Fall 2011

SightThe Wilmer EyeLine Institute at Johns Hopkins

Global Impact In the tradition of trailblazers Al Sommer and Paton, Wilmer’s researchers are exporting their expertise to save the sight of millions around the world. ontents s see it cInsight a 3 Accolades Abound Stephen Ryan honored with JHU

PHOTO BY KEITH WELLER Distinguished Alumnus Award. Dear Wilmer Friends and Family,

If there was ever a time that our nation Cover needed academic medical centers to 4 Global Impact address our societal needs for more cost- Inspired by pioneering scientists Al effective, patient-centered care, that time Sommer and David Paton, a new is now. generation of Wilmer’s researchers is exporting its expertise to remote Here is what Wilmer is doing to respond: regions around the world.

> Our Call Center (410-955-5080) Spotlight allows referring physicians and patients Eye Cancer in the to call a single number and be offered 8 Cross Hairs convenient appointments at one of With experience from a broad range our seven locations around Maryland; of specialties, Wilmer’s ocular oncology patients with urgent problems are seen team is ideally equipped to meet the the same day. needs of patients across the cancer > Our divisions continue to attract the best and brightest. Among those that spectrum. have added additional sub-specialists are Pediatric Ophthalmology, Retina, Uveitis, Cornea, Oculoplastic and Reconstructive Surgery, and Glaucoma. > Our patient satisfaction scores continue upward, with our surgery patients Eye to Eye consistently ranking us in the top decile nationally. Generosity in the 11 Face of Loss > The largest vision research program in the world continues to grow here Though there’s currently no cure at Wilmer, in our new Robert H. Smith Building. Two startup companies, for George Perry’s eye condition, his based on inventions by Wilmer faculty, are working to develop better support of Neil Miller’s work will help ways to deliver medications and treat infections and diseases like macular speed the pace of research. degeneration. > Our Oculoplastics Division has recently shown that the cost at Wilmer to repair complex orbital fractures, in which the bones around the eye are In Appreciation damaged from trauma, is half the average cost statewide. 13 Patricia Guerrieri was proud of > Our ophthalmology residents have an unparalleled educational Wilmer's advances and generous in experience, including elective rotations in , Africa, and other parts of her support. the world. This year, Wilmer had its 103rd trainee accept an appointment as department chair. Events > This year, Wilmer will dedicate its 32nd endowed professorship, thanks to the generosity of our donors. Highlights of the annual Wilmer 14 Research Meeting, the Legacy Society We realize that some forces are out of our control. This summer Wilmer Spring Luncheon, and more. experienced an earthquake and a hurricane in the same week! Federal government debt is projected to result in declining payments for patient care and reduced funding for research, while the gyrating stock market may Annual Review mean less philanthropic support. But what Wilmer can do is continue to Hats off to our generous donors provide the best, most timely, and cost-effective care for our patients; work on 15 research to develop better cures or preventions for eye disease; and focus on training the most brilliant and best-prepared new doctors and scientists. This is the “secret” that has allowed Wilmer to advance continuously over 86 years, Faculty Feats even during the Great Depression, many recessions, and two world wars. 18 A banner year of accomplishment for Wilmer faculty.

Wilmer Residents Peter J. McDonnell, MD 23 for 2011–2012 William Holland Wilmer Professor and Director 2 SightLine FALL 2011 COVER PHOTO BY MIKE CIESIELSKI insight

Ryan Honored with Distinguished Alumnus Award

tephen J. Ryan ’65, an internationally recognized expert in the field of retinal diseases and ocular trauma, and former faculty member at the Wilmer Institute, has added a new accolade to his long list of honors: a Johns Hopkins Distinguished Alumnus SAward. Ryan’s contributions to the field of ophthalmology are varied and impressive. Currently the president of the Doheny Eye Institute, an affiliate of the University of Southern California, Ryan served for 13 years as dean of USC’s Keck School of Medicine (1991–2004). During his tenure as dean, overall research funding increased from $72 million in 1993 to $160 million in 2003. A $110 million naming gift from the W.M. Keck Foundation was the largest gift to a medical school up to that time. A new, innovative medical student curriculum was introduced. And the Keck School established a joint MD/PhD program with Caltech. In 2004, Ryan returned full time to head the Doheny Eye Institute, a post he had held earlier in his career, and he continues to head an active research laboratory and to serve as the Grace and Emery Beardsley Professor of Ophthalmology at USC. “This is the most exciting time in history to be in vision research,” notes Ryan, who is the founding president of the National Alliance for Eye and Vision Research (NAEVR). He has provided congressional testimony on numerous occasions in support of the National Institutes of Health Stephen J. Ryan Jr., MD ’65, with Wilmer director Peter J. McDonnell and the National Eye Institute, where he served on the National Advisory Eye Council. In the years since Ryan left Johns Hopkins, where he completed his residency and served as assistant and associate clinician-scientists who become leaders in their fields—from professor, he has maintained close ties to his alma mater. In patient care and research to education and national service 2005 he provided a leadership gift to endow the Assistant organizations,” said McDonnell. Chief of Service (ACS) position at Wilmer—a post that Ryan is a member of numerous ophthalmologic he recognized as being “vital” to the education of Wilmer’s organizations and has served as president of a number of medical residents. them. As a board member of the International Council The gift drew grateful praise from Wilmer director Peter of Ophthalmology, he has organized and chaired the J. McDonnell. “Dr. Stephen Ryan exemplifies the goal of Scientific Program Committee for the last three World the Wilmer Residency program: producing outstanding Ophthalmology Congresses. ■

410-955-5080 FALL 20112011 SightLine 3 Global

ImpactInspired by pioneering scientists Al Sommer and David Paton, whose work around the world has saved the sight of millions, Wilmer’s researchers are exporting their expertise across the globe—from Central and South America to remote regions in Africa and Asia. By Marlene England

4 SightLine FALL 2011 In 1976, when Al Sommer, MD, MHS, was packing his bags for the Cicendo Eye Hospital in Indonesia, some of his colleagues thought he was making a big mistake. He had just finished his residency at Wilmer, after earning his MPH in epidemiology from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. His skill as a physician and a researcher, combined with his passion for global health issues, made Sommer one of Wilmer’s rising stars.

“Even people who were senior to me said, ‘You Under the guidance of Sommer, who directed the center shouldn’t be leaving the field. No one will know who you in its first decade, researchers developed what are now are when you come back,’” recalls Sommer, a research the global policies for controlling vitamin A deficiency, faculty member at Wilmer and professor at Hopkins’ trachoma, and river blindness—three of the four major School of Medicine and the Bloomberg School. blinding conditions in the developing world. The Baltimore It turns out these colleagues, though well intentioned, Eye Survey, the first population-based survey and now a were wrong. Sommer’s groundbreaking research in model for thousands of similar studies worldwide, also Indonesia—he was the first to discover vitamin A’s impact came from the Dana Center. The three-year study of 5,300- on vision and overall health—made him somewhat of plus East Baltimore residents led researchers to determine a celebrity. His continuing research in other countries, that open angle glaucoma is a major cause of blindness, including the United States, has established him as one of particularly in Africa. the most respected scientists in the fields of ophthalmology “Wilmer has made a difference in the world because and public health. they were willing to invest in the Dana Center—a unique In March, the American Society of Cataract and venture that has blossomed and not only made these great Refractive Surgeons (ASCRS) inducted Sommer into the contributions but also created a field; [Wilmer] remains a Ophthalmology Hall of Fame, and this fall the American leader of that field today,” Sommer states. Academy of Ophthalmology will present Sommer with An international perspective is built into Wilmer’s its single highest honor—the Laureate Award—for his DNA, he says, mentioning a number of Wilmer researchers exceptional scientific contributions toward preventing currently working in global locales, from Central and South blindness and restoring sight worldwide. America to remote regions in Africa and Asia. Sommer The honors are well deserved. When Sommer credits the administration and a handful of doctors who discovered in the late 1970s that vitamin A could prevent realized early on the breadth of what Wilmer could and cure eye disease in infants and dramatically reduce contribute to—and learn from—other countries. childhood deaths, eye care in the developing world was Sommer was inspired by David Paton, MD, a 1956 forever changed. His findings resulted in the largest medical graduate of Johns Hopkins School of Medicine who later mobilization since the polio vaccine, with the World did his residency at Wilmer. “David was really the first Health Organization, UNICEF, and other organizations person I know of who made an individual commitment to now providing more than 400 million vitamin A international ophthalmology,” Sommer recalls. “He wanted supplements to children around the world each year. to see what ophthalmology was like in a part of the world Sommer’s passion for tackling preventable blindness where, at that time, many people didn’t go.” on a global scale sparked the Dana Center for Preventive During his time at St. John Eye Hospital in Jerusalem, Ophthalmology at Wilmer, a joint collaboration by the Paton started one of the earliest eye banks in the Middle School of Medicine and the Bloomberg School. The Dana East in 1964. He returned to Wilmer to serve on the Center is now the leader in global and domestic research faculty but never forgot the lack of eye care and proper for blindness prevention and is the only World Health teaching he had witnessed abroad. “I thought, how in the Organization–collaborating center in the United States. world are we going to provide improved care that can be

Peripatetic Wilmer scientists (from l to r): Peter Campbell, Al Sommer, David Paton, Pradeep Ramulu, and Fasika Woreta. 410-955-5080 FALL 20112011 SightLine 5 Vision is so important, and many of these blinding conditions can be reversed or prevented. One person can make a huge difference. –David Friedman

adapted to various countries?” he recently published memoir, Second discussion. recalls. Sight: Views from an Eye Doctor’s Both Woreta and Campbell have In response, he created Project Odyssey, to help raise contributions worked with Sheila West, PhD, El ORBIS, later changing its name to to reach the $1.5 million goal for Maghraby Professor of Preventive ORBIS International, a nonprofit endowing the fellowship. Ophthalmology and vice chair for agency for teaching modern eye Even though Paton hasn’t worked research at Wilmer. West is a leader surgery and eye care via its Flying Eye at Wilmer since 1971, he remains in the global campaign to eradicate caption Hospital. “At the time, there were connected. Two years ago, he initiated trachoma, a leading cause of blindness only one or two people who believed a discussion between Wilmer and the in the developing world. For the past in my concept that one could teach King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital 20 years, she has directed the Kongwa modern ingenuities of eye care on an (KKESH), Saudi Arabia’s largest eye Trachoma Project in Tanzania, and aircraft,” says Paton. After a donated hospital where Paton had served as its carried out numerous, significant formerly commercial DC-8 aircraft first medical director. The result was a research projects that encompass was refurbished with appropriate multi-year partnership in collaborative diagnostics, immunology, genetics, technology, the first ORBIS flight research, education, and patient care epidemiology, and evaluation of took off for Panama in 1982. Since between the two institutions. control programs for trachoma. then, ORBIS has carried out more Both Paton and Sommer continue She is currently the recipient than 1,000 training programs in 88 to inspire Wilmer’s established faculty of a significant grant from the Bill countries and treated more than 15 and researchers, as well as beginning & Melinda Gates Foundation for million people for blindness-related ophthalmologists. Fasika Woreta, trachoma control research and is diseases and conditions. now a cornea fellow and slated to be working with the Pan American ORBIS International recently chief resident at Wilmer in 2013, was Health Organization to eliminate hosted an event to honor the thrilled to meet Paton at the recent trachoma in the Americas. achievements of Paton, who ORBIS International event. Her Although West has always been volunteered as the organization’s previous encounters with Sommer interested in global public health, medical director from 1968 to and other Wilmer colleagues involved it was Sommer who brought her 1987. At the event, ORBIS leaders in international research have fueled to Wilmer in 1984. (She received announced the establishment of her passion for addressing preventable her PhD in epidemiology from the a Paton Global Ophthalmology blindness around the world, Bloomberg School in 1980.) “He Fellowship, which will annually fund a particularly cataract and corneal visited my home while I was working senior fellow for one year’s service with disease in her native Ethiopia. on hepatitis B in the Philippines ORBIS, after which the appointee will Woreta and third-year resident and convinced me that international be qualified for a full-time academic Peter Campbell joined Sommer epidemiologists were needed to make position in an ophthalmology and 19 other world leaders in an impact in ophthalmology,” she department seeking to expand its ophthalmology this summer to recalls. “His belief that research should reach in global eye care. analyze sustainable solutions for make a difference, as well as advance “I’m thrilled about it,” says Paton. addressing the burden of unoperated science, is the siren call I try to follow.” “This provides that academic bridge cataract, which accounts for 50 Many of West’s colleagues are so ORBIS can be more closely related percent of blindness worldwide. She following the same call all over the to academic leadership within the and Campbell will attend the World globe. Pradeep Ramulu, MD, PhD, disciplines of ophthalmology.” Through Congress Ophthalmology meeting in is collaborating with investigators at his website, Paton plans to market his Abu Dhabi next year to continue the the Aravind Eye Institute in India on

6 SightLine FALL 2011 angle closure glaucoma, a blinding eye disease for which there is often a simple cure when detected at very early stages. Because Aravind has a huge clinical volume of angle closure glaucoma patients, several times that of the United States, Ramulu and his team have access to more clinical data, as well as advanced cases rarely seen at Wilmer. “Aravind benefits from Wilmer’s culture of research and study, and we benefit from the opportunity to learn from their clinical experience,” William Holland Wilmer's military he says. “The world benefits from the service was extensive and impressive. results of the collaboration.” Appointed “Surgeon in Charge of Medical Research Laboratories” David Friedman, MD, MPH, for the American Expeditionary Forces in 1917, he served overseas in PhD, the inaugural Alfred Sommer Liverpool, England, from August 6 to September 2, 1918, and then served until February 1919 at the 3rd Aviation Instruction Center in Issondun, Professor at Wilmer, currently leads France. This was the largest airbase in the world, with 13 fields in two large telemedicine programs that operation and more than 10,000 soldiers were assigned there. Dr. Wilmer have already screened several thousand also served the nation’s military in World War II. diabetic patients for retinopathy in Indonesia and Bangladesh. With support from Helen Keller THEN&NOW International, he has expanded cataract surgery training for doctors Nearly a century after the in rural and conducted large Wilmer Eye Institute's population-based studies of eye disease namesake served in the nation's military during World in that region. Like Ramulu, he is War I, Hopkins alumnus Bryan researching angle closure glaucoma Propes, MD, honored Wilmer both in China and Singapore, where Institute’s staff by dedicating the disease is more prevalent than in a series of flags and having the United States. The fundamental them flown over the trauma findings from his research are likely to hospital in Kandahar, apply in other settings, he says. Afghanistan, where Propes, LCDR, MC, USN, is “Vision is so important, and many currently serving. of these blinding conditions can be reversed or prevented,” Friedman “Kandahar is everything you’d expect, and nothing I can says. “One person can make a huge explain,” Propes writes from the field. “Every day difference.” you see young people—our fighting soldiers and sailors and Marines— And the time to make that as well as children, enemy combatants, and innocent civilians all mutilated in difference is now, according to West. horrific ways. Not an individual with a wounded leg, or extremity, or an eye “The opportunity to contribute to the wound or abdominal wound, but someone with all of the above…And not just elimination of blinding eye disease is that person, but three or four just like them all arriving at the same time all unparalleled at this time—countries, needing multiple surgeries. As soon as those patients are dispositioned, three or four more are just as likely to come in. Sometimes before you get through agencies, even the U.S. Agency the first batch, more will come in.” for International Development, have joined in this effort,” she Compounding the overwhelming patient load is the paucity of local physicians prepared to treat the wounded, Propes notes. “In the entire country there are says. “Wilmer brings the necessary only about 40 or so ophthalmologists practicing. There used to be more, but expertise in research to this alliance, they all left, or were murdered by the Taliban,” he says. and we should all feel proud of how Despite the grueling pace of his work, Propes says he’s grateful to be deployed Wilmer takes a broad perspective on in the field, rather than be in administrative role and getting “paper cuts.” eliminating blindness for citizens of all “This is the opportunity of a lifetime to make a difference every day practicing nations.” ■ ophthalmology,” he writes. “Indeed, this may be the most important thing I’ve ever done.” 410-955-5080 FALL 2011 SightLine 7 CancerEye in the Cross Hairs With expertise in a broad range of specialties, Wilmer’s ocular oncology team is ideally equipped to meet the needs of patients across the cancer spectrum.

By Marlene England

The cashiers at the grocery store never will die from the disease, according to have an answer for Peter McDonnell, the American Cancer Society. MD, director of the Wilmer Eye Although these statistics may not Institute. be dramatic enough to inspire media “Every time I’m in the checkout coverage and nationwide fundraising line, they ask me if I want to give to campaigns, eye cancer takes a breast cancer, prostate cancer, colon significant toll on individuals who cancer…” Although McDonnell have it. The disease can result in not considers all of these worthy causes, he only loss of vision but also complex usually receives a blank stare when he reconstructive surgery and, though rare, responds, “I’d like to give to eye cancer. removal of the eye. “The impact on How do I do that?” quality of life as opposed to duration “And no one can ever tell me how to of life is an enormous factor for these make such a donation,” McDonnell says. patients,” McDonnell says. “Eye cancer He isn’t surprised. Eye cancer— may not necessarily be a life-ending more specifically, cancer in and around event, but it is certainly life-changing.” the eye—doesn’t garner much public To treat eye cancer patients, most attention because it is so rare. This year, medical institutions have an ocular 2,570 new cases of cancers of the eye tumor physician on staff. But that’s not and orbit (the area surrounding the enough to meet the needs of those who eye) will be diagnosed across the United turn to Wilmer for help, McDonnell States, and an estimated 240 people says.

8 SightLine FALL 2011 “The eye is a part of the body “We’ve had a cast of thousands that can potentially be affected by working on Joshua,” Miller says, citing every type of cancer,” McDonnell a long list of departments involved, explains. “It takes a multidisciplinary including pediatric neurosurgery, team to attack the problem, a whole otolaryngology, oculoplastics, pediatric village of people from different oncology, radiation therapy, pathology, specialties.” From the simplest to the and ophthalmology. most complex cases, Wilmer’s ocular Joshua is now a student at oncology team is expertly equipped Tech and in the civilian tract of Our ability to for effective diagnosis, treatment, and the Corps of Cadets, majoring in follow-up care. mechanical engineering. He and characterize the In adults, most cancers of the his mother, Kathy Lilliston, a nurse tumors in the lab eye and orbit are melanomas, with practitioner, are grateful for the melanomas of the skin around the eye doctors’ collaboration. “They met has a tremendous more common than those that develop as a team on all aspects of Joshua’s inside the eye. Treatment can involve care, and everyone at Wilmer—from influence in radiation therapy, laser therapy, or secretaries to surgeons—have made surgery. Lymphomas are the next this a more manageable situation,” determining most common cancer to affect the eye Kathy Lilliston says. She is particularly which tumor and orbit, often originating in other grateful to Dr. Miller for allowing parts of the body. Chemotherapy Joshua to make decisions about his treatments are most and external radiation therapy are medical care and for being available common treatment options. to address their concerns, even during appropriate for One of Wilmer’s most challenging non-working hours. “I always consult patients. cases involves Joshua Lilliston, a with him on all matters because I teenager from Bel Air, Maryland, know he will be honest in his opinions –Prem who was diagnosed with a tumor of and only wants the best for Joshua,” the right orbit eight years ago. After she says. Subramanian numerous complicated surgeries Miller performed several surgeries and treatment regimens, he remains on Joshua to remove the recurring under the watchful care of several tumor. Michael Grant, MD, one of specialists, including Neil Miller, MD, only a few board-certified surgeons a neuro-ophthalmologist at Wilmer in the country trained in both who specializes in orbital surgery on ophthalmology and plastic surgery, patients who have brain tumors and performed two amniotic tissue grafts orbital tumors that affect the vision. once it was determined that Joshua’s

410-955-5080 FALL 2011 SightLine 9 eye could not be saved. When the cancer resource also used by other Wilmer returned earlier this year, the orbital researchers. implant (artificial eye) was removed. For example, Charles Eberhart, MD, Grant filled the socket with tissue, and Wilmer’s eye pathologist, was able to use Richard Redett, MD, associate professor samples from the tissue bank to confirm of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery observations he had made in cell lines. In at Hopkins, grafted skin from Joshua’s particular, Eberhart, together with Handa forearm to cover the eye socket. and Merbs, is looking at the role of the Grant is one of four surgeons in “Notch pathway” in uveal melanoma, Wilmer’s Division of Oculoplastic and testing potential therapies that target Surgery. In addition to tumor removal the activation of the pathway. Jim Handa, and major reconstructive surgery, such Prem Subramanian, MD, an orbital as Joshua’s, Grant and his colleagues also surgeon who often collaborates with MD, specializes perform more delicate procedures that Merbs, Handa, and others, is confident involve rebuilding portions of the eyelid. that increased understanding of orbital in the treatment It was Shannath Merbs, MD, PhD, tumors and other eye cancers will of intraocular who performed such a procedure continue to result in improved treatments on Eleanor Palmer. A resident of that preserve both function and tumors. He’s Washington, D.C., Palmer referred appearance. herself to Wilmer after being “Our ability to characterize the collaborating misdiagnosed at a Washington, D.C.– tumors in the lab has a tremendous with Shannath area ophthalmology office. Palmer’s influence in determining which tumor correct diagnosis was basal cell carcinoma treatments are most appropriate for Merbs, MD, of her lower eyelid. Merbs began with a patients,” he says. “We have the ability to simple excision of the cancerous cells, but use many more chemotherapeutic agents PhD, to create when the cancer subsequently invaded today than we did in the past, and there a bank of under the scar tissue, it was necessary to is less of a role for radiation therapy alone remove most of Palmer’s lower eyelid. in treatment of most orbital tumors.” cancerous eye Merbs reconstructed a new eyelid using Radiation can damage the eye, skin and other parts from the upper lid, Subramanian explains, because it’s tissue to study which required Palmer’s eyelids to be impossible to shield the eye completely sewn shut for six weeks while the new during treatment. “Chemo agents today the molecular eyelid was healing. “It was a very delicate are better tolerated and have fewer of the genetic changes surgery, and this is where Dr. Merbs’ side effects people tend to associate with talents really show,” Palmer says. them. Chemo can shrink the tumor so that lead to Like many of the clinicians at Wilmer, a smaller area is radiated, giving us both Merbs also leads an active research better patient tolerance and outcomes.” uveal melanoma. program. Merbs and Jim Handa, MD, Subramanian recently treated a who specializes in the treatment of patient with chronic lymphocytic intraocular cancers, have been collecting leukemia, which had been in remission uveal melanoma eye tumors, along with for two years. She returned to Wilmer fluid from the eye and the patient’s with proptosis (bulging) of both eyes blood, in a Wilmer tissue bank since and was found to have new cancerous 2004. By studying the molecular genetic masses. “I performed a biopsy and, with changes that lead to uveal melanoma, the aid of my pathology, oncology, and the most common malignant tumor that radiation therapy colleagues, was able to occurs in the eyes of adults, they hope protect her vision and get her started on to improve diagnosis and expedite new effective treatment,” he says. “My goal is treatments. Their tumor bank, which to preserve sight and function whenever was funded by the family of a patient possible, and we are able to do this more who died from eye cancer, is a valuable and more frequently.” ■

10 SightLine FALL 2011 eye to eye

Generosity in the Face of Loss

eorge Perry, PhD, had during surgery, which changes the While my problem many concerns as he blood’s ability to coagulate. The prepared to undergo car- unexpected and sudden loss of doesn’t have a cure diac surgery at a hospital vision—and lack of treatment or in Washington, D.C. cure—make NAAION a particularly on the immediate GLosing his vision wasn’t one of them. devastating disease for patients. horizon, there are But a day or two after his For Perry, it has changed operation, it became obvious to everything. “My eyesight is extremely other conditions closer Perry, a senior fellow at the Brookings limited. I can’t drive and reading is Institution, that something was very slow,” he says. “It’s hard to see in to being improvable terribly wrong with his eyesight. He the shade, so the world gets very dark and perhaps some had lost most of his vision in both for me.” To date, there is no hope for eyes, with no peripheral (side) vision restored vision. day research will be at all. At a friend’s suggestion, Perry Doctors determined that Perry requested a second opinion from Neil specifically helpful to my had an extremely rare condition called Miller, a neuro-ophthalmologist at problem as well. Non-Arteritic Anterior Ischemic Wilmer. “He was described to me as Optic Neuropathy (NAAION), often a world leader in research on eyesight –George Perry, who with wife referred to as a stroke of the optic problems, including mine,” Perry Dina made a significant gift to support nerve. (Composed of millions of recalls. “My experience with Dr. the research of Neil Miller fibers, the optic nerve carries visual Miller has been that not only is he information from the retina to the deeply involved in important research brain.) Without warning, NAAION but that he is also an extremely can occur when there is a lack of thoughtful and caring physician.” blood supply and sufficient oxygen Nearly three years have passed

410-955-5080 FALL 2011 SightLine 11 eye to eye

since Perry’s first appointment that reason. While my problem with Miller. At the time, Perry doesn’t have a cure on the was struggling not only with the immediate horizon, there are loss of his peripheral vision but other conditions closer to being also with significant double vision. improvable and perhaps some Orthoptists at Wilmer were able day research will be specifically to put special prism lenses in helpful to my problem as well. Perry’s glasses to help correct the We hope that our gift helps Dr. misalignment between the visual Miller and his colleagues to work fields in his right and left eyes, more intensely on possible cures eventually eliminating the double and preventions.” vision. But nothing could be done To move his research forward to restore his lost vision. at a faster pace, Miller needs “NAAION is hard on significant financial support for anyone but certainly the more his seven-person lab. Donations highly functioning the patient, such as those provided by the the harder it is,” says Miller. Perrys have helped him obtain a Although the condition is major grant from the National rare (less than one-tenth of 1 Eye Institute. Because this type percent of Wilmer’s patients have of research is extremely time- NAAION), Miller has noticed a consuming and costly, gifts from slight uptick in cases, which he the Perrys and other generous believes is a result of increased donors expedite the pace of cardiac procedures. research, which means a solution When not caring for patients, may be found sooner. he is in his research lab, trying Already Miller’s team has to find a way to prevent, repair, succeeded in developing the only and restore optic nerve damage model of NAAION in primates, from NAAION and other whose optic nerves most closely conditions—or at least prevent resemble those of humans. With further damage. “Optic nerve support from the Perrys, the Optic nerve disease is a major cause of team is now testing several drugs disease is a untreatable blindness around that may reduce optic nerve the world—and it’s one of the damage from NAAION, such as major cause holy grails of ophthalmology,” that which caused Perry’s loss of he explains. “We do pretty vision. In addition, Miller and of untreatable well with certain conditions— his colleagues have now been blindness around cataracts, corneal disease, macular approached by a group in New degeneration—but optic nerve York that wishes to collaborate the world—and disease is a true failure because by using stem cells to restore we cannot yet regenerate or repair vision in animals—and then in it’s one of the the optic nerve in human beings.” humans—with NAAION. After learning about Miller’s “The Perrys’ support has made holy grails of research, Perry and his wife, a monumental difference in our ophthalmology. Dina, made a significant ability to move ahead,” Miller contribution, and they recently states. “As a physician, you want —Neil Miller, increased their giving. “Dina and to help people one at a time, but I know firsthand how difficult in addition you’d like to help a MD ’71 it is to cope with the loss of large group of people. What the eyesight,” Perry responds. “We Perrys have done is very altruistic. know what a difference it would They’re essentially saying, ‘We make if medicine were more know you can’t help us, so at least helpful—and we’re happy to help others.’” ■ support Dr. Miller’s research for —ME

12 SightLine FALL 2011 in appreciation

Patricia Guerrieri (1930–2010)

Maryland native, born to whom she was married for 58 at home in Pikesville years, and the beloved mother of and raised in Aberdeen, five and grandmother of nine. Her Patricia (“Patti”) Guer- vivacious presence—her humor, rieri was proud to be her generosity, her love of life—are Aassociated with Wilmer Eye Institute missed greatly by all who knew and was fascinated by the brilliance her. She took a personal interest in and tenacity of its researchers. She everyone she met and had a great was instrumental in creating the attention to detail, noticing things Guerrieri Family Foundation, which that other people missed. not only supported Hopkins and She loved learning and was a Wilmer but hospitals and schools on natural researcher, always reading Maryland’s Eastern Shore. articles or looking up facts about As a member of the Wilmer something that had captured her Advisory Council, Guerrieri interest. Her interests ranged supported research at Wilmer and widely—from the smallest spider to was proud of its advances and the largest mountain, from ancient innovations. She would be the first civilizations to current events. A to applaud anyone being honored. huge football fan, a great cook and She also would be the first to leave gardener, she was also a collector of before any technical presentations shells and lover of antiques. were made. Squeamish about Guerrieri attended Mary hospitals and medical details, she did Washington University at the age not want to see any graphic slides. of 16 but graduated from Maryland Nonetheless, she developed great State Teachers’ College, the fondness for the doctors she met at predecessor of Salisbury University, Wilmer and was always impressed where she was a renowned athlete with their talent and dedication. and where she met her future To honor her unflagging support, husband. During most of her the 22nd Annual Wilmer Research married life, she lived in Salisbury Meeting, held last April 15, was and Ocean City, Maryland. She dedicated to Guerrieri’s memory (see always considered the Eastern Shore p. 14). home, even after moving to Florida Guerrieri, who passed away in in the 1990s. ■ 2010, was the devoted wife of Alan,

410-955-5080 FALL 2011 SightLine 13 events The 22nd Annual Wilmer Research Meeting April 15, 2011 Researchers, special guests, family and friends gathered at the 2011 Wilmer Research Meeting, dedicated to the memory of Patricia R. "Patti" Guerrieri.

The WRM is a day to celebrate the work of Wilmer researchers through posters and presentations.

Pictured l to r: Donald Zack, MD, PhD, Guerrieri Professor of Genetic Engineering & Molecular Ophthalmology; members of the Guerrieri family; (far right) Morton Goldberg, MD, Joseph E. Green Professor in Macular Degeneration and Other Retinal Diseases.

Wilmer Congratulates Alfred Sommer 2011 Ophthalmology Hall of Fame Inductee May 10, 2011

The American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ASCRS) named Alfred Sommer, MD, MPH, of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, as its 2011 inductee into the Ophthalmology Hall of Fame. Dr. Sommer is dean emeritus of the Bloomberg School, professor of ophthalmology, and University Distinguished Service Professor. Previous Hall of Fame inductees from Wilmer include A. Edward Maumenee, MD; J. Donald M. Gass, MD; Frank B. Walsh, MD; Arnall Patz, MD; and Jonas S. Friedenwald, MD.

Pictured l to r: Peter J. McDonnell, MD, William Holland Wilmer Professor of Ophthalmology and Wilmer Director; Alfred Sommer, MD, MPH; and Roger F. Steinert, MD, Irving H. Leopold Professor and chair of Ophthalmology, director, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, professor of biomedical engineering, University of California, Irvine.

Wilmer Legacy Society Spring Luncheon May 17, 2011 Legacy Society members and special guests gathered on May 17 in our nation's capital to hear Dr. Allison McCoy speak about her experience as a resident in Wilmer's general eye service and around the world. Nationally known Washington D.C. attorney Edward Beckwith presented on estate planning.

The Wilmer Legacy Society was created to recognize the legacy of donors for their commitment to the Legacy Society hosts Joy and John Safer greet Wilmer Advisory Council chair future of the Wilmer Eye Institute. Sandy Greenberg and his wife, Sue. 14 SightLine FALL 2011 nnual review Wilmer Residents Association a Seventh Annual Clinical Meeting / June 3, 2011 Our Work to Cure

Wilmer alumni, family, and friends Blindness: Our Donors came together to pay tribute to the late Dr. The scientists and staff of the Wilmer W. Richard Green, world-renowned Eye Institute at Johns Hopkins gratefully pathologist- ophthalmologist acknowledge our partners in philanthropy and head of the eye listed here. The generosity of these friends pathology laboratory at the Wilmer Eye supports a tradition of collaboration and Institute. far-reaching investigation as, together, we pursue the complex challenges of eye For more Dr. Stephen J. Ryan (right), diseases. While our space here is limited, information and presented the fifth annual event photos, please Susruta Lecture with Dr. V.K. our thankfulness is not. Although gifts of visit www.wilmer.org. Raju (middle). any amount are gratefully received, only gifts, pledges, and pledge payments totaling more than $250 in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2011, could be listed in this report. If any donor was accidentally missed, or if you prefer to remain anonymous, please contact the Development Office at 410-955-2020.

Aberdeen Lions Club Theodore H. Barth Foundation, Dr. Jan P. Acton Inc.

PHOTO BY MIKE MCELWAINE BY PHOTO Akebia Therapeutics Ms. Mary E. Bartkus L to r: Dr. and Mrs. William Tasman; Dr. and Mrs. Alcon Foundation, Inc. Dr. Alycia J. Bartley-Heinsen and Robert B. Welch; Ken Kenyon; Janet Green; Gordon Miss Fatima Al-Dhahiri Mr. Franz A. Heinsen Green; Hans Grossniklaus; Ellen Patz; Stephen J. Ryan; Mr. R. Minter Alexander Mrs. Cherie Bartos Chi-Chao Chan; Peter J. McDonnell. Allegro Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Mr. and Mrs. R. Bruce Bass David B. Allison, PhD Charles T. Bauer Foundation Altsheler-Durell Foundation Ms. Anne G. Baughman Mr. and Mrs. Peter C. Andrews The Beaufort Foundation Anonymous (14) Arnold and Mabel Beckman Dr. and Mrs. Nakorn Apakupakul Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Conrad Aschenbach Miss Constance D. Bendann* Mr. Norman J. Asher Mrs. Violet Bendann* The Asher Family Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Adolph J. Berger Mr. and Mrs. Alan Astrove Colonel and Mrs. George H. C. Mrs. Virginia C. Atkinson Berger

PHOTO BY FREED PHOTOGRAPHY BY PHOTO FREED PHOTOGRAPHY BY PHOTO Mr. Martin Auerbach Mr. James J. Bergera Dr. and Mrs. Alex Azar The Berner Charitable and Back Creek Charitable Trust Scholarship Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Goutam Bagchi Mr. Denny Bertolla Dr. and Mrs. William A. Baker Joseph R. Bianchine, MD, PhD Mr. and Mrs. Richard Baks Ms. Mary E. Blackman Ms. Irene Baldwin Charles J. Blair, MD Edmund F. and Virginia B. Ball Mr. and Mrs. E. A. Grosvenor Foundation Blair Mr. Nathan Baltor* Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Bloom Dr. Allison McCoy, Wilmer third- Mr. Edward Mr. Melvin Barmat Mr. William H. Bode year resident, and her father, Beckwith, Esq. Mr. Jerry J. McCoy, Esq. *deceased 410-955-5080 FALL 2011 SightLine 15 annual review H. Culver Boldt, MD, and Mr. and Mrs. William O. Gordon Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin C. Jun Ms. Maria Lukas DeWitt Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Richard Mr. and Mrs. Joshua I. Justin Paul S. Bomberger Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Michael F. B. Gordon Sr. Mr. and Mrs. Wolf Kahn Foundation, Inc. DiMarco Mrs. Hill Graff Kane Lodge Foundation, Inc. Anna Borun & Harry Borun Mr. and Mrs. Steven Dola Drs. James H. and Carol L. Gray Mr. Brian B. Kane Foundation Mr. William A. Donlon Mr. and Mrs. William Greaney Mr. and Mrs. Dmitry Z. Mrs. Ann A. Bosworth Ms. Marie C. Donohoe* Mr. and Mrs. Milton D. Kanevsky Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Michel M. Mr. William J. Dorman Jr. Greenbaum Mr. and Mrs. Marshall V. Kaplan Boxberger Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Allen Dorsey Monica & Hermen Greenberg Mr. Herbert Kasoff Drs. Neil M. and Susan B. Mr. Andreas C. Dracopoulos Foundation Mr. Jack Kay Bressler George and Grace Dragas Mr. Kenneth L. Greif Mr. and Mrs. Allen Kayne Ms. Paula J. Brooks Foundation Mrs. Leith S. Griswold Ms. Doris C. Kennedy Mr. Fitzhugh L. Brown Elizabeth and Richard Dubin Louis H. Gross Foundation, Inc. Mrs. Elaine G. Kennedy Mr. and Mrs. Howard Foundation Emanuel Gruss & Riane Gruss Ltc. and Mrs. Robert D. Kennedy N. Brownstein Mr. and Mrs. Edward K. Dunn Jr. Charitable Foundation (Ret.) Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Baker Mrs. Jean H. Durfee Guerrieri Family Foundation, Inc. Mr. John B. Kentch Ms. Linda G. Burka E & B Family Trust Mr. George M. Guill Jr.* Kern Family Trust Burlingame Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Jerrold L. Eberhardt Mr. and Mrs. Alvin Gutterman David E. Kern, MD, MPH Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Buslik El Sawy Family Foundation Dr. and Mrs. Quan H. Ha Drs. Jeong H. and Cynthia H. Kim Mr. Michael F. Butler Emmert Hobbs Foundation, Inc. Mr. and Mrs. Richard A. Ronald M. Kingsley, MD Mr. Robert S. Butts Mr. Walter P. Erney * Haberstroh Clarence & Ida Klassen Charitable Mrs. Rebecca A. Buzzard Ernst & Young Foundation Mr. Willard Hackerman Foundation Ms. Betsy F. Cadden Ms. Maria Teresa Escalante The Hackerman Foundation Michael L. Klein, MD, and Calvert County Lions Club, Inc. ExxonMobil Foundation Mr. Jacques G. Hager Mrs. Mary J. Radtke Klein Brig. Gen. and Mrs. Thomas J. Eye Foundation of America JJ Haines Foundation, Inc. Ms. Susan A. Kline Camp Jr. Eye Life International, Inc. Dr. Amin M. Hanafy, DSc Mr. Jack D. Knox Mr. Arthur A. Campbell Rear Adm. John N. Faigle Ms. Laurette L. Hankins Mrs. Marlene Koeppel The Capital Group Companies Mr. and Mrs. Robert B. Feduniak Mr. Michael Hargarten Saranne and Livingston Kosberg Ms. Constance R. Caplan Alfred & Harriet Feinman Mr. and Mrs. Richard Harris Ms. Sharon A. Kress Mr. John J. Cassidy Foundation Barbara S. Hawkins, PhD Mr. Mukund Krishnaswami Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Catalano Mr. and Mrs. David E. Feldman Mr. Benjamin Herman* Mrs. Ruth Kubovec* Mr. and Mrs. Philip B. Cerveny Mr. Robert P. Feldman Mr. Samuel D. Herman Mr. and Mrs. Robert D. Mrs. Charlotte C. Chamberlain Mr. and Mrs. Joseph S. Felser Mrs. Joan M. Hewitt Kunisch Sr. Ms. Yvonne B. Chanatry Dr. and Mrs. Leslie H. Fenton David & Barbara B. Hirschhorn Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Mr. and Mrs. Clement Chen III Fenwick Island Lions Club Foundation P. L. Kwok T. H. Chestermere, Ltd. Daniel Finkelstein, MD Hobbs Family Charitable Trust Dr. Adewale A. O. Laditan The Francis & Miranda Childress Mr. Thomas A. Fitzgerald Dr. and Mrs. Joseph G. Hoeg Dr. and Mrs. William H. Lake Foundation Dr. William F. Flanigan Jr. Mr. and Mrs. F. William Mr. John W. Lampmann Timothy Y. Chou, MD Mr. and Mrs. James E. Flournoy Hoffman Lavery Foundation Cinkala Family Fund Mr. George R. Floyd Mr. and Mrs. David L. Holman, Mr. and Mrs. Robert U. Lawall Mrs. Rose Cipriano Mr. Dennis J. Flynn CPA Lazinsky-Comeq-Flamoltz Fund Clark Charitable Foundation Flynn & Associates, Inc. Mr. and Mrs. Ben F. Holt Jr. Leap of Faith Foundation Mr. A. James Clark Ms. Olga R Forcione* Mrs. Carol S. Horn Mr. and Mrs. Scott J. Lederman Mr. Harris Clay Mr. William T. Forrester Mr. and Mrs. James A. Hourihan Paul P. Lee, MD Mr. Harold E. Clendenin Mr. Sid W. Foulger Mr. Steve Hronec Mr. Richard Lehmann Mrs. Nancy S. Coates Ms. Mary C. Frank Mr. Harvey L. Hudson Jr.* Mr. and Mrs.* David T. Leighton Mr. Carl C. Coe Jr. Robert N. Frank, MD The Hultquist Foundation Leisure World Lions Club Mr. William K. Colbath Mr. Edward Franz Mrs. Mary S. Humelsine George A. Lentz Jr., MD Mr. Donald E. Cora Mr. Angelo H. Frasca Mr. Christopher Ihde Ruth Baldauf Levi and Richard Ms. Laura A. Corazza Ms. Barbara W. Freeman Mrs. Helen J. Iliff A. Levi Charitable Fund Cordish Family Foundation, Mr. Ernest Freudman Mr. Turker Inanoglu Charles & Margaret Levin Family Inc. Dr. and Mrs. Stanley Friedler Mr. and Mrs. Roger Irvine Foundation Ms. Courtenay Corrigan Russell I. Fries, PhD Mrs. Charlotte K. James Gilbert V. Levin, PhD Mr. and Mrs. Donald Cotten Mr. Joseph F. Gaffigan Ms. Nancee James Levinson and Lee Family Claude L. Cowan Jr., MD Ms. Anna M. Geary Dr. Tariq Jamil Charitable Fund Crisfield Lioness Club Mrs. Janet C. Gehrlein Drs. Henry D. and Risa M. Bernice & Donald Levinson Crisfield Lions Club Mr. Nahum Gelber Jampel Philanthropic Fund Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Davis Mrs. Esther A. Gerber Robert S. Jampel, MD, PhD John B. and Judith Brown Levy Ms. Sherri R. Davis Carl and Nancy Gewirz Fund William H. Jarrett II, MD Fund Serge N. de Bustros, MD Mrs. Laura S. Gibian Mrs. Beverly B. Jennings Mr. and Mrs. Robert M. Levy Dealy Foundation, Inc. Mr. James H. Gipson The Jenny Fund Against Cancer Mr. Holmes Liao and Deer Park Lions Club Mr. and Mrs. Michael Gleiberman Dr. and Mrs. Allan D. Jensen Ms. Hue Hsiung Cheng Foundation, Inc. Sanjay D. Goel, MD Mr. S. G. Johndroe III Mr. and Mrs. John Linn Mr. and Mrs. John J. Delaney Mr. and Mrs. Henry H. Goldberg Ms. Nancy Johns Lions Club of Olney, Inc. Mr. John G. Dendrinos Mrs. Marissa Goldberg Mr. and Mrs. Palmer S. Jones Lions Vision Research Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Joseph E. Denton Dr. and Mrs. Morton F. Goldberg Mr. and Mrs. Raymond R. Jones Inc. William N. Denton Family LTD Mr.* and Mrs. Irvin Gomprecht Jr. and Mr. Raymond R. Jones III Drs. Robert A. and Gail M. Liss Mr. and Mrs. John C. Detweiler Mr. and Mrs. C. Michael Gooden Ms. Virginia M. Jordan Mr. George S. Livanos 16 SightLine FALL 2011 Norman Locksley, PhD Moseley Associates, Inc. Henry & Ruth Blaustein T. Rowe Price Foundation, Inc. Dr. Elizabeth Lopez Moser Family Philanthropic Fund Rosenberg Fund Mrs. Leah E. Talley and Mrs. Katherine M. Loughlin Ms. Dorothy M. Mudd Ben & Esther Rosenbloom Ms. Crystal Fletcher Mr. Robert G. Luedke Ms. Betty S. Murphy Foundation, Inc. Ms. Annette Tan Jean and Jack Luskin Foundation Ms. Cathy A. Nelson Mr. and Mrs. Arthur J. Rothkopf Dr. and Mrs. Richard J. Thomas Mr. Theodore C. Lutz Mr. Irvin D. Newgren* Rothschild Charitable Dr. and Mrs. John T. Thompson Mrs. Eleanor L. Lyon Mr. Philip Niarchos Foundation, Inc. Mr. and Mrs. W. Reid Thompson Mathew W. MacCumber, Honorable and Mrs. Arthur L. Ms. Elaine Rothschild Mr. Stephen M. Thorpe MD, PhD Nims III RTL Electric Company Mr. and Mrs. William R. Tiefel Lois & Philip Macht Family Mrs. Agnes E. Nixon Mr. Alfred R. Rubin Mrs. R. Carmichael Tilghman Philanthropic Fund John R. Nordlund, MD Helena Rubinstein Foundation Ms. Mary Victory D. Tillery Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Madden Ms. Sherry Norman Mr. John J. Ryan III Mrs. Pauline G. Timmerman Mr. and Mrs. Preston Madden North Hagerstown Lions Club Stephen J. Ryan Jr., MD Mr. Trygve H. Tonnessen Mr. and Mrs. John S. Magney Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence C. Sabelhaus Family Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Philip Trainer Maureen G. Maguire, PhD, and Nussdorf Fund Ms. Hien T. Tran James A. Tonascia, PhD Mr. Ralph S. O'Connor Mr. and Mrs. Donald Sadler Mrs. Dao B. Tran Mr. Thomas J. Maholchic Mr. and Mrs. James E. Troutman Odd Fellows and Rebekahs Visual St. Katherines Greek Orthodox Mr. Thomas Mammarella and Mark O. M. Tso, MD Research Foundation Church Mrs. Barbara A. Marsh Jiang Tu, L.AC, PhD Mrs. Shirley Offit Salisbury Wicomico Lions Club Ms. Linda Manglass Mr. Albert W. Turner R. Joseph Olk, MD Mr. Shyam Salona Mr. Anthony J. Mariani Jr. Mr. Adam Turoff Dorothea McAnulty Olsen Santen Incorporated Marshall Family Fund Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Richard Tyson Ms. Kelsey Marshall R & Z Sass Family Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Sudhindra R. Dr. and Mrs. David H. Orth Ms. Elizabeth Savage Maryland Society of Eye Mr. and Mrs. Ernest T. Oskin Umarji and Mr. Ravi Umarji Physicians Milton Schamach Foundation, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas E. Utz William & Ella Owens Medical Inc. Mr. John J. Mason Research Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Steve X. Vagnerini Robert W. Massof, PhD Mrs. Carolyn S. Schlenger Mr. Douglas R. Van Scoy Ms. Rose Parapiglia Mr. and Mrs. Gabriel Schmergel Mr. and Mrs. L. Stanley Mauger Mr. Charles R. Parmele III Mr. and Mrs. Antonio Vilar William May, MD Mr. and Mrs. Jack W. Schnoor Dr. Donald E. Vinson Ms. Carmena Parris Mr. and Mrs. Arnold R. Schunick Mrs. Beatrice C. Mayer David Paton, MD W. M. Keck Foundation Mr. Bernard D. Mayer Jr. Miss Dorothy M. Scott Ms. Paula K. Wagner Major General and Mrs. John S. Ms. Camilla McCaslin Ms. Phyllis Sedgley Ms. Irmengard Wagstaff Patton Mr. Hugh P. McCormick Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Jack C. Seigle Mr. and Mrs. Bobby J. Wallace Mr. Harry X. Peaker Mr. James C. McCrery Jacob S. Shapiro Foundation Mr. and Mrs. David W. Wallace Mr. Paul L. Peck Jr. Mr. and Mrs. James P. M. Sigmund and Barbara K. Mr. and Mrs. Stratford C. Mrs. Virginia A. Peck McDonagh Shapiro Fund Wallace Jay S. Pepose, MD, PhD Capt. and Mrs. William M. Mrs. Elisa F. Sharpe Mrs. Barbara J. Warner Dr. and Mrs. George L. Perry McDonald, USN, Ret. Mr. James D. Shockey Ronald E. Warnick, MD Dr. and Mrs. Paul Peyser Drs. Peter J. and Jan M. Dr. and Mrs. Richard G. The Washington Post Company Plave Koch PLC McDonnell Shugarman Ms. Eunice L. Watkins* Mr. and Mrs. Rubin Plushner Mr. John J. McGann Rose L. Shure Mr. Leonard M. Weintraub Ms. Roberta M. Polk Mr. Daniel E. McLain Mr.* and Mrs.* Milton L. Shurr Mr. Robert M. Weintraub Dr. and Mrs. Irvin P. Pollack Mr. David S. McLean Mr. and Mrs. Lee M. Silverman Mr. Edward H. Welbourn III Mr. Ronald E. Pottle Mr. John K. McNulty Jr. Mrs. Lennie R. Slocumb Mr. John B. Wheeler Mr. and Mrs. John K. Mr. and Mrs. Marc S. Pritchard Mrs. Gloria M. White and Promedior, Inc. Mrs. Clarice R. Smith McNulty Sr. David Bruce Smith Family Mr. David U. Gogol Ms. Killian M. McNulty Ms. Jennifer B. Quartner and Shelby R. Wilkes, MD, MBA Ms. Jillian Quartner Foundation Ms. Meighan K. McNulty Robert H. Smith Family Charles P. Wilkinson, MD Medical Illness Counseling Center Dr. and Mrs. Harry A. Quigley Ms. Barbara J. Williams Mr. and Mrs. Stephen F. Raab Foundation Kenneth A. and Jo A. Merlau Prof. Valery Soyfer Mrs. Gertrude J. Williams Fund V. K. Raju, MD Dr. Marjorie J. Williams Drs. Peter A. and Astrid U. Charles S. Specht, MD Ms. Marjorie T. Merriman Phillip Spector and Carole Mr. and Mrs. Joseph M. Witcher Harvey M. & Lyn P. Meyerhoff Rapoza Ms. Virginia L. Woerner Sue Lebb Fund Ms. Barbara Raso Mr. and Mrs. Donald R. Wolfe Dr. and Mrs. Charles H. Spragg Mr. and Mrs. W. Mark Meyers Mr. and Mrs. Philip J. Rauch Ms. Marcella E. Woll* Walter J. Stark Jr., MD Ms. Sylvia Michelson Dr. Pannala V. Reddy Ms. Aleda C. Wright State Farm Insurance Companies Dr. and Mrs. Albert T. Milauskas Mr. John M. Reilly Mr. and Mrs. A. Thomas Young Miller Family Gift Fund Mr. and Mrs. Fred Reiner Mrs. Lina A. Steele Ms. Florence M. Young Neil R. Miller, MD, and Michael X. Repka, MD Mr. Russell A. Stephens Mr. William T. Young Jr. Mrs. Carol R. Miller Mr. and Mrs. Timothy N. Mr. and Mrs. Bradley A. Stirn Mr. John F. Younkman Mr. and Mrs. Rodney E. Milnes Resler Straatsma Charitable Gift Fund Marco A. E. Zarbin, MD Mr. Arthur R. Minner Retinal Vascular Foundation Mr. Lowell P. Strader Mr. George Raymond Ziegler Jr.* Miriam Lodge K.S.B., Inc. Revision Therapeutics, Inc. Leon Strauss, MD, PhD Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Zilliacus John Mitchell Jr. Trust Ms. Judith Rivkin Strouse Family Fund Ms. Olga Zois Mr. Josiah Mok Mrs. Mary Jane Roberts Subramanian Family Fund Mr. and Mrs. Joseph C. Zuray Mr. Daniel Molerio Mrs. Maureen A. Robinson Janet B. Svirsky, PhD Mrs. L. Franklin Moore Jr. Rockville Lions Club Ms. Edith J. Sweeney and *deceased Ms. Lucy G. Moorhead David A. Rosen, MD Ms. Anita Sweeney 410-955-5080 FALL 2011 SightLine 17 annual review Faculty Feats A sampling of FY11 honors for Wilmer physicians

Esen Karamursel Akpek, MD accomplishments in a press release by the Juvenile Dia- betes Research Foundation announcing congressional n Appointed associate professor of rheu- passage of a $300 million renewal of funds for diabetes matology, Department of Medicine, research over the next two years Hopkins School of Medicine n Invited by the National Eye Institute to present Diabet- n Appointed national chair of the Study ic Retinopathy Clinical Research Network accomplish- Committee and principal investigator ments to the National Advisory Eye Council, whose on “Topical Cyclosporin Therapy in members advise the National Eye Institute Atopic Keratoconjunctivitis,” supported by Allergan, n Received a Senior Scientific Investigator Award from Inc. (total direct cost $619,000) Research to Prevent Blindness n Appointed editorial board member, Middle East African n Elected as secretary of the Macula Society Journal of Ophthalmology n Appointed member of ARVO’s Continuing Medical Education Committee Susan Bressler, MD n Appointed departmental representative of Medical School Council, Hopkins School of Medicine n Continues to serve the Diabetic Reti- n Selected member of the International Workshop on nopathy Clinical Research Network as Meibomian Gland Dysfunction a vice chair and as the manuscript de- velopment leader. In the past two years n Selected to be included in Best Doctors in America by the DRCR.net has published 11 sci- Consumers’ Research Council of America entific papers in leading peer-reviewed literature reporting critical findings from prospective clinical trials dedicated to improv- Ava K. Bittner, OD, PhD ing care for individuals with diabetic eye disease. As a member of several protocol development commit- n Completed a PhD in clinical investiga- tees she has also assisted in preparing three trials that tion from the Johns Hopkins Bloom- have recently launched to further our knowledge in berg School of Public Health this area of diabetic macular edema and proliferative n Received the 2010–2011 American diabetic retinopathy. Academy of Optometry Ezell Fellow- n Continues to co-manage an exciting study within ship Award AREDS2 evaluating a home monitoring device for n Inducted as a member of the Phi Beta Kappa national individuals with age-related macular degeneration academic honor society who are at high risk of progressing to vision-impairing forms of the disease. The goal is to determine if this n Selected to participate as a fellow in the 11th Annual device identifies earlier onset of wet macular degen- NIH / OBSSR Summer Institute on the Design and eration, which should provide for better vision results Conduct of Randomized Clinical Trials Involving with prompt initiation of therapy. Behavioral Interventions n Continues to be recognized for her outstanding teach- ing with invitations to speak internationally and na- tionally on AMD and diabetic eye disease, including Neil Bressler, MD the keynote lecture for WinR (Women in Retina) at the annual meeting of the American Society of Retina n Chaired the NIH-sponsored Diabetic Specialists Retinopathy Clinical Research Net- work, a collaboration of more than 1,000 investigators and other personnel, whose work was used as justification for funding of the National Eye Insti- tute, and mentioned as one of three 18 SightLine FALL 2011 Gislin Dagnelie, PhD and invited to speak at Grand Rounds n Lectured at Wills Eye Hospital Annual Meeting as the n Received a five-year R01 from the Na- Richard Ellis honorary speaker tional Eye Institute for “Development of a Prosthetic Low Vision Rehabilita- n Chaired sessions at Asia ARVO (Singapore) and the tion Curriculum” World Glaucoma Congress () n Received a Stimulus Grant subcontract n Completed enrollment of nearly 900 subjects in the (with second Sight Medical Products) largest single center clinical trial (to prevent angle clo- to “Develop and Test Low Vision Assessment Tools for sure glaucoma) in ophthalmology Visual Prostheses” n Published the book Visual Prosthetics: Physiology, Bioengi- neering, Rehabilitation, the first in this new field to cover Morton F. Goldberg, MD the biological and functional aspects of visual prostheses n Presented the inaugural Dr. G. Venkataswamy Endowment Lecture, Madurai, India, 2010 Diana V. Do, MD n Presented the Four Father Endowed n Gave birth to first child, Alexandra- Lecture, “A Reappraisal of North Caro- VanHa lina Macular Dystrophy,” University of Illinois at Chicago, 2010 n Program chair, 2011 Maryland Society of Eye Physicians and Surgeons 5th n Dedication of the Morton F. Goldberg Professorship Annual Ophthalmology Convention in Ophthalmology at the University of Illinois in Chicago, 2011 n Guest of honor and the International Society for Prevention of Blindness Lecturer, 2011 Illinois Association of Ophthalmology and Chicago Ophthalmological Society Annual Joint Conference Michael P. Grant MD, PhD, FACS n Guest of honor and invited speaker, XIX Reunião de n Visiting professor, Peking University Oftalmologia, , Portugal Department of Maxillofacial Surgery, n Invited faculty at the 2011 Macula of Paris, France; , China; & Department of the 2011 Angiogenesis, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute; Ophthalmology, Shanghi 9th People's the 5th French-American Ophthalmology and Oto- Hospital laryngology Symposium, Montreal, Canada; the 2011 n International coordinator, Oculoplastics Oxford University Eye Congress, United Kingdom Section, APAO/AAO Joint Meeting, Sydney, Australia n Elected, AAO Council Nominating Committee David S. Friedman, MD, MPH, PhD n Course chairman, Principles of Orbital Reconstruction, AO North America, Chicago n Received a five-year Translational Re- search Center grant by the Centers for Disease Control to assess public health David L. Guyton, MD interventions to improve vision among Americans n Professorship named in his honor: n Implemented diabetic retinopathy The David L Guyton, MD, and telemedicine screening programs in Indonesia and Feduniak Family Professorship in Bangladesh Ophthalmology n Lectured as a keynote speaker at the annual European n Received the Lifetime Achievement Glaucoma Society in Madrid (Epidemiology of glauco- Award from the American Association ma in ; Impact on the approaches to glaucoma for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus treatment) and the Brazilian medical school annual n Delivered the Owen Belmont Memorial Lectures on meeting (Sao Paolo) Optics and Refraction, Wills Eye Hospital n Presented at the Moorfields () annual meeting more >

410-955-5080 FALL 2011 SightLine 19 annual review

James T. Handa, MD Richard J. Kolker, MD n Attended Beckman conference on n Presented “Introduction to Clinical age-related macular degeneration Ophthalmology and the Red Eye” n Awarded one-year $100,000 Beckman lecture for Johns Hopkins Nurse Institute grant for AMD Practitioner Diagnosis Course, rated “Best in Course” for academic years n Selected to be a reviewer for Thome 2009–2010 and 2010–2011 Awards in AMD (He is a current recipi- n ent of this grant.) Invited speaker for JHCAPO 2011 Annual Meeting in Orlando, Florida n Continues to be a member of the editorial board of Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science n Invited Speaker to ISER, July 2010, Montreal n Faculty advisor for Heed Foundation Meeting for Shannath Merbs, MD Residents, Chicago, October 2010 n n Invited speaker, Wills Eye Institute 50th anniversary Awarded access to the Center for meeting, Philadelphia, January 30, 2011 Inherited Disease Research (CIDR) to perform DNA methylation analysis of n David Rich Lecture, University of Alabama, 500 samples from patients with macu- Birmingham, March 23, 2011 lar degeneration and glaucoma to look for novel epigenetic changes associated with these diseases Henry D. Jampel, MD, MHS n Member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology’s Practicing Ophthalmologists Curriculum Oculoplas- n Keynote speaker, Wilmer Day of tics/Orbit Panel, 2009–2014, Office Record Review Learning, June 2011 (ORR) module revision n Assumed chairmanship of American n Co-chair, Translational Research in Orbits and Academy of Ophthalmology’s Oculoplastics session, Asian Pacific Academy of Oph- Ophthalmic Technology Assessment thalmology–American Academy of Ophthalmology Committee Joint Congress 2010, Beijing, China n Appointed chair of Information Technology n Invited speaker at the 17th Annual Glaucoma Subcommittee of the Johns Hopkins Clinical Practice Foundation Optic Nerve Rescue and Restoration Association’s Practice Management Committee Think Tank, “Epigenetics and Glaucoma,” New York City, October 2010 Albert Jun, MD, PhD n Appointed vice chair of education for the Wilmer Institute Peter J. McDonnell, MD n Keynote speaker, Asia Cornea Society n International Guest of Honor, Brazilian Meeting, Kyoto, Japan Congress of Ophthalmology n International keynote speaker, n Chabad-Lubavitch International Johns Homburg Keratoconus Symposium, Hopkins Medicine International Com- Homburg, Germany munity Service Award, October 2010 n Visiting scholar, Chinese University of Hong Kong n  International President, American- n Invited speaker and moderator, Asia ARVO Annual Brazilian Ophthalmological Association, 2010 Meeting, Singapore n Invited speaker, Corneal Dystrophy Foundation Biennial Meeting, Portland, OR n Invited speaker, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan

20 SightLine FALL 2011 Neil R. Miller, MD Josephine O. Owoeye, OD, MPH n Delivered the plenary lecture at the n Selected as an advisory board member Singapore National Eye Centre, Sen- for the Salus University Master of tosa Island, Singapore, and the Holden Public Health program Cook Lecture at the Yale University n Received University of California, School of Medicine Berkeley Translational Research confer- n Guest speaker at the French Society of ence travel grant for junior researchers Ophthalmology and the French Neuro-Ophthalmology Society Meeting in Paris Harry Quigley, MD Elliott H. Myrowitz, OD, MPH n Director, Glaucoma Center of n Named Maryland Optometric Associa- Excellence tion Optometrist of the Year n Awarded the prestigious Leslie Dana n Invited visiting professor and session Medal by the St. Louis Society for the chair, Saudi Ophthalmology 2011 Blind and Visually Impaired Symposium n Authored Glaucoma: What Every Patient n Course director Wilmer/ MOA, 4th Should Know, a guide to glaucoma written for patients Annual Evidence-Based Care in Optometry meeting

Pradeep Ramulu, MD, PhD Quan Dong Nguyen, MD, MSc n Received Special Scholar Award from n Proud father of newborn daughter, Research to Prevent Blindness Alexandra-VanHa n Instituted new resident didactic format n Chair of the scientific program com- for glaucoma—sessions were classified mittee, 2011 Congress of the Interna- as “very useful” by 89% of residents, tional Ocular Inflammation Society, as compared to 37% for traditional Goa, India lectures n Visiting professor at University of Toronto, Canada; n Visiting professor, Flaum Eye Institute, Rochester, NY University of Nebraska n Guest of honor and invited speaker, XIX Reunião de Oftalmologia, Lisbon, Portugal Michael X. Repka, MD, MBA n Invited faculty at the 2011 Macula of Paris, France; the 2011 Angiogenesis, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute; the n Earned MBA in Medical Services 2011 Oxford University Eye Congress, United King- Management, conferred Johns Hopkins dom University December 30, 2010 n Course director, the 5th French-American Ophthal- n Edward J. Stegman CPA Memorial mology and Otolaryngology Symposium, Montreal, Award Canada n Arthur J. Bedell, MD, Lectureship, n Chair of the Multi-Center READ-3 Study (Ranibizum- Wills Eye Ex-Residents Annual Meeting, March 11, ab for Edema of the mAcula in Diabetes) sponsored by 2011 the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation n American Academy of Ophthalmology, Secretariat Award, Communications Department, 2010 n American Academy of Ophthalmology, Life Achieve- ment Honor Award, 2011 n President, Maryland Society of Eye Physicians and Surgeons more >

410-955-5080 FALL 2011 SightLine 21 annual review

Hendrik Scholl, MD, MA Prem S. Subramanian, MD, PhD n Obtained $1,250,000 from the Clark n Keynote speaker, Sankara Nethralaya Charitable Foundation, Inc., to per- Eye Foundation, Chennai, India form research in ocular albinism n Appointed to editorial board, Journal n Invited speaker at the U.S. Congress of Neuro-Ophthalmology Briefing on September 23, 2010, n Visiting professor, Flaum Eye Institute, hosted by the Alliance for Eye and Vi- Rochester, NY sion Research’s (AEVR) Decade of Vision 2010-2020 Initiative, co-hosted by the AMD Alliance Interna- tional (AMDAI), the Association for Research in Vision Jennifer E. Thorne, MD, PhD and Ophthalmology (ARVO), and the European Vision Institute n AAO’s Best Paper Award, 2010 n Invited speaker at the World Health Organization n Visiting professor at the University of Consultation on public health approaches to the man- Iowa, Dept. of Ophthalmology agement of age-related macular degeneration, n Guest lecturer, Canadian Uveitis (November 2011) Society, Canadian Ophthalmologic Society Annual Meeting n America’s Top Ophthalmologist, 2011 Richard D. Semba, MD, MPH n Moderated a session on malnutrition at Mark O.M. Tso, MD, DSc the II World Congress of Public Health Nutrition in Porto, Portugal n Continues to be the director for n Discovered a link between the "anti- education of International Council aging" hormone klotho and lifespan of Ophthalmology (with close to 100 among older adults living in Tuscany, memberships across five continents) n Appointed coordinating chair of the n Awarded an internal grant and received a private dona- World Ophthalmic Education Collo- tion to complete the catalog of the William Holland quium (7 Symposia) at the World Ophthalmic Wilmer Rare Book Collection Congress 2012 Abu Dhabi n Awarded 2010 Gold Fellowship of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology n Appointed honorary director and professor of the Akrit Sodhi, MD, PhD Peking University Eye Center, Beijing, China n Elected president, Shandong Red Cross Prevention of n Awarded K08 grant from NEI to Blindness Foundation—Shandong, China study angiogenic dysregulation in VHL retinal hemangioblastomas. n Awarded Research to Prevent Blindness David S. Zee, MD Career Development Award to study n Received the Master Clinician Award the role of novel hypoxia inducible from the Johns Hopkins senior neurol- genes which promote edema in retinal and choroidal ogy residents neovascular disease n Received an Outstanding Teaching Award from the Osler medicine house staff Walter J. Stark, MD n Delivered the Morris Bender Lecture, Mt. Sinai Medical School in New York n Guest of honor of the 1st International n Gave keynote lectures at the Biannual National Con- Congress of Ophthalmology, Grosseto, gress of Neurology, Borovets, Bulgaria, and the Nation- Romoe al Congress of Neurology in Punta del Este, Uruguay n Invited to teaching courses in Siena, Italy; Toronto, Canada; Buenos Aires, Argentina; Chennai, India; and 22 SightLine FALL 2011 Reykjavik, Iceland Have your cake and eat it too. Make a gift to the Wilmer Eye Institute now. Receive income for life.

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410-955-5080 FALL 2011 SightLine 23 Non-profit Org. SightLine U.S. Postage Paid Baltimore, MD SightLine is published twice a year by the Wilmer Eye Institute at Johns Hopkins. Permit No. 2589 Managing Editor: Sonia Williams Editor: Sue De Pasquale Contributing Writer: Marlene England Designer: Abby Ferretti © 2011 The Johns Hopkins University and The Johns Hopkins Health System Corporation To add/remove your name from the mailing list, please send your name and address to: The Wilmer Eye Institute Sightline Subscription 600 N. Wolfe Street, Wilmer 112 Baltimore, MD 21287-9015 [email protected] 410-955-2020 410-955-0866 (fax)

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