The Newsletter of the Senior Ophthalmologist Winter 2019 | Volume 23 | Issue 1 SCOPE

The Most Venerable Order of the of Malta, has over 18,000 mem- Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem: bers and a few thousand non- member auxiliaries worldwide. Providing Eye Care Where None Exists Bruce E. Spivey, MD, MS, MEd, Knight of St. John and member of the Despite denominational dif- St. John Ophthalmic Association (SOA) ferences, the Roman Catholic order (SMOM) and the alestine, one of the most end of the 11th four Protestant vulnerable and impover- century, the orders (Brit- Pished populations in the hospital had ish, German, world, is getting the benefit of 1,000 beds Dutch and essential ophthalmic care from and treated Swedish) The St. John Eye Hospital Group up to 2,000 recog- (SJEHG). male and nize each female other as What is surprising is that this patients legitimate hospital group has provided care at times Orders of in the Middle East for almost 140 of conflict, St. John and years in an area where no univer- irrespective support each sal national health service exists. of race, religion other’s efforts. The group treats all patients or social status. irrespective of race, religion or To this day, most ability to pay. It has the backing Pope Paschal II established run hospitals, first responder of the Order of St. John Priory the order by papal charter in or ambulance services and in the U.S. and all other priories 1113 under the patronage of St. care for the sick and the poor. and improves the well-being of John the Baptist. In 1144, the However, all reference to the men, women and children in British Knights of the Order order relate to the British Ven- this difficult part of the world. of St. John established a priory erable Order of St. John, or, to in Clerkenwell, London where, give it its full title, The Most History despite the dissolution of the Venerable Order of the Hospi- monasteries in the reign of tal of Saint John of Jerusalem. The Most Venerable Order of the Henry VIII, the headquarters of With its global headquarters in Hospital of St. John of Jerusa- St. John remains to this day. Clerkenwell, London, it remains lem has its origins in the early a royal Order of Chivalry. 11th century. Led by the Blessed It remains a Roman Catholic Gerard, the holy order of Reli- institution, led by its own Prince In 1882, soon after its foun- gious Hospitallers assumed Grand Master (with cardinal’s dation, the Order of St. John responsibility for a hospice for rank) and in indirect obedience established an eye hospital in pilgrims. It was built upon the to the Holy See. The Sovereign Jerusalem, chiefly to deal with legacy of the Amalfi traders and Military Order of the Hospi- trachoma, previously known as their Persian predecessors, who tal of St. John of Jerusalem, the “Mesopotamian Scourge” oversaw an ancient hospital on of Rhodes, and of Malta, also and “Egyptian ophthalmia.” the site 200 years earlier. By the known as SMOM or the Order Built on the road to Hebron OPHTHALMIC HISTORY

Order of the Hospital of of other Christian denomi- cent. The grade of bailiff/dame St. John of Jerusalem nations or other religions, Grand Cross is reserved for the including the Jewish faith, are highest officers or royalty. close to the walls of the Old welcomed into the order. Mem- City, the hospital would see bership is generally by invitation These promotions exist to and treat all patients irrespec- only. Individuals may neither recognize performance over and tive of their background or petition nor pay for admission. above that which might ordi- wealth. It reflects the order’s The organization is a constitu- narily be expected of a person ethos born in Jerusalem some ent member of the Alliance of in a particular role, including eight hundred years earlier and the Orders of St. John of Jerusa- distinguished leadership or for a embodied in its new motto, “Pro lem, a registered charity under high level of specialist contribu- Fide, Pro utilitatis hominum,” English law, and a non-profit tion. It requires documentation which means “For the Faith, charity in the United States. and recommendations from the for the service of Mankind.” prior to the queen. This is in In 2015, an academic arm contrast with the knighthood The order’s flagship hospi- was established to support given directly by the queen to a tal was founded in Jerusalem, the hospital group. Called the British citizen, which is a state with the St. John Ambulance St. John Ophthalmic Asso- honor awarded by the queen. Brigade following soon thereaf- ciation (SOA), this new body With St. John, the queen acts in ter in 1887. Today, the order is includes ophthalmologists her capacity as sovereign head an active humanitarian charity and healthcare professionals of the order and not the state. with a single mission: To pre- across four continents repre- vent and relieve sickness and senting all 11 priories. (Learn I was invested into the order injury and to act to enhance more at www.SOA.global). in 2000. I worked my way up the health and well-being of the ranks and became a knight people anywhere in the world. The priory’s main focus is to in 2014. I now serve as a mem- support the St. John of Jerusa- ber of the chapter (board) of Current Organization lem Eye Hospital Group. The the American priory. A knight group has evolved to meet the or dame of St. John are allowed St. John is a serving Order of ever-growing demand for eye their own coat of arms. I worked Chivalry of the British Crown care in the region and now oper- with the heraldry in London and is formed of 11 priories ates from its main hospital in and created one. This allows across the world, and numerous Jerusalem, a clinic in the Anabta one to move from a Knight of smaller St. John associations. in the north of the West Bank, a Grace to a Knight of Justice. Membership, bestowed by war- hospital in Hebron in the south rant of its sovereign head, Her and the recently opened flag- The president-elect of the Acad- Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, ship hospital in Gaza. Supported emy, Anne Coleman, is the Hospi- includes persons of all faiths by its priories and numerous taller of the American priory. who espouse the essential Chris- donors, the hospital group tian principles of charity to all treats over 135,000 patients a United States in need, irrespective of race, year suffering with eye disease religion or political persua- and at risk of becoming blind. As one of 11 priories of the Order sion. The order’s Grand Prior of St. John, the priory in the is His Royal Highness Prince Member Categories Richard, Duke of Gloucester, a Knight of the Order of the Grades of the Order of St John: Garter and Knight Grand Cross V IV III II I of the Royal Victorian Order. Member Officer Commander Knights/Dames Bailiff/Dame of Justice or Grand Cross Although the U.S. priory Grace was officially established in 1996, its history began some MStJ OStJ CStJ KStJ/DStJ GCStJ 40 years earlier, in 1957, and has since grown to include Depending on length and United States of America is led over 1,600 members. depth of service, members of St. by a prior and a chapter (board). John may ascend through the The priory chapter is made up The order’s members, known grades from V to I, as shown of 20 members of the order as confrères, are mostly of the above. The statutory maximum from across the U.S. who serve Protestant faith. However, those for knights and dames is 4 per- staggered three-year terms. 2 Order of the Hospital of outpatient depart- St. John of Jerusalem ments, including dedicated paediatric, The regional administra- retinal and corneal tion of U.S. priories is divided clinics and care in all into 19 geographic areas. As but one subspecialty of 2018, these regions were within ophthalmol- Atlanta; Austin, Texas/San ogy (oncology) is Antonio; Birmingham, Ala.; provided by the Charleston, S.C.; Greenwich, hospital group. Conn.; Connecticut; the Gulf Coast; Houston, Texas; Massa- The hospital also chusetts; the Mountain States; The Hospital Cloisters has a research unit, New York; North Carolina; primarily focused on Palm Beach, Fla.; Richmond, genetics, since there Va.; San Diego; San Fran- by Queen Victoria. Sir Edmund is considerable consanguinity cisco; Southwest (Dallas); St. Lechmere, 3rd Baronet of Hanley in the Palestinian population. Louis; and Washington, D.C. Castle, Worcestershire, was one Diabetes is described as high of the key figures in the founda- as 40 percent in the popula- Unlike many other priories tion of the Venerable Order of tion, and the hospital group is and associations of the Order of St. John. He and St. John, the priory in the U.S. his wife travelled does not manage an ambulance to Jerusalem on service for first aid training several occasions and first aid cover. Thus, and where they wit- to the enormous benefit of the nessed first-hand hospital group, the chief focus the urgent need of the priory has always been to for healthcare raise funds for the order’s eye among its citizens. hospitals in Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Gaza. So effective is Jerusalem this support that the priory’s Hospital annual donation is the largest of all priories and other donors. The main Jerusa- lem hospital lies a The St. John Hebron Hospital St. John Eye Hospital Group mile north of the Old City Walls in The original hospital was found- a region of East Jerusalem called actively engaged in population- ed by the Order of St. John in Sheik Jarrah. It was built in 1960 based retinal screening pro- 1882 on the Bethlehem Road, and is the largest of all St. John’s grams. The hospital attracts and was granted a Royal Charter eye units. It is ISO- and Joint volunteer doctors from around Commission the world who not only help Interna- care for the patients, but also tional- contribute towards the hospi- accredited, tal’s postgraduate activities, with sev- with significant support for eral wards these, and the SOA, coming staffed from the priory in the US. by locally trained There is also a strong and nurses, valued partnership with col- doctors leagues in the medical genetics and allied and ophthalmic departments health pro- of the Hadassah Hospital. Our fessionals. colleagues in West Jerusalem have for decades contributed to There both the ophthalmic training of St. John of Jerusalem Eye Hospital Group’s Main Hospital are several the hospital group doctors and in Sheik Jarrah subspecialty their postgraduate development. 3 Order of the Hospital of St. tal group set up a hospital in Mobile Outreach John of Jerusalem Hebron. The hospital provides Programs cataract and laser eye surgery The Gaza Hospital to treat diabetic retinopathy, The Mobile Outreach Program and serves the 640,000 people was launched in 1980. It has St. John Gaza Hospital has pro- that live in and around Hebron, two teams which travel across vided charitable eye care for the including the semi-nomadic the West Bank every week. 1.8 million residents of Gaza Bedouins of the Negev Desert. One Mobile Outreach team since 1992. In June 2016, St. In November 2015, the hos- typically sees between 8,000 John opened a new state-of-the- pital group moved into a new and 10,000 Palestinians each art hospital in Gaza, where over Hebron hospital, and in 2017, year. Over 16,000 patients 27,000 patients were treated in the hospital treated over 12,400 were seen in 2017. Finally, a 2017, and 900 major operations patients, including perform- Mobile Outreach Program performed. The hospital proj- ing over 420 major operations. was launched for the first ect received substantial Qatari, time in 2017. It went to areas Norwegian, United Nations, Anabta Clinic within Gaza, coordinated International Medical Corps from the new Gaza hospital. IMC and USAID support. In 2007, the hospital group set up its clinic in Anabta in the Author’s note: I want to gratefully Hebron Hospital north of the West Bank, where acknowledge the advice and infor- over 20,700 patients are treated mation provided by David Verity In 2005, in response to the each year. The clinic is easily and James Terzian, both officers of growing movement restrictions accessible from the major areas the Order of St. John, in preparing in the West Bank, the hospi- of Nablus, Tulkarem and Jenin. this article.

Operational units of the St. John Eye Hospital Group

4 In later years, as my career was In fairness, we must acknowl- developing, the pressure intensi- edge the positive role that indus- From the fied, as some companies seemed try plays in continuing medical to think my opinions might education and in major philan- Editor’s influence those of my colleagues. thropic donations that benefit Desk This led to the dinner talks and programs like ONE® Network other industry offerings that we and the Museum of Vision, all remember. Somewhere in the not to mention the advances 1980s, a drug company asked the in drugs and devices that help late Dr. Thom Zimmerman and our patients. But we must also me to give a series of weekend recognize that pharmaceuti- programs at resorts for which the cal industry’s inherent mission physician attendees would have is to further its business enter- all expenses paid for themselves prise, while ours is to serve our and their spouses. We agreed only patients, and we must not be with the caveat that our talks fooled into thinking that the would not promote their prod- actions of drug and device com- Our Ethical uct. But that hardly assuages the panies have no influence on us. Responsibility uncomfortable feeling I have today of participating in those events. Although most of us are now M. Bruce Shields, MD retired and hopefully no longer In 1985, the ophthalmologist susceptible to the influence of ne of the important and author Robin Cook published industry, we can’t help being con- changes that you and I “Mindbend,” a medical thriller cerned about the future of our Ohave witnessed in the that dealt, in his inimitable fash- profession and the pressures our medical profession during our ion of intrigue, with the concern younger colleagues will face. So careers has been a better apprecia- about how the pharmaceutical what can we do? Some of us may tion of the relationship between industry may influence the prac- still be in a position to influence medicine and industry. tice of physicians. It was a time policy within the medical profes- when our collective conscience sion or in our government. The When we began practicing sev- was beginning to question the Times article cited above suggests eral decades ago, there wasn’t a ethics of our interaction with drug several considerations for future great deal of concern about how and medical device companies. policy change: ban paid appoint- industry’s promotion of medical ments to outside boards; create products influenced the way we Today, the landscape of our uniform reporting standards; cared for our patients. We seemed interaction with industry is far establish real consequences for to be convinced that no favor a different from that described violations; and build a culture of drug company could shower on in my early experiences, as our transparency, for example tak- us would ever mislead us from profession, the pharmaceuti- ing disclosure rules seriously. our sacred duty of always putting cal industry and government our patients’ best interests first. have attempted to establish For those of us who are no Maybe we were naive or trusted ethical guidelines. And yet, longer in a position to influence too much in the integrity of our the risks are still apparent. policy, we may still have the profession. But looking back on opportunity to interact with our it through the perspective of There was, for example, a dis- younger colleagues who repre- time, it is clear that we were at turbing story just last year in sent the future of our profession. least putting ourselves at risk of which a prominent clinician- Perhaps by sharing with them being inappropriately influenced. scientist resigned from a leading the experiences we have had in medical center after admitting our careers and the concerns For me, it began the week I to accepting millions in industry we have regarding the influence graduated from medical school, payments (“Medicine’s Financial that the pharmaceutical industry when a drug company gave all 100 Contamination,” The New York could have on their practices, of us a handsome, black leather Times, Sept. 16, 2018). Few of us, it may guide them through the “doctor’s bag” with our names of course, were ever in a position ethical dilemmas that they will engraved in gold. Of course, lest to be tempted on such a large face. And, at a minimum, we can we forget, the drug company’s scale, but it serves to emphasize encourage our next generation of name was also on the bag. I still the potential influence that drug physicians to strive to perpetuate have that old bag, and I’ll bet and medical device makers may the venerated integrity on which many of you have one also. still have on our profession. our profession is founded. 5 WHAT WE ARE DOING TODAY

E. Michael Van Buskirk, MD: A Lifetime of the Good Samaritan Foundation Looking at the Eye and With the Eye established the Van Buskirk Chair for Ocular Research at Devers. M. Bruce Shields, MD Among his seminal contribu- hotography seems to come At Devers, he spearheaded tions to our understanding of natural for the ophthalmolo- the establishment of Discover- glaucoma is a technique for imag- Pgist. It is highly visual, ies in Sight, the research arm of ing ocular vessels, in which he detailed and technical and can the institute. It now supports six created extremely tiny plastic engage an ophthalmologist’s pas- principal investigators and their tubes – as fine as the finest suture sion for equipment and gadgets.” research staff. Dr. Van Buskirk – to cannulate fine vessels on the also served as founding editor surface of autopsy eyes and inject These are the words of Dr. E. of the Journal of Glaucoma and methacrylate into their lumens. Michael Van Buskirk, whose career was a founding member of the He then removed the tissue, leav- as an ophthalmologist and as a American Glaucoma Society, ing an intra-luminal casting of photographer have embodied many where he served as president in vessels down to the finest capil- unique forms of imaging. Few 1998-99. During his ophthalmol- laries, which he imaged with scan- individuals have excelled ogy career, he published over 160 ning electron microscopy. With as he has in two scientific papers, over 200 origi- this procedure, Dr. Van Buskirk distinct careers. nal articles, editorials and book advanced our knowledge of ocu- chapters and five books. Dr. Van lar blood flow, especially in the Dr. Van Bus- Buskirk is the recipient of numer- ciliary body with its relationship kirk will go down ous honors and awards. In 2001, to aqueous humor production. in the annals of ophthalmic history as a E. Michael Van Buskirk MD leader in the field of glau- coma during the second half of the 20th century. He graduated cum laude from Harvard, where he also earned a master’s degree in anthropology, obtained his medi- cal degree and completed his oph- thalmology residency at Boston University. He then returned to Harvard, where he pursued a two- year glaucoma fellowship with the late Dr. Morton Grant in the Howe Laboratory of Ophthalmol- ogy at Massachusetts Eye and Ear.

After completing his distin- guished education, Dr. Van Buskirk took his first academic position at the Hershey Medical Center of Pennsylvania State Uni- versity. Five years later, he moved to Portland, Ore., and joined the faculty of the Oregon Health Sci- ences University, where he estab- lished the glaucoma service and rose through the ranks to become professor and vice chair of the department. In 1990, he became Chief of Ophthalmology and Director of Portland’s Devers Eye Institute and served in that capac- ity until his retirement in 2004. 6 E. Michael Van Buskirk, MD

After retiring from Devers Eye Institute in 2004, Dr. Van Bus- kirk went on to teach residents and fellows until 2012. When asked what he tends to reminisce about the most in ophthalmol- ogy, his response is, “The group of residents and fellows I have trained and may have influenced.” He trained well over 75 clinical and research fellows in glaucoma who have gone on to practice, study and teach on five conti- nents and who would undoubt- edly attest to the influence he has had on their careers and lives.

This retirement was in name only. It was just a transition to another chapter in his life, and the inter- weaving of his two lifetime interests was so seamless, it was hard to tell where one stopped and the other began. His passion for photographic printing began in 1950, when he received his first camera, an Argus 35mm, and began printing his own ment to patient care, research and techniques of photographic print- pictures in a basement darkroom. his many administrative respon- ing was a natural transition. He continued his photographic sibilities took precedent. With his interests through medical school, retirement from ophthalmology, The techniques of digital imaging but set it aside when his commit- his return to photography and that Dr. Van Buskirk had learned and used in his ophthalmic career influenced the next chapter in his life. While taking courses in digital image manipulation, he discovered that he could mimic the hallowed platinum prints of the early 20th century. He set out to learn the old handcrafted technique of bygone times, now using digitally printed large scale negatives instead of the old 8x10 large format cam- eras. He found space in Portland’s historic Union Station, where he established a photographic stu- dio called Gallery Obscura.

“Part of the appeal of printing in platinum,” Dr. Van Buskirk explained, “is that the print derives from the precipitation of elemental platinum metal into the substrate, typically a heavyweight water- color rag paper, rather than from an emulsion on the surface.” The artistic eye of the photographer combined with his background in 7 E. Michael Van Buskirk, MD More recently, he has experi- mented with techniques to print research, helped with the quanti- in platinum on other absorbent tative chemical manipulation of surfaces, such as wood and canvas. metallic compounds, led to unique works of art that he exhibited in After a decade in his studio, a real estate developer bought the old building and converted it into offices and condos, leading Dr. Van Buskirk to find a new printing method that could be achieved in a makeshift closet studio of his Portland condominium, where he lives with his wife, Bette. As he describes it, “The process involves printing a digital image on a large-scale trans- parent transfer medium, laying it face down on stretched canvas spe- cially treated to accept the image and carefully peeling the medium various shows and galleries around away from the thin image layer. the country for the next 10 years. Steady and patient hands of the eye His work earned him many awards. surgeon facilitate this maneuver.” Dr. Van Buskirk’s mind is far too active to be limited to even his photog- raphy. He and Bette also have a cottage in Seaview, Wash., where he enjoys his other lifelong interest in trains by try- ing to squeeze one more rail line to his eight or so currently running. He also enjoys lamp-building, woodworking and writing. He has recently published a book titled, The Van Buskirks of Indiana, which chronicles his family’s western migration from the Dutch colony of New Netherlands in New York across North America. He has now completed another nonfiction narrative book, in press for 2019, about body snatching for anatomic dissec- tion in the 19th century Midwest.

Despite his many passions and interests, Mike Van Buskirk’s greatest pleasure is undoubtedly the life that he and Bette enjoy in the Northwest with the families of their three daugh- ters, including 10 grandchildren.

Dr. Van Buskirk’s photographic work can be found at www.galleryobscura .com and www.platinumprints.org. 8 Academy Foundation Update

News from the Chair

Christie L. Morse, MD, Chair, Foundation Advisory Board

A Heartfelt Thank You 2014 Academy to the Academy and president and Welcome to Dr. Greg has served L. Skuta on numer- ous Academy boards and ver the past six years committees. as Foundation Advi- Osory Board Chair, I’ve A native of had the immense pleasure of Illinois, Dr. working with many of you to Skuta and his develop exciting new fund- wife, Anne, raising programs and create a have three thriving future for the Acad- children and emy for the next generation. currently live in Edmond, I’ve deeply enjoyed support- Okla. Dr. ing and interacting with such Skuta brings passionate, fun members of our his passion ophthalmology community. for ophthal- Thank you from the bottom of mology and Academy CEO David W. Parke II, MD, (back) and the my heart for allowing my time dedication foundation honored Stanley M. Truhlsen, MD, (left) to be so pleasurable. In the next to patient and Michael F. Marmor, MD, (right) at the Orbital year, I will continue to serve care to the Gala. Drs. Truhlsen and Marmor gave two of the larg- as a member of foundation’s est gifts in foundation history to launch the Museum the Advisory board. I am of Vision campaign, which will enable the Academy Board. so pleased to to build a physical space to display some of our pass the gavel 38,000 ophthalmic artifacts. I’d like on to Greg! to extend a project: building a permanent very warm The Museum of Vision home for the Museum of Vision welcome Campaign Marks Its at the Academy’s San Francisco to our new Progress With $7.7 headquarters in the heart of Foundation Million tourist-rich Fisherman’s Wharf. Greg L. Skuta, MD Advisory Board Chair During AAO 2018, the Founda- Along with funds raised at Gregory L. Skuta, MD, who has tion held its 15th annual Orbital this sensational event, the foun- accepted the task of guiding the Gala under the famous Tiffany dation has brought in $7.7 mil- board for the next three years. Dome at the Chicago Cultural lion, with still more work to do Dr. Skuta is president and CEO Center. More than 350 guests to reach our goal of $12 million. of the Dean McGee Eye Insti- attended the ’60s-themed party We are so happy to extend our tute and the Edward L. Gaylord and auction, and thanks to deepest thanks to all our gener- Professor and Chair of the Uni- you, it was a groovy success! ous donors. Your kind donations versity of Oklahoma College from the gala brought in over of Medicine’s Department of All proceeds benefited the $130,000 in net revenue to ben- Ophthalmology. He was elected foundation’s newest fundraising efit the museum. Be sure to visit 9 Academy Foundation Update of Vision; visit www.aao.org/ Executive Director Tina McGov- museumcampaign. For more ern at [email protected]. when it opens during AAO 2019. information on naming oppor- tunities or one-time gifts, go All in all, it’s been a great six We have many opportunities here: www.aao.org/donate. years. I couldn’t have spent it in for members who would like a better way. As always, feel free to support the new Museum Questions? Contact foundation to contact me at [email protected].

Museum of Vision committee members from left to right: James G. Ravin, MD; Jay M. Galst, MD; Richard B. Rosen, MD; Norman B. Medow, MD, FACS; Jacqueline A. Leavitt, MD; Michael F. Marmor, MD; Jenny A. Benjamin, MA, museum director; and Andrzej Grzybowski, MD, were honored for their dedication and passion at the 2018 Orbital Gala.

What You’re Reading This Winter 2019 Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt and Lyndon B. Johnson. In her Book Review Editor, Thomas S. Harbin, MD, MBA latest book, she uses the lives of these four presidents to explore enior ophthalmologists share the backgrounds and qualities the best of what they’re that produce effective leadership. Sreading this winter. Share what you’re reading and send your Goodwin notes that, among review to [email protected]. the many types of leadership, two are antithetical: transactional and Leadership in Turbulent Times transformational. The former, by Doris Kearns Goodwin which is by far the more common, is influenced by self-interest of Reviewed by M. Bruce Shields, MD their constituency (quid pro quo), while the latter seeks to inspire “Leadership in Turbulent Times” their constituency to higher goals by Doris Kearns Goodwin, who (sacrifice for the common good). is among the pre-eminent presi- She suggests that effective leaders, dential biographers of our time. including all four in this book, use both to achieve their ends. Her work has focused on four of our country’s most notable presi- Rather than reviewing the lives dents: Abraham Lincoln, Theodore of four individuals in sequence, 10 BOOK REVIEWS

What You’re Reading to have gripped all Americans. And to fight the fear mongering the author breaks their lives down that seems to fuel bipartisan into three stages and discusses Washington, D.C. politics. how each stage influenced their leadership development. Their What makes Pinker wonderful formative years offer no clear pat- though, is not his optimism or tern, from poverty to wealth, clear writing style. The book is except that all four were ambi- memorable for all the data pre- tious and sensed their leadership sented in tables and graphs that destiny. In their challenging show that things are getting much years, each faced adversity (Lin- better. In general, his data is coln’s political setbacks, Teddy unassailable. It shows that we in Roosevelt’s loss of mother and the West have become much wife on the same day, FDR’s polio, wealthier but also safer, healthier and LBJ’s early political defeats). and even happier. In their leadership years, they all rose to specific challenges of the There is less crime, fewer homi- times and left the country better cides, and much less violence. than they found it. With a tiny downtick in the last two years, lifespans, health and chronic famine. The great powers Those who have enjoyed Good- most other measures of human are not directly at war with each win’s earlier works will find this happiness have never been higher. other and medicine has made book to be enjoyable and inspira- And these effects have trickled extraordinary gains around the tional reading. down to where they are needed world. most – to third world countries. Enlightenment Now: The Case for I don’t doubt these facts. But I Reason, Science, Humanism and Sure, there has been some shift worry that they don’t exactly Progress by Steven Pinker in the dangers. Where people parry Harari’s claim of mankind used to die of starvation, now a being at a singularity. If the trad- Reviewed by Alfredo A. Sadun, much smaller number die of dis- eoff is fewer world wars because MD, PhD eases related to obesity. Where weapons of mass destruction are there used to be major wars, now so horrific, or that the internet Reading the newspaper every there are minor proxy fights and has increased the power of market morning has become a depressing terrorism. This positive shift in forces to provide wealth and dis- and frightening proposition. numbers is staggering. There has tribution of materials and labor, Watching the news at night is no never been a better time to avoid then we may just be seeing the longer even tenable. It interferes a violent death than the present, calm before the storm. with my blood pressure and sleep. no matter where in the world you choose to live. Pinker concludes that there has As some of you readers may never been a better time to live know, I’ve been reading Yuval Pinker points out that fears other than the present. That’s Harari’s books, especially “Sapi- make the news. Fears not realized probably true, but I’m still wor- ens” and “Homo Deus,” that pro- don’t. We were supposed to fear ried for my kids. However, Pinker claim that mankind is at a German reunification, run out of has a point. As he says, “If the singularity. I take Harari’s point food and fresh water, suffer from hands of a clock point to two that we are at the third and great- a new horrible pandemic, run out minutes to midnight for 72 years est crisis of humanity. of oil, etc. His data is unequivo- there’s something wrong with the cal. Of his many graphs, only his clock.” What does this have to do with “tone of the news” has a definite Steven Pinker’s “Enlightenment downslope to it. Everything else is Chopin’s Piano: In Search of the Now”? It is the antidote. Pinker is getting better. Instrument that Transformed a scientist, philosopher and psy- Music by Paul Kildea chologist. I knew him when he Most of the improvements have was at MIT, and since moving to come from unexpected directions. Reviewed by Susan H. Day, MD Harvard he has become more out- New methods of food production, spoken in speeches and with his storage and distribution, as well Don’t be intimidated by the books. His cause is to combat the as social and political changes, rather academic-sounding title. prevailing pessimism that seems have stabilized the world from Authored and beautifully writ- 11 What You’re Reading leave the reader to discover whether it was ever found. ten by a professional musician, this nonfiction offering is a tap- On Desperate Ground: The estry of the expanse of human Marines at the Reservoir, the Kore- capabilities – from sheer genius, an War’s Greatest Battle by to political forces, to persis- Hampton Sides tence, to human relationships. Reviewed by J. Kemper Campbell, MD You need not have Frédéric Chopin as your favorite com- Hampton Sides is the cur- poser to appreciate this book. It rent American master of his- helps, however, to understand toric nonfiction literature. The how his ability to capture emo- variety of his books’ subjects, tion in his creations reflects the depth of his research and more than innate talent: Hard the quality of his dramatic work, tools of his trade (con- narratives distinguish each sequent to evolution of key- of his efforts. On Desper- board capabilities), geopolitical ate Ground is no exception. events and eking out financial support were all essential. Occurring between World engaged in the brutal fight were War II, which had the American pursuing nebulous goals based This is not purely a biogra- public’s universal support, and upon false political assumptions. phy. Most of the book features the controversial and unpopular other central characters. Cho- Vietnam conflict, the origin and Readers desiring a more pin’s piano – a precursor of history of the Korean conflict complete understanding of the what we play on today – disap- is often ignored by Americans. entire spectrum of the Korean peared shortly after his death. This book should remind read- War should read David Halber- ers that the veterans who fought stam’s final book, “The Cold- Artists have longed to retrieve in Korea (many of whom had est Winter.” Those who want a it to recreate his music on the also fought in WWII) were thrilling update of the deadly instrument which defined equally valorous and patriotic, battle in the Chosin basin of his genius. Entangled in the although the ultimate result was North Korea should begin world of Nazi Germany, the an unsatisfactory stalemate. with this memorable book. piano – as with so much other precious art – served the pur- Kudos to Sides for acquainting Genghis Khan and the Making of poses of the Third Reich with readers with American heroes the Modern World virtual no apparent appre- deserving overdue recognition. by Jack Weatherford ciation of its value. I will Sides describes a pivotal battle Reviewed by Thomas S. Harbin, MD, in the oft-neglected Korean con- MBA flict of 1950-53 to highlight the tactical difficulties faced by the The Mongol hordes: Unspeakably vastly outnumbered 1st Marine cruel barbarians who killed and Division, which endured sub- laid waste to all cities and civili- freezing temperature extremes zations in their way. in unfamiliar terrain while sur- rounded by Chinese troops. That’s their reputation, accord- ing to historians from the 18th With his acute sense of char- century up until the recent past, acter development, the author including Stalin’s communist provides insight into the first regime, which restricted access black U.S. Navy fighter pilot, the to Genghis Khan’s burial ground. first Chinese-American Marine officer, the stoic Marine general Earlier in history, Geoffrey who avoided annihilation, and Chaucer and Francis Bacon the vainglorious architect of the admired Genghis Khan, and debacle, Douglas MacArthur. Chaucer devoted his first As in most wars, the men who Canterbury Tale to him. 12 What You’re Reading • A regular census

What’s the truth? • Free trade and commerce across the Mongol empire with paper On the debit side of the ledger, money used to facilitate trading, it is true that Genghis Khan killed resulting in history’s largest free countless people from China to trading zone Persia and part of Europe, mainly soldiers who would not surrender • Construction of more bridges and aristocracy. He also killed than under any ruler in history peasants who were used as advance fodder for a conquest. • Diplomatic immunity for ambassadors and envoys, even from enemy countries

• Transplantation of technology across the empire – Chinese doc- tors were sent to Persia, German miners to China. Agricultural best practices and new crops were exported to suitable areas, such as literally and figuratively. People lemons and carrots from Persia to have no electricity, internet, tele- China. Noodles, playing cards, tea vision or other connections to the and new fabrics for a different world outside. style of clothing came from China to the West. The author asserts But the book does not suggest that the printing, compass, abacus or promote anti-Korean propa- and firearms adopted by Europe ganda. Interestingly, in juxtaposi- led to the Renaissance. tion, the book’s title is the slogan that North Korean leaders use to • Schools for peasant children and have the uninformed populace the general promotion of literacy believe that their quality of life exceeds that of the West. This book will provide you a On the credit side of the ledger, very interesting history of the The individual litanies are jaw- as Khan and his descendants had world from the 12th century on dropping. Among the subjects is a to devise ways to rule the biggest from a different perspective. physician who escapes to China empire in history, one that even- only to find that dogs in China eat tually stretched from China to Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in better than doctors in North Persia to Russia and part of East- North Korea by Barbara Demick Korea. A teenage couple can share ern Europe, they instituted the romance in the evening only following: Reviewed by Samuel Masket, MD because they can hide in the pitch-black conditions. People • Religious freedom. Christians, This eye-opening account of survive on tea made from tree Muslims, Jews and Buddhists recent and contemporary life in bark, until it is a vanishing com- were free to worship. This was at a North Korea is told through sev- modity. time when heretics were burned at eral individual experiences. After the stake in many parts of reading of their accounts, one Among the ironies, however, is Europe. comes to realize that their dread- that one appealing character sur- ed lives could only be known after vives against great odds, escapes • Torture was abolished, unlike they escaped to China or South and settles in South Korea, is the practice of kings, sultans and Korea. overwhelmed by electronics and emirs at the time. other technologies, but then ulti- In the opening pages a satellite mately has elective blepharoplasty. • International law that applied photo of northern Asia at night to rulers and the upper class reveals the densely lit cities in Given the current political cli- South Korea. However, North mate, this book makes for impor- • The first international postal Korea is virtually pure black, tant, informative and markedly system indicating life in the dark, both entertaining reading. 13 OPHTHALMIC HISTORY A Brief History of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) From its Founding in 1921 until the Modern Era Daniel M. Albert, MD, MS, Emily Y. Chew, MD and Alice R. McPherson, MD

RVO was started in 1921 members were a “Who’s Who” of as the Association for the leaders in early 20th-century AResearch in Ophthalmolo- American ophthalmology: Edward gy (ARO) by a New York ophthal- Jackson, Arnold Knapp, Wil- mologist named Conrad Berens, liam Holland Wilmer, George de MD. It was modelled after the Schweinitz, Lucien Howe, Wil- American Neurological Associa- liam Benedict, Arthur Bedell and tion, a society founded in 1874. Walter Lancaster were prominent among them. Their yearly meet- The original association was ings were held either in association a small, rather insular group of with the American Medical Asso- prominent ophthalmologists at ciation Section of Ophthalmology a time when ophthalmology was or the American Ophthalmo- a descriptive field “rich in art, logical Society annual meetings. 1940s and the decade of the ’50s but somewhat short on science.” The topic for each meeting was saw leadership and influence There was an awareness that assigned and the presenters chosen in the society passing from the ophthalmology needed scien- by the President. A select group senior charter members to the tific underpinnings. A few young designated as the “commission” younger members interested in ophthalmologists were working asked questions of the speakers. ophthalmic research who were on scientific aspects of the spe- starting to assert themselves. cialty, following in the footsteps In 1947, Derrick Vail, recall- of Alvar Gullstrand and Jules ing these early meetings wrote: Jonas Friedenwald, the first Gonin. These included Drs. Fred- “… the commission composed Proctor medal awardee in 1949, erick Herman Verhoeff, Francis of nice old boys sat in rather captured the spirit of the then- Heed Adler, Sir Stewart Duke- embarrassed dignity at a long younger members – David Cogan, Elder, and others, but the specialty table in front of the meeting and Morton Grant, Bernard Becker was dominated by clinicians. looked as if they were suffering and others – when he declared in acutely – and they were, too.” the first Proctor lecture, “Clinical ARO was founded to exchange investigation is not to be dispar- ideas relevant to the causes and A single topic assigned for the aged. It is, on the contrary, to be treatment of eye diseases. Its meeting (e.g., uveitis, glaucoma, greatly admired, but its gleanings cataract, etc.) gradually in the well-harvested field are gave way to different indi- few and far between. By contrast vidual presentations on the field of basic science is rich various topics of practi- and ripe for the harvest … Basic cal and general interest, research is easy, joyous and excit- and the proceedings were ing. One cannot take a step in recorded in the American thought without discovering Journal of Ophthalmology. something new and illuminating.” Membership was small, and by 1945 attendance at meet- During the 1950s, the associa- ings reached about 100. tion traditionally had been hold- ing a national meeting in June The major achievement or July in conjunction with the of the society was that AMA Section of Ophthalmology. it had remained intact But in 1959, it initiated a second and viable, despite the mid-winter national meeting. In Depression, World War addition to the national organi- II and the fact that very zation, the association had also little real vision research begun to have regional sections was being done. The late and meetings. These regional 14 A Brief History of ARVO and recalled that it was “held in SCOPE a motel bedroom. The room was The Senior Ophthalmologist sections were semi-autonomous packed with perhaps a dozen Newsletter and, in some ways, competed with members, and even the bathroom the national organization, had to be used as a sitting leading to confusion. area.” This format was so Ideas and opinions expressed in successful that specific Scope are those of the authors and editor and do not necessarily By the end of the research section meet- reflect any position of the Ameri- 1950s, basic scientists ings progressively can Academy of Ophthalmology. were beginning to increased, and the discover ophthalmol- general sessions cor- ogy. The majority respondingly reduced. of nonclinical papers Scope Editorial Board presented at the ARO The group’s business Editor Emeritus meeting dealt with basic Paul Henkind, MD meeting in 1968 was of David W. Parke, MD laboratory studies, par- (1932-1986) monumental impor- Editor ticularly biochemistry and tance in advancing the M. Bruce Shields, MD physiology, but it was being done association to the organization within an organization with an we know today. Separate scientific Associate Editors antiquated structure and governed sections were formally established, Thomas S. Harbin, MD, MBA in an undemocratic manner. the actions of the governing Alfredo A. Sadun, MD, PhD body – the trustees – required History of Ophthalmology By the 1960s, the association was membership approval, the society Editor well-established with a member- was renamed the Association for Daniel M. Albert, MD, MS ship close to 1,500, most of whom Research in Vision and Ophthal- were ophthalmologists in clinical mology (ARVO), and the journal Assistant Editor practice. Although its programs amended to Investigative Ophthal- Neeshah Azam were increasingly scientific, it had mology and Vision Science. And Design little attraction for basic scien- so, 42 years after its founding, the Lourdes Nadon tists and lacked a strong sense of growing number of visual scien- purpose. The organization took a tists, now totaling about 300 mem- 2019 Senior Ophthalmologist major step in 1962 toward declar- bers, became the dominant force. Committee ing its commitment to research Susan H. Day, MD, Chair with the inception of its journal The association as we know it Marcia D. Carney, MD originally entitled Investigative today had evolved by the early Thomas S. Harbin, MD, MBA Ophthalmology. Independently 1970s. The subsequent history of Samuel Masket, MD and simultaneously, two other the organization is well known Aaron M. Miller, MD, MBA journals were founded: Experi- and accessible. It has become the Secretary for Member Services mental Eye Research and Vision largest and most respected eye and Jean E. Ramsey, MD, MPH Research, further evidence that vision research organization in the Alfredo A. Sadun, MD, PhD visual science was a field of grow- world. Its members include 12,000 M. Bruce Shields, MD ing interest to basic scientists. researchers from over 75 coun- John R. Stechschulte, MD tries, and they have been the major Academy Staff South Florida was the catalyst source of outstanding contribu- Neeshah Azam which crystallized the various tions to ophthalmology and vision Gail Schmidt meetings into a single spring research over the past 50 years. meeting. A 1967 meeting in Clear- water, Fla. and a 1968 meeting in Tampa, Fla. were described Author’s note: This article about the his- as delightful successes. The 1968 tory of the organization is drawn in part meeting included a further reform: from unpublished and unreferenced notes In place of a single general ses- by Dr. Henkind, which were discovered sion held in a large meeting after he passed away in 1986. Dr. Henkind room, the concept of concurrent was a member of the original Association separate sessions for the various for Research in Ophthalmology (subse- P.O. Box 7424 specialty groups was attempted. quently ARVO) from the 1950s until his San Francisco, CA death. He served on the editorial board of 94120-7424 Dr. Paul Henkind attended the Investigative Ophthalmology and was T: +1 415.561.8500 Visual Electrophysiology session secretary-treasurer from 1977-1981. aao.org/senior-ophthalmologists 15