raquel Goldhardt, M.D.

Ninel Z. Gregori, M.D.

Dmitry Ivanov, Ph.D.

Carol L. Karp, M.D.

Professor of Ophthalmology

Associate Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology

Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology

Research Associate Professor of Ophthalmology

Professor of Ophthalmology Richard K. Forster Chair in Ophthalmology Dr. Ronald and Alicia Lepke Endowed Professor in Corneal and External Diseases

Steven J. Gedde, M.D.

Alana L. Grajewski, M.D.

Abigail S. Hackam, Ph.D.

Hong Jiang, M.D., Ph.D.

Krishna S. Kishor, M.D.

Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology

Professor of Ophthalmology

Associate Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology

Associate Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology

David S. Greenfield, M.D.

Luis J. Haddock, M.D.

Professor of Ophthalmology Douglas R. Anderson Chair in Ophthalmology

Associate Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology

Thomas E. Johnson, M.D.

Ellen Koo, M.D.

Elizabeth A. Hodapp, M.D.

Anna K. Junk, M.D.

Jaclyn L. Kovach, M.D.

Associate Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology

Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology

Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology

Anat Galor, M.D., M.S.P.H.

Professor of Ophthalmology

Professor of Ophthalmology John G. Clarkson Chair in Ophthalmology

Harry W. Flynn Jr., M.D.

Allister G. Gibbons, M.D.

Professor of Ophthalmology J. Donald M. Gass Chair in Ophthalmology

Associate Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology

Jorge A. Fortun, M.D.

Brian E. Goldhagen, M.D.

Giovanni Gregori, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology

Associate Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology

Research Associate Professor of Ophthalmology

BASCOM PALMER EYE INSTITUTE

Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology

Associate Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology

60 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE

87

Stefan Kurtenbach, Ph.D.

Wendy W. Lee, M.D., M.S.

Research Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology

Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology

Byron L. Lam, M.D.

Yunhee Lee, M.D.

Professor of Ophthalmology Robert Z. and Nancy J. Greene Chair in Ophthalmology

Alison Lauter, M.D.

Yiwen Li, M.D.

Assistant Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology

Research Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology

Richard K. Lee, M.D., Ph.D.

Stephanie Llop Santiago, M.D.

Associate Professor of Ophthalmology Walter G. Ross Distinguished Chair in Ophthalmic Research 88

Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology

BASCOM PALMER EYE INSTITUTE

Assistant Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology

Arindel S. Maharaj, M.D., Ph.D.

Darlene Miller, D.H.Sc., M.P.H., C.I.C.

Richard K. Parrish II, M.D.

Andrew Rong, M.D.

Research Professor of Ophthalmology

Professor of Ophthalmology Edward W. D. Norton Chair in Ophthalmology

Assistant Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology

Terrence P. O’Brien, M.D.

Joshua Pasol, M.D.

Philip J. Rosenfeld, M.D., Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology

Professor of Ophthalmology

Assistant Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology

Professor of Ophthalmology Charlotte Breyer Rodgers Chair in Ophthalmology

Craig A. McKeown, M.D.

Paul F. Palmberg, M.D., Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology

Jaime D. MartinezMartinez, M.D.

Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology

Carlos E. MendozaSantiesteban, M.D. Associate Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology

Daniel Pelaez, Ph.D.

Elena Roth, M.D.

Professor of Ophthalmology

Research Associate Professor of Ophthalmology

Assistant Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology

Jean-Marie Parel, Ing. ETS-G, Ph.D.

Vittorio Porciatti, D.Sc.

Adam Rothman, M.D.

Research Associate Professor of Ophthalmology Henri and Flore Lesieur Chair in Ophthalmology

Professor of Ophthalmology Director and Vice Chair of Research James L. Knight Professorship in Ophthalmology

Assistant Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology 60 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE

89

Marco Ruggeri, Ph.D.

Valery I. Shestopalov, Ph.D.

Lana Srur, M.D.

Brian C. Tse, M.D.

Sarah R. Wellik, M.D.

Research Associate Professor of Ophthalmology

Professor of Ophthalmology

Assistant Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology

Associate Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology

Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology

Alfonso Sabater, M.D., Ph.D.

Lawrence Singerman, M.D.

Swarup Swaminathan, M.D.

David T. Tse, M.D.

Rong Wen, M.D., Ph.D.

Sonia H. Yoo, M.D.

Assistant Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology

Professor of Ophthalmology

Assistant Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology Mary Lee & Richard E. Bastin Chair in Ophthalmology

Professor of Ophthalmology Dr. Nasser Ibrahim Al-Rashid Chair in Ophthalmology

Professor of Ophthalmology

Professor of Ophthalmology Greentree Hickman Chair in Ophthalmology

Norman J. Schatz, M.D.

William E. Smiddy, M.D.

Rahul Tonk, M.D.

Luis E. Vazquez, M.D., Ph.D.

Sara T. Wester, M.D.

Hong Yu, Ph.D.

Professor of Ophthalmology M. Brenn Green Chair in Ophthalmology

Assistant Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology

Associate Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology

Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology

Research Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology

Jayanth Sridhar, M.D.

Justin Townsend, M.D.

Jianhua (Jay) Wang, M.D., Ph.D.

Nicolas A. Yannuzzi, M.D.

Angela Zhu, M.D.

Associate Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology

Associate Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology

Professor of Ophthalmology

Assistant Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology

Assistant Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology

Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology

Stephen G. Schwartz, M.D., M.B.A. Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology 90

BASCOM PALMER EYE INSTITUTE

Zohar Yehoshua, M.D., M.H.A. Associate Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology

60 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE

91

Professors Emeritus of Ophthalmalogy

Voluntary Faculty Members

Duco I. Hamasaki, Ph.D. Professor Emeritus of Ophthalmology

Douglas Anderson, M.D. Professor Emeritus of Ophthalmology

John G. Clarkson, M. D. Professor Emeritus of Ophthalmology

92

George Inana, M.D., Ph.D. Professor Emeritus of Ophthalmology

Robert W. Knighton, Ph.D. Professor Emeritus of Ophthalmology

Richard K. Forster, M.D.

Mary Lou Lewis, M.D.

Professor Emeritus of Ophthalmology

Professor Emerita of Ophthalmology

BASCOM PALMER EYE INSTITUTE

Richard M. Awdeh, M.D. James Banta, M.D. Juan Batlle, M.D. Stanley Braverman, M.D. Jerome Fisher, M.D. Gilbert Grand, M.D. Daniel Hutter, M.D. J. William Harbour, M.D. Maja Kostic, M.D., Ph.D. Aarup A. Kubal, M.D. Anup A. Kubal, M.D. Ajay E. Kuriyan, M.D., M.S. Van Lansingh, M.D., Ph.D. John J. Martin, M.D. Sotiria Palioura, M.D. Nimesh Patel, M.D. Anna V. Quan, M.D. Jonathan F. Russell, M.D. Felix Sabates, M.D. Juliana Sallum, M.D. Joseph A. Singer, M.D. Huda Sheheitli, M.D. Myron Tanenbaum, M.D. Nancy Thomas, M.D. Joseph Trentacoste, M.D. Anil Vedula, M.D. Daniel Vu, M.D. Roberto Warman, M.D. Mark A. Werner, M.D. Victor M. Villegas, M.D. William Zambrano, M.D. Isidoro Zarco, M.D.

Secondary Appointments in Ophthalmalogy Midhat Abdulreda, Ph.D. Steven Gayer, M.D. David Lee, M.D. Arnold M. Markoe, M.D. Fabrice Manns, Ph.D. Keyvan Nouri, M.D. Judith D. Post, M.D. Robert Quencer, M.D. Konstantinos Sarantopoulos, M.D. Mustafa Tekin, M.D. Gaofeng Wang, Ph.D. Ramzi Younis, M.D.

Optometrists

Rami J. Aboumourad, O.D.

Mark T. Dunbar, O.D.

Bailey Peterson, O.D.

Alison Bozung, O.D.

Stephanie T. Frankel, O.D.

Terri P. Rose, O.D.

Elliott S. Brafman, O.D.

John J. McSoley, O.D.

Priscilla Sotomayor, O.D.

Michelle K. Caputo, O.D.

Maricarmen Perez Blanco, O.D.

Susanna Tamkins, O.D.

Natalie A. Townsend, O.D.

60 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE

93

Executive Team

Chief Residents 2021-22

Eduardo C. Alfonso, M.D.

Michael Gittelman

Joanne Martin

Chair, Department of Ophthalmology Director, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute

Chief Administrative Officer Vice Chair, Department of Ophthalmology

Chief Operations Officer

Mario Almeida Executive Director Patient Services

Joan Curtin Executive Director, Satellite Practices at Palm Beach Gardens, Naples

Patrick Diaz

Ryan Whidby

Senior Department Administrator

Executive Director Logistics and Process Optimization

Diana M. Laura, M.D.

Marla Bercuson Executive Director Business Operations

94

Belinda Quinta

Maria Serrano Brosco

Director of Sponsored Programs Research Administration

Executive Director Global Center for Ophthalmic Education

Ileana Bronstein

Isabel Rams

Lina M. Utrera

Executive Director Development

Executive Director Special Projects

Executive Director Nursing

BASCOM PALMER EYE INSTITUTE

Kenneth C. Fan, M.D., M.B.A.

60 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE

95

Interns 2021-22

2nd Year Residents 2021-22

3rd Year Residents 2021-22

Benjamin Meyer, M.D.

Brandon Pham, M.D.

Flavius Beca, M.D.

Landon J. Rohowetz, M.D.

Jason C. Fan, M.D., Ph.D.

Shanlee M. Stevens, M.D.

Kevin D. Clauss, M.D.

Daniela P. Reyes-Capó, M.D.

Yasman Moshiri, M.D.

Akaanksh Shetty, M.D.

Viet Chau, M.D.

Jonathan D. Tijerina, M.D., M.A.

Caroline L. Lieux, M.D.

Michael J. Venincasa, M.D.

Julia L. Hudson, M.D.

Humberto Salazar III, M.D.

Ronaldo Nuesi, M.D.

Jonathan Yi, M.D.

Naomi E. Gutkind, M.D.

Ramsey Yusuf, M.D.

Benjamin R. Lin, M.D.

Lily Zhang, M.D.

Anne L. Kunkler, M.D.

Jesse D. Sengillo, M.D.

Elli Park, M.D.

96

1st Year Residents 2021-22

BASCOM PALMER EYE INSTITUTE

Lauren C. Kiryakoza, M.D.

Marissa K. Shoji, M.D.

David Wade Redick, M.D.

60 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE

97

Fellows 2021-22

Fellows 2021-22

Mariana Abi Karam, M.D. Noy Ashkenazy, M.D., M.S. Pediatric Ophthalmology Retina

Somya Chowdhary, M.D. Paula W. Feng, M.D. Neuro-Ophthalmology/ Cornea Inherited Eye Diseases

Prashanth G. Iyer, M.D., M.P.H. Medical Retina/Retina

Marilyn A. Marquez, M.D. Medical Retina

Oded Ohana, M.D. International Oculoplastics

Mehdi Roozbahani, M.D. Medical Retina

Anna Sporysheva, M.D. Medical Retina

Mariam Vila Delgado, M.D. Neuro-Ophthalmology

Ghada J. AlBayyat, M.D. International Cornea

Victor H. Banda, M.D. International Cornea

Sara J. Coulon, M.D. Glaucoma

Mohammed M. Khodeiry, M.D. Neuro-Ophthalmology

Ruba Muhtaseb, M.D. Medical Retina

Erin Ong, M.D. Cornea

Nathan L. Scott, M.D., M.P.P. Ocular Oncology

Patrick Staropoli, M.D. Retina

Chris Wu, M.D. Uveitis

Alaa Al-Dabbagh, M.D. Medical Retina

Rebecca Chen, M.D. Glaucoma

Samuel M. Dresner, M.D. Lediana Goduni, M.D. Glaucoma Retina

Thomas A. Lazzarini, M.D. Retina

Hannah Muniz Castro, M.D. Cornea

Angelica G. Ortiz, M.D. Cornea

Kevin Shen, M.D. Glaucoma

Vincent D. Tang, M.D. Ocular Pathology Research

Anas Yasin, M.D. Neuro-Ophthalmology

Hasenin Al-khersan, M.D. Retina

Ying Chen, M.D. Oculoplastics

Lulwa El Zein, M.D. Pediatric Ophthalmology

Michelle M. Maeng, M.D. Oculoplastics

Ahmad Najafi, M.D. Medical Retina

Anh Pham, M.D., Ph.D. Glaucoma

Gina Shetty, M.D. Cornea

Joshua Uhr, M.D. Retina

Elaine Zhou, M.D. Cornea

98

BASCOM PALMER EYE INSTITUTE

Maria Paula Fernandez, M.D. Retina

Yasmin Islam, M.D. Glaucoma

60 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE

99

Bascom Palmer Eye Institute Alumni These photographs of residents and fellows may not represent the year of graduation.

1960

1963

1969

1970

Thomas M. Aaberg Sr.

John C. Affeldt

George Alexandrakis

Gustavo M. Alvira

Lee S. Anderson

Claudia Arroyave O’Brien

Frank Bajandas

Michael Barricks

Fellow 1983

Resident 2000

Fellow 1986

Fellow 1982

Fellow 2001

Fellow 1975

Resident, Fellow 1976

Thomas M. Aaberg Jr.

Shruti Aggarwal

Eduardo C. Alfonso

Wallace L.M. Alward

Roberto Andreu

Luiz G. Assis

M. Livia Bajenaru

Keith Barton

Resident, Fellow, Chief Resident 1995

Fellow 2019

Resident 1984, Faculty, Chair

Fellow 1987

Resident 1986

Research Fellow 1986

Former Faculty

Fellow 1996

Ashkan M. Abbey

Dan Agness

Sulaiman Alhumaid

Mohamed Aly

Husam Ansari

Geetha K. Athappilly

Evelyn L. Baker

Norma B. Barton

Fellow 1979

Fellow 2020

Research Fellow 2006

Fellow 2007

Fellow 2010

Resident 2003

Fellow 1980

Sumayya Ahmad

Tayyeba K. Ali

Rosario Amato

Zubair A. Ansari

Richard M. Awdeh

Norman Ballin

Fellow 2016

Fellow 2015

Research Fellow 2019

Resident 2018, Faculty

Fellow 2009, Faculty

Resident 1964

James V. Bastek Fellow 1983

Byung-Joon Ahn

Elias Aliprandis

Guillermo Amescua

Bertrand M. Anz

Juan A. Ayala Haedo

Michael R. Banitt

Edgar Batista

Fellow 2008

Fellow 2005

Fellow 2012, Faculty

Resident 1979

Fellow 2016

Fellow 2009, Former Faculty

Resident 2004

Chris R. Alabiad

Arthur W. Allen

G. William Aylward

Tanuj P. Banker

Kenneth Batko

Fellow 1975

Arezo Amirikia Fellow 1999

Rachid Aouchiche Fellow 1976

Fellow 1994

Fellow 2017

Fellow 1980

Fellow 2011, Faculty

Resident, Fellow 2010, Faculty

Gary W. Abrams

Luma Al-Attar

Kyle J. Alliman

Scott R. Anagnoste

Antonio V. Aragon

Susan E. Azar

James T. Banta

Ivan R. Batlle

Resident, Fellow 2010

Fellow, Chief Resident 2000

Fellow, Chief Resident 2001

Fellow 2011

Resident 1989

Fellow 1978

Resident, Fellow, Chief Resident 2005, Former Faculty

Zaina N. Al-Mohtaseb

Apostolos G. Anagnostopoulos

Jaime Arango

Hassan A. Aziz

Resident 2003, Former Faculty

Resident 1961

Resident, Fellow 2015

Thomas A. Albini

Martha L. Araujo Cali

Amy Babiuch

Faculty

Zakeya M. Al-Sadah Fellow 2018

Fellow 1989

Fellow 2010

Vicente Alcaraz

Nabih Al-Sheikh

Fellow 1969

Resident 2013

Richard L. Abbott Fellow 1978

Amany Abdelaziz Research Fellow 2011

Mohamed F. Abou Shousha

Adele Abri Research Fellow 2004

Ali Abri Research Fellow 2004

Fawzi D. Abukhalil Fellow 2020

Ana Carolina Acosta Research Fellow 2005

Eldad Adler Fellow 2014

Fellow 1981

Fellow 2002

Brian D. Alder

Nayef K. Alshammari

Fellow 2014

MVSIO 2021

William V. Aldred

Diego S. Altamirano

BASCOM PALMER EYE INSTITUTE

Research Fellow, Fellow 2021

Jean-Louis Anctil Fellow 1981

Douglas R. Anderson Honorary Alumnus, Faculty Emeritus

Resident 1981

Research Fellow, Fellow 2021

Roger A. Anderson Fellow 2008

Paul Alecce

Rene Altamirano

Warren Anderson

Resident 1959 100

Fellow 2014

Resident 1958

Fellow 2007

Fellow 2020

Juan F. Batlle Resident, Fellow, Chief Resident 1984

Derek L. Barker

Lisa Battat

Fellow 2004

Fellow 1999

Anita Barikian

Ahmad A. Aref

Austin Bach

Fellow 2011

Fellow 2018

Charles C. Barr

Joseph O. Beauchamp

Roberto Arguello

Brian Bachynski

Resident 1968

Resident, Fellow 1983

Fellow 1985

Resident, Chief Resident 1979

Donald Arkfeld

Paul D. Baciu

Elena Barraquer

Fellow 1977

Fellow 1979

Fellow 2017

Jodie A. Armstrong

Nika Bagheri

Former Faculty

Fellow 2018

Research Fellow 1989

Debra A. Barrett Resident 1991

Bruce H. Becker Carmine Bedotto Resident, Chief Resident 1970 60 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE

101

1980

1978

1977

William E. Benson

Christian DJ Billotte

Dan Boghen

R. Larry Brenner

Helmut Buettner

Fellow 1975

Research Fellow 2002

Fellow 1972

Resident 1969

Resident 1975

Matthew S. Benz

Elena Bitrian

George T. Boozalis

Roy Bresky

Frank Buffam

Resident, Fellow, Chief Resident 2003

Faculty

Fellow 1992

Resident 1970

Fellow 1976

Alan Bird

Francois Borruat

Dean C. Brick

George Bullwinkel

Leonard Berg

Fellow 1969

Fellow 1993

Fellow 1980

Resident 1967

Charles J. Blair

Mark D. Borup

Jonathan W. Briggs

Walter E. Bundy

Fellow 1969

Resident 1992

Fellow 2002

Resident 1977

George W. Blankenship Jr.

Remi Bougaran

Gregory S. Brinton

Michelle R. Butler

Former Faculty 1989

Research Fellow 1998

Resident 1980

Fellow 2013

Nathan W. Blessing

Eileen Bowden

Roy D. Brod

Carlos Buznego

Fellow 2020

Fellow 1988

Resident 1991

Fellow 1964

Resident, Fellow 2018, Faculty

Florence A. Cabot

Lauren S. Blieden

Charles (Brad) Bowman

James Brown

Maria H. Berrocal

Resident 1993

Fellow 1975

Fellow 1992

Fellow 2012

Fellow, Research Fellow 2019, Faculty

Dana Beyer

Barbara A. Blodi

Resident 1982

Resident, Fellow 1992

Swetangi D. Bhaleeya

Christopher F. Blodi

Fellow 2012

Resident, Former Faculty 1983

Fellow 1964

Jose A. Bermudez Magner Fellow 2015

Audina Berrocal Fellow 2001, Faculty

Jose A. Berrocal

Sanjoy Bhattacharya Faculty

Namita Bhardwaj Fellow 2016

Anjali M. Bhorade Fellow 2004

Louis Blumenfeld Fellow 1996

Mark S. Blumenkranz Fellow 1980

Donald D. Bode Fellow 1982

102

BASCOM PALMER EYE INSTITUTE

James Boynton Fellow 1976

Reagan Bradford Fellow 1985

Puneet S. Braich Fellow 2017

Peter J. Branden Fellow 1991

Robert A. Braunstein Fellow 1979

Bruce Brauston Resident 1962

Reay H. Brown Fellow 1983

David J. Browning Fellow 1986

Nancy M. Buchser Fellow 2009

Edward G. Buckley Fellow 1983

Donald L. Budenz Fellow 1992, Former Faculty

Michael J. Bueche

Christine E. Callahan Fellow 2004

David G. Callanan Fellow 1992

Natalia F. Callaway Resident 2018

Andrew S. Camp

1978

Ana P. Canto

Colleen M. Cebulla

Rolando A. Chanis

Fellow 2013

Resident, Fellow 2009

Fellow 1974

Salvatore Cantolino

Haci Celik

Daniel L. Chao

Fellow 1970

Fellow 2019

Resident 2014

Hilda Capó

James Cerasoli

Pascal Chapon

Faculty

Resident 1969

Research Fellow 2000

Andrew R. Carey

Joseph G. Chacko

Steve Charles

Research Fellow 2015

Fellow 2005

Resident 1973

Thomas J. Carlow

You-Ching Chan

Amina Chaudhry

Fellow 1972

Research Fellow 1990

Fellow 2020

Mont J. Cartwright

Jonathan S. Chang

Nauman Chaudhry

Fellow 1987

Resident, Chief Resident, Fellow 2014

Fellow, Chief Resident 1999

Robert T. Chang

MVSIO 2019

Anthony Castelbuono Fellow 2001

Lourdes A. Casuso Resident, Fellow 2002

Brian Cavallaro Fellow 1999

John Cavender Fellow 1972

Kara M. Cavuoto

Fellow 2009

Stanley Chang Fellow 1979

Ta Chen Peter Chang Fellow 2010, Faculty

Tom S. Chang Fellow 1994

Resident 2016

Resident, Fellow 2012, Faculty

Victoria S. Chang

Randy V. Campo

Elizenda Ceballos

Warren Chang

Fellow 2001

Fellow 1998

Resident 1981

Fellow 2016, Faculty

Muhammad Z. Chauhan Anuj Chawla Fellow 2015

Percival Chee Resident 1968

Gene W. Chen Fellow 2012

Jei-Yuan Chen Research Fellow 1990

Jenny Chen Fellow 2018

Fellow 1993 60 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE

103

1979

1981

1982

1981

1981

1983

1983

Jessica L. Chen

Jessica H. Chow

Bill Clark

Claudia Colomine

Scott W. Cousins

David L. Cute

Daniel Dawson

Gilles Desroches

Fellow 2012

Fellow 2012

Resident 1983

Fellow 2003

Fellow 1987, Former Faculty

Fellow 2008

Fellow 2006

Fellow 1980

Masako Chen

Stephen P. Christiansen

Hollis W. Clark

Howard Conn

Stephen S. Couvillion

Oscar Cuzzani

Delia DeBuc

Eric Dessner

Fellow 2021

Fellow 1991

Fellow 1986

Fellow 1982

Fellow 1980

Faculty

Fellow 2008

Philip P. Chen

Murray D. Christianson

Robert Clark

Brian P. Conway

Resident, Fellow, Chief Resident 2007

Vincent P. De Luise

Amr Dessouki

Fellow 1980

Fellow 1971

Fellow 1976

Ashley M. Crane

Charles K. Dabbs

Fellow 1996

Resident 1988

Resident 1981

Fellow 2000

Resident, Fellow, Chief Resident 2019

Mark Daily

Gil De Venecia

Vasilios F. Diakonis

Resident 1977

Resident 1960

Fellow 2015

Elizabeth A. Dale

Peter DeBry

J. Daniel Diaz

Fellow 2015

Fellow 2001

Fellow 2021

Melvyn Damast

Derek W. Delmonte

George Dinter

Fellow 1972

Fellow 2011

Resident 1969

Donald J. D’Amico

David R. DeMartini

Alberto G. Distefano

Fellow 1982

Fellow 1983

Fellow 2016

Deborah Darnley-Fisch

Anna Maria Demetriades

Richard D. Dix

Resident, Fellow 1989

Fellow 2010

Former Faculty

Sonal Dave

Yuqing Deng

Lena A. Dixit

Resident 2007

Research Fellow 2018

Fellow 2016

Helen A. Davis

Patrick Dennehy

Erin Doe

Resident 1982

Fellow 1988

Fellow 2000

Janet L. Davis

Avnish A. Deobhakta

Bernard H. Doft

Fellow 1987, Faculty

Resident 2012

Resident 1978

Honorary Alumnus, Faculty Emeritus

Ronald Prince Davis

Manishi A. Desai

Kendall E. Donaldson

Resident, Fellow 2010

Fellow 2008

Philip L. Custer

Dale G. Davis

Daniel Desjardins

Resident, Fellow 2004, Faculty

Fellow 1971

Fellow 1985

Royce W. Chen

Nancy Christmas

W. Lloyd Clark

Jane C. Cook

Fellow 2014

Resident 1999

Resident 1999

Fellow 2019

Sachin (Shawn) Chhabra

David H. Chu

John G. Clarkson

Ghassan Cordahi

Fellow 2008

Fellow 2010

Fellow 1999

Fred Y. Chien

Fred B. Chu

Fellow 2008

Fellow 2015

Resident, Chief Resident 1975, Chair, Faculty Emeritus, Dean Emeritus

Iain Chisholm

Elaine L. Chuang Fellow 1985, Former Faculty

Henry M. Clayman

George F. Corrent

Fellow 1976

Mark Chiu

Yunsuk Chung

Resident 1986

Richard Corey Resident 2001

Resident 1972, Former Faculty

Fellow 1988, Former Faculty

Research Fellow 2011

Charles E. Clevenger

Honorary Alumna

James Chodosh

Daniel S. Churgin

Rafael T. Cortez

Fellow 1993

Resident 2016

Resident, Chief Resident 1964

Michael Cobo

Kathy Corser

Fellow 1978

Catherine J. Choi

Gerhard W. Cibis Fellow 1977

Resident, Chief Resident 1980

John A. Costin

Fellow 2018

Daniel S. Choi

Joseph M. Civantos Resident 1993

Steven M. Cohen

Andrew J. Cottingham

Resident, Fellow 2018

Gabriel T. Chong

Steven Civiletto

Fellow 2011

Resident, Chief Resident 1979

Christopher Chow Fellow 1996 104

BASCOM PALMER EYE INSTITUTE

Fellow 1979

Fellow 1994

Fellow 1975

Vanessa Collao

Thomas Coulter

MVSIO 2022

Resident 1971

Shelley A. Cross Fellow 1982

Benjamin M. Crowder Resident 1970

John I. Crowder Resident, Fellow 1963

Oscar A. Cruz Fellow 1992

Vanessa Cruz-Villegas Fellow 2003

William W. Culbertson Fellow 1979, Faculty

Jay J. Culotta Fellow 1984

Victor T. Curtin

Fellow 1984

60 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE

105

1983

1983

1984 Matthew B. Donovan

Lee R. Duffner

Norman Ellerman

Jonathan R. Etter

Daniel K. Ferguson

Jane Fishler

Benjamin J. Fowler

Walter Gager

Fellow 2021

Resident 1969

Fellow 2010

Resident, Fellow 2005

Resident, Fellow 2012

Resident 2021

Fellow 1968

Rishi R. Doshi

Jyoti R. Dugar

Resident, Chief Resident 1964

Viviana Fernandez

Steven J. Fliesler

Gregory M. Fox

Jaime R. Gaitan

Fellow 2013

Erika M. Ellis

Sheikh M. Faheem

Fellow 2013

Fellow 2018

Research Fellow 2005

Former Faculty

Resident, Fellow 1992

Resident, Fellow 2008

Scott M. Fair

Luis Fernandez-Vega

Richard Flindall

Martin J. Fox

Anna Galanopoulos

Fellow 2020

Fellow 2018

Fellow 1970

Fellow 1983

Fellow 1997

Manuel Falcão

Renato Ferreira Pires

Robert A. Flores

Stephen Fransen

Steven L. Galetta

Research Fellow 2010

Research Fellow 2000

Fellow 1993

Fellow 1990

Fellow 1988

Michelle M. Falcone

John Fileta

Harry W. Flynn Jr.

John W. French

Paul Gallogly

Resident 2020, Faculty

Fellow 2015

Faculty

Fellow 2012

Frank Fankhauser

Edward Fineberg

John T. Flynn

Beth R. Friedland

Resident, Fellow, Chief Resident 2008

Research Fellow 1993

Resident 1975

Resident 1984

Lilia Fannin

M. Elizabeth Fini

Honorary Alumnus, Former Faculty

Fellow 2001

Former Faculty

Alan G. Fong

Fellow 1967

Mark J. Douglas

Pravin U. Dugel

Fellow, Chief Resident 2001

Fellow 1993

Richard Dreyer

Resident 2020

Fellow 1984

William T. Driebe Fellow 1984

Daniel B. Driscoll Resident, Fellow 2011

Sander R. Dubovy

Jacob S. Duker Dilek Dursun Fellow 2001

Daliya Dzhaber Fellow 2021

William W. East

MVSIO 2018

Matthew E. Emanuel Fellow 2014

Andres Emanuelli Fellow 2012

Geoffrey Emerick Fellow 1998

Mazen Eneyni Fellow 1996

Resident, Chief Resident 1974

Benjamin P. Erickson

Faculty

Joseph Ducharme

Jose J. Echegaray

Jonathan Erickson

Fellow 1998

Fellow 2020

Bernard Duchesne Research Fellow 1996

Resident, Fellow 2016

Francisco E. Fantes

Jeffrey L. Fischer

Resident, Fellow 1987, Former Faculty

Resident 1996

Fellow 2011

Daniel Eichenbaum

Edgar M Espana

Michel E. Farah

Fellow 2016

Resident 1973

Research Fellow 2005

Research Fellow 1984

Kathleen M. Duerksen

Charles W. Eifrig Resident, Fellow, Chief Resident 2003

Diego G. EspinosaHeidmann

Bradley K. Farris

Resident 1989

Eric R. H. Duerr Resident, Fellow 2020, Former Faculty

Research Fellow 2005

Aziza El Aouni

Thomas F. Essman

Research Fellow 1997

Fellow 1994

Gathline Etienne Fellow 2013 106

BASCOM PALMER EYE INSTITUTE

Fellow 1986

Herbert P. Fechter Fellow 2003

Michael R. Feilmeier Resident 2009

Oliver G. Fischer Barron C. Fishburne Resident 1995

Jerome P. Fisher Resident 1980

Daniel Fishkoff Resident 1961

Fellow 2016

Jerry G. Ford Fellow 1996

Richard K. Forster Resident, Chief Resident 1970, Interim Chair, Faculty Emeritus

Jorge A. Fortun Faculty

Robert E. Foster Fellow 1993

Tadashi Fujino Eriko Fujiwara Research Fellow 2000

Masakatsu Fukuda Research Fellow 1989

Dwain G. Fuller Fellow 1975

Anne E. Fung Fellow 2005

Wayne E. Fung Fellow 1968

Anat Galor Fellow 2008, Faculty

Mark S. Gans Fellow 1986

Gail L. Ganser Resident 1996

Armando L. Garcia MVSIO, Fellow 2019

Thomas W. Gardner Fellow 1984

Robert B. Garoon Fellow 2018

J. Donald M. Gass Honorary Alumnus, Former Faculty 60 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE

107

1984

1986

1986

1987

1988

Morgan Gaunt Pansegrau

Walter Gilbert

James M. Goldman

Sara F. Grace

Kevin W. Greuloch

Nisha Gupta

Payman Haft

Luxme Hariharan

Fellow 2008

Fellow 1968

Fellow 2007

Resident, Fellow 2016

Fellow 2004

Fellow 2016

Resident, Fellow 2009

Fellow 2014

Sandrine Gautier Research Fellow 1997

Arthur Gillman

Subba R. Gollamudi

Alana L. Grajewski

Michael R. Grimmett

Joseph R. Gussler

Fellow 1992

Fellow 1989, Faculty

Former Faculty

Fellow 1994

Robert Haimovici Resident 1990

Russell Harner

Resident 1960

Gregg S. Gayre

Joel S. Glaser

Daniel Gologorsky

David J. Grasic

Baird S. Grimson

Froncie A. Gutman

Bryan C. Hainline

Thomas W. Harper

Resident 1999

Resident, Fellow 1967, Former Faculty

Resident 2017

Fellow 2020

Fellow 1977

Fellow 1965

Fellow 2008

David G. Godfrey

Luri Golubev

Sean M. Gratton

Davinder S. Grover

John R. Guy

Amy B. Halikman

Resident, Fellow, Chief Resident 2009

Research Fellow 2009

Fellow 2014

Fellow 2010

Former Faculty

Fellow 1991

Michel Gonvers

Trevor Gray

R.K. Guerry

Jeffrey R. Haag

Duco I. Hamasaki

Fellow 1977

Fellow 1997

Resident 1976

Fellow 1984

Faculty Emeritus

Kristen L. Hartley

Christine R. Gonzales

Stuart N. Green

Matthew G. Guess

Ranya Habash

Harry A. Hamburger

Resident 1999

Fellow 1979

Fellow 2005

Former Faculty

Fellow 1984

Resident, Fellow, Chief Resident 2007

Marco A. Gonzalez

Paul B. Greenberg

James H. Guildford

Takahiko Hachiya

Latif M. Hamed

Resident, Fellow 2015

Former Faculty

Fellow 1988

Research Fellow 1992

Fellow 1989

Roy A. Goodart

David S. Greenfield

Medhat F. Guirgis

Abigail S. Hackam

Ralph Hamilton

Fellow 1979

Fellow 1995, Faculty

Fellow 2001

Faculty

Resident 1981

Todd Goodglick

Anthony B. Greer

Nishi Gulati

O. Bruce B. Hadden

William M. Hammonds

Fellow 1993

Fellow 2015

Fellow 2011

Fellow 1975

Fellow 2006

Margot L. Goodkin

Giovanni Gregori

Manasa Gunturu

Luis J. Haddock

Eric D. Hansen

Fellow 2009

Faculty

Fellow 2019

Resident 2012, Faculty

Resident, Fellow 2021

James Goodwin

Ninel Z. Gregori

Anita Gupta

Eduard A. Haefliger

Kara H. Harbick

Fellow 1976

Resident, Fellow 2007, Faculty

Fellow 2009, Former Faculty

Research Fellow 1986

Resident, Fellow 2002

Michael G. Gressel

Isha Gupta

Ivan O. Haefliger

J. William Harbour

Fellow 2020

Fellow 1994

Fellow 1995, Former Faculty

Steven J. Gedde Fellow 1996, Faculty

Edward C. Gelber Fellow 1975

Henry Gelender

Fellow 1999

Kong Yong Goh Fellow 1995

Fellow 1977

Jeffrey L. Goldberg

Mohamed Gendy

Resident, Fellow 2010, Former Faculty

Research Fellow 2009

Mathew K. George Fellow 2012

Mark P. Ghassibi Fellow 2017

JoAnn A. Giaconi Fellow 2003

Allister Gibbons Fellow 2015, Faculty

Steven Gilberg Fellow 1992

Roger A. Goldberg Resident 2012

Brian E. Goldhagen Fellow 2015, Faculty

Yochanan Goldhammer Fellow 1974

Raquel Goldhardt Fellow 2010, Faculty

David A. Goldman Resident, Fellow, Chief Resident 2007, Former Faculty

Justin T. Gottlieb Fellow 1995

Fellow 1984

David Hardy Fellow 1998

108

BASCOM PALMER EYE INSTITUTE

Resident, Fellow 1972

Michael S. Harris Fellow 1985

Ben J. Harvey Fellow 2012

Ardita Hasalami MVSIO 2021

Bahareh Hassanzadeh Fellow 2015

Andy Hay Resident 1991

J. Timothy Heffernan Fellow 1988

David Heidemann Fellow 1987

Thomas J. Heigle Resident 1996, Former Faculty 60 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE

109

1989

1989

1988 Todd W. Heilskov Resident 1990

Jeffrey Henderer Resident 1998

Amanda D. Henderson Fellow 2016

Chris R. Henry Resident, Fellow, Chief Resident 2016

Ginger L. Henson Rattan Resident, Fellow 2009

Angela M. Herro Fellow 2015

Jonathan Herschler Former Faculty

Leonard Hershkowitz Fellow 1975

Dale K. Heuer Fellow 1984

George Hilton Fellow 1967

Akil Hinds Research Fellow 2019

John W. Hinkle Resident 2019

Louis K. Hirsch

John H. Holly

Fellow 2017

Resident 1963

Joanne W. Ho

Gary Hopen

Fellow 2021

Fellow 1983

Tony W. Ho

Tsugihiko Horiuchi

Fellow 1992

Fellow 1975

Brian Hoar

Patrick Hostyn

Fellow 1976

Research Fellow 1992

Jubran Hoche

Samuel K. Houston

Fellow 1985

Resident 2013

Elizabeth A. Hodapp

Cleve Howard

Faculty

Fellow 1980

Joseph Hoffman

Hugo Y. Hsu

Resident 1985

Fellow 2004

Rodrigo Hoffmann

Andrew J.W. Huang

Research Fellow 2009

Resident, Fellow 1991

Ana L. Hofling-Lima

Gintien Huang

Research Fellow 1984

Fellow 2015

Richard Hoft

Linda Y. Huang

Fellow 1988

Fellow 2016

Ambika S. Hoguet

Suber S. Huang

Fellow 2014

Fellow 1990

Simon P. Holland

Xiang Run Huang

Fellow 1987

Former Faculty

Jennifer I. Hui Resident, Fellow 2008, Former Faculty

Jan Hummer Resident, Fellow, Chief Resident 1997

David M. Hunter Resident 1970

Steven Hunter Resident 1979

Saunders Hupp Resident 1984

Reva Hurtes

Takeshi Ide

Fumino Iwata

Sulayman E. Jallow

Dan B. Jones

Research Fellow 2008

Research Fellow 1993

Fellow 1981

Azra Idrizovic

Takeshi Iwata

Brien P. James

Resident, Chief Resident 1969

Fellow 2016

Research Fellow 1991

Fellow 1977

Nauman Imami

Haneen Y. Jabaly-Habib

O. Edward James

Fellow 1997

Fellow 2004

Resident 1971

George Inana

Korey A. Jaben

Glen D. Jarus

Faculty Emeritus

Resident 2015

Fellow 1983

Alfonso Iovieno

Scott L. Jaben

Golnaz Javey

Research Fellow 2009

Resident, Fellow, Chief Resident 1982

Fellow 2009

Robert L. Jack

Fellow 2011, Faculty

Alexander Irvine Fellow 1970

Fellow 1973

Honorary Alumna

W. David Irvine

Rehan M. Hussain

Resident, Chief Resident 1992

Don J. Jackson

Blake A. Isernhagen

David J. Jacobs

Fellow 2015

Fellow 2011

Hacer Isildak

Samuel G. Jacobson

Fellow 2018

Former Faculty

Ryan F. Isom

Gary Jaffe

Fellow 2004

Resident, Fellow, Chief Resident 2013

Resident 1982

Maggie Hymowitz

Charles Israel

Fellow 1993

Fellow 2019

Judy D. Hustead Resident 1988

William L. Hutton Fellow 1973

Camille M. Hylton

Fellow 2011

Fellow 1971

Dmitry V. Ivonov

Fellow 1982

Martine J. Jager Valerie Jallet Research Fellow 1995

Hong Jiang Vishak J. John Fellow 2013

John C. Johnson Fellow 1976

Katherine E. Johnson Resident 2007

Mark W. Johnson Fellow 1990

Robert N. Johnson Fellow 1988

Thomas E. Johnson Fellow 1993, Faculty

David T. Jones Resident 1998

Wesley Jones Resident 1972

Brian C. Joondeph Fellow 1989

Karen M. Joos Fellow 1994

Eugene E. Joyce Resident 1967

Anna K. Junk Faculty

Peter K. Kaiser Fellow 1997

Manish Kalaria Fellow 2007

Nicholas H. Kalvin Resident 1966

Aditya Kanesa-thasan Fellow 2020

Se Wo Kang Research Fellow 1998

Faculty 110

BASCOM PALMER EYE INSTITUTE

60 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE

111

1991

1991

1990 Tracy A. Kangas

Edward Kazarian

Hanna Y. Kim

Ronald Klein

Ellen Koo

Rohit Krishna

Roger P. La Rue

Brandon W. Lee

Fellow 1995

Fellow 1978

Fellow 2013

Resident 1976

Faculty

Fellow 1999

Resident 1960

Fellow 2011

Mary B. Kansora

Gary M. Keoleian

Judy E. Kim

Lanning B. Kline

Eubee B. Koo

Jennifer W. Lee

Fellow 1991

Resident 1994

Fellow 1979

Resident 2019

Fellow 1976

Fellow 2017

Andrew A. Kao

Gerard N. Kervick

Michael Kim

Robert M. Knape

Aaleya F. Koreishi

Jan W. Kronish Resident, Chief Resident 1989

Pierre Laflamme

Fellow 2018

John P. Lee

Fellow 1990

Fellow 2000

Fellow 2012

Fellow 2005

Friedrich E. Kruse

Karren Laird

Fellow 2011

Resident 1997

Fellow 1984

Robert J. Laird

Rachel H. Lee Fellow 2021

Fellow 2010

Resident, Chief Resident 1975

Francois Kuhne

Geeta Lalwani

Research Fellow 1992

Fellow 2007, Former Faculty

Resident, Fellow 2004, Faculty

Kaushal M. Kulkarni

Byron L. Lam

Steven Lee

Fellow 2012

Fellow 1991, Faculty

Fellow 1995

Stephen M. Kulvin

Horst Laqua

Wendy W. Lee

Resident 1970

Fellow 1976

Fellow 2004, Faculty

Ajay E. Kuriyan Resident, Fellow, Chief Resident 2016

Eric Larson

Wen-Hsiang Lee

Resident, Fellow 2003

Former Faculty

Joseph Kurstin

Michelle Latting

Yunhee Lee

Fellow 2020

Faculty

Alison J. Lauter

John E. Legarreta

Fellow 2021, Faculty

Fellow 2015

Research Fellow, 2017 Faculty

Paul R. Layman

Jean-Marc Legeais

Resident 1974

Research Fellow 1991

Burton J. Kushner

Bradford W. Lee

Hana Leiba

Resident 2013, Former Faculty

Fellow 1995

Namrata Kapoor

Sara Khandan

Richard U. Kim

Robert W. Knighton

Ilyse S. Kornblau

Fellow 2009

Fellow 2018

Fellow 2002

Fellow 1979, Faculty Emeritus

Fellow 2019

Anne Ko

Fellow 2014, Former Faculty

Carol L. Karp

Pooja Khator

Tyson N. Kim

Fellow 1994, Faculty

Fellow 2006

Fellow 2019

Louis Kasner

Sherif S. Khedr

Won I. Kim

Fellow 1996

Fellow 2017

Fellow 2009

Oscar Kasner

Kay T. Khine

Nancy M. Kirk

Fellow 1988

Fellow 2018

Resident 1982

Hirohiko Kato

Earl Kidwell

Krishna S. Kishor

Research Fellow 1995

Fellow 1978

Fellow 2007, Faculty

Hasan M. Kattan

Gerhard Kieselbach

John W. Kitchens

Fellow 1990

Research Fellow 1999

Fellow, Chief Resident 2005

Harold Katz

Jeremy Z. Kieval

Jane Kivlin

Fellow 1984

Fellow 2009

Fellow 1981

Raananah Katz

Brian T. Kim

Atsuko Kiyosawa

Resident, Fellow 1981

Fellow 2013

Research Fellow 2010

Matthew D. Kay

Daniel K. Kim

James W. Klein

Former Faculty

Fellow 1989

Fellow 1976

Elma E. Kim Fellow 2011 112

BASCOM PALMER EYE INSTITUTE

Lee I. Klein Resident 1986

Former Faculty

Audrey C. Ko Resident 2015

Marcus J. Ko Fellow 2014

Akira Kobayashi Research Fellow 1992

Bruce Kohrman Fellow 1989

Gregg Kokame Fellow 1988

Hiroyuki Kondo Research Fellow 1997

Wei Kong Research Scholar 2009

Helen L. Kornmann Andrea N. Kossler Resident, Fellow 2012

Maja Kostic Fellow 2020

Nikisha Kothari Resident 2017

Jaclyn L. Kovach Fellow 2007, Faculty

Martina Kralinger Research Fellow 2000 Joel H. Kramer Resident 1971

Kenneth Krantz Fellow 2006

Research Fellow 1991

Anup A. Kubal

Resident, Chief Resident 1968

Stefan Kurtenbach

Fellow 1974

Richard K. Lee

60 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE

113

1993

1993

Theodore Leng

Mary Lou Lewis

Robert Lingua

James G. Luetkemeyer

James C. Major Jr.

Peter Marsh

Elias C. Mavrofrides

William McLeish

Resident 2009

Fellow 1972, Faculty Emerita

Former Faculty

Resident 1993

Resident 1997

Fellow, Chief Resident 2004

Resident 1989

Richard A. Lewis

William J. Lipham

Brandon J. Lujan

Resident, Fellow, Chief Resident 2009

John McBeath

Alexander R. McLeod

Fellow 2008

Nayla Malek

John J. Martin

Resident 1997

Fellow 1987

Resident, Fellow 1978

Fellow 1973

Heidy C. Martinez

Catheleen McCabe

Fred L. McMillan

Fellow 2020

Resident 2000

Fellow 1974

Jose Agustin Martinez

Andrew J. McClellan

Mario Meallet

Fellow 1993

Resident, Fellow, Chief Resident 2017

Fellow 2002

John A. McCrary

Resident 2021

Fellow 1982

Research Fellow, Fellow 2020, Faculty

Efrem D. Mandelcorn

Amy Z. Martino

Brooks W. McCuen

Fellow 2010

Fellow 2012

Resident 1978

Research Fellow, Fellow 2016

Mark S. Mandelcorn

Yukihiko Mashima

Timothy J. McCulley

Calvin Mein

Fellow 1974

Research Fellow 1991

Fellow 2000

Fellow 1982

Fabrice Manns

Steven L. Maskin Fellow 1991

Rhea McDonough Siatkowski

Jerry Meislik

Research Fellow 1997, Faculty

Tomiya Mano

Ben L. Mason

Research Fellow 1989

Resident, Fellow 2006

Fabiola Mansur de Carvalho

Mizuo Matsui

Fellow 1991

Research Fellow 1972

Lisa Kay Mao

Jared L. Matthews

Resident 1992

Fellow 2017

J. Richard Marion

Jeffrey J. Mattingly

Fellow 1978

Fellow 2020

John A. Leon Fellow 1989

Robert E. Leonard

Fellow 1975

Resident, Fellow, Chief Resident 1996

Kam-Fa Li

Frederick Lepore

Yiwen Li

Fellow 1980

Faculty

Ella H. Leung

Sophie D. Liao

Fellow 2016

Fellow 2014

Andrew Levada

Douglas Lieb

Resident, Fellow 1982

Fellow 2002

David Levenson

Thomas J. Liesegang

Fellow 1965

Resident, Chief Resident 1976

Ira K. Levine Fellow 1987

Kathrine Leviste MVSIO 2020

Alexandra E. Levitt Resident 2020

Ivor Levy Fellow 1974

James R. Lewis Fellow 1990

Research Fellow 1989

Michele C. Lim Fellow 2000

James Lin Fellow 2019

Richard C. Lin Fellow 2006

John T. Lind Fellow 2009

Ahila Lingappan Resident 2010

114

BASCOM PALMER EYE INSTITUTE

Grant T. Liu

Susan Luscombe

Fellow 1993

Resident 1980

Stephanie M. Llop Santiago

Rajiv Luthra

Faculty

Former Faculty

Louis A. Lobes

Malcolm N. Luxenberg

Resident 1976

Resident 1966

Neal Logan

Deanna P. Lyttle

Fellow 1982

Fellow 2016

Roy Loo

Robert Machemer

Fellow, Chief Resident 2002

Fellow 1968, Former Faculty

Christina Lopez

Brian Madow

Research Fellow 1996

Fellow 2009

McGregor N. Lott

James M. Magnusen

Fellow 2008

Fellow 1979

Casey J. Lowrance

Robert C. Magoon

Fellow 2019

Resident 1963

Matthew D. Lowrance

Arindel S. Maharaj

Fellow 2013

Fellow 2014, Faculty

Jordon J. Lubahn

James C. Major Sr.

Fellow 2013

Resident, Chief Resident 1963

Wojciech Lubinski

Research Fellow 1993

Kim S. Mallick Fellow 1985

John D. Mallonee Resident 1977

Sid Mandelbaum

Jaime D. Martinez-Martinez

Fellow 1967

Resident, Fellow 1999

Brian McKillop Fellow 1981

Craig A. McKeown Faculty

Adam McLaughlin Fellow 2014

Edward B. McLean Fellow 1972

C. Maxwell Medert Carlos A. Medina Mendez

Fellow 1978

Melissa Meldrum-Aaberg Resident, Fellow 1993

Alan D. Mendelsohn Fellow 1987

Carlos E. Mendoza-Santiesteban Faculty

John C. Merritt Fellow 1975

Research Fellow 1992 60 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE

115

1995

1997

1999

Kenneth H. Messner

Kevin P. Miller

Jeffrey K. Moore

Marcus S. Muallem

Natsushi Nakagawa

Jackie K. Nguyen

Rafael Oechsler

Robert H. Osher

Fellow 1972

Fellow 2018

Fellow 2003

Research Fellow 1999

Fellow 2006

Research Fellow 2009

Resident, Fellow 1980

Rike Michels

Michael P. Miller

Resident, Fellow, Chief Resident 2004

Nambi Nallasamy

Quang Nguyen

Richard B. Oglesby

Carla J. Osigian Probst

Resident 1996

Renuka Mopuru

Jay Mulaney

Research Fellow 2004

Fellow 1990

Fellow 2018

Fellow 1997

Resident 1963

Fellow 2017, Former Faculty

Paul M. Munden

Abed Namavari

Don H. Nicholson

Guy E. O’Grady

Angela Oster

Fellow 1992

Fellow 2017

Former Faculty

Resident 1999

Wuqaas M. Munir

Mohit Nanda

William Nicol

Resident 1971, Former Faculty

Fellow 2006

Fellow, Chief Resident 1990

Fellow 1969

Kingsley C. Okafor

Fellow 1981

Ron Michels

Kristin Minkowski

Fellow 1973

Fellow 2021

Stephan Michels

Shahnaz Miri

Research Fellow 2005

Fellow 2021

Robert C. Mickatavage

James Mitchell

Resident 1964

Fellow 1981

William F. Mieler

Atsushi Mizota

Resident, Chief Resident 1985

Research Fellow 1990

Solange Milazzo

Fellow 2012

Research Fellow 2004

Daniel M. Miller Resident, Fellow, Chief Resident 2006

Darlene Miller Faculty

Gordon R. Miller

Dimple Modi Yasha S. Modi Resident 2014

Kenneth Moffat Fellow 1983

Amir Mohsenin Fellow 2015

Resident, Chief Resident 1966

Antonio Montalbo

John J. Miller

Christina S. Moon

Resident, Chief Resident, Fellow 2006

116

BASCOM PALMER EYE INSTITUTE

Fellow 1971 Fellow 2013

Fellow 2019

Alexei L. Moraczewski Resident, Fellow 2007

Diany S. Morales Resident, Fellow 1999

Juan Moreno Jarrin Research Fellow 1992

Rebecca Morgan Fellow 1990

Melina I. Morkin Fellow 2019

Jada Morris MVSIO 2021

Robert Morris Fellow 1978

Andrew Moshfeghi Fellow 2006, Former Faculty

Arlanna N. Moshfeghi Fellow 2006, Former Faculty

Stephen J. Moster Resident 2018

Michelle Munoz

Afshan A. Nanji

Neda Nikpoor

Former Faculty 1999

Fellow 2014

Resident, Fellow 2017

Akira Murakami

Derek Nankivil

Cynthia P. Nix

Research Fellow 1992

Research Fellow 2011

Resident, Fellow 2010

Fellow 2017

Constance Okeke Fellow 2005

Anne-Marie E. Okoduwa MVSIO 2021

J. Frank Murchison

Arvind Neelakantan

Don Noel

Fellow 1991

Fellow 2007

Fellow 2021

Lisa C. Olmos de Koo Resident, Fellow, Chief Resident 2010

Ray T. Oyakawa James D. Paauw Fellow 2010

Elba Pacheco Resident 1989

Scott E. Paitker Fellow 1986

Fernando H. Murillo-Lopez

Ann G. Neff

Jila Noorikolouri

Fellow 1995

Fellow 2000, Former Faculty

Fellow 2020

Timothy G. Murray

Christine C. Nelson

Edward W. D. Norton

Fellow 1984

Founding Chair

Resident, Chief Resident 1986, Former Faculty

Paul F. Palmberg

Former Faculty

Allie M. Nadelson

Juan A. Nevarez

Terrence P. O’Brien

Fellow 1985

Faculty

John C. Olson

Joseph Panarelli

Fellow 2016

Yasunobu Nagae

David A. Newsome

Patrick O’Conner

Research Fellow 1994

Fellow 1977

Fellow 1978, Former Faculty

Zayna Nahas

Alexander T. Nguyen

Jeffrey Odel

Fellow 2013

Fellow 2018

Fellow 1977

Karl R. Olsen

Sotiria Palioura Fellow 2015 Faculty

Fellow 1982

Fellow 2012, Former Faculty

Cassandra B. Onofrey

Anushree M. Pandya

Resident, Fellow 2002

MVSIO 2021

Avinoam Ophir

Seth M. Pantanelli

Fellow 1981

Fellow 2014

60 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE

117

2000

2001

2003 George C. Papachristou

Heena R. Patel

Victor L. Perez

Vittorio Porciatti

Carolyn D. Quinn

Siddarth Rathi

Maria Cecilia Reyes

Edward Rockwood

Fellow 2013

Fellow 2014

Former Faculty

Faculty

Fellow 2017

Fellow 2010

Fellow 1986

Jean-Marie Parel

Nimesh Patel

Diley Perez-Garcia

Sreedhar Potarazu

Resident, Fellow 2005, Former Faculty

Dale S. Reynolds

Jill F. Rodila

Resident, Fellow, Chief Resident 2020

Fellow 2020

Fellow 1995

Joseph A. Qureshi

Frederick M. Rauscher

Honorary Alumnus, Faculty

Resident, Fellow 2008

Fellow 1997

Fellow 2004, Former Faculty

Ravi H. Patel

Gary A. Pesicka

Stanley Potter

Tracy B. Ravin

Michael G. Reynolds

Marianeli Rodriguez

Fellow 1986

Resident 1959

Resident 2003

Resident, Fellow 1992

Resident 2017

Sarah P. Read

Douglas J. Rhee

Andre Romano

Resident, Fellow, Chief Resident 2018

Fellow 2000

Research Fellow 2002

Raymond Records

Leonard S. Rich

Andrew J. Rong

Fellow 1980

Resident, Fellow 2020, Faculty

Paul W. Park Fellow 2005

Stanley S. K. Park Fellow 2018

D. Wilkin Parke III

Fellow 2016

Umangi A. Patel Fellow 2021

Resident, Fellow, Chief Resident 2013

Avinash Pathengay

James L. Parker

Jonathan Pederson

Fellow 1977

Fellow 1978

Research Fellow 2011

Richard K. Parrish II

Daniel Pelaez

Fellow 1982, Faculty, Chair

Faculty

Michael Parrott

Jesse S. Pelletier

Resident, Fellow, Chief Resident, 2010

Fellow 2008

Jacqueline N. Parrotta Fellow 2019

Kambiz K. Parsa Fellow 2006

Joshua Pasol Fellow 2007, Faculty

Neel D. Pasricha Fellow 2021 118

BASCOM PALMER EYE INSTITUTE

Zhiyou Peng Research Fellow 2017

Zuhair H. Peracha Fellow 2016

Ivonildo C. Pereira Fellow 1989

Gerardo M. Perez Fellow 1986

Resident 2009

Stephen M. Rabinowitz Fellow 1989

Stephen C. Pflugfelder

James O. Powell

Fellow 1986, Former Faculty

Resident 1974

Aleksandra V. Rachitskaya

Pittaya Phamonvaechavan

Antonio Prado

Research Fellow 2009

Resident 1994

Resident, Fellow, Chief Resident 2014

Renata Picciani

Carmen A. Puliafito

Fellow 2014

Chair

Alejandra M. Piniella

Jose S. Pulido

Resident 2000

Fellow 1987

Nathan Pirakitikulr

Lutz E. Pullinat

Resident 2021

Fellow 1994

James C. Pitts

Donald G. Puro

Fellow 2016

Resident 1980

David E. Poeltl

Hui Qiu

Resident 1992

Research Fellow 2000

Timothy Polk

Ann V. Quan

Fellow 1995

Resident, Fellow 2021

Samuel E. Poppell

Harry A. Quigley

Fellow 1982

Fellow 1977

David Quillen Fellow 1995

Janet Rader Fellow 1991

Ronald Radius Fellow 1979

Emeline Radhika Ramenaden Fellow 2015

Henry M. Ramseur

Fellow 1971

Ashvini K. Reddy Fellow 2013

Rahul Reddy Fellow 2004

Usha P. Reddy Resident 2009

Resident, Chief Resident 1971

Nelson Redfern

Pradeep Y. Ramulu

Lawrence T. Reese

Resident 1979

Fellow 2007

Fellow 1978

Rumya Rao

Nidhi R. Relhan Batra

Fellow 2011

Fellow 2018

Paul A. Raskauskas

Ann M. Renucci

Fellow 1991

Fellow 2002

Ryan M. Rich Fellow 2008

Robert Rosa Jr.

David W. Richards

Resident 1994, Former Faculty

Fellow 1987

Preston P. Richmond Resident 1986

Ernesto Rios Montenegro Fellow 1970

John P. Ritchey Fellow 1973

Al Rivera Resident 1985

Dennis M. Robertson Fellow 1969

James C. Robinson Fellow 1995

Alexandre Rosen Research Fellow 2003

Krista D. Rosenberg Resident, Fellow 2006

Michael L. Rosenberg Fellow 1981

Michael A. Rosenberg Resident 1973

Philip J. Rosenfeld Fellow 1996, Faculty

Steven I. Rosenfeld Fellow 1985 60 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE

119

2004

2007

George Rosenwasser

Cullen D. Ryburn

Helga Sandoval

John J. Schietroma

Joan Schwoer-Borruat

Amar P. Shah

James A. Sharpe

Thorne Shipley

Fellow 1988

Fellow 2020

Fellow 2001

Fellow 1986

Research Fellow 1992

Fellow 2021

Fellow 1973

Former Faculty

Daniel Roth

Steven J. Ryder

Steven S. Saraf

Andrew M. Schimel

Lauren J. Shatz

John P. Shock

Fellow 2017

Fellow 2017

Fellow 2012

Fellow 1994

Fellow 2003

Fellow 1971

Elena B. Roth

Alfonso L. Sabater

Mikio Sasoh

Lawrence Schoch

Milan Shah

Hal E. Shaw

Erin M. Shriver

Resident 1996, Faculty

Fellow 2018, Faculty

Research Fellow 1995

Resident 1975

Ingrid U. Scott Resident, Fellow, Chief Resident 1997, Former Faculty

Lavanya Shah

Resident 1998

Fellow 2011

Fellow 1979

Fellow 2008, Former Faculty

Adam L. Rothman

William I. Sabates

Roger M. Saulson

Gerald R. Schultz

Pulin A. Shah

Justin M. Shaw

Maggie F. Shuler

Fellow 2020, Faculty

Fellow 1980

Resident 1989

Honorary Alumnus

Fellow 2007

Fellow 2015

Resident 2000

Paul M. Rougraff

Avinoam B. Safran

Tim Saunders

Scott Schultz

Sejal Shah

Arthur H. Shedden

Harold K. Shutt

Resident 1996

Fellow 1978

Fellow 1986

Fellow 2013

Fellow 2014

Fellow 1985

Fellow 1970

Megan A. Rowlands

Hady Saheb

Peter J. Savino

Arthur L. Schwartz

Veeral S. Shah

Clinton W. Sheets

R. Michael Siatkowski

Fellow 2021

Fellow 2011

Fellow 1974

Fellow 1973

Fellow 2013

Fellow 2008

Fellow 1993, Former Faculty

Patrick E. Rubsamen

Mark Salevitz

Ibrahim Sayed-Ahmed

Daniel M. Schwartz

Neha Shaik

Jin-Hui Shen

Nouman Siddiqui

Resident, Fellow, Chief Resident 1991, Former Faculty

Fellow 1995

MVSIO 2018

Fellow 1989

Fellow 2019

Research Fellow 1994

Fellow 2005

Ruben F. Salinas-Garcia

Mohamed S. Sayed

Geoffrey Schwartz

Valery I. Shestopalov

Bobby J. Shewmake

Joseph Sidikaro

Resident 1978

Fellow 2018, Former Faculty

Fellow 2003

Faculty

Fellow 1983

Kumar Sambhav

Ronald J. Scelfo

Kenneth S. Schwartz

Resident, Chief Resident 1974

Fellow 2019

Resident 1975

Fellow 2003

Resident, Fellow, Chief Resident 2012

Rebecca A. Shields

Resident 2012

Thomas S. Shane

Gary Shienbaum Fellow 2013

Fellow 1980

Resident, Fellow, Chief Resident 2012

Raymond J. Sever

James A. Sharkey

Research Fellow 1989

Resident, Chief Resident 1967

Fellow 1994

Marco Ruggeri Faculty

Ryan B. Rush Fellow 2009

Jonathan F. Russell

David B. Samimi

Norman J. Schatz

Lee K. Schwartz

Resident 2011

Fellow 1966, Faculty

Fellow 1980

Resident, Fellow, Chief Resident 2021

Joel S. Sandberg

Amy C. Schefler

Marc F. Schwartz

Resident 1974

Fellow 1986

Stephen R. Russell

Norman Sanders

Resident, Fellow, Chief Resident 2010, Former Faculty

Resident 1986

Resident, Chief Resident 1961

Vivian Schiedler Resident 2005

120

BASCOM PALMER EYE INSTITUTE

Stephen G. Schwartz Faculty

Kevin R. Scott Fellow 1991

Joseph Scuderi Fellow 1981

Ronald L. Seely Fellow 1971

Ernesto I. Segal Fellow 1991

Tony P. Sellitti Resident 1994

Ausra Pond D. Selvadurai Fellow 2010

Karen Senikowich-Morgan Resident 1984

Robert C. Sergott

Anita R. Shirodkar Shane

Ashish Sharma Research Fellow 2009

Resident 2015

Hiroyuki Shimada Paul M. Shipkin Fellow 1979

Ruwan A. Silva Ariadna Silva-Lepe Fellow 1995

Bernd Silver Resident 1962

Bruce Silverstein Fellow 1995

David W. Sime Resident 1966 60 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE

121

2011

2014

2015 David P. Simon

Ruta J. Skrinska

David A. Sola-Del Valle

Oriel Spierer

William Robert Stiles

Kevin K. Suk

Yoshiko Takesue

Jack Tenzel

Resident 1975

Fellow 1988

Fellow 2016

Fellow 2015

Resident 1974

Fellow 2011

Research Fellow 1993

Resident 1987

Gabriel Simon

Gregory L. Skuta

Abraham Solomon

Henry Alex Spratt

Warren C. Stout

Paul B. Sullivan

William L. Taldone

Richard Tenzel

Research Fellow 1993

Fellow 1987

Fellow 2001

Fellow 2014

Fellow 1985

Fellow 1967

Resident 1985

Honorary Alumnus

Mark W. Simon

Michael Slavin

Joern B. Soltau

Jayanth Sridhar

Jack D. Stringham

Cathy Q. Sun

Myron Tanenbaum

Gerald Terris

Resident 1993

Fellow 1981

Fellow 1998

Resident 2014, Faculty

Fellow 2019

Resident 1985

Resident 1958

Brad Simons

Allan R. Slomovic

Alice Song

Lana Srur

Resident, Fellow, Chief Resident 2018

Despoina Theotoka

Fellow 1985

Resident 2002

Faculty

Research Fellow 2009

MVSIO 2020

Fellow 1993

Ivan J. Suñer Resident 1996, Former Faculty

Wimolwan Tangpagasit

Fellow 1998, Former Faculty

James Stuart

Jennifer Sung

Yasuo Tano

Benjamin J. Thomas

Fellow 1978

Resident 2013

Fellow 1964

Resident 1998

Doyle Stulting

John Susac

Mehdi Tavakoli

Matthew A. Thomas

Fellow 2019

Resident 1985

Resident 1981

Fellow 1973

Rodney Sturm

Swarup S. Swaminathan

Garth A. Taylor

Martin L. Thomley

Fellow 1977

Fellow 1963

Resident 2018, Faculty

Resident, Fellow, Chief Resident 1994

Eric Suan

David E. Swanson

Fellow 1991

Fellow 1980

Brandon K. Suedekum

Zeba A. Syed

Fellow 2006

Fellow 2018

Joseph H. Sugg

Mary Szatkowski

Fellow 2004

Resident 1980

Gentaro Sugita

Homayoun Tabandeh

Fellow 1978

Fellow 1998

Leejee H. Suh

Hassan Tahi

Fellow 2007, Former Faculty

Research Fellow 2000

Joseph A. Singer

Ilya M. Sluch

Dae Y. Song

Thomas J. Stafford

Resident 1967

Fellow 2018

Resident 1990

Fellow 1966

David J. Singer

William E. Smiddy

Sabine Sparfel

Natalie A. Stanciu

Fellow 1969

Faculty

Research Fellow 1992

Resident, Fellow 2011

Kuldev Singh

J. Lawton Smith

Kenneth O. Sparks

Harold Stanley

Fellow 1992

Honorary Alumnus, Former Faculty

Fellow 1984

Resident, Fellow 1977

Jess Smith

John C. Sparrow

Boris Stanzel

Resident, Chief Resident 1978

Resident 1976

Research Fellow 2002

Adam B. Sise

Michael P. Smith

Fellow 2015

Fellow 2015

Robert A. Sisk

Scott R. Sneed

Fellow 2009

Resident 1987

Kavitha R. Sivaraman

Lucia Sobrin

Fellow 2015

Resident 2003

Virgil E. Sklar

Per Soderberg

Resident 1984

Research Fellow 1995

Jack Sipperley

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BASCOM PALMER EYE INSTITUTE

Fellow 1976

Robert H. Spector

John R. Stechschulte

Fellow 1976

Fellow 1985

Robert T. Spector

Greg E. Stein

Fellow 1983

Fellow 2017

Frank A. Spellman

Kimberly E. Stepien

Fellow 1983

Fellow 2007

Nehemiah E. Spencer

William Stewart

Fellow 2010

Fellow 1977

Mitchell B. Strominger

Mike Taylor Resident 1965

William Taylor Fellow 1968

Masoud Teimory Fellow 1994

Martin Ten Hove Fellow 1994

David P. Tenzel Fellow 1990

Marie Thulliez Research Fellow 2018

Catherine T. Thuruthumaly Fellow 2017

Rollins Tindell Fellow 1981

Donald Tingley Fellow 1990

Aubrey R. Tirpack Fellow 2019

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2017

2019

2016

Lisa M. Tom

Giora Treister

Elmer Y. Tu

Robin Vann

Carlos M. Villanueva

Wilson Wallace

Jayne S. Weiss

Carl K. Wetzig

Fellow 2021

Fellow 1976

Fellow 1993

Resident 1998

Fellow 1994

Resident 1983

Fellow 1981

Robert L. Tomsak

Joseph Trentacoste

David N. Tucker

Mylan R. VanNewkirk

Natalia Villate

Resident, Chief Resident 1974

Garth A. Wilbanks

Resident 1988

Resident, Fellow, Chief Resident 1973

Fellow 1991

Fellow 2003

Thomas Walsh

Matthew J. Weiss

Fellow 1980

Resident, Fellow 2013

Fellow 1991

Sonal Tuli

Carlos W. Vazquez

Victor M. Villegas

Mark N. Welch

Ron Wilbur

Fellow 1998

Fellow 2013, Former Faculty

Fellow 2013

Resident 1960

Roger Welch

Daniel Wilhelm

Fellow 1986

Resident 1965

Sarah R. Wellik

Charles P. Wilkinson

Fellow 2005, Faculty

Fellow 1971

John A. Wells

Basil K. Williams

Fellow 1965

Resident, Fellow, Chief Resident 2017

Rahul S. Tonk

John Trible

Fellow 2017, Faculty

Fellow 1995

Fellow 2001

Shenandoa Toote

Omer Trivizki

MVSIO 2019

Fellow 2020

Jonathan H. Tzu

Shobha Topgi

Jonathan D. Trobe

Fellow 2021

Fellow 1977

Resident, Fellow, Chief Resident 2015

Nicole J. Topilow

James Truitt

Resident 2021

Resident, Chief Resident 1977

Trexler M. Topping Fellow 1978

Justin H. Townsend Resident 2011, Faculty

Michael K. Tracy Fellow 2005

Van Ann Q. Tran Resident 201

Kimberly D. Tran Resident, Fellow, Chief Resident 2019

Enoch Tsai Fellow 1973

James C. Tsai Fellow 1994

Ray Jui-Fang Tsai Fellow 1988

Brian C. Tse Fellow 2016, Faculty

David T. Tse

Yasutaka Uchihori Research Fellow 1990

Saul Ullman Fellow 1987

Stephen C. Ume Fellow 2006

Lejla Vajzovic Fellow, Resident 2011

Carlos A. Valdes-Lora Resident 1983

Felipe A. Valenzuela Fellow 2017

Faculty

Stephanie L. Vanderveldt

Fritis Treffers

Scheffer C.G.Tseng

Research Fellow 1981

Former Faculty

Resident, Fellow, Chief Resident 2008

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Luis E. Vazquez

Kateki Vinod

Fellow 2014, Faculty

Fellow 2016

Anil S. Vedula

M. Louella Vivino

Resident, Fellow 2011

Fellow 1999

Michaela Velikay-Parel

Monika Voigt

Research Fellow 1996

Research Fellow 2000

Nandini Venkateswaran

Irene Voo

Resident 2019

Resident, Fellow 2005

Lori M. Ventura

David T. Vroman

Fellow 1986, Former Faculty

Fellow 2000

Angela Verkade

Daniel M. Vu

Fellow 2020

Fellow 2020

Alan M. Verm

Edward C. Wade

Resident 2001

Fellow 1989

Nancy F. Vilar

Gary R. Wallace

Fellow 1998

Resident 1972

Franck Villain

Kenneth Wallace

Research Fellow 1993

Resident 1972

Fellow 1965

Scott D. Walter Resident 2015

Jianhua (Jay) Wang Faculty

Ming X. Wang Fellow 1997

Ye Elaine Wang Fellow 2019

Roberto Warman Fellow 1987

Yaffa Weaver Brown Resident 1997

Aaron D. Webel Fellow 2019

Stephen M. Weinstock Fellow 1974

Mark A. Weisbrod Fellow 2008

Paul D. Weishaar Resident, Fellow, Chief Resident 1996

Rong Wen Faculty

Christina Y. Weng Fellow 2014

Jane C. Werner Fellow 1978

Mark A. Werner Fellow 2006, Former Faculty

Matthew R. West Fellow 2018

Sara T. Wester Resident, Fellow 2010, Faculty

Delyse B.Williams Fellow 1989

Frank M. Williams Fellow 1971

John Williams Fellow, Chief Resident 1986

Stu Willner Resident 1965

J. Philip Wilmeth Resident 1985

Deanna K. Wilson Resident 1988

60 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE

125

2020

2021

Louis Wilson

Fasika A. Woreta

Hideo Yamamoto

Kimberly G. Yen

J. Edward Ysasaga

Jill S. Zaveri

Carol F. Zimmerman

Fellow 1966

Fellow 2012

Research Fellow 2010

Resident 2000

Fellow 2017

Fellow 1989

Tom Wilson

Martha M. Wright

Akifumi Yamanaka

Michael T. Yen

Resident, Fellow, Chief Resident 2002

Jeffrey M. Zink

Fellow 1991

Research Fellow 1995

Resident 2000

Hong Yu

Mike Zein

Fellow 1976

MVSIO 2021

Fellow 2006

Jeffrey Zervas

Leonid Zlotcavitch

Fellow 1987

Fellow 2020

Lucy Y. Zhang

John V. Zudans

Fellow 2017

Resident 2002

Xuemin “Rosie” Zhang

Todd A. Zwickey

Fellow 2021

Fellow 1986

Timothy W. Winter

Tracy M. Wright

Uichi Yamanouchi

Joseph Yeung

Fellow 2012

Fellow 2014

Fellow 1968

Resident 1974

Kirk E. Winward

Elaine I. Wu

Justin J. Yamanuha

Michael C. Yim

Resident, Chief Resident 1990

Fellow 2010

Fellow 2019

Resident, Fellow 2018

Robert S. Wirthlin

Darrell WuDunn

Chung-May Yang

Zhoug Yixiong

Fellow 1995

Fellow 1991

Research Fellow 2009

Resident 2004

Charles Wykoff

Nicolas A. Yannuzzi

Daniel M. Yoder

Resident, Fellow, Chief Resident 2020, Faculty

Resident, Fellow 2003

Fellow 1983

Resident, Fellow, Chief Resident 2010

Thomas Wolf

Katsuya Yagasaki

David Yarian

Research Fellow 2001

Fellow 1985

Research Fellow 1988

Fellow 1979

George C. Wong

Tashihiro Yajima

Kin Yee

Resident 1991

Research Fellow 1994

Fellow 2014

Norman F. Woodlief

Shalini Yalamanchi

Oliver L. Yeh

Fellow 1984

Fellow 2011

Dana P. Woods Resident 1994

Ted H. Wojno

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BASCOM PALMER EYE INSTITUTE

Kenichi Yoshida Kenichi Yoshino Research Fellow 1994

Ryan C. Young

Faculty

Yimin Yuan Research Scholar 2009

Anthony C. Zacchei Fellow 1996

Ihor Zachary Fellow 1974

Charles M. Zacks Fellow 1990

Nicholas Z. Zakov Fellow 1977

Harvey Zalaznick Resident 1977

William Zambrano

Fellow 2016

Resident, Fellow, Chief Resident 2016

Mitsumo Yamamichi

Zohar Yehoshua

Sonia H. Yoo

Chad C. Zatezalo

Research Fellow 1997

Fellow 2011, Faculty

Faculty

Fellow 2012

Resident 1988

Yan Zhang Research Fellow 2018

Yu Zhao Fellow 2017

Xiao Yi “Ellie” Zhou Fellow 2018

Angela Y. Zhu Fellow 2020

Dagny C. Zhu Fellow 2017

60 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE

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Images Bascom Palmer Eye Institute | University of Miami School of Medicine

Bascom Palmer turns 40 New focus on research Expanding to meet patients’ needs

Volume XXIV | Issue 1 | Fall 2002

Bascom Palmer Eye Institute | University of Miami Health System

part of UHealth – University of Miami Health System, serves as the department of ophthalmology for the University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine in Miami, Florida. Its mission is to enhance the quality of life by improving sight, preventing blindness, and advancing ophthalmic knowledge through compassionate patient care and innovative vision research.

In addition to an international reputation as one of the premier providers of eye care in the world, Bascom Palmer is the largest ophthalmic care, research and educational facility in the southeastern United States. In addition to providing excellent care to more than 185,000 patients annually, Bascom Palmer’s faculty members conduct innovative biomedical research and present progressive, industryleading academic programs to ophthalmologists and other physicians in the community and worldwide.

For additional information, please visit www.bascompalmer.org

“I predict that Miami will eventually be home to an ophthalmology institute in a medical center second to none in the nation.”

“Bascom Palmer’s tradition of excellence drives every aspect of its operation.”

– Bascom Headon Palmer, M.D.

“The tremendous amount of clinical and pathologic material at Bascom Palmer is essential to the expansion of our research efforts on a national and international level.”

“Dr. (Edward) Norton saw himself as a gardener. His role was to till the soil, plant the seeds, pull the weeds, and stand back and watch the luxuriant growth.

He inspired openness and trust. That transparency and integrity created a foundation that allowed Bascom Palmer to grow in reputation and strength.”

– John G. Clarkson, M.D.

– Eduardo C. Alfonso, M.D.

– Sander R. Dubovy, M.D. “A patient’s problem is an opportunity to innovate.”

– David T. Tse, M.D.

“When I arrived at Bascom Palmer in 1969, Dr. Norton told me that my job would be simply to become the best academic ophthalmologist of which I was capable.

He explained this his job was to provide the best environment within which that could happen.

“There is tremendous potential to positively impact patient care through education.

Graduating residents and fellows can elevate the quality of care that is delivered in their local communities. As they in turn educate others, they participate in the global dissemination of scientific and clinical knowledge.”

– Douglas R. Anderson, M.D.

– Steven J. Gedde, M.D.

“Responding to huge demand for the vitrectomy instruments we designed, Bascom Palmer launched a global training program. We knew every patient could not come to us for surgery, so we trained the top ophthalmologists around the world so they could do the procedure in their own countries.”

“I stayed at Bascom Palmer not to be a teacher, but to remain a student for the rest of my life. A day does not pass that I learn far more from the residents, fellows, and my patients than I teach them.”

– Jean Marie Parel, Ing.ETS-G, Ph.D.

– Richard K. Parrish II, M.D. “I could see a rainbow for the first time.”

– 9-year old Creed Pettit following leading-edge gene therapy

$60.00 ISBN 978-0-9849442-1-7

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Bascom Palmer Eye Institute’s

Images • Bascom Palmer Eye Institute • 60 Years of Excellence

Bascom Palmer Eye Institute,

story dates back to the 1920s when Bascom H. Palmer, M.D., opened one of Miami’s first ophthalmology practices. His dream was to establish an eye clinic dedicated to saving sight and preventing blindness. Looking to the future with hope, he predicted Miami would eventually be home to an ophthalmology institute second to none in the nation.

The opening in 1962 of Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, named in honor of Dr. Bascom Palmer, was the first step in the long journey to the Institute’s global leadership in ophthalmology. Under the dynamic 33-year leadership of Edward W.D. Norton, M.D., and the chairs who followed him, Bascom Palmer has become one of the world’s foremost academic centers for scientific discovery and clinical innovation.

This special edition of Images looks back on the long and distinguished history of the Institute, its excellence in clinical care, its discoveries and inventions, its commitment to service, and its bold vision for the future. However, Bascom Palmer’s strength has always been its people. The physicians, scientists, staff members, donors, patients, and friends who have helped the Institute thrive are truly second to none.

“Bascom Palmer Eye Institute is a testimonial to human integrity, energy, and commitment, expressed by example more than words.”

– Edward W.D. Norton, M.D.

60 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE 9 780984 944217

1962-2022