Images - Volume XLI | Issue 1

Bascom Palmer Eye Institute | University of Miami Health System

U H E A LT H V O LU M E XLI IS S U E 1

MAY 2023

Shooting for the Moon A New Era for Inherited Retinal Diseases Honored to be #1

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 and innovative vision research.

F E AT U RE

Embarking on a Journey Bascom Palmer’s Moon Shot

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C L I N I CA L A N D RE S E A R C H E X P E RT I S E

New Home for Inherited Retinal Diseases

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World-renowned Glaucoma Expert B A S CO M PA L M E R E XCE L L E N C E

Welcome New Faculty Awards and Honors

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Edward Norton: Building from the Ground Up Events

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Profiles in Philanthropy

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Tackling the Most Difficult Challenges Dear Friends and Colleagues: As Bascom Palmer enters its seventh decade, we continue to build on our rich tradition of scientific discovery and clinical innovation. With your support, our researchers are tackling some of the most difficult challenges in ophthalmology, as highlighted in this issue of Images.

Eduardo C. Alfonso, M.D. Kathleen and Stanley J. Glaser Chair in Ophthalmology Director, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute Editor Marla Bercuson Executive Director of Business Operations Bascom Palmer Eye Institute Anne Bates Leach Eye Center Miami 900 NW 17 Street Miami, Florida 33136 305-326-6000 Toll free in USA 800-329-7000 Palm Beach Gardens 7101 Fairway Drive Palm Beach Gardens, Florida 33418 561-515-1500 Naples 3880 Tamiami Trail North Naples, Florida 34103 239-659-3937 Plantation 8100 SW 10 Street Plantation, Florida 33324 954-465-2700 Coral Gables The Lennar Foundation Medical Center 5555 Ponce de Leon Boulevard Coral Gables, Florida 33146 305-689-5555

24-Hour Emergency 305-326-6170 Patient Appointments In-Office and Virtual Visits 305-243-2020 Toll free in USA 888-845-0002 bascompalmer.org Images is produced by Bascom Palmer Eye Institute with support from the George C. Brosius Endowment Fund.

For example, we have recently established the Mark J. Daily Inherited Retinal Diseases Research Center thanks to the support of Mark J. Daily, M.D., a distinguished Illinois ophthalmologist who completed his residency here in 1977. This new center will provide a dedicated home for our scientific research, clinical trials, patient care, and medical education; advancing care for pediatric and adult patients with vision-stealing genetic disorders.

We also welcome the arrival of Felipe A. Medeiros, M.D., Ph.D., one of the world’s leading glaucoma experts, as professor of ophthalmology and vice chair of translational research. Dr. Medeiros brings a deep understanding of biostatistics and bioinformatics and uses advanced clinical and research tools like artificial intelligence and virtual reality applications to diagnose and treat patients with glaucoma and other blinding conditions.

Undoubtedly, our most ambitious research initiative is finding a way to transplant an eye and restore vision through the optic nerve. This is our “moon shot” project, which would lead to new therapies for potentially blinding diseases like glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy. In addition, a successful whole eye transplant could potentially be a breakthrough discovery that offers hope for patients with spinal cord injuries and other nerve-damaging conditions.

In moving toward this long-term goal, our researchers can draw on the extensive medical, surgical, and bioengineering resources of our university.

This collaborative approach is already advancing our understanding of the steps involved in a whole eye transplant and holds the promise of developing groundbreaking therapies that could ultimately restore vision for millions of patients.

As we move to a bold new future in vision care, I want to thank our many philanthropic donors for supporting our research, clinical care, and medical education programs. Your gifts for our institute, including research grants, endowed chairs, and training scholarships, help Bascom Palmer continue to be a global leader in virtually all aspects of ophthalmic medicine.

Sincerely,

Eduardo C. Alfonso, M.D. Kathleen and Stanley J. Glaser Chair in Ophthalmology Director, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute

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Bascom Palmer’s ‘Moon Shot’ Project:

A High-Impact Initiative to Transplant the Whole Eye In 1961, President John F. Kennedy announced an ambitious goal: landing a man on the moon before the decade’s end. That project succeeded on July 20, 1969, when Neil Armstrong stepped onto the lunar surface, taking “one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”

Now, Bascom Palmer is taking on its own “moon shot” project: a whole eye transplant. It’s a high-impact ophthalmic initiative that would lead to new therapies for potentially blinding diseases like glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy. Patients with spinal cord injuries and other nerve-damaging conditions could also be helped if the Institute’s multidisciplinary research team can repair a severed optic nerve and restore vision.

“I want Bascom Palmer to be the first eye center in the world to achieve this ‘moon shot’ goal,” said David T. Tse, M.D., professor of ophthalmology and the Dr. Nasser Ibrahim Al-Rashid Chair in Ophthalmology. “A whole eye transplant is a final destination, but in the course of scientific discovery, we hope to identify and close critical knowledge gaps, overcome developmental bottlenecks, and find missing pieces of scientific puzzles.

A successful eye transplant will involve groundbreaking therapies that could ultimately restore vision for millions of patients.”

A multidisciplinary approach After decades of treating patients who have lost their eyes to injury or disease, Tse is leading a multidisciplinary initiative to perform a whole eye transplant. It involves partnerships with the University of Miami experts in surgical transplantation, neurosciences, cellular and molecular biology, bioengineering, computational science, and statistics.

“We have embarked on a journey that can provide many benefits to patients with different conditions. Even if we never reach our goal, this project can lead to advances in many fields of medicine.”

– Dr. Daniel Pelaez Dr. Daniel Pelaez 2

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“I want Bascom Palmer to be the first eye center in the world to achieve this ‘moon shot’ goal. A whole eye transplant is a final destination, but in the course of scientific discovery, we hope to identify and close critical knowledge gaps, overcome developmental bottlenecks, and find missing pieces of scientific puzzles.

– Dr. David Tse “This project can shift the paradigms of vision therapies,” said Daniel Pelaez, Ph.D., research associate professor of ophthalmology, and scientific director of the Dr. Nasser Ibrahim Al-Rashid Orbital Vision Research Center. “We have embarked on a journey that can provide many benefits to patients with different conditions. Even if we never reach our goal, this project can lead to advances in many fields of medicine.”

Pelaez said one of the hopeful aspects of the Institute’s ambitious initiative is that whole eye transplants have already been done in different

Dr. David Tse

species. Back in the 1960s, Nobel Prize winner Roger Sperry, Ph.D., transplanted the eyes of frogs and salamanders – two species with high regenerative ability – and found that the optic nerves reconnected with the visual centers of the brain. “We know that there is a natural biological mechanism for regeneration to occur,” said Pelaez. “It’s just a matter of understanding how this occurs in nature and being able to adapt those findings to the human system.”

To move toward that goal, Pelaez uses experimental models to study the optic nerve’s response to injury, as well as the genetic and epigenetic timing of natural repairs. “We are making progress in understanding how genes can coordinate the metabolic responses to injuries, using supercomputers to analyze these massive sets,” he said.

Addressing the challenges Optic nerve regeneration and reconnection are far from the only daunting challenges to overcome for a successful whole eye transplant. On the surgical side, the donor eye tissues must be removed and transported to the recipient. Microsurgery and oculoplastic procedures are needed to place the eye in the right position, reconnect tiny muscles, and restore blood flow through tiny capillaries and veins.

“Our oculoplastic surgery group is on the cutting edge of clinical and basic science research,” said service director Thomas E. Johnson, M.D., professor of clinical ophthalmology. “We use our imagination, experience, and skills to find solutions to problems, no matter how difficult or complex.”

Once the donor eye tissues have been placed in the host orbit, the immune system response must be suppressed to prevent rejection, as only the retina is protected by the body’s blood-brain barrier, said Pelaez. If all those hurdles can be overcome, neuroophthalmologists may still need to retrain the brain to interpret the images it is receiving from the new eye.

Therefore, the whole eye transplant initiative brings together specialists from the Miami Transplant Institute, the Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, the College of Engineering’s Department of Biomedical Engineering, and other programs at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. “The role of teamwork and collaboration in this endeavor cannot be overemphasized,” said Pelaez.

Transplantation and survival Despite major advances in microsurgical techniques and transplant immunology, the eye is one of only four organs that scientists worldwide have never been able to transplant. Now, the research team is developing a model workflow from donor eye procurement and preservation to recipient orbit preparation and implantation.

In a major advance for the initiative, Tse has designed a surgical technique for transplanting the globe of the eye and making the vascular connections to preserve an eye once it is removed from a donor’s blood supply. He is also working with biomedical engineers to build a pilot life support system to maintain the globe being transported from donor to

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of a whole eye transplant,” said Bhattacharya. “Key questions include how much of the fibers from the donated eye can be functionally connected, how to protect their functioning with a myelin insulation sheath, and how you can coax axons to regrow in the recipient’s eye.”

Bhattacharya’s research uses high-throughput Dr. Sanjoy Bhattacharya

recipient. Restoring the blood flow is essential for the survival of the transplanted ocular tissue, said Pelaez, who is collaborating with Robert Starke, M.D., associate professor of clinical neurosurgery, neuroradiology, and neurosciences, on this challenge. “We are also collaborating with bioengineers to develop stents smaller than a strand of hair to reconnect the vessels and restore the flow of blood,” he added.

Eye transplant recipients would probably need immunosuppressant medications to prevent rejection of the ocular tissues, added Pelaez. Collaborators in this aspect of the initiative include Robert Levy, Ph.D., professor of microbiology and immunology.

Pelaez is also studying the creation of new retinal tissue in the laboratory, using the patient’s stem cells – an alternative approach to restoring lost vision. “If we can generate a new retina in a dish and integrate the new tissues into the visual system, we could avoid the issue of transplant rejection,” he said.

involved in axon regeneration. He is also searching for clues in nerve regeneration studies published over the last 300 years using computer natural language processing and integrating those insights with today’s laboratory findings.

Now, Bhattacharya focuses on small molecules that encourage axon growth not only in young mammals but also at advanced ages of life. “If we can deliver these factors to a transplanted eye, they could do their short-term job of regenerating axons before being taken away by the vascular system without any adverse effects.”

Successful axon regeneration and reconnection will be a major step forward in restoring vision in traumatic optic neuropathies, glaucoma, and in a variety of disorders, Bhattacharya said, while cautioning that the mixture of metabolites varies in individuals. “We may need to take a portfolio approach and customize the regenerative for each patient,” he said. “Ideally, we want a long-term

Optic nerve regeneration

solution to restoring and maintaining the optic nerve

While the initial stages of the moon shot initiative

connections.”

focus on the fundamentals of transplantation, the longer-term goal is to overcome perhaps the most difficult challenge: reconnecting the retina to the brain through a broken optic nerve. “We are looking at molecular and biological approaches to overcoming the scar tissue that forms a barrier at the donorrecipient optic nerve junction,” said Tse. Sanjoy K. Bhattacharya, M.Tech., Ph. D., professor of ophthalmology, and founding director of the Miami Integrative Metabolomics Research Center, is leading a large, international, collaborative research effort for regenerating axons, the long projections of retinal ganglion cells that carry visual signals from the eye to the brain. “The axons are the most delicate part 4

metabolomics to identify thousands of molecules

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Hope for other patients Bascom Palmer researchers are far from alone in studying potential approaches to regenerate retinal ganglion cells or regrow axons. “The whole eye transplant project could bring hope to patients with spinal cord injuries and other disorders,” said W. Dalton Dietrich, Ph.D., scientific director, Miami Project to Cure Paralysis; senior associate dean for discovery science; and professor of neurological surgery, neurology, biomedical engineering, and cell biology.

“The optic nerve provides a model for repairing or regenerating the spinal cord and other parts of the central nervous system.”

“This is a great example of how Bascom Palmer’s clinicians and researchers work together on big, audacious ideas that could transform ophthalmology in the future.”

– Dr. David Tse

With application support from the Institute, Kevin K. Park. Ph.D., professor of neurological surgery, The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, was recently awarded a $1.9 million grant from the National Eye Institute to study a new long noncoding RNA (LncRNA) that regulates gene expression to protect injured retinal ganglion cells from dying. Bhattacharya and Park had earlier secured a multiprincipal investigator U01 grant from the NEI and an exploratory grant from the U.S. Department of Defense to test small molecules and lipids that promote axon regeneration.

“Virtually nothing is known about this LncRNA, and this study provides an opportunity to better understand the possible molecular mechanisms underlying this process,” said Park, whose work focuses on genetic and molecular pathways that regulate retinal cells in experimental models. “Being able to protect retinal ganglion cells from dying would potentially help millions of patients with glaucoma by restoring damage to the optic nerve.”

Looking ahead Reflecting on the value of Bascom Palmer’s moon shot initiative, Tse believes the Institute’s multifaceted approach to eye transplants will lead to medical

“Whatever we are able to do with the transplanted eye, we will need to grow or regenerate longdistance axons from the retinal ganglion cells within the retina of the donor eye.”

breakthroughs, benefitting patients with uncurable vision, spinal cord, and other nervous system disorders. “This is a great example of how Bascom Palmer’s clinicians and researchers work together on big, audacious ideas that could transform ophthalmology in the future.” 

– Dr. Sanjoy Bhattacharya

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Introducing Bascom Palmer’s

Research Center for Inherited Retinal Diseases Mark J. Daily, M.D., is dedicated to finding new

translational research with a superior patient

treatments for inherited retinal diseases that

experience.”

steal vision from children and adults. “We need

Since the 1990s, Bascom Palmer has built an

laboratory studies and clinical trials to advance our

extensive gene therapy program that includes

understanding of these genetic disorders,” said Daily, a

ophthalmologists and research scientists studying

retinal specialist in Wheaton, Illinois, who completed

various forms of inherited eye diseases, said the

his residency at Bascom Palmer in 1977. “Bascom

center’s director Byron L. Lam, M.D., professor

Palmer is in the forefront of genetics, stem cells, and

of ophthalmology, the Mark J. Daily Chair in

imaging, making it a natural location for a new center.”

Ophthalmology, and the medical director of clinical research. “We have a large pool of patients whose

“We need laboratory studies and clinical trials to advance our understanding of these genetic disorders.

Bascom Palmer is in the forefront of genetics, stem cells, and imaging, making it a natural location for a new center.”

– Dr. Mark Daily

genes have been linked to specific disorders,” said Lam. “We also have an excellent infrastructure with novel imaging techniques and instrumentations that will contribute to our basic science and translational research.”

A challenging landscape Inherited retinal diseases (IRDs) affect millions of people globally, reducing vision and causing blindness.

There are more than 300 types of IRDs, which usually result from a mutation in one or more genes that code for a retinal protein. These rare blinding conditions include X-linked retinitis pigmentosa (RP), achromatopsia, choroideremia, Leber congenital amaurosis, Leber hereditary optic neuropathy, X-linked retinoschisis, and Stargardt macular dystrophy.

Because of the complexity and rarity of most

Dr. Mark Daily

Now, the longtime Illinois ophthalmologist is bringing renewed hope to patients and families with the opening of the Mark J. Daily Inherited Retinal Diseases Research Center at Bascom Palmer. By providing a home for scientific research, clinical trials, patient care, and medical education, the new inherited retinal disease center will usher in a new era for the Institute’s growing team of retinal specialists.

“Thanks to the extraordinary philanthropy of our alumnus Dr. Mark J. Daily, Bascom Palmer will have a renowned center where cutting-edge inherited retinal diseases research is conducted and enhanced,” said Eduardo C. Alfonso, M.D. “The center will allow us to multiply the output of research and clinical trials in inherited retinal diseases, and we will integrate

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IRDs, the Institute’s new center will play a key role in focusing scientific and clinical research on gene therapies. “Even though traditional gene replacement therapy is very powerful, it can only treat one mutation at a time,” said Vittorio Porciatti, D.Sc., professor of ophthalmology, vice chairman of research, and the James L. Knight Professor in Ophthalmology.

“Therefore, our basic science program is generating in-house therapies that are gene agnostic. By targeting pathways common to many mutations, we could develop one therapy that is effective against multiple mutations.”

Lam said the Daily Center will advance translational research in the treatment of IRDs that will lead to clinical trials in a reasonable time frame. “The new

“New research could aid in the rapid identification of these complex conditions and one day might halt the progression to blindness or lead to sustained improved vision.”

– Dr. Byron Lam

technological treatment for LHON. By successfully modifying a virus, he was able to introduce healthy genes in the mitochondria to correct the genetic defect. His research demonstrated the immense potential for gene therapy applications to treat other blinding and life-threatening conditions. As Lam put it, “We are all standing on his shoulders.”

Giving back to the Institute Dr. Byron Lam

Reflecting on the 1970s, Daily has fond memories of his training at Bascom Palmer. “Working with Dr.

endowment will support early-stage studies, which

Norton and other pioneers in ophthalmology was the

can hopefully draw funding from government agencies

highlight of my educational experience,” he said. “I was

as well as industrial partners,” he said. “New research

fortunate to be there when the faculty members were

could aid in the rapid identification of these complex

pioneering vitrectomies and ocular lens implants, as

conditions and one day might halt the progression to

well as making major advances in glaucoma, corneal

blindness or lead to sustained improved vision.”

and retinal procedures.”

A long history Bascom Palmer has a long history of treating IRDs. The Institute’s founder, Edward W.D. Norton, M.D., had a clinical and research interest in retinitis pigmentosa, as his wife and son lost their vision from this blinding disease. In 1983, Norton recruited Samuel G. Jacobson, M.D., Ph.D., to establish a research and clinical center for retinal degeneration. In his 12 years at the Institute, Jacobson established a highly productive multidisciplinary research program investigating the mechanisms of retinal degeneration.

Over the past 20 years, the Institute has conducted numerous studies funded by the National Eye Institute. Lam said the achievements thus far of identifying genes and biomarkers associated with mutations furthered the testing of clinical gene therapies for a spectrum of inherited retinal diseases.

In addition, John R. Guy, M.D., Bascom Palmer professor and holder of the Rodgers Research Chair in Ophthalmology, conducted pioneering gene therapy research for the treatment of Leber hereditary

In the past few years, Daily, who is also a clinical professor of ophthalmology at Loyola University Medical Center, has paid increasing attention to IRDs. “When I was in medical school, our genetics course was very basic,” he said. “Since then, we have learned a tremendous amount about the human genome and genetic testing can identify most of the mutations.

Now, we need to take the next step and develop effective treatments.”

Daily knows that understanding the genetics of the eye can provide insights into other medical problems.

Two years ago, he saw a 60-year-old wheelchair-bound diabetic patient who came to his office with her daughter. After a careful eye examination and blood testing, he found she had a rare genetic condition called MELAS (mitochondrial encephalopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like symptoms). “It was an important finding for her and her daughter, who inherited the genes,” Daily said. “The more we learn about IRDs the more we can unravel those types of medical mysteries.

optic neuropathy (LHON), optic neuritis, multiple

Delivering clinical care

sclerosis, and other diseases caused by mutations in

Today, the Institute has one of the largest gene therapy

mitochondrial DNA.

programs in the nation with additional clinical trials

Before he died in 2020, Guy developed a novel

and studies coming soon. “Our patients are seen by

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clinicians who can diagnose inherited eye disorders,”

intravitreal injections to treat adult patients with

Lam said. “Genetic testing and careful evaluation are

retinitis pigmentosa, Leber congenital amaurosis,

necessary to determine if these new therapies are

and other diseases. “We are a great team, and we all

appropriate for individual patients.”

contribute to each other’s development,” said Davis.

In gene therapy, a tiny dose of adeno-associated

and teach ophthalmologists around the world to do

carry functional new genes into the retina. Once

these complex surgical procedures.”

delivered, the new genes use the body’s cellular

“When I met Mark Daily at a dinner several years

mechanisms to produce functional proteins with a

ago, he had a big vision for advancing retinal care,”

therapeutic impact on the retinal cells. Every step of

said Davis. “Now, having a dedicated, patient-focused

the process has to be carefully managed for patient

center will help families feel comfortable here while

safety and maximum efficacy of the treatment. The

providing support for recruiting additional scientists

Institute’s multidisciplinary support for gene therapy

and clinicians. We are entering a new era in genetic

includes the research pharmacy of the Sylvester

medicine, and this is a brilliant way for us to help

Comprehensive Cancer Center, which stores the

patients with IRDs.”

therapeutic vectors at -80 degrees Fahrenheit and

Jesse D. Sengillo, M.D., who is currently completing his

delivers them to the operating room just in time for

vitreoretinal surgery fellowship, is also looking forward

the procedures.

to the new center. “My mother is affected by an IRD,

“We spend a lot of time planning cases, beginning

which sparked my interested in ophthalmology,” he

with a comprehensive study of the patient’s retinas,”

said. “I feel very fortunate to see the advances our field

said Janet L. Davis, M.D., professor of ophthalmology

is making in real-time, particularly at Bascom Palmer.

and holder of the Leach Chair in Ophthalmology.

The Daily Center will provide state-of-the-art care for

Advanced imaging technology, including optical

patients and facilitate research that brings innovative

coherence tomography (OCT) and fundus

treatments to the bedside.”

autofluorescence, is used to determine if a patient is

Sengillo is also collaborating with investigators at the

a suitable candidate. Next, the surgical team carefully

Institute on several projects, such as assessing how the

maps the patient’s retina to determine precisely where

location of mutations in particular genes relates to the

to apply the gene-changing vector. For patient safety,

risks of complications in inherited vitreoretinopathies.

only one eye is treated at a time.

“The more we understand about the genes that cause

Ninel Gregori, M.D., professor of clinical ophthalmology and chief of eye care services at the Miami Veterans Affairs Hospital, typically works with

IRDs, the better we can prognosticate for patients and identify candidates for treatment in the future,” he said.

Reflecting on Daily’s support, Berrocal said, “Having a

Davis on gene therapy surgeries on adult patients,

center dedicated to an integrated approach to genetic

while Audina M. Berrocal, M.D., a pediatric retinal

eye disorders is essential to the future of eye care.

surgeon and professor of clinical ophthalmology,

Before, we had no cure for pediatric IRDs and blindness

operates on children. In 2018, Berrocal operated on a

was many times inevitable. Now, we can identify

9-year-old, one of the first persons in the United States

and treat certain diseases at an early age for better

to receive an FDA-approved gene therapy treatment.

outcomes. With gene therapy, the future is limitless.”

During the Institute’s first gene therapy trial in 2015, the team integrated OCT imaging into the surgery and shared the results with other surgeons. “We have evolved since then, learning how to do injections more safely and efficiently,” Gregori said. “Industry partners have responded as well. We started with our own injection tubes, and we now have a commercial cannula for these procedures.”

Since the FDA approval of voretigene (Luxturna) in 2017, Davis and Gregori have used subretinal and 8

“Going forward, we plan to expand our training program

virus (AAV) is used as a transmission vector to

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Advancing laboratory research Through the years, Lam has participated in more than 25 clinical trials in hereditary retinal diseases including gene therapy, stem cell, and other novel treatments. He also initiated the first U.S. clinical trial in choroideremia gene therapy.

Now, Lam is looking forward to the opportunity to bring more laboratory findings into the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) pipeline for clinical trials.

Gene Therapy for Inherited Retinal Disorders

“We plan to generate our ideas, gain funding for initial studies, and move forward into larger-scale studies,” he said. “We have also developed new endpoints by using new imaging techniques and a novel way of measuring light sensitivity.”

Several treatment strategies are currently being examined, including gene replacement and stem cell therapies, as well as delivering light-sensitive proteins

Identify the Gene Mutation Genetic testing identifies the specific gene mutation behind a person’s vision loss or impairment. Since there are hundreds of retinal disease genes, it is important to know the gene mutation to determine treatment eligibility.

into the residual retinal cells, Lam said. “We are also

The Eye is Easy to Acess

looking at RNA-based therapies using antisense

Compared to other organs of the body, the eye is small and easy to access for treatment administration.

This makes inherited retinal disorders (IRDs) strong candidates for gene therapy.

oligonucleotides,” he added. “Our goal is to bring meaningful vision benefits to individuals living with inherited blinding disorders.”

For 20 years, Abigail Hackam, Ph.D., professor of ophthalmology, has been working on experimental models of IRD to better understand how inherent mutations lead to photoreceptor death. “We are also using advanced retinal imaging techniques to follow patients over time,” said Hackam. “We have a great collaborative approach that allows us to identify patients and enroll them in clinical trials. It is exciting to have a new IRD center that can translate basic scientific discoveries into potential therapeutics.”

Rong Wen, M.D., Ph.D., professor of ophthalmology, has been studying retinitis pigmentosa for decades.

Because RP has more than 200 mutations in 60 genes, Wen is looking for mutation-independent neuroprotective therapies in collaboration with

Vector Delivery Gene therapy uses a vector—a virus without the disease-causing parts—to deliver a working gene into the cells. The vectors are delivered via injection to the eye, which enables the cells with the new functioning genes to start doing the work the faulty genes could not.

other researchers. “Neuroprotection by CNTF also affects the electroretinography (ERG) amplitudes.

ERG is considered a surrogate functional test for the photoreceptors though the ERG effect raised a concern,” he said. “We proved that the ERG effect is a natural effect similar to the retinal response to habitate light. If you put animals in an environment with strong background light, the ERG gets smaller.”

“Retinitis pigmentosa is a long-term disease that is very difficult to treat,” Wen said. “It can take years for

Control Progression By targeting the cause of disease —a faulty gene— gene therapy aims to stop disease progression and improve vision with a one-time administration.

a clinical trial to produce results, making it difficult for pharmaceutical companies to invest in such a long timeline. Having the new Daily center here assures us that the IRD research will be here to stay over the long term. After all, it’s worth waiting for good things like effective new therapies for these inherited diseases.”  Illustrations courtesy of the American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy. patienteducation.asgct.org BASCOM PALMER EYE INSTITUTE

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WELCOME NEW FACULTY

Felipe A. Medeiros, M.D., Ph.D. Introducing the Vice Chair of Translational Research World-renowned glaucoma researcher, clinician, and surgeon brings extensive experience in clinical trials, artificial intelligence, and bioinformatics to Bascom Palmer As a student in Brazil, Felipe A. Medeiros, M.D., Ph.D., dreamed of becoming an ophthalmologist.

Today, he is one of the world’s leading glaucoma experts with a passion for using data science and computing to bring better vision treatments to patients.

On June 1, Medeiros will join Bascom Palmer Eye Institute of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine as professor of ophthalmology, vice chair of translational research, and the Rodgers Clark Chair of Ophthalmology. “I am very honored to join Bascom Palmer, and I look forward to working Dr. Felipe Medeiros with this exceptional group of clinicians, scientists, and educators to improve the lives of glaucoma patients through cutting-edge research and state-ofthe-art care,” he said.

A pioneer on the use of artificial intelligence and big data to help improve management of glaucoma and other eye conditions, Medeiros was recently ranked among the top three glaucoma experts in the world by Expertscape, an independent organization that evaluates publications and citations from

“Dr. Medeiros brings extraordinary interdisciplinary expertise to our Institute. In addition to his exceptional skills as a surgeon specializing in complex glaucoma cases, his trail-blazing research and commitment to clinical care will significantly benefit patients here in South Florida and throughout the world.”

– Dr. Eduardo Alfonso

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more than 40,000 glaucoma specialists and researchers worldwide.

“Dr. Medeiros brings extraordinary interdisciplinary expertise to our Institute,” said Eduardo C. Alfonso, M.D., professor and director of Bascom Palmer, “In addition to his exceptional skills as a surgeon specializing in complex glaucoma cases, his trail-blazing research and commitment to clinical care will significantly benefit patients here in South Florida and throughout the world.”

Medeiros is joining the Institute from Duke University, where he was the Joseph A.C. Wadsworth Distinguished Professor of Ophthalmology. He was also vice chair of technology and professor of electrical and computer engineering, biostatistics, and bioinformatics at Duke. He is moving here with his wife Milenny, who is an attorney, and daughter Melissa. “We love traveling, and I enjoy tennis, mountain biking, and playing the drums,” he said.

“Dr. Medeiros is an innovative thinker and a visionary leader who will drive Bascom Palmer’s translational research program to new heights,” said Henri R. Ford, M.D., M.H.A., dean and chief academic officer of the Miller School of Medecine.

“He brings many years of remarkable research accomplishments to our school.”

Recognized for leadership

In the global ophthalmology community, Medeiros is known for developing innovative methods and technologies for diagnosis, risk assessment, and detection of disease progression in glaucoma. At Bascom Palmer, Medeiros’ new colleagues respect his worldwide influence on clinical practice, as well as his commitment to leading-edge research,

“Dr. Medeiros is an innovative thinker and a visionary leader who will drive Bascom Palmer’s translational research program to new heights. He brings many years of remarkable research accomplishments to our school.”

– Dr. Henri Ford

personalized patient care, and 21st-century medical education.

“Dr. Felipe Medeiros is nationally and internationally recognized as a leader in the field of glaucoma,” said Steven J. Gedde, M.D., professor of ophthalmology, the John G. Clarkson Chair in Ophthalmology, and vice chair of education. Gedde led the selection committee that chose Medeiros from a group of highly qualified candidates. “He will provide strategic vision and operational leadership to build upon the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute’s outstanding research program.”

Gedde added that Medeiros’ funded research has focused on developing innovative methods and technologies for early diagnosis and detection of progression, identification of biomarkers and risk factors for glaucoma, and use of big data and artificial intelligence to improve the diagnosis and monitoring of eye diseases.

“Clinician-scientists are rare birds in ophthalmology, and none has flown higher or faster than Felipe Medeiros,” said Richard Parrish II, M.D., professor of ophthalmology, and the Edward W. D. Norton Chair in Ophthalmology. “His unique ability to leverage the in-depth knowledge of clinical glaucoma and sophisticated artificial intelligence lays the groundwork for rapid progress in our understanding of this disease.”

“Dr. Felipe Medeiros

is nationally and

internationally recognized as a leader in the field of glaucoma. He will provide strategic vision and operational leadership to build upon the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute’s outstanding research program.”

– Dr. Steven Gedde

Swarup S. Swaminathan, M.D., assistant professor of clinical ophthalmology and the Mary Lee & Richard E. Bastin Chair in Ophthalmology, said, “I am particularly excited about Dr. Medeiros’ arrival at Bascom Palmer, as he will be able to guide junior clinician-scientists such as myself in building successful research programs. I look forward to working with him in further developing our data science research.”

Pointing to Medeiros’ wide spectrum of knowledge, including electrical and computer engineering, biostatistics, informatics, and technology development, Vittorio Porciatti, D.Sc., professor of ophthalmology, vice chairman of research, and the James L. Knight Professor in Ophthalmology, called him “uniquely suited to provide a road map to advance our institute’s research mission.”

Launching his career

Medeiros grew up in Fortaleza on the northeast coast of Brazil. Several family members were ophthalmologists including his mother, Marcia Medeiros, M.D., who maintains an active clinical practice. After choosing a career in medicine, he pursued both clinical and research studies at the University of Sao Paulo, where he earned his medical degree, completed a residency in ophthalmology,

“Clinician-scientists are rare birds

in ophthalmology, and none has

flown higher or faster than Felipe Medeiros. His unique ability to leverage in-depth knowledge of clinical glaucoma and sophisticated artificial intelligence lays the groundwork for rapid progress in our understanding of this disease.”

– Dr. Richard Parrish II BASCOM PALMER EYE INSTITUTE

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WHAT IS GLAUCOMA?

Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness that affects more than 3 million Americans. It is a family of more than 30 diseases that affects pressure within the eye and damages the optic nerve. Loss of sight from glaucoma can often be prevented with early treatment.

WHO IS AT RISK FOR GLAUCOMA? Some people have a higher than normal risk of getting glaucoma. This includes people who:  are over age 40  have family members with glaucoma  are of African, Hispanic, or Asian heritage  have high eye pressure  are farsighted or nearsighted  have had an eye injury  use long-term steroid medications  have corneas that are thin in the center  have thinning of the optic nerve  have diabetes, migraines, high blood pressure, poor circulation of other health problems affecting the whole body.

Courtesy of American Academy of Ophthalmology

Regular eye examinations are the best way to detect glaucoma.

To schedule an appointment with a glaucoma specialist, please call 1-888-845-0002 or visit us online at bascompalmer.org 12

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became a senior clinical fellow in ophthalmology, and obtained his Ph.D. in vision science.

“I started doing glaucoma research as a resident,” Medeiros said. “It was intriguing because glaucoma is the number one cause of irreversible blindness in the world, and there is still so much to discover about this chronic disease.”

Medeiros came to the U.S. in 2002 for a fellowship in glaucoma at the Hamilton Glaucoma Center of the Shiley Eye Institute at the University of California San Diego (UCSD). He joined UCSD as a faculty member in 2005 and quickly progressed to became the youngest full professor of ophthalmology in the country in 2011. He was honored with the Ben and Wanda Hildyard Endowed Chair and served as medical director of the Hamilton Glaucoma Center.

In 2017, he joined Duke Eye Center, where he led the department’s efforts in glaucoma research and assembled the Duke Ophthalmic Registry, which incorporates hundreds of thousands of clinical records, images, and laboratory tests. “Meaningful research today requires big data,” said Medeiros. “Tools like artificial intelligence algorithms can help us understand risk factors for the disease, create predictive models and develop better endpoints for clinical trials.”

Medeiros holds several patents on the development of innovative devices for diagnosing diseases and assessing patient outcomes in ophthalmology and other areas of medicine. He has been at the forefront of using innovative technologies, such as virtual reality (VR), in assessing how loss of vision from glaucoma may lead to disability and

Bascom Palmer’s Evelyn F. and William L. McKnight Vision Research Center will be home to a Medeiros research laboratory.

impact the daily lives of patients. “We developed a VR test that allowed us to assess risk of falls in patients in a way that could not be done with conventional testing in clinic,” Medeiros said. He has also developed the first portable brain-computer interface (BCI) that allows for objective testing of vision loss in glaucoma and other diseases.

“The BCI offers a promising avenue for quick and efficient screening for eye diseases as well as home monitoring for loss of vision,” he added.

Through the years, Medeiros’ research has been funded by numerous grants from the National Institutes of Health and other public agencies and foundations. He has also established numerous collaborations with industry and has been at the forefront of research leading to the development of innovative treatments for glaucoma. Recently, he was the principal investigator of the clinical trial leading to the FDA approval of the first sustainedrelease drug treatment for glaucoma, a major landmark in the treatment of this condition.

Medeiros’ high-impact research has been published in more than 400 peer-reviewed publications that have received over 30,000 citations, being one the most highly cited authors

in the field of ophthalmology. He has also published six books and over 50 book chapters covering many different aspects of the diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma.

Through the years, he has given hundreds of invited keynote lectures worldwide and has received dozens of honors and awards, including the Association for Research in Vision in Ophthalmology’s Cogan Award, one of the most prestigious awards in vision science. He has served on the editorial boards of several ophthalmology journals and is an elected member of the prestigious Glaucoma Research Society, whose members are restricted to the top 100 glaucoma researchers in the world. Thanks to his scientific contributions, he was selected to be the first scientist to have a feature profile in Ophthalmology, the journal of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. He currently serves as the chair of the American Glaucoma Society Strategic Planning Committee, which is tasked on developing the five-year strategic plan for the society. He is also an active member of the World Glaucoma Association, as well as many other professional organizations.

Plans for the future

As a vision science leader at Bascom Palmer, Medeiros’ primary goal is to advance innovative and impactful translational research and expand funding through grants and philanthropic gifts. That includes adding to the Institute’s programs of distinction in key research areas, establishing a big data portfolio with the creation of a Bascom Palmer Ophthalmic Registry, and seeking resources to create a new Bascom Palmer Center for Artificial Intelligence & Innovative Technology.

Medeiros also wants to advance team-based collaborative research, including cross-discipline projects at the University of Miami as well as regional, national, and international research partnerships.

In keeping with that approach, Medeiros will focus on attracting, developing, and retaining outstanding faculty researchers and enhancing training and mentoring for residents, fellows, and junior faculty members.

To accelerate the bench-to-bedside process, Medeiros will promote entrepreneurship so that new laboratory findings and technological innovations can lead to start-up ventures and other forms of commercialization. “It is important to facilitate partnerships that can transform discoveries into innovative solutions.”

“Dr. Medeiros’ focus on collaborative research will create new opportunities for scientists and clinicians throughout the Miller School,” said Stephen D. Nimer, M.D., the Miller School’s executive dean for research; director of the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center; the Oscar de la Renta Endowed Chair in Cancer Research, and professor of medicine, biochemistry, and molecular biology. “In leading Bascom Palmer’s translational research program, Dr. Medeiros will accelerate the process of turning scientific discoveries into leading-edge therapies for patients with vision loss.” 

“I am particularly excited about

Dr. Medeiros’ arrival at Bascom Palmer, as he will be able to guide junior clinician-scientists such as myself in building successful research programs. I look forward to working with him in further developing our data science research.”

– Dr. Swarup Swaminathan

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WELCOME NEW FACULTY

Faculty Continues Expansion Bascom Palmer Eye Institute is pleased to announce the appointment of five new faculty members.

Bascom Palmer continues its rich tradition of having the nation’s best and brightest ophthalmologists advancing the practice of ophthalmology through innovation in therapeutics, diagnostics, and vision research.

MAURA DI NICOLA, M.D. Bascom Palmer Eye Institute welcomes Maura Di Nicola, M.D., a board-certified specialist in retinal diseases, uveitis, and ocular oncology, to the faculty as an assistant professor of clinical ophthalmology. She received a doctor of medicine degree, summa cum laude, from Vita-Salute San Raffaele University in Italy, where she also completed an internship in the department of ophthalmology’s uveitis and oncology service. Following a residency in ophthalmology at the University of Milan, she completed a research fellowship in ocular oncology at Wills Eye Hospital. Di Nicola then served as a research associate in ocular oncology at the University of Cincinnati, where she also completed an ocular oncology clinical fellowship. This training was followed by a uveitis and medical retina clinical fellowship at the University of Illinois Chicago. Her research interests include diagnosis and treatment of retinal and ocular inflammatory diseases, as well as adult and pediatric ocular tumors, with a focus on multimodal imaging. She is available for consultation on retinal diseases, uveitis, and ocular oncology, either in person or through virtual visits.

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ANH H. PHAM, M.D., PH.D., a board-certified specialist in glaucoma, joins the faculty as an assistant professor of clinical ophthalmology.

Pham received a bachelor of science degree in chemistry, with highest honors, from the University of California at Berkeley, and a doctorate in molecular and cell biology from the California Institute of Technology. She received her medical degree from the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine. Following an internship in preliminary medicine at Huntington Memorial Hospital, she completed an EyeSTAR post-doctoral fellowship and a residency in ophthalmology at the UCLA Jules Stein Eye Institute.

Most recently, Pham completed a fellowship in glaucoma at Bascom Palmer. Her research interests include examining mitochondrial dysfunction in glaucoma models and gene therapy for mitochondrial DNA diseases.

She is available for consultation on glaucoma either in person or through virtual visits.

MARIAM S. VILÁ-DELGADO, M.D., a board-certified specialist in neuro-ophthalmology, pediatric ophthalmology, and pediatric and adult strabismus, joins the faculty as an assistant professor of clinical ophthalmology.

She graduated magna cum laude from the University of Puerto Rico with a bachelor of science degree in cellular and molecular biology.

At the University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, she received a medical degree, magna cum laude, in addition to completing a transitional year internship and a residency in ophthalmology. This training was followed by two fellowships at Bascom Palmer: the first in pediatric ophthalmology and strabismus, and the second in neuro-ophthalmology.

A member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society, Vilá-Delgado is part of the Cortical Visual Impairment (CVI) Collaborative Center team in partnership with the Miami Lighthouse for the Blind. She is available for consultation either in person at Bascom Palmer or through virtual visits for neuro-ophthalmology – including optic neuritis; optic neuropathy and visual field defects; pediatric ophthalmology; and childhood and adult strabismus.

BASIL K. WILLIAMS JR., M.D., joins the faculty as an associate professor of clinical ophthalmology and Bascom Palmer’s vice chair for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).

A board-certified specialist in retinal diseases and ocular oncology, Williams comes to Miami from Cincinnati, where he was the Mary Knight Asbury Chair of Ocular Oncology and associate professor of clinical ophthalmology at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center; a vitreoretinal specialist, ocular oncologist, and director of the retinoblastoma program at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center; and a vitreoretinal diseases specialist and surgeon at the Cincinnati Eye Institute. Williams received a bachelor of arts degree in psychology from Yale University and received his medical degree from the Chicago Medical School. Following his transitional year internship at Resurrection Medical Center, Williams completed a residency in ophthalmology as well as a surgical retinal fellowship at Bascom Palmer, both preceding his tenure as the Institute’s chief resident. The following year he completed an ocular oncology fellowship at Wills Eye Hospital. His

research interests include vitreoretinal diseases and surgery, as well as adult and pediatric surface and intraocular tumors. A member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society, Williams has received numerous teaching awards including the Medical Student Educator of the Year from the University of Cincinnati, the William Tasman M.D. Outstanding Fellow Teaching Award from Wills Eye Hospital, and Fellow of the Year Award from Bascom Palmer.

In his role as the Institute’s vice chair for DEI, Williams will lead the strategic planning of Bascom Palmer’s commitment to DEI, and serve as a national figure to ensure diversity in recruiting, training, mentoring, and hiring within the field of ophthalmology.

Williams has been active in DEI activities within the medical community, having served as vice president of diversity and inclusion of the Vit-Buckle Society, and has taken an active role in committees of the American Society of Retina Specialists, the American Academy of Ophthalmology, and the Retinal World Congress. He has presented 34 invited lectures on topics ranging from vitreoretinal surgery to intraocular tumors to the role of diversity and challenges in the field.

Williams is available for consultation in retinal diseases and ocular oncology for in-person appointments and virtual visits.

CONNIE M. WU, M.D., a board-certified glaucoma specialist, joins the faculty as an assistant professor of clinical ophthalmology.

She completed a combined BA/ MD program in liberal medical education at Brown University, where she graduated magna cum laude, receiving a bachelor of science degree in human biology and a medical degree with a scholarly concentration in aging.

She is a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Society, Sigma Xi Scientific Research Society, and Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society. Wu completed transitional year training at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center at Stanford University followed by a residency in ophthalmology and a fellowship in glaucoma at Wills Eye Hospital. Her research interests include clinical practice guidelines and patterns, quality improvement, and lifestyle factors of glaucoma progression. She is available for consultation either in person or through virtual visits.

In-office and virtual visits available.

Appointments 305-243-2020 Toll free in USA 800-329-7000

BASCOM PALMER EYE INSTITUTE

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Bascom Palmer Ranked #1 in USA For the twenty-first consecutive year, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute has been ranked as the nation’s best in ophthalmology by U.S. News & World Report.

The magazine’s Best Hospitals guide ranks America’s top hospitals in 15 medical specialties and is a resource for consumers who seek optimal care in the diagnosis, treatment, and management of difficult medical problems.

Bascom Palmer was also honored to be ranked #1 in Clinical Care in the nation by Ophthalmology Times in their 2022 annual survey of best hospitals.

For 60 years, Bascom Palmer has been at the forefront of innovation in ophthalmology and its decades-long run in the top spot of these national rankings is a demonstration of its excellence in the field of ophthalmology. “Our professional team is dedicated to delivering the most advanced vision care to patients throughout our diverse community and around the world,” said Eduardo C. Alfonso, M.D. “In addition to clinical care, our unwavering focus on excellence also drives our integrated approach to research and education. I am so proud of our team.”

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“Our professional team is dedicated to delivering the most advanced vision care to patients throughout our diverse community and around the world. In addition to clinical care, our unwavering focus on excellence also drives our integrated approach to research and education.”

– Dr. Eduardo Alfonso

Residency Program named Best in Nation Ophthalmology Times named Bascom Palmer’s residency program as the best in the country. Chris Alabiad, M.D., professor of clinical ophthalmology and residency program director said, “We are truly humbled that our colleagues hold our training program in such high regard.

It is a testament to our faculty’s dedication to teaching and to our residents’ commitment to learning and caring for patients from all walks of life.”

Bascom Palmer’s residency program was also ranked #1

by Doximity, a network of more than 2 million U.S. healthcare professionals. Doximity’s Residency Navigator bases their rankings on peer nominations, ratings, and reviews to provide a transparent look into medical residency programs providing medical students information to make informed residency decisions.

Steven Gedde, M.D., Bascom Palmer’s vice chair of education said, “We recognize that training the next generation of ophthalmologists is a powerful way to positively impact the field of ophthalmology. Our many educational programs disseminate medical knowledge around the world and help elevate the quality of care delivered to patients. We are honored to be recognized for our excellence.”

Chief Residents Drs. Thomas Lazzarini Jr. and Hasenin Al-khersan

Residents gather to celebrate the residency program’s #1 ranking.

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The World’s 100 Most Influential People in Ophthalmology

EDUARDO C. ALFONSO, M.D., is an internationally recognized expert on ocular infectious diseases and is recognized globally as a leader in healthcare administration. He has been director and chair of Bascom Palmer since 2007. Each year under his leadership, the Institute has been ranked the #1 eye hospital in the United States. Alfonso, holder of the Kathleen and Stanley J. Glaser Chair in Ophthalmology, was named to the

Power Lists 2014, 2016, 2018, 2022, 2023.

Holder of the John T. Flynn Chair in Ophthalmology, HILDA CAPÓ, M.D., is a specialist in pediatric ophthalmology and adult strabismus. She is worldrenowned for her expertise in strabismus and adjustable sutures and a pioneer in identifying the anesthetic agent’s role in

Each year, The Ophthalmologist presents a Power List that honors the world’s 100 most influential people in the field of ophthalmology. Meet the doctors who were named in 2022 and 2023 in recognition of their expertise and leadership. They personify the very best of ophthalmology.

the onset of double vision after cataract surgery. She has trained more than 175 residents and fellows, reaffirming her abilities as an academician, educator, and surgeon. Capó was named to the Power Lists 2021, 2023.

ZELIA M. CORREA, M.D., PH.D., is a worldrenown cancer specialist with extensive surgical experience. She is recognized not only in the field of ocular oncology, but also in vitreoretinal surgery and ophthalmic pathology. Her current research focuses on the use of artificial intelligence to distinguish benign from malignant ocular tumors based on imaging characteristics. She was named to the Power List 2022.

JANET L. DAVIS, M.D., M.A., is an internationally recognized expert in uveitis as well as a medical retina and vitreoretinal specialist. Holder of the Leach Chair in Ophthalmology, her expertise includes infectious and inflammatory diseases of the eye. For the last six years, she has led the Bascom Palmer surgical team that has performed more than 100 subretinal gene therapy procedures for inherited retinal diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa and choroideremia. Davis was named to the Power Lists 2021,

2023.

KENDALL E. DONALDSON, M.D., M.S., is a cornea specialist whose primary research interests are the advancements in cataract surgery, laser-assisted cataract surgery, and severe ocular surface disease. Each year, she presents more than 100 lectures at the local, national, and international level, and has authored a variety of peer-reviewed 18

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and non-peer reviewed articles and book chapters.

She was named to the Power Lists 2021, 2022, 2023.

A specialist in the medical and surgical treatment of diseases of the retina and the vitreous,

HARRY W. FLYNN JR., M.D., has a long and distinguished career in academic medicine through a combination of teaching, research, and patient care. He has been involved in the training of more than 600 residents, fellows, and visiting physicians over the past 40 years.

Flynn, the J. Donald M. Gass Chair in Ophthalmology, was named to the Power Lists 2018, 2022, 2023.

ANAT GALOR, M.D., M.S.P.H., is an expert on ocular surface pain and dry eye and its relationship with neuropathic ocular pain.

She is also an expert in the epidemiology and treatment of persistent pain after LASIK. Galor has evaluated the efficacy of several therapies in the treatment of neuropathic ocular pain and has focused on how ocular surface symptoms affect the quality of life. Galor was recognized in the Power Lists 2021, 2022, 2023.

STEVEN J. GEDDE, M.D., Bascom Palmer’s vice chair of education and holder of the John G. Clarkson Chair in Ophthalmology is an outstanding physician, researcher, and educator. During his 21-year leadership as Bascom Palmer’s residency program director, the Institute’s training program was continually recognized as one of the best in the nation. He is an expert in the field of glaucoma and his research has focused on improving patient care through clinical trials. Gedde was named to the Power List 2022.

Voluntary assistant professor of ophthalmology, RANYA HABASH,

M.D., is a refractive cataract surgeon and comprehensive ophthalmologist with a unique background in the clinical,

CAROL L. KARP, M.D., holder of the Richard K. Forster Chair in Ophthalmology and the Dr. Ronald and Alicia Lepke Endowed Professorship in Corneal and External Diseases, is an expert in the management of ocular surface oncology and anterior segment surgery. In the late 1990s, she pioneered the use of interferon for the treatment of ocular surface squamous neoplasia. Her work has helped to change the standard of care for these lesions. Karp was named to the Power Lists 2019, 2021, 2023.

PHILIP J. ROSENFELD, M.D., PH.D., played a pivotal role in the development of anti-VEGF therapies for neovascular and exudative eye diseases and revolutionized the treatment of these diseases. By pioneering the use of intravitreal Avastin (bevacizumab) therapy, his work has contributed to the prevention of blindness worldwide and saved billions of dollars in healthcare expenses. Rosenfeld has been recognized on the Power Lists 2014, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023.

An expert in vision correction surgery, SONIA YOO, M.D., is recognized as one of the world’s most skilled cornea, cataract and refractive surgeons, with exceptional experience and knowledge of the field. Associate medical director of Bascom Palmer and holder of the Greentree Hickman Chair in Ophthalmology, Yoo is interested in the development and evaluation of new diagnostic and surgical technologies, as well as laser applications. She was also named to the Power List 2018, 2021, 2023.

Since the Power List began in 2014, Bascom Palmer faculty members have continually been included.

Other honorees include:

AUDINA M. BERROCAL, M.D. (2021) ALANA GRAJEWSKI, M.D. (2021) RICHARD K. PARRISH II, M.D. (2018) 

technical, and business sides of medicine. As the former medical director of technology at Bascom Palmer, she instituted Bascom Palmer’s successful telemedicine program at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic providing patients immediate access to Bascom Palmer’s ophthalmologists. She was named to the

Power Lists 2017, 2021, 2022, 2023.

To schedule a virtual or in-person appointment with a Bascom Palmer specialist, please call 1-888-845-0002 or visit bascompalmer.org.

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AWARDS AND HONORS

Top Honors at AAO The American Academy of Ophthalmology’s annual meeting is the largest and most comprehensive ophthalmic education meeting in the world. Bascom Palmer’s faculty, residents, and fellows offered more than 180 presentations, posters, and symposiums at the 2022 meeting held in Chicago.

The Society of Heed Fellows presented its prestigious HeedGutman Award to EDUARDO C. ALFONSO, M.D., during the AAO meeting in recognition of his extraordinary and distinguished leadership in ophthalmology as well as his major clinical, research, and educational contributions to the field. He shares the 2022 Heed-Gutman Award with Mark W. Johnson, M.D., (fellow 1990). Last year’s recipient, James Chodosh, M.D., M.P.H., was also a graduate of the Bascom Palmer training program (fellow 1993).

Buenos Aires, Argentina, was the site of the XXXV Pan-American Association of Ophthalmology (PAAO) congress. Congratulations to EDUARDO C. ALFONSO, M.D., for delivering the Gradle Lecture, a lecture that is presented by the person who most exemplifies excellence, promotes best practices in education, demonstrates positive international relationships, and leads in the field of ophthalmology. Alfonso’s lecture was entitled, “Virtual Care = Better Care.” While at the PAAO congress, Alfonso was named an honorary member of the Consejo Argentino de Oftalmologia (CAO).

The 2023 American Journal of Ophthalmology Lecture is also a tradition at the PAAO congress.

Felipe A. Medeiros, M.D., Ph.D., presented his lecture, “The Wonders of AI in the Eye.” ZELIA CORREA, M.D., PH.D., received the 20 Years of the Curso de Liderazgo Award 2003-2023 and CAROL L. KARP, M.D., was acknowledged for her dedication to the PAAO as the Englishlanguage secretary of the scientific committee.

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The 2022 Charles L. Schepens, M.D. Award, the highest award in the field of retina, was presented to PHILIP J. ROSENFELD, M.D., PH.D. A world-renown expert on age-related macular degeneration and optical coherence tomography, this award recognized Rosenfeld’s groundbreaking contributions to the field.

CAROL L. KARP, M.D., received the 2022 Castroviejo Award, which is given to the most outstanding individual in the field of cornea and anterior segment of the eye.

She is only the third woman to receive the award since its inception in 1975.

CAO president Dr. Juan Rivero with Dr. Eduardo Alfonso

AWARDS AND HONORS Heed Fellowships for 2022-23 have been awarded to Bascom Palmer’s oculoplastics fellow BENYAM KINDE, M.D., PH.D.; glaucoma fellow ALCINA LIDDER, M.D.; and retina fellows ANNE L. KUNKLER, M.D., JESSE D. SENGILLO, M.D., and BENJAMIN FOWLER, M.D., (resident 2021). One of the most prestigious honors for post-graduate studies in ophthalmology, the Heed Fellowship is granted to outstanding ophthalmology residents who demonstrate promise in an academic medical career in patient care, education, and research.

Faculty Named Nation’s Best

Drs. Benyam Kinde, Alcina Lidder, Anne Kunkler, and Jesse Sengillo

Corneal and External Diseases Eduardo C. Alfonso, M.D. Guillermo Amescua, M.D Victoria S. Chang, M.D. William W. Culbertson, M.D. Kendall E. Donaldson, M.D., M.S. Carol L. Karp, M.D. Terrence P. O’Brien, M.D. Sonia Yoo, M.D. Angela Y. Zhu, M.D.

Having recently completed two consecutive appointments to the National Advisory Board of the National Institutes of Health/ National Eye Institute (NIH/NEI), EDUARDO C. ALFONSO, M.D., has been nominated and elected by his peers to serve on the national board of directors of the National Alliance for Eye and Vision Research and Alliance for Eye and Vision Research (NAEVR/ AEVR), non-profit advocacy organizations whose missions are to achieve the best eye and vision care for all Americans through advocacy and public education.

“These very important and influential boards are mapping the blueprint of how vision research and discovery are going to take place,” said Alfonso. “Participating on these boards means not only do we keep our fingers on the pulse of what’s going on, but that we are part of what generates that pulse.”

As part of the advisory board of the NIH/NEI, Alfonso was tasked with assessing the U.S. Congress’ annual appropriation of between $600-700 million to the NIH/NEI for research and developing a strategic plan. His responsibilities on the NAEVR/AEVR board will focus on securing new funding from government entities and private foundations. “It is important for Bascom Palmer to maintain its national and international leadership,” said Alfonso. “We have to contribute and keep abreast of what’s happening in terms of eye research so eye care professionals, healthcare advocates, and industry can move in the same direction and achieve common strategic goals.” Whether introducing new therapies for patients, deploying new technology, conducting leading-edge research, or addressing escalating healthcare costs, Bascom Palmer and the NAEVR/AEVR are looking to the future.

Thirty-six Bascom Palmer Eye Institute physicians are included in America’s Top Doctors. The doctors on this list are selected by their peers throughout the country for their medical expertise and skill.

Vitreoretinal Diseases Thomas A. Albini, M.D. Audina M. Berrocal, M.D. Janet L. Davis, M.D. Sander Dubovy, M.D. Yale L. Fisher, M.D. Harry W. Flynn Jr., M.D. Jaclyn L. Kovach, M.D. Philip J. Rosenfeld, M.D., Ph.D. Stephen G. Schwartz, M.D., M.B.A. William E. Smiddy, M.D. Basil K. Willliams Jr., M.D.

Glaucoma Ta Chen Peter Chang, M.D. Steven J. Gedde, M.D. David S. Greenfield, M.D. Elizabeth A. Hodapp, M.D. Richard K. Parrish II, M.D. Sarah R. Wellik, M.D. Neuro-Ophthalmology Hong Jiang, M.D. Byron L. Lam, M.D. Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Chrisfouad R. Alabiad, M.D. Thomas E. Johnson, M.D. Wendy Lee, M.D. David T. Tse, M.D. Sara T. Wester, M.D. Pediatric Ophthalmology Hilda Capó, M.D. Kara Cavuoto, M.D. Craig A. McKeown, M.D. BASCOM PALMER EYE INSTITUTE

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AWARDS AND HONORS

Dr. Sarah Wellik

Dr. Raquel Goldhardt

Dr. Zubair Ansari

The Florida Society of Ophthalmologists honored its members at its 2022 annual business meeting. SARAH R. WELLIK, M.D., received the John R. Brayton Jr., M.D. Leadership Award for her leadership and dedication to the profession. Wellik served as president of the FSO from 2020-2021. The James W. Clower Jr., M.D. Community Service Award was presented to RAQUEL GOLDHARDT, M.D., in recognition of her service. Goldhardt has led health fair vision screenings throughout Florida as well as mission trips to underserved areas in Mexico and South America, including the Darwin Eye Project in the Galapagos. She currently serves as FSO’s vice president of advocacy. Goldhardt follows ZUBAIR ANSARI, M.D., who received the Clower Award in 2021. Throughout his training and career, Ansari’s primary focus has been global ophthalmology – working to combat the evergrowing prevalence of blindness and visual impairment in resource-poor communities. Also, in 2021, cornea specialist VICTORIA CHANG, M.D., received the Michael R. Redmond, M.D. Outstanding Young Ophthalmologist Leadership Award.

Dr. Victoria Chang

Dr. Marissa Shoji

Prevent Blindness, the nation’s leading volunteer eye health and safety organization, presented the 2022 “Rising Visionary Award” to MARISSA K. SHOJI, M.D., a third-year resident.

Shoji’s winning essay, “A Guiding Light: A Vision for the Future,” addressed racial and gender disparities in eye care and outlined the need for a national program focusing on fostering diversity in ophthalmology.

Research Scholarship Established Congratulations to MARK T. DUNBAR, O.D., for receiving a service excellence award from the Healthnetwork Foundation for his outstanding work in making a significant difference in their members’ lives.

Generously funded by Joyce and Robert Rice and named in honor of two Bascom Palmer physicians and professors, the Dr. Larry J. Singerman and Dr. Stephen G. Schwartz Research Scholarship was established to provide medical students with a high-impact research experience at Bascom Palmer. Designed for students during their professional education, each scholar will work with a mentor at Bascom Palmer in conducting basic, translational, or clinical research. In its inaugural year, 46 medical students applied for the scholarship and five were selected to begin this fall: Osmel Alvarez, Jason Greenfield, Parastou Pakravan, Madison Weiss, and Gelilah Yohannes. Each student will have a clinical or scientific mentor whose goal is to establish the trainee as an independent researcher. SWARUP SWAMINATHAN, M.D., CAROL L. KARP, M.D., BASIL WILLIAMS JR., M.D., ABIGAIL S. HACKAM, PH.D., and AHN H. PHAM, M.D., PH.D., will serve as mentors.

Congratulations to BASIL WILLIAMS JR., M.D., who recently won a diversity, equity, and inclusion mini-grant from the University of Miami Office of Faculty Affairs for his project: Handling Discrimination in the Workplace.

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Congratulations to PAUL PALMBERG, M.D., PH.D., who was recognized as the Guest of Honor at the 2023 American Glaucoma Society (AGS) meeting. An outstanding clinician and educator, Palmberg is credited with clarifying diabetes’ impact on glaucoma. Additionally, his participation in glaucoma surgery innovation resulted in his coining the term “target pressure” in 1988, a term used worldwide to designate a therapeutic goal in the treatment of glaucoma. Kudos also to ALANA GRAJEWSKI, M.D., for receiving the Humanitarian Award at the meeting in recognition of her efforts to preserve vision and improve the quality of life for children with pediatric glaucoma.

Also at the AGS meeting, STEVEN J. GEDDE, M.D., was elected as the vice president beginning in 2024 and will assume the presidency in 2025. He will be the third Bascom Palmer faculty member to lead the organization. Professor emeritus of ophthalmology, DOUGLAS R. ANDERSON, M.D., was president in 1991-1992, and DAVID S. GREENFIELD, M.D., the Douglas R. Anderson Chair in Ophthalmology, served in 2015-2016.

Current and former Bascom Palmer glaucoma fellows gather at a celebration dinner in honor of Dr. Paul Palmberg

Bascom Palmer now offers rapid virtual eye care for common eye concerns.

If you have: • eyelid swelling • red or pink eye • eye discomfort • styes • eyelid tenderness • tearing or watery eyes • itchy eyes • discharge from eyes • dry eyes • flashes or floaters • change in vision our doctors can diagnose, recommend treatment, and prescribe medications when indicated as soon as the same or next business day.

Speak with one of our eye doctors virtually from the comfort of your home. Schedule a same-day or next-day virtual appointment online at rapideyecare.com

To make a rapid virtual appointment, go to: rapideyecare.com or call: 1-800-329-7000, option 2, then 1.

Important information: This service is covered by most insurances, please refer to your insurance plan for coverage details. Affordable pricing if you are without insurance. Service is limited to persons located in the state of Florida. Glasses and contact lens prescriptions are not provided through this service.

BASCOM PALMER EYE INSTITUTE

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A TRIBUTE TO OUR FOUNDER

Edward W.D. Norton: Building Bascom Palmer from the Ground Up

By Douglas R. Anderson, MD

A

man of great character, Edward W.D. Norton,

details of what he, as chairman, would provide — an

MD (1922-1994) was a prominent 20th-century

environment conducive to professional growth and

ophthalmologist who in the 1950s and ’60s laid the

success, an office, secretarial services, a laboratory,

groundwork for the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute at

compensation, support of professional travel, etc. The

the University of Miami.

next paragraph stated simply, “For your part, I expect

PRINCIPLES

you to become the best academic ophthalmologist of

When Dr. Norton was asked to what he might

which you are capable.”

It is important for the chairman to listen.

attribute the success of the Institute, he

You do not have to agree. Be genuine

provided a list of principles that he

when you say, “I appreciate your

followed. These traits reflect the

opinion about this; I just

man. These principles are recast here. Integrity was

don’t happen to agree.” Dr.

his prime principle. He

Norton’s eldest daughter

demanded it of himself

wrote: “He had the rare

and others. No matter

ability to hold strong

what other talents you

convictions while not

might have as you

being judgmental

applied for a training

toward others who

position or to join his

held different views.”

team, you were not

She also commented

welcome if you lacked

that despite having so many things going on,

integrity.

when he conversed with

Integrity encompassed

you it was as if you were

selflessness, compassion,

the only person on his mind.

and a sense of obligation to the community — these became

Capacity to delegate: Issue both

an infectious ethos that dominated the culture of the Institution.

Edward W.D. Norton, MD

responsibility and authority. I remember a time early in my career when Norton

Credibility meant having the facts before clinical

and others were to be away, so he left me in charge.

and administrative decision-making. Fact-based

He told me that he doubted any decisions of import

confidence leads to predictable behavior. He was not

would arise, but if they did, I should decide whatever

arbitrary. He mentioned further, “Be organized: Have

I thought best. He said that he might not agree with

a plan with a vision of the outcome and an ability

a decision, but when he returned, he would uphold

to balance priorities. During your implementation

it. I was pleased that he trusted me. Fortunately, no

of decisions, back up what you plan; [then] move

decisions of much import came up.

ahead.”

Develop key faculty and “let key faculty be the stars;

Be a caretaker: like a gardener, “Pick the plants, cultivate the flowers, watch the blooms.” He was ever

don’t you try to be the brightest star in the universe.”

so careful when choosing faculty, staff, and trainees.

Promote individual development: Tell each of them,

Then he nurtured them.

“Be the best you can be.”

Flexibility to accept the eccentrics: “Don’t try to

Loyalty to the institution: “Chairs and faculty may go, the department may change in strength, the

change them but adapt to the needs of individual

Institution is forever.” Loyalty extended to the faculty.

faculty.” An offer to join the faculty started with

Once you were a member of his team, he would do

Reformatted version of Edward W.D. Norton: Building Bascom Palmer from the Ground Up by Douglas R. Anderson, MD, Published in Scope (American Academy of Ophthalmology). Spring 2021;25(2):13-16.

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anything to have you succeed. Professional travel was an opportunity for faculty members to attend and to speak at a symposium, to learn from other participants, to be heard and respected, and to enhance the Institute’s reputation. He was also loyal to the University, serving as interim dean of the medical school when the position became vacant in 1991, although he would rather have focused on Bascom Palmer.

Bascom Palmer was to be an Institution of the highest quality. The faculty invested in the Institute by donating any “excess” clinical earnings (after overhead costs and promised faculty salaries had been paid), rather than taking the “excess” as a bonus, which University policy would have permitted.

The faculty were with him in making a first-class institute.

ORIGINS

Dr. Norton was born in 1922 in Massachusetts, from a family of Irish immigrants. He was a delicate child and was taken to warm beaches, sometimes in Florida. His mother died when he was 19. After graduating from Harvard College in 1943, Norton went to Cornell Medical School. He was inducted into the U.S. Navy and met Mary Knesnik, a student nurse. They married in 1945 and had five children.

Dr. Norton was called to active duty and assigned to the Oakland Naval Hospital and later the port of San Diego, where Mary was able to join him.

While there, he developed bulbar polio. When he recovered, he was assigned to complete his time on

repair a detached retina, using skills he had learned from Dr. Charles Schepens in Boston. In November that same year, Dr. Norton learned that a medical school in Florida was looking for a chief of ophthalmology, and by mid-1958, the Norton family moved to Miami.

Dr. Norton loved people. From childhood, his innate charm captured many classmate friends. He could strike up a conversation with a stranger, always talking about the stranger’s life and interests rather than his own. He was eager to learn about whatever area of knowledge he hadn’t experienced before. All were captivated by his charisma.

an ophthalmology service instead of sea duty on a

Mary was of similar ilk, having gone into nursing

destroyer.

because some of her high school friends had been

Dr. Norton took 15 months of residency training in neurology before starting an ophthalmology residency at Cornell Medical College-New York Hospital. But illness struck yet again; he was discovered to have pulmonary tuberculosis, which required six months of hospitalization. He then completed his ophthalmology residency, and afterwards undertook 15 months of additional training in two fellowships in neuro-ophthalmology — one at the Wilmer Institute of Johns Hopkins University (Dr. Frank Walsh) in Baltimore and another at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary (Dr. David Cogan) in Boston.

Dr. Norton loved baseball, here in a 1981 faculty vs. residents game.

casualties in the war. She was exceptionally popular, vivacious, outgoing, and joyful. She endured the hardships of being married to a man who responded to war-time obligations, who met the demands of his medical education, and who faced illnesses and unexpected obstacles while he climbed to the top of his profession.

CHRONOLOGY IN MIAMI

Dr. Norton was offered a faculty position at the University of Miami School of Medicine as the fulltime head of ophthalmology in 1958. The medical school was young, having graduated its first class in 1956. Miami had been growing since the end of World

In 1954, Dr. Norton became an instructor in surgery

War II. Volunteer part-time faculty had established

(ophthalmology) at Cornell Medical College- New

an ophthalmology residency with five residents at

York Hospital. He was quickly recognized as the only

Jackson Memorial Hospital as the teaching hospital

person in New York City who could successfully

for the Medical School.

BASCOM PALMER EYE INSTITUTE

25

Dr. Bascom Headon Palmer died in 1955 after

as voluntary faculty

serving for 20 years as a member of the University

and attended the

of Miami Board of Trustees. Palmer’s patients

weekly grand

included the carriage trade, and he accumulated

rounds on Thursday

a fund to establish an eye clinic to provide “eye

mornings. Norton

care for indigents and others, treatment and

also inspired them to

research, conservation of sight, and dissemination goals, and Dr. Palmer’s widow offered the fund to Dr. Norton, urging that the new institute be named for

concern about the long-term safety of newly

her husband.

developed intraocular lenses for implantation at the

Dr. Norton recruited additional faculty in 1959,

and teamwork. For example, he expressed

time of cataract removal.

beginning with his closest friend and confidant,

The immediate optical advantages were obvious

Dr. Victor T. Curtin, a retina specialist and a

to surgeons and patients, but Dr. Norton suggested

pathologist. Dr. J. Lawton Smith came in 1962 as a

not implanting more of them until the long-term

neuroophthalmologist. Dr. J. Donald M. Gass joined

safety was better known. Dr. Norton suggested a

as a retinal specialist. The fifth ophthalmologist was

community-wide moratorium, to be conducted and

the pediatric ophthalmologist, Dr. John T. Flynn. Two

supervised by a committee of the community, not the

laboratory scientists, Thorne Shipley and Duco I.

Institute, and that a resident be assigned to examine

Hamasaki, came in 1963.

each patient annually and report the results. He also

As an upgrade to the residency program, Dr. Norton made himself personally available to the residents whenever they needed help with a patient, and he came to the operating room when the residents

Dr. Norton and his family with their red Volkswagen van.

social responsibility

Dr. Norton received by Pope John Paul II in 1986.

of information.” This coincided with Dr. Norton’s

established a policy that patients would be seen by the full-time faculty only by referral and would be sent back to the referring doctor after consultation or requested treatment.

performed surgery. He instituted Saturday morning

Drs. Norton and Curtin shared two small offices and

teaching conferences. Afterwards, all faculty and

an examination room in Jackson Memorial Hospital,

trainees, were welcomed to his home with their

using two operating rooms dedicated to eye surgery.

families for an afternoon picnic with swimming and

Meanwhile, they used part of their private clinical

games (especially tennis), as an informal social event.

earnings to air-condition, clean, paint and upgrade

It was a close-knit community.

the ward for Blacks in the racially segregated hospital.

Dr. Norton immediately engaged the community practitioners. Many continued to teach residents

His biographer, John Flynn, commented that they knew they could not abruptly change the social culture of the time, but this much they could do.

The first building of the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute appeared in 1961. It provided offices, laboratories, and outpatient examination rooms. The faculty grew in number and flourished. Many became national and international leaders. Demand for clinical services expanded faster than could be met. Miami itself grew, especially with a major immigration from Cuba and later the rest of Latin America. As the Institute’s reputation grew, patients from all around the world were referred for consultation or specialized treatment.

Today, there are 83 full-time ophthalmology faculty and 12 optometrists providing clinical care, and 19 full-time non-clinical faculty scientists. The clinical training program now accepts seven ophthalmology

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residents each year for three years of training (which along with two co-chief residents is 23 at any given time), plus 38 clinical fellows for extended training in subspecialties, as well as medical students taking an elective course in ophthalmology. There are in addition six optometry residents being trained by the optometric staff, and a number of students on rotation from various optometry schools.

Early in the 1970s, the faculty had outgrown its space.

In 1976, the second building of the institute opened on new land, the Anne Bates Leach Eye Hospital.

The third building in the complex, the Edith and Earl Retter Education Center, was soon added.

Of great importance to Dr. Norton was the library,

first time in his life, he was overwhelmed when Mary

later named the Mary and Edward Norton Library

died suddenly in 1980. His friends and colleagues

of Ophthalmology. He maintained a subscription

grieved with him, and it was not too long before he

to nearly all relevant publications in any language.

was able to resume his leadership in the profession

Major textbooks were purchased as they were

and at the Institute. And he learned to sail.

published. As he traveled the world, Dr. Norton visited stores that carried used medical books and amassed a large collection, which included rare publications from previous centuries, now housed in a secure rare book room. The library was intended to be a resource for the entire community, including optometrists.

Dr. Norton retired in 1991, leaving the Institute in the hands of others. In retirement, Norton travelled the world with longstanding friends. He enjoyed time with his children and his grandchildren with greater leisure. Dr. Norton died in 1994 at the age of 72. Hundreds came to the church for his funeral —

Dr. Norton himself became prominent in national

colleagues, patients, employees, and admirers from

and international professional activities and

all walks of life. His family generously allowed others

organizations. In the United States he had impact

to come to say goodbye. An exceptionally strong

on the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the

afternoon thunderstorm, typical of the subtropics in

American Board of Ophthalmology, and the American

summer, and which Dr. Norton had always loved, also

Ophthalmological Society. Each organization called

attended the occasion. Its heavy tears delayed the

on him for help, as did the emerging National Eye

start of the service for over an hour by preventing the

Institute. Norton’s character, intelligence, selfless

casket from being brought into the church from the

dedication, superb insight, negotiating skills, and

hearse.

administrative talent benefited all these enterprises.

Author’s note: This biography is based in part on an

THE LATER YEARS

extensive biography written by John T. Flynn, “The Chief:

Norton commented to a small number of us waiting

title reflects the fact that to younger colleagues, calling him

One day, while in a reflective and pensive mood, Dr. for a meeting to begin, that he and most physicians were so devoted to their profession that they were not attentive enough to their families. He began to take off Mondays to spend with Mary, for lunch, going to a museum, or shopping. Now, their nest began to empty, there was no war, and the Institute was largely under control. Finally, they could spend some unhurried time to be together.

1983: “Sorry...

Dr. Norton is in Consultation and unable to come to the phone just now.”

(Consultation was the name of Dr. Norton’s boat.)

A Biography of Edward W.D. Norton, MD,” 2002. The book “Ed” seemed too familiar. Calling him “Dr. Norton” seemed too formal and distant, so he was addressed by many as “Chief.”

“Scope” editor’s note: We are grateful to our History of Ophthalmology editor, Daniel M. Albert, MD, MS, and his editorial assistant, Ms. Jane Shull, who contributed to the editing of this article.

Dr. Norton had always met each new obstacle or challenge in life with equanimity. For perhaps the

BASCOM PALMER EYE INSTITUTE

27

Miami

Celebrating 60 Years of Excellence

After three years of virtual events, Bascom Palmer’s friends and supporters gathered at the de la Cruz Collection in Miami’s Design District to celebrate the Institute’s 60th anniversary. Hosted

by Rosa and Carlos de la Cruz in the museum they built to share Dr. Eduardo and Molly Alfonso with Rosa and Carlos de la Cruz the contemporary art they have collected for decades, the evening featured private tours showcasing their extraordinary collection. The evening was a tribute and celebration to the special friends and donors who have helped grow and advance vision research at Bascom Palmer over many decades.

Dean Henri Ford

Inaugural Vision Luncheon Bascom Palmer’s Inaugural Vision Luncheon took place earlier this year at Lakeside Village located at the University of Miami’s Coral Gables campus. Dr. Eduardo Alfonso welcomed more than 80 guests and shared the Institute’s latest developments in vision research and eye care.

The luncheon featured three exceptional Bascom Palmer ophthalmologists sharing their recent Drs. Swarup Swaminathan, Eduardo Alfonso, Jay Sridhar, Alfonso Sabater work on common eye diseases.

Alfonso L. Sabater, M.D., Ph.D., an degeneration and the latest advances in retinal assistant professor of clinical ophthalmology, imaging systems. Swarup S. Swaminathan, M.D., spoke to the audience about ocular surface and an assistant professor of clinical ophthalmology corneal diseases including dry eye, a condition that and holder of the Mary Lee & Richard E. Bastin occurs when tears do not properly lubricate the Chair in Ophthalmology, shared information about eye. As founder and medical director of Bascom glaucoma and data science. He told the audience Palmer’s corneal innovation laboratory, he shared about Bascom Palmer’s use of artificial intelligence the latest treatments for this common chronic eye in its vast glaucoma registry, that will enable condition. Retinal specialist, Jayanth Sridhar, M.D., data scientists to predict the early detection and an associate professor of clinical ophthalmology, progression of the disease. discussed the latest treatments for macular

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BASCOMPALMER.ORG

The Whole Eye Transplant Project:

Restoring Vision and Beyond President Julio Frenk hosted a special dinner at the Ibis House – the University of Miami President’s home – to launch Bascom Palmer’s latest transformative project: the transplantation of a whole eye.

In preparation for the University of Miami’s centennial in 2025, President Frenk asked all UM departments “to set bold goals and projects that were grounded on an institution that has stood the test of time.” In response, Bascom Palmer launched a bold “moon shot” project. Its scientists envision a day in which they can restore the miracle of sight to millions of people through the transplantation of an entire human eye – one of only four organs that scientists have not been able to successfully transplant.

This exciting project will involve groundbreaking technology that could ultimately restore vision for millions of patients. (See related story, page 2)

President Julio Frenk

Drs. Eduardo Alfonso, Andrew Rong, Audina Berrocal, Alfonso Sabater

Ask the Experts: Naples The Tiburon Ritz-Carlton in Naples was the site of Bascom Palmer’s Ask the Experts event that focused on Bascom Palmer’s cutting-edge treatments for eye disease. Three Bascom Palmer specialists spoke about the newest innovations and research in their respective fields. Audina “Nina” Berrocal, M.D., a professor of clinical ophthalmology; and assistant professors of clinical ophthalmology Alfonso L. Sabater, M.D., Ph.D., and Andrew Rong, M.D., shared the innovative work and research they are currently conducting at Bascom Palmer.

Sabater spoke of developing new diagnostic tools for corneal diseases using genetic sequencing as well as stem cell therapy applications for corneal regeneration. As an oculoplastic, reconstructive, and cosmetic surgeon, Rong’s clinical practice focuses on improving outcomes for patients with functional eyelid and orbital diseases as well as providing surgical options for cosmetic facial rejuvenation. He shared his research journey to save eyes from sebaceous carcinoma, a lethal form of eye cancer, using novel therapeutics. Berrocal, the medical director of pediatric retina and retinopathy of prematurity, shared the latest retinal advances at Bascom Palmer, including gene therapy for macular degeneration.

Special thanks to PNC Private Bank, the presenting sponsor of the event; table sponsors Penny and Mike Isermann, Waterside Shops, Diana and Don Wingard; and vision sponsor, David Greene, M.D.

BASCOM PALMER EYE INSTITUTE

29

Palm Beach

“Art and the Eye” Bascom Palmer Eye Institute celebrated its 42nd annual Evening of Vision gala in March at The Breakers in Palm Beach. This highly anticipated black-tie event brought together elegance, excitement, and the support of the generous Palm Beach community in celebration of the sight-saving mission of Bascom Palmer. With the enthusiasm and leadership generated by the gala chair and grand chair sponsor, Ari Rifkin, the evening celebrated “Art and the Eye.” Following dinner, Dr. Eduardo Alfonso introduced Bascom Palmer’s moon shot project, its new, lofty project of transplanting the human eye. Involving some of the most revolutionary technology, the Institute is looking to make an eye transplant a reality. Grand gala patrons included Tova Leidesdorf, the McNulty Charitable Foundation, and Christy and Earl Powell. Gala Patrons included the Maskin Family Foundation, Lois Pope, and the Irvin Saltzman Family Foundation.

“For Your Eyes Only”

Dr. Terrence O’Brien

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BASCOMPALMER.ORG

Bascom Palmer celebrated its 6th annual “For Your Eyes Only” Ladies Luncheon at Club Colette. Chaired and generously underwritten by Lois Pope, the diamond sponsors of the event were Dr. Carol Bastek, Ari Rifkin, Tova Leidesdorf, and Lesly Smith. Virginia Gildea was the platinum sponsor, and Penelope Antonini, Sandra Berman, Jenny Cyker, Monnie Donnelley, Arlette Gordon, Christine Lynn, Marietta Muina McNulty, Etsuko O. Morris, Sunny Sessa, Sally Tagialatella, and Susan K. Wright served as gold sponsors.

The featured speaker was Terrence O’Brien, M.D., professor of ophthalmology and holder of the Charlotte Breyer Rodgers Chair in Ophthalmology. He shared an “eye-opening” presentation focusing on the seven A’s for the super ager to achieve good health well into their 90s and 100s: attitude, awareness, activity, accomplishment, autonomy, attachment, and avoidance.

Ari Rifkin and Dr. Eduardo Alfonso Dr. Luis Haddock with Iris Apfel Lois Pope and Bill Porter

The Bascom Palmer Society Recognized as the George E. Merrick Society at the University of Miami

Honoring the Institute’s most generous benefactors whose gifts exceed $1 million, the Bascom Palmer Society was created in memory of the Institute’s namesake, Bascom Headon Palmer, M.D., an ophthalmologist who pioneered eye care in Miami.

Alcon Laboratories

W. Pruett & Audrey M. Hickman*

Ibrahim N. Al-Rashid

Mrs. Lou Higgins*

Mohammad N. Al-Rashid

William* & Norma Horvitz

Dr. Nasser Ibrahim Al-Rashid

W. Starr & Alvira Johnston*

Dr. Nourah Caskey Al-Rashid

William M. Kennedy*

Ramzi Al-Rashid

James L. Knight*

Salman Al-Rashid

Mr. & Mrs. Theo Kolokotrones

Carl B.* & Iris Apfel

Clara Kresge*

Ms. Adrienne Arsht/Hope for Vision The Kresge Foundation Sadye Barrel*

Hugh & Sally Lalor*

Bascom Palmer Eye Institute Alumni Association, Inc.

The James Annenberg La Vea Charitable Foundation

Dr. Carol Bastek

Anne Bates Leach*

Richard E. & Mary Lee Bastin

Dr.* & Mrs. Ronald Lepke

John E. Blair*

Henri & Flore Lesieur Foundation

Mrs. Gladys A. Bludworth

Donna Mae Litowitz*

Michele R. Bowman & Col. Joseph E. Underwood

The Joe & Emily Lowe Foundation, Inc.

Braman Family Foundation

Mr. & Mrs. Milton S. Maltz

Charles William Brand*

Maltz Family Foundation

Ms. Theresa Broeman*

Ramonia Mayhall*

Mary C. Brosius & George C. Brosius* Mary J. & George T. Brosius* Robert M. & Virginia M. Buck* Mr.* & Mrs. Willard Butcher Helen & George Clarke* Mark J. Daily, M.D. Thorne B.* & Monnie Donnelley The Faculty of the Department of Ophthalmology of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine Florida Crystals Corporation Werner F. Farnell* The Celia Lipton Farris & Victor W. Farris Foundation, Inc. Florida Lions Eye Bank The Foundation Fighting Blindness Mr.* & Mrs. Samuel J. Frankino The Samuel J. & Connie M. Frankino Charitable Foundation

William L. & Evelyn McKnight* McKnight Brain Research Foundation The Miami Lighthouse for the Blind The Mnaymneh Family Ambrose Monell Foundation Dorothy S. Munn* The Murray Foundation Mr. & Mrs. W. Stephen Murray Naples Children & Education Foundation National Philanthropic Trust Frederic S. & Christine B. Nusbaum

Dr. Bascom Headon Palmer

Ophthalmology Research Foundation

George G.* & Estelle Rosenfield

Mr. & Mrs. Raymond G. Perelman* Lois Pope & the LIFE Foundation William & Isabel Collier Read*

Richard G. West*

Walter G. Ross Foundation

Wildflower Foundation

The Salah Foundation

Morty & Gloria Wolosoff Foundation, Inc.*

Ernie D. Semersky Family & Dory Newell

Shlomo & Amy Yeminy*

Judy W. Renick*

Richard D. Siegal*

Miles Zisson*

Renick Trust

Anne & Matthew Smith Family Endowed Research Fund

*In loving memory

Lillian Redlich*

Stanley & Kathleen Glaser*

Research to Prevent Blindness

Gordon R. Miller, M.D *

Edith & Earl Retter*

Nancy I. & Robert Z. Greene*

Robert R. & Joyce L. Rice

Allyn J. Heath*

Mrs. Gladys Riggall

Helen Herold*

Charlotte Breyer Rodgers*

Strobis Glaucoma Foundation

Donations listed as of May 31, 2022

William J. Thode III* Elsie & Tolly Vinik* Caroline & Alitza Weiss Family Foundation

Dr. Jay Sridhar

BASCOM PALMER EYE INSTITUTE

31

The Norton Society Recognized as The Bowman Foster Ashe Society at the University of Miami

Members of the Norton Society have generously supported Bascom Palmer with gifts totaling $500,000 – $999,999. This society honors the vision and leadership of Edward W.D. Norton, M.D., the Institute’s founding chairman.

Mrs. Kathryn W. Davis*

Miss Clare O’Keeffe

Mary Rocha de E.*

Esther B. O’Keeffe Charitable Foundation

Deering Trust Mary L. Desmond* Willis H. & Miren A. du Pont/ The Marmot Foundation

The Olayan Group John & Margaret Ordway The Pew Charitable Trusts, Inc.

Mr. & Mrs. Robert J. Eaton

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Lisa O. & George W. Etheridge Jr.

Frederick Reuter*

Ms. Katie Fasal

Jack W. Rich, Sr.

Fight for Sight, Inc.

Ms. Lillian Rienzi*

Fannie & Jacob Frank*

Leonard* & Ari Rifkin

Ms. Elsie Freiman*

The Edward D. & Janet K. Robson Foundation

Dr. Edward & Theodora Furey Trust*

Eliza Phillips Ruden*

Jack & Patricia Glass*

Mrs. Irving R. Rutkin

Jane & Gene Guttman*

Mr. & Mrs. Albert Sakolsky

Olivia Hand*

Ralph S. Sott*

Shirley D. Harris*

SCS Healthcare

Kenneth B. Haynes*

Helen Scrimgeour*

Isador* & Florence Hecht

Richard D. Siegal*

Shirley Heiman*

Doris Shell*

Palmer Herman*

Bruce & Cynthia Sherman Charitable Foundation

Hope for Vision

Drs. David H.* & Maureen Smith

H. Jerome & Thelma Joseph* Jewish Guild for the Blind Thomas N.* & Patricia R. Kearns

Southern Dames of America The Starr Foundation Milton Stein*

Margaret Kelber*

Edward N. & Della L. Thome Memorial Foundation

Gertrude G. La Londe* Estee Lauder* Dr. Edward W.D. Norton Allergan, Inc. Anonymous L. Jules Arkin Family Foundation Silvia N. Armstrong* Ruth Ann Asleson* Mrs. Dora Bak* Benjamin* & Millicent Bauer Beauty of Sight Foundation Robert R. Bellamy* Dr.* & Mrs. Jose Berrocal

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BASCOMPALMER.ORG

Gladys J. Toelle*

The Josephine S. Leiser Foundation, Inc. Isadore & Jean L. Bloom* Roscoe E. Blyler* James H. Broderick* Bryan Dare Holdings Limited Mildred G. Burrows* Ethel P. Cady* Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. The Chatlos Foundation William H.* & Deborah Cochrane Arlyn & Stephen Cypen

Richard Tucker Gladys Weiner*

Mr. Jaime Lerner

Mr. & Mrs. T. Jack White*

Lillian Light*

Dr. & Mrs. Frank M. Williams

Ruth H. Marvin*

Cecilia Youngdahl*

Dale* & Marietta McNulty McNulty Charitable Foundation Mr.* & Mrs. D. Richard Mead Ms. Harriet Messinger* Lorraine Trumbull Meyer* Mrs. Alison Miller David Minkin Foundation

Carl Zeiss Meditec, Inc. . *In loving memory

Donations listed as of May 31, 2022

The Luminary Society Recognized as The Grand Founder Society at the University of Miami

The Luminary Society recognizes individuals who are beacons for progress in vision research, clinical care and education. Generous donors have contributed gifts totaling $100,000 – $499,999.

Abbott Medical Optics, Inc.

Mr. & Mrs. Woodrow W. Carter

His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahyan

H.A. & Mary K. Chapman Charitable Trust

The Able Trust

Amarone Charitable Trust Anthony Abraham* Anthony Abraham Family Foundation

Charlotte D. Ahrens*

Usha & Monte Ahuja

Mr. & Mrs. Marcelo Alvarez

American Health Assistance Foundation Catherine Armstrong* Mr. Francis A. Anania

Dr. Robert C. & Veronica Atkins Foundation Captain Eugene K. & Muriel M. Auerbach*

Louis & Mary August*

Mr. & Mrs. Joseph R. Bagby Ms. Allen Arthur Barco* Pondray R.M. Baldwin* Laurence E. Barreca*

Florence & Harry Hood Bassett

The Bassett Foundation

Bausch & Lomb, Vision Care

James* & Laurie Bay

Dr. Joseph & Jean Beauchamp Katherine Begeest* Harry Belafonte

Robert R. Bellamy Memorial Foundation, Inc. Helen L. Benenati*

Claudia & Dennis Berman Birk Family Foundation

Thomas H. & Martha Blash* Mr. James F. Blinder & the Alden Foundation

Mr. James R. Borynack & Mr. Adolfo Zaralegui Findlay Galleries Inc.

BrightFocus Foundation

The Broyhill Family Foundation Bryan Dare Holdings Limited

Mildred G. Burrows*

Camiener Foundation Mr. Nick A. Caporella

Mr. & Mrs. Silvio A. Cardoso

Mr. & Mrs. John K. Castle

The Rhoda & David* Chase Family Foundation, Inc. Mae Knight Clark*

Dr. John G. & Diana Clarkson Louis & Virginia Clemente*

William H. Cochrane*

Mr. & Mrs. Miles Collier Nina V. Collins*

Community Foundation for Palm Beach & Martin Counties Robert Costigan*

Dr. & Mrs. Harvey J. Crocker*

Mr. & Mrs. Andrew E. Cummins

The Dana Foundation Ellaruth S. Davidson*

Mary Lynn Davis*

Mr. & Mrs. Jim H. Derryberry Leonard W. Diener*

Lawrence J. & Florence A. De George Charitable Trust* Hermé de Wyman Miro*

Ruth & August Geiger Charity Foundation

Genentech, Inc.

John & Bonnie Geraghty

Mr.* & Mrs. Jules Gerson

Isadore Gilbert*

Saul & *Florette Gilinski

Glaucoma Research Foundation Nellie F. Goettel*

Harvey C. & Linda J. Eads Frances M. Elliott*

Amelia P. Farquhar* Eric Feiler*

Mr. Mark Feldberg & Emily Page Mr. & Mrs. Simon C. Fireman* Ms. Elizabeth C. Fisher* Bernice S. Fitzgerald*

The Jefferson Lee Ford III Memorial Foundation Helen W. Fraser*

Finker Frenkel Foundation

Friends of the Congressional Glaucoma Caucus Foundation Friends for Life

Robert G. & Eugenie S. Friedman

Ms. Joyce Froot*

Mr. & Mrs. Richard Lesser

Mr.* & Mrs. Howard Lester

Polly Annenberg Levee Charitable Trust

Mr. & *Mrs. Richard D. Lewis

M. Brenn & Selma W. Green*

Herman & Millicent Levinson*

Myron & Gladys Greentree*

Marvin* & Kay Lichtman Foundation

Mr. Otto Guidi*

Dr.* & Mrs. Warren Lindau

Virginia E. Greenwald*

Lighthouse Guild International

Mr. & Mrs. Alfredo D. Gutierrez

Ms. Susan A. Litowitz

Ms. Gloria B. Halpern*

Carol Lucas*

John L. Harshfield*

Macula Vision Research Foundation

Jane & Gene Guttman

Mr. Sydney L. Hammer* Dr. Lawrence & Doris Hastings* Doris Hastings Foundation

Mickey Hayes*

Mr. & *Mrs. Edward L. Hennessy, Jr.

Mr. & Mrs. Albert Ebstein*

Mr. Patrick P. Lee

Edward L. & Lois E. Grayson

Drasner Family Foundation

Dunspaugh Dalton Foundation

Aurell H. Leaf

Jeanne Schulman Leventhal*

Eleanor K. Graham*

Jean L. Haynes*

The Lowell S. Dunn & Betty L. Dunn Family Foundation

Nathaniel H. Kutcher*

Mrs. Rossi Larrea Rionda

Paul R. & Hattye S. Gordon*

Adele Dousseau*

Louis T. & Ann K. Donatelli

Mr.* & Mrs. Morton Kutner

Claude Hemphill*

The Edward L. Hennessy, Jr. & Ruth S. Hennessy Foundation Emma Clyde Hodge Memorial Foundation

Ms. Jessie S. Hoffman*

John* & Beverly Hoffman Geraldine Howlett*

Ms. Gail Hughes Galli

Mrs. Dorothy F. Littman* Paul R. Lux*

Ms. Helen Flesch Markowitz* Richard Markowitz* Daniel Marks*

Ms. Ann Maroni*

Mr.* & Mrs. Forrest Mars

Mrs. Charles A. Mastronardi* Mr. & Mrs. David McCrea McCrea Foundation, Inc.

John & Ellen McDonnell*

Mr. & Mrs. Gerald C. McDonough* Mr. & Mrs. Randolph A. McKean Merck & Company, Inc.

Mr. & Mrs. Dennis Meyer

Evangelina R. Jimenez*

Arthur l. & Sydelle F. Meyer Charitable Foundation

Walter A. Kahn*

The Miami Foundation

Bill E. Johnson

Marcus Kallman*

Katrina & Rick Kash

M.H.B. Ophthalmics

Miami Retreat Foundation Hazel Dayton Mills*

Michele & Howard Kessler

Salomon Minuchin* & Ruth Kibrick

Leonard & Norma Klorfine Foundation

Mr.* & Mrs. John M. Monter

Jhamatmal* & Sumintra Kirpalani

Luis R. & Ana Mola

Frank J. Morgan Family Fund

Knight Foundation

Mr.* & Mrs. Peter Mosheim

Mildred W. Kraus*

Anne P. Myers*

Alan & Marilyn Korest*

Pam & Alan Murray

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33

The Luminary Society Correcting double vision In his 30’s, Jeffrey Jones became nearsighted and started wearing glasses. Several years later, he began seeing double and was diagnosed with adult-onset strabismus, a condition in which the eyes are not aligned.

When his double vision began to impact his job and personal life, he decided to explore surgery. “It became difficult to drive, play lacrosse with my son, read my computer or phone, and much more,” he said. In 2021, he sought treatment in his hometown in Ohio. “After two surgeries, my vision was worse instead of better,” he said. “It became debilitating and I knew I had to find a cure.”

A friend suggested that he contact Bascom Palmer. Shortly after he met with strabismus specialist, Michelle M. Falcone, M.D., he said, “For the first time, I felt like someone understood what I was experiencing Dr. Michelle Falcone and could help me.

Her confidence gave me hope.” Falcone, an assistant professor of clinical ophthalmology, who routinely deals with complex cases of adult strabismus, completed a comprehensive ocular motility exam to explore Jones’ options before identifying an appropriate surgical plan. “Many patients come to us after unsuccessful surgeries,” she said. “We are experts in the field and use cutting-edge technology to collect the precise data and measurements necessary for a good outcome.”

Following his surgery at Bascom Palmer, Jones said, “When I woke up from my surgery, I could see perfectly for the first time in years with no double vision. I was excited to spend time with friends and family without the visual struggle. My experience at Bascom Palmer was perfect from start to finish. I am forever grateful to Dr. Falcone for what she did for me, my family, and my quality of life.”

Bascom Palmer Eye Institute wishes to thank Jeffrey and Lisa Jones for their support and willingness to share his story to educate others suffering from adult strabismus.

Van & Jane Myers*

Mr. & Mrs. Wyckoff Myers*

Albert H. Nahmad

Albert H. & Jane D. Nahmad Foundation, Inc. New World Medical, Inc.

Dorothy D. Noble*

North Dade Medical Foundation, Inc.

The Calvin & Flavia Oak Foundation

BASCOMPALMER.ORG

Robert M. Sinskey Foundation

Mr.* & Mrs. Don McQueen Smith

Thomas W. Smith Foundation, Inc. Mr. & Mrs. Thomas W. Smith

Stearns Weaver Miller Weissler Alhadeff & Sitterson, P.A. Milton Stein*

Elaine & Sydney Sussman Foundation, Inc.

Olcott Family Foundation, Inc.

Mr. Jesse M. Teague*

Rye B. Page*

Richard E. Thiel

OTHERA Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Dr.* S. Henry & Sylvia Thaler

Palm Beach Community Trust Fund

TopCon Corporation

Mrs. Carl H. Pforzheimer, Jr.*

Toppel Family Foundation

Pfizer, Inc.

Pharmacia & Upjohn Co.

Mr. & Mrs. Earl W. Powell Emily Powers*

Loretta Pritchard*

Mr. James Randall

The Randall Family Foundation

Gladys J. Toelle*

Howard* & Patricia Toppel Daniel P. & Grace I. Tully*

United Way of MiamiDade County, Inc.

Harry & Margaret Uttal*

The Verdun Foundation/ Sir Kyffin D. Simpson

Harvey T. & Christy Reid*

Gladys W. Wallace*

RHEACELL GmbH & Co. KG

The Sexauer Foundation

Thomas E. Rodgers, Jr.

Charles H. & Elsie C. Warwick, III*

Nat & Miriam Rosenthal*

Alex J. Weinstein Foundation

Mr. Joseph Rumbaugh*

Lena Wershaw*

Beatrice & William Sahm*

The Dr. Jack Widrich Foundation

Mr. & Mrs. Aurel Sarosdy*

Mr.* & Mrs. Ross Whistler

Jacob L. Reiss Foundation Mr. John W. Rich

Mr. David S. Rosenberg* Rhoda B. Rubin & Neil Felson Barbara* & Herbert E. Saks

Nancy Sexauer Walsh*

Mr. Alfred Walthers*

Mr. & Mrs. Bill Weeks

Marcella U. Werblow*

Enid & Jerry Weygandt

Santen Pharmaceutical Co., Inc.

Angela W. Whitman

Ms. Shirlee Schiller

Ms. Patricia Wilkinson*

Jack* & *Marjorie Schillinger Family Foundation

Mr. and Mrs. G. Ed Williamson, II

Jack Schillinger*

Schwab Charitable Fund Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation

The Berthold T.D. & Thyra Schwarz Foundation Carl & Ruth Shapiro Family Foundation Mr. Robert Shell

Dr. & Mrs. Lawrence Singerman/ Retinal Vascular Foundation

Mr. & Mrs. Rajendra Singh 34

Raj & Neera Singh Charitable Foundation, Inc.

Dr. & Mrs. Frank Williams

Josephine A. Wolf*

Stephen & Delores Wolf

Mitchell Wolfson, Sr. Foundation Rubin & Gladys Wollowick Family Foundation

*In loving memory

Donations listed as of May 31, 2022

The Founder Society Recognized as The Founder Society at the University of Miami

The Founder Society honors donors who have supported Bascom Palmer’s mission with gifts totaling $50,000 – $99,999 which enable the Institute’s physicians and researchers to combat blinding eye disease.

Mr. & Mrs. Alexander W. Dreyfoos Mr. & Mrs. Leonard L. Abess* Mr. & Mrs. Harvey Eads Dr. & Mrs. Eduardo C. Alfonso Dr. Charles W. Eifrig American Hospital of Miami, Inc. The Eye Bank for Sight Stanley H. & Jill Arkin* Restoration, Inc. Ruth Ann Asleson* Mr. & Mrs. Bruce L. Everette Mr. & Mrs. William Avery Richard M. Fairbanks Bailey Family Foundation, Inc. Foundation, Inc. Mr. Brian C. Bastin Charles S. & L. Jean Faller Carlos A. Batlle Mrs. Anita Feig Dr. & Mrs. Ivan R. Batlle Feig Family Foundation Theodore Baumritter* Mrs. Norma Matz Fenton* The Alberto & Olga Maria Michael A. Fentress* Beeck Family Foundation Dr. Maurice R. Ferre/ Lowry M. & Diana M. Bell Cami Foundation,Inc. Estate of Louis Berens Jose Luis Ferreira de Melo Jack & Elsie Bernstein Foundation Maurice & Gertrude Finkle* Crawford & Mary Bernstein* Carl T. Fischer, Sr.* Esther Blattner* Dr. & Mrs. Marc L. Fishman In memory of Edith June Blyler* Florman Family Foundation, Inc. Catherine Breyer Van Bomel* The Honorable Rex Ford Cornelius Bond Dr. Richard K. & Janet Forster Arnold Bortman* Mr. Charles M. Foster Dr. Fred F. Brenner Mrs. Muriel S. Freund Norma & Larry Brodell* Adelaide Gambrill Bowen* Mr.* & Mrs. James Broderick Dewey & Janet Gargiulo* Florence F. Brooks* The Garner Foundation, Inc. John and Kristy Buck Mr. & Mrs.* Robert Y. Garrett III Family Foundation The Marilyn Gaylord Charitable Trust M. Anthony & Joyce Burns Mrs. Carole S. Gerstein Bryan & Julie Butzow Mr. & Mrs. Scott Gilbert The Butzow Family Dr. & Mrs. Donald Golden Mr. Alex G. Campbell Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. Mr. Michael Cantens Steven E. Goldman, Esq. Ms. Phyllis Celestino* Mr. Hattye & *Paul Gordon Dr. Stanley & Jean Chang Samuel & Norma Gordon Mr. L. Frank Chopin, Esq. Phyllis &*Lee Gorin Mr. Jonathan Chariff Richard C. & Francelia A. Gozon Ms. Dana L. Clay Greater Miami Jewish Federation Mr. & Mrs. Maurice Cohen Samuel Grossman Mr. David A. Collins Mr. & Mrs. Steven Gurowitz Louella Cook Foundation Mr. & Mrs. Michael Hackleman CooperVision Surgical, Inc. Mr. & Mrs. Lee F. Hager Mr. John D. Copanos/The Kirk Mrs. Patricia Hauben A. Copanos Foundation Herman Haimovici, M.D.* Corporate Management Advisors, Inc. James M. Haley Marjorie & Irving Cowan* Ms. Marjorie L. Haley* Mr. & Mrs. Steven G. Curtis Mr. & Mrs. Dana A. Hamel/The D.A. Hamel Family Charitable Trust Ms. Jenny Cyker Anne M. Heeb* Dade Community Foundation Elizabeth T. Heim & Margaret Dahlawi Family The Arthur Vining Davis Foundation L. Rigby Memorial Fund* Mary B. Hirsch* Mr. Christopher C. Dewey Mr. & Mrs. Tibor Hollo Mr. Joseph Dieppa Tibor & Sheila Hollo Dr. & Mrs. Peter Dockter Charitable Foundation Ms. Florence B. Dowdy* Kenneth A. Horowitz Family Foundation Mrs. Otto E. Dreikorn

Mr. Michael D. Horvitz Guy B. Rhoton The Inserra Family Foundation Louis Richards* Mr. and Mrs. Herbert H. Jacobi Harold & Carolyn Robison Foundation Ann Powell Jacobs* Mr. & Mrs. Mark Rodack Dr. Norman & Ann Jaffe* Mildred Rohrlick* Ms. Birgit U. Jahina, C.P.A. William & Nancy Rollnick Jelco Overseas Limited William Rosenberg Family Lucille K. Johnson* Foundation, Inc. Dr. Eugene E. & Marlene Joyce Diane Ross-Glazer, Ph.D Hannah* & Marvin Kamin Walter M. Ross Mr.* & Mrs. David Kantor Helena Rubinstein Foundation Ms. Michele Kaplan Mrs. Candace Ruskin Dr. Danielle Katz Squires Irvin Saltzman Family Michael Katz Foundation, Inc. Mr.* & Mrs. W. George Kennedy Sanbio, Inc. Ms. Ardith D. Kenny John & Heloine Savoir George & Joan Kessel Mrs. Elfriede Schafler John S. & James L. Dr. Norman I. Schatz Knight Foundation Anjette* & Fred Scheiman Ms. Sharon Kranys Ruth Schumann* Izola Kruger* Ms. Marsha Seidman Mrs. Louis J. Kuriansky* Mr. & Mrs. Frank J. Semcer Robert E. & Ann D. Kusch Mrs. Josiah Shamroth The Eleanor Naylor Dana Edward W. Smith Jr. Foundation Charitable Trust Mrs. Janet L. Smith Helene S. Lantz* Ms. Lesly S. Smith/Fortin Anthony Lapka* Foundation of Florida James & Marjorie Leenhouts Elaine Grosfield Spero Ms. Tova Leidesdorf Danielle L. Squires, M.D. Mr. & Mrs. Edward J. Leik Mr. & Mrs. Ralph Stayer Michael R. Levine Mr. & Mrs. Richard L. Stone Rose Lichtenstein* Steven B. & Caroline Tanger Mr. Michael Liebowitz J. Kenneth & Sandra Tate Life in Naples Magazine Thomsen Foundation Inc. Mr. & Mrs. Richard Thomas Lowe Roy & Niuta Titus Foundation R. Cathleen Cox McFarlane Topcon Medical Systems Inc. Charitable Foundation, Inc. Mr. & Mrs. Robert Toussie Jeannine P. Merrien* The Dennis Turner & Dr. Fred Moll Wallace Cook Families Mr. & Mrs. Maren Moore United Way of Martin County John & Sue Morrison Mr. & Mrs. Roger A. Ward Mr. Austin Muller & Ms. Jill J. Otto Ware Bluegrass Foundation Mr.* & Mrs. Linton Murdock Waterside Shops Charles Nenner Ms. Laura Weinsoff* Anne Niedwiecki* Robert S. Wennett & Novartis Mario Cader-Frech Belle Ochiltree* Jeffrey D. Rubens/Westminster Barrington Foundation Mr. & Mrs. Jose Ortega The Wolf Foundation Dave & Deb Perkins Gladys DuBois Yaffey* Mrs. Mary Perper Harriet & Donald Young Phillips Foundation Ghassan Zein The William H. Pitt Foundation, Inc. Mr. & Mrs. John Zelaya The Plum Foundation Mr. & Mrs. Isaac Zelcer Gladys Post* Mr. & Mrs. Sy Ziv* Samir M. Ragheb *In loving memory Gertrude Reis* Donations listed as of May 31, 2022 Retina Research Foundation BASCOM PALMER EYE INSTITUTE

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The Vision Society Donors whose gifts total $10,000 – $49,999 are recognized in the Vision Society, honoring their vision of a world free of blindness.

Mr. & Mrs. William Abney Mrs. Sam H. Abramson Mrs. Ana Adler Advanced Cell Technology Advanced Medical Optics Mrs. Anna R. Alberico* Mr. Leo N. Albert* John Alexander* Alimera Sciences, Inc. Mrs. Angela Alvarez AMO USA, Inc. August S.* & Bette Andersen Dr. Douglas & Wirtley Anderson The Angels of Charity, Inc. Anonymous Mr. & Mrs. Roy P. Ans Mr. & Mrs. Andrew L. Ansin Viola J. Anterburn, Jr., Esq.* The Jack & Harriet Appel Foundation Trust The Applebaum Foundation Mr. & Mrs. Harold N. Asiel Mr. & Mrs. Ural Ataman Mr. Herman Auerbach* Mr. Burton August David C. Auth, Ph.D., P.E. Mr. Richard E. Azar Mr. and Mrs. Robert M. Baer Barbara & Gerson Bakar Foundation Vernon* & Eva Ball Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Baird* Mr. Luis Bared Mr. & Mrs. H. Barnhouse Joan B. & Richard L. Barovick Family Foundation Mr. Myron B. Bauer Mr. Lang Baumgarten Ms. Paula A. Bebj Dr. Carmine & Carol Bedotto Mr. James A. Bell* Dr. Stuart H. Bender Bernie Bercuson* Dr. & Mrs. Leonard Berg Estate of Louis Berens In memory of Milton Bergman* Judy Bergman Dr. Samuel Berkowitz Malcolm & Sandra R. Berman Mr. Morris Bernhard* Mrs. Helen B. Bernstein-Fealy* I. Jack & Elsie Bernstein Foundation Better Vision Institute Roger E. & Mary L. Birk 36

BASCOMPALMER.ORG

David* & Susan Bisgeier The Bauer Bisgeier Foundation Harold & Erika Bishins* Alfreda Blagaich-Smith Lawrence J. & Lynn M. Blanford Esther Blattner* Helen P. Blauvelt* Dr. & Mrs. Christopher F. Blodi Ms. Judith Bloom Marie Bloom & *Theodore A. Deckert Morris & *Olga Bluestein Ms. Leslie N. Bluhm Ms. Jeanne Blumberg* Ms. Florence R. Blunden* In memory of Edith June Blyler * D. Dixon Boardman Ms. Constance M. Boggild* Mrs. Sorrel Ross Bollet* Mr. Samuel Bolnik* Ms. Lydia Borgatta Dr. Elizabeth Bowden Anita & *Leonard Boxer Mr.* & Mrs. William M. Boyer John F. & Denise M. Bracco Charles W. Brand Gordon & Trudy Brekus* Arthur* & Marilynn Bressman Breyer Foundation Inc. Mr.* & Mrs. Henry W. Breyer, III Mr. Jack Brier Mr. & Mrs. Arthur Brisker The Shepard Broad Foundation Mr. & Mrs. James L. Broadhead Mr. & Mrs. William Broeder Mrs. Rena M. Broidy* Mr.* & Mrs. Sheldon V. Brooks Sara B. Brorein Mr. Colon Brown, Sr. Mr. & Mrs. John B. Brown Mr. And Mrs. James J. Bruder The Brunetti Foundation Mr. James Bryan/Auto Team Management Mr. Ken Bryfogle, Jr. Mrs. Blanche S. Buck* Faye Buchbinder* Dr. Helmut* & Heide Buettner Mr. and Mrs. J. Gary Burkhead Elsie Burstein David H. & Betty J. Burrows Betty M. & David H. Burrows, Jr. Mr. & Mrs. George Bursak Jean J. Busch

Mr. Samuel T. Byron Mrs. Joanne B. Calafiura Rita Campo Mr. & Mrs. Hilario F. Candela Canon U.S.A., Inc. Mrs. Iris Cantor Robert & Colette N. Cardone Ms. Hazel H. Carlson* Mr. Joseph L. Carlton Mr. & Mrs. Kenny Carmel Mr. Robert A. Carnavil Mr. Michael A. Carpenter Ms. Joy Carr Thomas J. & Constance Cassady* Daniel S. Catalfumo Family Foundation, Inc. Ms. Nancy Cath* Mr. & Mrs. Terrence W. Cavanaugh John Cavender, M.D. Sy & Joyce Chadroff Mr. Philip H. Chakeres Mr. & Mrs. Alberto Chamorro Mrs. Leona Chanin Marcy & Leona Chanin Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Harvey R. Chaplin/Southern Wine & Spirits of America, Inc. Alvah H. & Wyline P. Chapman Foundation Dr. Steve Charles A. Mabis & Jane Chase* Dr. Percival & Carolyn Chee Mr. & Mrs. Te Chen Chengdu Kanghong Biotechnology Co. Ltd. Dr. Renate Chevli Dr. Narem Chevli The Chicago Community Foundation Clarity Medical Systems, Inc. Dr. & Mrs. Robert L. Clark Dr. S. William Clark, III Dr. Henry Clayman Clayman Family Charitable Foundation Coastal Construction Serv. Group Mr. Charles E. Cobb/The Cobb Family Foundation Alan & Myrna Cohen Family Foundation Ms. Carol Rae Cohen Dr.*& Mrs. Nathan Cohen Jean & David Colker* Mrs. Mary Call Darby Collins* Collins Charitable Foundation, Inc. Connecticut School of Broadcasting

Mike & Julie Connors The Connors Foundation James J. Colt Foundation, Inc. CooperVision Surgical, Inc. Mr. & Mrs. Harold F. Corrigan Mr. & Mrs. George J. Cosgrove Dr. & Mrs. Thomas B. Coulter Henry T. Courtney, Esq. Shirley I. Cowell* Ms. Mazie Cox Mrs. Pauline W. Crawford* Judge A. Jay & Eleanor Cristol* William E. Cross Foundation, Inc. Mr. Gary B. Crouch Mrs. Sara Crown Star Robert Crystal Dr. William Culbertson Dr. Victor* & Mary Louise Curtin* Jeanne Curtiss* Mrs. Alice Ginther Cutrona Judge Irving* & Hazel Cypen Patricia Dahl The Eleanor Naylor Dana Charitable Trust Mr. & Mrs. Henry Danker Ms. Alice L. Davidson* The Marvin H. Davidson Foundation, Inc. James L. Davis* Shelia Smith Davis Ms. Martha Debrule Gerard & Brooke de Gunzburg Mary De Gunzburg* John & Elizabeth Deinhardt* Mr. & Mrs. Larry Deitch Leslie Delman Steven Feig/Delray Lighting, Inc. Dr. David R. DeMartini Mrs. Cecile L. Demers* Mr. & Mrs. Ken Denison Kausal & Deutsch Family Foundation The Richard & Helen DeVos Foundation Mr. & Mrs. Mel Dick Edward L. Diefenthal Mr. Henry T. Diehl* Mrs. Maureen M. Donell Robert G. Miranda Donnelley Virginia P. Dooley* Karyn & Stuart Dornfield Mr. & Mrs. James Dorsey Dreman Foundation Mr. Irving L. Duchan Dr.* Lee R. & Alvina Duffner

Mr. & Mrs. Tully F. Dunlap Mr.* & Mrs. Atwood Dunwody Peter & Pamella Dupuis Mary Elizabeth Durant* Mrs. Jill Eber Mr. & Mrs. Aaron J. Edelstein Margaret Edelstein* The Robert & Gail Edelstein Foundation, Inc. Mr. Stefan Edlis Mr. & Mrs. William J. Edwards The Eliasberg Family Foundation, Inc. Gary & Janet Ellis Mr. & Mrs. Robert Elmore* The Dorothy Erismann Foundation Ms. Caroline Ervin Mr. & Mrs. Charles Ervin The Saul & Theresa Esman Foundation Doug Esson & Carol Gilman Mr.* & Mrs. Daniel Ettlinger Mr. & Mrs. Bruce L. Evans Mr. and Mrs. William Everett Mr. Jeffrey P. Eves The Eye Bank for Sight Restoration, Inc. Ms. Frieda Fain* Mr. & Mrs. Joseph V. Farago Mr. Donald R. Farquhar* Mr. Mark Feldberg Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund Mr. & Mrs. Arthur Fields* Fifth Third Bank Mr. Russell W. Fisher Dr. & Mrs. Yale Fisher Ms. Anne Fleisher* Dugald A. Fletcher Florescue Family Foundation Dr. Harry W. & Donna D. Flynn Dr.* & Mrs. John T. Flynn Jeanne J. Ford* Anne Halapin Francis* Charlotte & Morton Frank* Mrs. Joan M. Frazier Ms. Louise Freas* Dr. Ronald Frenkel/The Meyer & Anna Prentis Family Foundation Muriel S. Freund Mr. William Fricks/ Fricks Foundation Kathy & Fritz Friday Mr. & Mrs. Samuel Friedland* Fred & Jane Friedman Mrs. Elizabeth A. Fuchs Mr. & Mrs. Irving Fuchs* Dr. Tadashi & Toshi Fujino

Dr. Dwain G. & Patricia Fuller Michael S. Fuller & Jerry L. Lewis Dr. Wayne E. & Helen Fung Mr. & Mrs. Stanley Gaines Mr. & Mrs. Muriel Gammage* In honor of Dr. Donald Gass* Mr. & Mrs. Martin J. Gelb Dr. & Mrs. Henry Gelender Mr. Bertram Milfred Gerson Mr. & Mrs. Thomas S. Gerspacher Robert A. Giacin/Community Service Foundation of Broward County John W. & Virginia W. Gildea Ms. Grace M. Gilson* Mr. Mario Gimenez* Drs. Joel Glaser* & Norman J. Schatz Fund at The Miami Foundation Mr. & Ms. Alvin Glasgold GlaxoSmithKline The Frank L. & Helen Gofrank Foundation Ms. Marion Golden Mr. Irving Goldman* Ms. Helen A. Goldsmith* Ms. Myriam Goldsmith & Mr. Hector Duer Mr. & Mrs. Rick Goldsmith Marilyn Goldstein* The Gopman Family Dr. Ken Gordon Michael S. Gordon Mr. & Mrs. Morton Goudiss The Tamra Gould & Howard Amster II Philanthropic Fund Mary M. Graham Barbara Greene Dr. & Mrs. Michael Gressel Greystone Foundation Mr. & Mrs. Gary R. Gross Chateau Ocean, LLC Susan & Herb Grossman Cecil Hackett Ms. Dorothy E. Hadden* Lauren F. Hager, Esq. Irma Haigh* Mr. James M. Haley George E. Hall Mr. Malcolm Hall The Henry E. Haller, Jr. Foundation Mr. Roy Halman Mr. & Mrs. Peter Halmos Mrs. Harriet C. Halpryn Edgar Hamm Trust Sol & Minnie Handwerker Mr. Bahaa R. Hariri

Ms. Paula J. Harris Dr.* & Mrs. Glen Harrison Mr. James C. Hartenstein Fred L. Hartley Family Foundation Abraham* & Wendy Hases Mr. & Mrs. Stephen Haymes Mrs. Roscoe G. Haynie* Ms. Ghislaine H. Head Mr. & Mrs. Philip E. Hecht Mr. David J. Heffernan* Mr. Allen G. Heintzelman* Mrs. Lorna S. Heisler Mr. Ingeborg Helfers* Mr. Mrs. Jeff Henley/J & J Family Foundation Ted* & Carole Hepburn Mrs. Marjorie T. Herdon Mr. & Mrs. Javier Herran Lester K. & Mildred Hersch Mr. Elliot Hershberg Ms. Mary Louise Hieber* Mr. & Mrs. Paul Hills George F. Hilton, M.D.* Mr. & Mrs. Ernest Hochwald* Doris & Martin Hoffman Family Foundation, Inc. Bernice Hokin Mercedes G. Holey* Mr. & Mrs. Marvin Hollub Mr. Don Horwitz The Hovey Foundation Ms. Geraldine Howlett* Mr. & Mrs. Lawrence D. Howell II House of Blues Entertainment, Inc. Mr. & Mrs. Stanley S. Hubbard The Hubbard Foundation Dr. & Mrs. David M. Hunter* Sanford & Judith Huston Francoise Hutchison* Mrs. Arthur Huttoe Dr.* William L. & Sue Hutton Ida Hutzler Charitable Trust The International Research Foundation for Children’s Eyecare Inc. Intralase Corporation Investors Trust Assurance SPC IOP, Inc. ISTA Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Mr. & Mrs. Dikran Izmirlian Mr. & Mrs. Roger Jaar J.A.B. Ophthalmics Dr. & Mrs. Scott L. Jaben Mr. Ralph E. Jackson, Jr. Lola & Donald* Jacobson Caryl & Keith Jaffee / Jaffee Family Trust

Mr.* & Mrs. John C. Jansing Ms. Anna H. Jennings* Dr. & Mrs. Andrew G. Jessiman Jewish Community Federation of Cleveland Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation Jewish Guild Healthcare Mr. & Mrs. Charles Johnson Mr. & Mrs. Douglas L. Johnson Mr. & Mrs. Tom W. Johnson Johnsonville Holding, Inc. Alfred L. Johnston Mr. & Mrs. Hyman Joseph* Dr. Eugene E. & Marlene Joyce Ruth B. Kamaiko* Mr. & Mrs. Daniel Kamis Mr. & Mrs. Burton Kahn* Mr. & Mrs. Morton Kalin Mr. George A. Karam Helene C. Karp Jeanne Kaskey* Mrs. Margaret A. Kassab* Mr. & Mrs. William Kassling Mr. & Mrs. Isaac Kasztl Ms. Margot Kaufmann* Mr. & Mrs. Arne Kauppinen* Ms. Mildred Kaye* Ms. Shirley H. Keeti* KeyBank National Association Karl Kirchgessner Foundation Mr. & Mrs. Michael Kelley Mr. Henry A. Keller, Sr.* Mrs. Elizabeth L. Kelly* Ms. Helen P. Kelly* Mr. & Mrs. James Kempe Mrs. Ardith D. Kenny Wendel & *Evelyn Kent George & Joan Kessel Edward Kesten Keybank Foundation Mr. & Mrs. Douglas Kinney Dr.* & Mrs. Ralph E. Kirsch Mr. & Mrs. Jay Kislak Ms. Lynn Kislak The Kislak Family Foundation, Inc. Ms. Iris Kite* Ms. Helene Klein* Dr. Elliot* & Fruema Klorfein Knights Templar Eye Foundation, Inc. Mr. Henry O. Koehler* Ms. Fay Koenig* Ms. Nancy Komorowski Mr. Robert A. Kotick

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The Vision Society Ms. Meline B. Kovacik Mrs. Roz Kovens Mr. & Mrs. Robert Kramer Mr. Mario Kreutzberger Dr. & Mrs. Jan W. Kronish Joseph Kubacka, Jr. Mr. Ben Kuehne Lawrence & Marcia Kunken Jeffrey C. Kusch Gertrude G. La Londe* Mr. & Mrs. Gary S. Lachman Lachman Family Foundation Ann W. LaFontaine* Mr. & Mrs. John Lance Landon Family Foundation The Kenneth A. Lattman Foundation, Inc. Mr. & Mrs. Robert Lauer Mr. A.J.W. Le Bien* Mrs. Mary J. Leahey* The Gary & Bernice Lebbin Foundation, Inc. Mr. Max Lebow* Mr. Bruce B. Lederman Patricia Lee Dr. Richard Lee Aleathea V. Leonard* Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Leonard Ainsworth Leslie A. & S. Leslie Family Trust Richard & Kathy Lesser Mr. William Levenson* Dr. Bern M. Levine Ruth Levkoff Ms. Gerda Levy Dr. Mary Lou Lewis & Mr. Jack* Lewis Mrs. Lynn Liddell Mr. & Mrs. Richard A. Liddy Lile Family Foundation Mr. & Mrs. James Lillie Mr. & Mrs. Peter B. Lilly Mr. Walter Linde George L. Lindemann, Jr. Mr. Dennis Ling & Mrs. Janice Teal Lipman Family Farms Mr. Meyer Lipson* Mr. Gus Lobenwein* Mr. & Mrs. Richard Lombart Barbara Collins Longe Paul R. Lux* The Macula Society Mrs. David Mahoney Mrs. France Maichin* The Mailman Foundation

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BASCOMPALMER.ORG

Ms. Jacqueline Malloy Ms. Ruth Malloy* Ms. Helena A. Manning* Mrs. Mary Mikesell Mapp* Charles B. & Helga Marqusee Jaime & Magda Marti Julia & Morris Mash* Karen B. Mashkin, Ph.D. Mrs. Carrie Turino Mastronardi* Mr. William M. Matthews Mr. & Mrs. Bernard Mayer Dr. & Mrs. John B. McBeath The McCashin Family Robert & Lorraine McCashin Ms. Patricia A. McConnell Clare Broeker McCormick* Robert J. McDonald Brenda & John McGlade Mrs. Erin McGould Mr. James McIntosh Dr. & Mrs. Paul J. McKenna Dr. & Mrs. Brian R. McKillop Ms. Evelyn E. McLaughlin* Ms. Maureen M. McLaughlin Amy B. & *William McLean, Jr. Mr. Michael B. McLearn Mr. & Mrs. Samuel McLendon* Mr. & Mrs. Jack W. Meadors, III Dr. Jerry & Rhona Meislik MEJOR Fund Mellon Private Wealth Management Mr. Eric Mendelson Mr. & Mrs. Harold Menowitz The Harold & Sophie Menowitz Foundation Dr. & Mrs. Mark F. Mergen Merrill Lynch & Co. Foundation, Inc. Thomas M.* & Sarah V. Mettler Deborah Meyer* Lena Meyers* The Miami Foundation Pauline & George Michel, Jr. Mr. Donald K. Miller Dr. & Mrs. Edward S. Miller Mr. & Mrs. Gerald Miller Gerald M. & Carole A. Miller Family Foundation Dr. Gordon R. Miller* Mr. & Mrs. Jack Miller Mr. & Mrs. Monroe Milstein Mitchell Wolfson, Sr. Foundation Ms. Susanne Mock* Mr. and Mrs. Robert Mondshine Antonietta Mongillo

Mr. & Mrs. Dudley L. Moore Mr. & Mrs. Tom Moran Mr. Southwood J. Morcott Mr. Andres Moreno Mr. & Mrs. Herbert N. Morgan Joyce Wallace Morgan Frank N.* & Deborah Morgenstern Mr. H. B. Morley Mr. Robert Moser Ms. Marion F. Mosher* Ms. Mildred B. Mount* Florence Green Mufson* Mrs. Colleen Murphy & Mr. Paul Skapura Mr. Thomas P. Murphy, Jr. John P. Murray Jr. Family Joseph L. Muscarelle Foundation, Inc. Peter L. Myers Mr. & Mrs. Anthony J. Myrua Mr.* & Mrs. Robert Naegele Mr. & Mrs. Randy Nelson Robert & Judi Newman Family Foundation Naples Daily News Neovista, Inc. Neurotech USA, Inc. Erika Ehrlich Newman Mary & John Nice Nidek, Incorporated Anne Niedwiecki* Mr. & Mrs. Robert Nolan Northern Trust Bank of Florida Northern Trust, N.A. Northern Trust Bank West Florida Region Novartis Novartis Farmaceutica, S.A. De C. Novartis Pharma Logistics Inc. Ms. Sara O’Connell Mr. & Mrs. Robert M. Oliver III Drs. Karl R. Olsen & Martha E. Hildebrandt William & Joyce O’Meara Ophthotech Corporation Optical Department of Miami/Angel Perez Optovue, Inc. Oraya Therapeutics, Inc. Dr. Robert & Barbara Osher Ms. Elizabeth Padron Mr. Jose O. Padron Padron Family Foundation, Inc. Palm Healthcare Foundation Mrs. Helen E. Palmer* Ms. Phyllis Palmer Dirkes

PanOptica, Inc. Ms. Joan Goldstein Parker The Payne Fund Bernard S.* & Marjorie D. Peck Mrs. Ursula Peckerman Mr. & Mrs. Phillip Pedone Norma K. Perdue* Dr. David Perlberg* Helen Perlberg* Mary Jane Perlberg* Mr. Stanley Perlmeter* Mrs. Joseph Pesenti Mr. & Mrs. Paul A. Pettenaro Ms. Margaret C. Peyton Ms. Sybil A. Pickett* Mr. Julius Edward Pierce* Mr.* & Mrs. Richard C. Pietrafesa Mr. & Mrs. Frank T. Pilotte Leonard Pinchuk, Ph.D. Ms. Gertrude Piotrkiewicz* Mr. Frank H. Poe* Mrs. Beatrice Polevoy Mr. Sheldon S. Polish Ms. Zwia Pollen* Mr. & Mrs. J. Pollio Jr. Pollio Family Foundation, Inc. Mr. & Mrs. Harvey L. Poppel Sir Edward & *Lady Anna Lee Porter Mr. Alan H. & Dr. Brigitt Rok Potamkin Dr. & Mrs. Irwin Potash Potentia Pharmaceuticals Dr. James O. Powell Mrs. Dorothy Preefer* Prevent Blindness Florida Mr. & Mrs. Lance R. Primis Mr. & Mrs. John Pulling Mr. Patrick Putzi Mr. & Mrs. Leroy B. Raffel Ms. Jean B. Rand* Ms. Berthola Rasmussen* Mrs. Ruth T. Rauch Ms. Adele G. Reed* Ms. Mary C. Reilly* Ms. Emily Reily* Fred A. Reisman Eli Reiss & Sally T. Reiss Intervivos Trust Mr. B. Coleman Renick, Jr. Mrs. Stella A. Renshaw* Retina Research Foundation Ms. Janice Revitz J. Walter* & Phyllis H. Rex Oliver A. Reynolds*

Guy B. Rhoton Mrs. Marion Rice* Louis Richards Mr. & Mrs. Craig Rickert Eric Ridder, Jr. Helen Rider* Rifkin Family Foundation Leandro Rizzuto Foundation Gussie Robbins Mr. & Mrs. Nicholas Robinson Gilbert J. Rose, M.D. Ms. Leslie Rose* Jerry Rosenbaum, M.D. Kenneth Rosenberg Foundation Bernis & *Richard Rosenbloom Dr. Steven I. & Lisa Rosenfeld In honor of Philip J. Rosenfeld from a grateful patient Mr. & Mrs. Barry P. Rosenthal The Rosenstiel Foundation Ms. Nancy Ross Matthew Roth Mr. & Mrs. Michael J. Roth Ronnie Roth Mr. & Mrs. Seymour Roth Justin Rothberg/Eyes Ahead Mr. & Mrs. Bryan Rothfuss* Bill Rowley/Healthnetwork Foundation Mr. & Mrs. Walter H. Rubin Walter* & Lucille Rubin Foundation Mr. & Mrs. Bernard Rudnick* Mr. & Mrs. Stanley M. Rumbough, Jr. Ms. Lela S. Rumill* Louise Runnells Mr. & Mrs. Alvin Rush Rush Family Charitable Trust Kathryn J. Rybovich Mr. Jacob & Shari Safra Albert* & Carolyn Sakolsky Mr. & Mrs. Ralph Saltzman Mr.* & Mrs. Don Salyer Mr. & Mrs. Philip Samet Mr. Robert Samia Sanbio, Inc. Dr. & Mrs. Joel Sandberg Mrs. Irene Sands* Mrs. Nelson P. Sanford* Santen Incorporated Santen Holdings Ms. Sharon M. Saraniti Mr. & Mrs. Ben Sarnoff* Mr.* & Mrs. Thomas A. Saunders III Ms. Madelyn Savarick

John & Heloine Savoir Andree & Ed Scanlon Ms. Helen L. Schacht Max & Evelyn Schacknow Foundation, Inc. Mrs. Rosalind Schaffer* Schepens International Society Mark P. Schnapp Mr. Alan Neil Schneider* Barbara Schoenfeld Dr. & Mrs. Arthur L. Schwartz Mr. & Mrs. Stanley Schwartz Dr. Berthold E. Schwarz* Mr. Donald B. Scott, Sr. Ralph & Liesel Scott Dr. Ronald L. Seeley Senville Foundation Sequenom Center for Molecular Medicine Dr. Raymond Sever Mrs. Edythe Shamroth The Peter Jay Sharp Foundation Jay B. Shapiro, Esq. Mr. Abraham Shaulson/ Botanical Trust Linda & Mike Shepherd Lawrence C. Sherman* Morris Shiveck & Lois Russell Mr. & Mrs. Joseph M. Shore Dr. & Mrs. Harry Shpiner* Richard G. Shugarman, M.D.* Mrs. Adele Siegel Philip T. Siegel, DDS Dr. David W. Sime Mr. William Simon Dr. & Mrs. Joseph A. Singer Sirion Therapeutics, Inc. Ms. Emma R. Siskind* Ms. Theresa M. Slater* Eunice Sloan Joan Kennedy Slocum The Honorable* & Mrs. David S. Smith Ms. Jacqueline A. Smith Mrs. Bertha P. Smolian* Ms. Madeline Solberg* Morris Sosnow* Malcom W. & Lorrain Sommerville-Hall Elmor* & Anna Spector Leslie W. Spero Mr. & Mrs. Peter Spillis Dr. Thomas J. Stafford J. Harold Stanley, M.D. Starlight Children’s Foundation

Mrs. Corinne H. Starlight* Mr. & Mrs. Roger A. Starner Mr. & Mrs. Benjamin M. Statler Mr. & Mrs. Albert Staton Mr. & Mrs. William Stavropoulos Laura Stayer Bernard Sternlight* Madeliene B. Sternlight* Mr.* & Mrs. Charles T. Stewart Fredric & Catherine Stinson Claire J. Stocking Mr. & Mrs. Richard L. Stone Ronald G. Stone Frank Strick Foundation, Inc. Mr. & Mrs. Robert J. Stucker Mr.* & Mrs. Harry Sugarman Dr. & Mrs. Gary L. Sullivan Suram Trading Corporation Mr. & Mrs. Stephen Takach Ms. Sophia Talazko Drs. Myron & Monica Tanenbaum Mr. & Mrs. H. Mark Tanner Theodore & Alice Tarone Mr. & Mrs. Orlando Teruzzi* Stanley & Joni Tate Mrs. Carolyn C. Taub Mr. Ralph Tawil Thomsen Foundation Inc. Thrombogenics, Inc. Tokyo Optical Co., Ltd. Niki & Tom Thompson Mr. & Mrs. Robert J. Tomsich Rick, Margarita & Steven Tonkinson Mr.* & Mrs. Harold Toppel The Trotta Family Drs. David & Jean Tse Dr. David N. & Lynda Tucker Mrs. Helen Uchitel* United Jewish Community of Broward County Univision-Media Vista Group Dr. RakshaUrs Mrs. Harry Uttal* Mr. & Mrs. Bharat Vakil Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. Mr. & Mrs. Jorge C. Valls Mr. & Mrs. William L. Van Alen Kent-Lucas Foundation Mr. Henry Van Milligan* Dr. & Mrs. Mylan Van Newkirk Mr. & Mrs. Leo Vecellio Vista Building Maintenance Service, Inc.

Harry Webster Walker* Gary R. Wallace Dr. Wilson K. & Karen Wallace Mr. & Mrs. John R. Walter Irving Waltman, Esq. Dr. John D. & Mrs. Josephine Wang Ms. Xiaojin Wang Mr. & Mrs. George E. Wardeberg Ms. Nancy Palmer Wardropper Mr. & Mrs. Edward G. Watkins The Weiler FoundationBartlett Burnap Mr. & Mrs. Steve Weiner Mr. Jaime D. Weisinger Ms. Marian Weisman* K.B.* & Edna Weissman Mr. & Mrs. Jack F. Welch John F. Welch Jr., Foundation Arthur & Gullan Wellman/ Medical Research Trust Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC Mr. & Mrs. Randall Whitman Ms. Julia Wiest* Wikstrom Foundation Stella & Hack Wilson Family Foundation Nina J. Williams, Esq.* Mr. & Mrs. Eugene B. Willner Wilmington Trust Mr. & Mrs. Don Winer Jack & Maxine Wishart Charitable D. Trust -Lisa W. Chaffin & FamilyMr. & Mrs. Marshall Wishnack Mr. Dean & Jane B. Woodman Erving & Joyce Wolf Foundation Anne Wolfers Revocable Trust Zelma S. & Henry E. Wolff* Ms. Jeri L. Wolfson/ The Wolfson Foundation Amy Wollowick Norman Woodlief, M.D. Mrs. Sara Hopkins Woodruff* WPBT2 Mr. & Mrs. Allen Wyett Jerome A. Yavitz Charitable Foundation, Inc. Stephen H. Cypen, President Dr. Lawrence A. Yannuzzi/ Macula Foundation Harriet & Donald Young The Harry & Rose S. Zaifert Foundation Dr. Harvey Zalaznick Carl Zeiss Surgical, Inc. *In loving memory

Donations listed as of May 31, 2022

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The Society for Encouraging Endowment This society recognizes those individuals who ensure Bascom Palmer Eye Institute’s legacy by making the Institute a beneficiary of their estate or financial plans. Please let us know if you have included Bascom Palmer in your estate plans so we may recognize your investment in our future.

Ms. Laura Arbree Anonymous Mr.* & Mrs. Carl Bernard Apfel Capt. Eugene K.* & Muriel M. Auerbach Mr. & Mrs. Sam Bamieh Dr.* & Mrs. William J. Barrison, Jr. Lillian C. Batchelor* Lang Baumgarten Alfreda Blagaich-Smith John E. Blair* Helen P. Blauvelt* Mrs. Michele R. Bowman Mr.*& Mrs. William M. Boyer Charles W. Brand* Marty B. Bruder In loving memory of Mom Lillian M. Bruder Robert Buck* Mildred G. Burrows* Willard C. Butcher* M. Louise Cason, MD Dorothy Cason Family Trust Mrs. Phyllis W. Celestino* Mr.* & Mrs. William H. Cochrane Samuel I. Cohen* Ms. Linda Diane Cosner Cecile L. & Norman E. Demers* Mrs. Otto E. Dreikorn Mr.* Eric Feiler Mr.* & Mrs. David Fenton Mary Lynn Davis* The Fewell Family Neil* & Celia Finn Mr. & Mrs. Leo Fleur Adelaide Gambrill Bowen* Mr. Steve N. Gavalas Glenn H. Friedt, Jr. Mrs. Bernard D. Glaser Mr. & Mrs. Jack Glass* Marilyn Goldstein* Mr. & Mrs. Samuel Gordon Barbara U. Greene Myron & Gladys Greentree* Mr. & Mrs. Jack Grossett* Jane & Gene Guttman* Harold & Josephine Hadley Herman Haimovici, M.D.* Sue H. Halpern Doris Hart Mr.* & Mrs. Abraham Hases Mr. & Mrs. C. Earl Haymond Mickey Hayes*

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Elizabeth T. Heim & Margaret L. Rigby Memorial Fund* Mr. & Mrs. John Henry Dianne E. Hickey/In memory of MaryJean Lowry Markey Audrey M. Hickman* Mr. & Mrs. Maxwell H. Honsinger Mr. & Mrs. William Humcke Mr.* & Mrs. David Jacobson Bill E. Johnson* Christine Johnson In honor of Dr. Benjamin Jeanne Kaskey* M. Kaufman Ms. Laurel Kaufman Thomas N.* & Patricia R. Kearns Sean & Sharon Kenny Mr. & Mrs. Henry Kessler Ruth & Arthur Kleindienst Lynne Kosnitzky Mr. & *Mrs. Marvin Krantz Joseph Kubacka Sr.* Mr.* & Mrs. Richard L. Larimore Aurell Leaf Aleathea V. Leonard*

Ronald* & Alicia Lepke Henri & Flore Lesieur Foundation Bern M. Levine, D.V.M. Mrs. William Levine Herman & Millicent Levinson* Dr.* & Mrs. Warren Lindau Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Lipps Bessie Jackson Lunn* Mr. & Mrs. William Maurer* Ramonia Mayhall* Joseph Thomas Wilson McCaughey* Mr. & Mrs. Jack W. Meadors Gordon R. Miller, M.D.* H. Jack & Evelyn B. Miller Carleton* & Ruth H. Mitchell David & Mary Moliver Mr.* & Mrs. Delos G. Morton Mrs. Mildred B. Mount Linton F. Murdock Erika Ehrlich Newman* Ms. Catherine Newton Anne Niedwiecki* Frederic S. & Christine B. Nusbaum Annette Paris*

Ways To Give There are many ways you can further Bascom Palmer’s sight-saving research with a charitable donation.

Visit www.BascomPalmer.org/giving to learn more.

Donate Online Donor-Advised Funds Tribute/Memorial Program Corporate/Corporate Matching Gifts Estate and Planned Giving, Securities, Bequests Endowed Funds Naming Gift Opportunities

Theodore & Genevieve Pelikan Mrs. Joseph A. Pesenti Patricia H. & Leo H. Phillips, Jr. Mrs. Geraldine E. Phipps Mr. Romeo Pompilio Lillian Redlich* Fred A. Reisman Eli Reiss & Sally T. Reiss Intervivos Trust Judy W. Renick* /Renick Trust Adolph & Ella Rosenthal* Rhoda Rubin Eliza Phillips Ruden* Dr.* & Mrs. Irving Rutkin Beatrice & William Sahm* Barbara & Herbert E. Saks Helen Scrimgeour* Samuel Seitlin* Lawrence C. Sherman* Mr. & Mrs. Joseph M. Shore Mr. Barton Sklansky Eunice Sloan Ambassador* & Mrs. David S. Smith Drs. David* & Maureen Smith George B. Smith* Mrs. Jean G. Smith Vondora Marie Stickler Mr.* & Mrs. Harry Sugarman William J. Thode III* John R.* & Anita Timmel Heather E. Traendly* Kenneth Trumbull Lorraine Trumbull Meyer* Vickie Dodds & Bud Urban Elsie & Tolly Vinik* Dr. Wilson K. Wallace Charles H. & Elsie C. Warwick, III* Caroline Weiss Lena Wershaw* Richard G. West Mr. & Mrs. T. Jack White* Mr. Edward Wilcox Ms. Patricia Wilkinson* Mr. & Mrs. Stanley Winter Jack & Maxine Wishart Charitable D. Trust -Lisa W. Chaffin & Family Ms. Nadine Zarcone Mr. & Mrs. Fred Zorovich *In loving memory As of May 31, 2022

New from Bascom Palmer Bascom Palmer Eye Institute’s special edition of Images celebrating our 60 years of excellence is now available in an interactive, fully digital format.

We are grateful to everyone who has helped make our illustrious history possible.

Read Now BASCOM PALMER EYE INSTITUTE

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Miami Anne Bates Leach Eye Center 900 NW 17 Street Miami, Florida 33136 305-326-6000 Information 305-243-2020 Toll free in USA 800-329-7000

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Residents gather to celebrate the Program’s #1 ranking See page 17 42

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