56853 ViewpointFW12-7_ViewpointFW09-7 2/4/13 2:34 PM Page 1 A PUBLICATION OF THE EDWARD S. HARKNESS EYE INSTITUTE AND THE DEPARTMENT OF OPHTHALMOLOGY ıewpoınt IN THE COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS AND SURGEONS V FALL 2012/WINTER 2013 Board of Advisors Welcomes Sir INSIDE Howard Stringer as New Chairman View from the Chair 2 The Residency The Department of Ophthalmology, and it is truly an honor Training Program: Ophthalmology’s Board of to be invited to chair the Board of Balance in Action Advisors has welcomed Sir Advisors,” Sir Howard said. “I look for- Howard Stringer as its new ward to working with everyone there as Chairman. Sir Howard has assumed I attempt to fill the very large shoes of Science Insight 3 the chairmanship from Louis V. my good friend, Lou Gerstner, while also Gerstner, Jr., former Chairman and echoing the inspiration of the Glaucoma as a redoubtable Dr. Stanley Chang.” Clinical and a CEO of IBM. Public Health Sir Howard, who is Chairman of the Before joining Sony in May 1997, Sir Problem Board of Directors of Sony Howard was President of CBS, which Visionaries & Corporation, as well as the compa- rose from last to first place in network Luminaries ny’s former Chairman, CEO and rankings under his direction. Earlier, he 4 President, has been a long-time inno- had been the executive producer of the Inaugural Stanley CBS Evening News with Dan Rather Chang, M.D. vator and leader in the world of busi- Lecture Features ness. He brings to the Department— and of the CBS Reports documentary International where he is a devoted patient of unit, which earned him nearly every Retinal Surgeon major broadcast honor, including 31 Stanley Chang, M.D.—invaluable Jack Cioffi, M.D. is business acumen, honed during Emmys, four Peabody Awards, three First Recipient of decades of work as a journalist, Sir Howard Stringer Alfred I. DuPont-Columbia University Deems producer and television executive. Awards, three Christopher Awards, three Professorship Overseas Press Club Awards, an ABA Silver Gavel and a “I know from firsthand experience what great work is Robert F. Kennedy Grand Prize. done by the dedicated professionals of the Department of Faculty Spotlight 6 continued on page 3 Columbia Ophthalmology Welcomes Four Columbia’s clinical, international New Faculty Members Fellowships: Transitions and research fellowship programs derive exceptional richness from the In Memoriam from Training to Practice school’s world-renowned faculty, its 8 emphasis on teaching and mentor- John Wilson Espy, In this world of special- thalmologists learn how to deal with ship, and its reputation as a national M.D. ized and subspecialized the most unique diseases and surgi- and international referral center for medicine, fellowship training is cal needs, while smoothing their hard-to-treat cases. de rigueur. Being a fellow at transition from a training environ- Samantha Xavier, M.D., a pediatric Columbia Ophthalmology, however, ment to independent practice. As retina fellow, has the opportunity to is about more than specialization or George A. (Jack) Cioffi, M.D., the apprentice with the masters of her mentored by more than a dozen even becoming a superb clinician or Edward S. Harkness Professor and craft. Dr. Xavier’s primary mentors world-class specialists, each of whom scientist. It is about becoming a Chairman, Columbia University are Stanley Chang, M.D., the K.K. has a signature approach to the leader in the world of medicine. Medical Center, Department of Tse and Ku Teh Ying Professor treatment of retina disease. Ophthalmologists typically of Ophthalmology, who directs The fellowship is unique because it leave residency qualified for the retina fellowship, and introduces young ophthalmologists general practice. Many Robert Lopez, M.D. Dr. Xavier to complex procedures that they receive some specialty train- feels especially fortunate to be would not ordinarily see during resi- ing that allows them to do learning surgical techniques dency. It also exposes them to a wide basic procedures, like exam- firsthand from Dr. Chang, who variety of patients, many of whom ining the retina or perform- invented many of them. “The come from medically underserved ing retina laser surgery. fact that I can work with Dr. countries, as well as medically However, three years of gen- Chang on a daily basis is a underserved communities in the eral ophthalmological train- dream come true, and my United States, where treatment had ing do not always expose res- Hamed Bazargan-Lari, M.D., Fiorella Saponara, M.D., experience under the direction been unavailable or unsuccessful. idents to the rarest condi- Glaucoma Fellow Cornea Fellow of Dr. Robert Lopez is These patients commonly have an tions or the subtleties of cer- unparalleled,” she said. amalgam of underlying health Ophthalmology, explained, “I can tain eye diseases. Such exposure problems, including diabetes, which teach you how to do glaucoma The two-year retina fellowship is comes from fellowship training. makes their cases particularly surgery in a few weeks, but I can’t highly competitive: Some 60 appli- challenging—and instructive. Fellowships bridge the gap between teach you how to be a doctor in a cants vie for a single position each residency and practice. Young oph- few weeks.” year, and the opportunity to be continued on page 5 56853 ViewpointFW12-7_ViewpointFW09-7 2/4/13 2:34 PM Page 2 Viewfrom the Chair Dear Friends, It gives me great pleasure to begin this New Year by introducing Sir Training Program, where fellows have the privilege of working Howard Stringer, who will assume the role of the Department’s new alongside world-renowned clinicians, surgeons and scientists, some Chairman of the Board of Advisors. Sir Howard brings to the board 30 of whom had been Harkness fellows themselves. The gratitude is years of corporate leadership. Prior to his current post as Chairman of not one-sided—for every grateful mentee, there is a mentor who is the Board of Directors of the grateful for the chance to give back. Sony Corporation, Sir Howard Our base in Washington Heights, where much of the population hails was Sony’s CEO and President, from medically underserved countries without regular or proper eye as well as president of CBS. A care, greatly enhances training at the Institute. In this context, ophthal- highly-esteemed journalist, mology is more than a medical specialty; it is a public health crisis that television producer and philan- strikes an alarming proportion of unknowing patients, many of whom thropist, he sits on the board of are minorities and lack timely treatment. Read more in this issue the NewYork-Presbyterian about Dana Blumberg, M.D., M.P.H., and how she is trying to tackle Hospital. this crisis by studying population-wide screening tools to detect Reflecting on the New Year glaucoma before it is too late to treat. brings to mind beginnings. I This Viewpoint spotlights new faculty: Leejee Suh, M.D., Quan V. have focused this issue of (Donny) Hoang, M.D., Ph.D., and Lauren Yeager, M.D., as well as D. Viewpoint on training, because Jackson Coleman, M.D., who has returned to Columbia as professor, superior training launches suc- clinician, and researcher. It also features a story about the inaugural cessful ophthalmology careers. Stanley Chang, M.D. Lectureship, which was jointly and generously Training is probably our most funded by two donations. Finally, it notes my appointment as the Jean significant obligation to our profession. And yet, training here is more and Richard Deems Professor of Ophthalmology, another important than a tool. It is a legacy, and it begins with our Residency Training legacy, which I accept with the deepest honor. Program. Under the capable direction of Bryan Winn, M.D., the program has flourished. Sincerely, When asked what they appreciate most about training at the Institute, current and former residents unanimously mentioned autonomy with superb faculty oversight. Doing is learning, and being responsible for patient care, formulating diagnoses and treatment plans, while always knowing that faculty are poised to offer guidance, builds residents’ skills and self-confidence. George A. (Jack) Cioffi, M.D. Jean and Richard Deems Professor Students especially value the mentoring they have received here at the Edward S. Harkness Professor Institute. Such mentoring is the cornerstone of our Fellowship Chairman, Department of Ophthalmology The Residency Training Program: Balance in Action Stacy Scofield had a feeling early in sions, and labs have lectures, so residents can talk From their first day, residents are encouraged to medical school that she wanted to be an oph- and think about what they are learning. work independently. Initially, their caseloads are thalmologist. Her brief exposure to the residency light and oversight is intense. They accompany For example, the monthly morbidity, mortality training program at the Edward S. Harkness Eye attending physicians on rounds, take patient and microsurgery conference now allows for res- Institute during her fourth-year in medical histories and conduct comprehensive ophthal- ident-faculty dialogue about cases that are pre- school at Columbia’s College of Physicians and mological exams. They take emergency calls, sented via video. Meanwhile, the surgical cur- Surgeons solidified her decision to pursue assist with and learn to perform basic surgical riculum, which traditionally had been taught as Ophthalmology. Among the qualities that procedures, and act as the first liaison on the an apprenticeship—residents Scofield most appreciated about the program ophthalmological team to learned by watching and assist- was its dual emphasis on students’ autonomy examine patients who have ing—now includes formal lab and faculty support. “It was the best learning an acute issue. sessions with lectures. experience I have had,” Scofield said. Gradually, residents acquire The lectures create a nonthreat- This balance—between independence and more autonomy.