Richard K. Forster, MD: a Life Through the Lens of an Ophthalmologist

The Newsletter of the Senior Ophthalmologist Spring 2020 | Volume 24 | Issue 2 SCOPE Richard K. Forster, MD: A Life Through which furthered his interest in bird anatomy. Although he did some the Lens of an Ophthalmologist hunting, trapping and fishing in his and Nature Photographer youth, he decided at the age of 11 to restrict his enjoyment of the out- By M. Bruce Shields, MD doors to observing his surround- ings and wildlife and participating s ophthalmologists, we in the woods and fields of his fam- in environmental conservation. have spent much of our ily’s 68 acres, enjoying the wildlife Acareers looking through that included a variety of birds: This early decision to admire and lenses in the office and the operat- chickadees, nuthatches, blue jays, preserve the wonders of nature, he ing room. And I suspect we have crows and occasional pheasants. In reflects, may have had something all shared the sense of awe as we 1949, he won a trip to the Eastern to do with his choice of medicine beheld the exquisite beauty and Poultry Judging contest in Boston, as a career. After graduating from intricacy of the human eye. Dartmouth College, he earned his medical degree at Boston University The thousands of examinations School of Medicine and, follow- that each of us have performed ing an internship at Boston City over the years have not only Hospital, joined the U.S. Public given us a respect for the Health Service and was fortu- elegance of nature, but itously assigned to Miami for has sharpened our two years. While there, he ability and inclina- undoubtedly noticed not tion to appreciate only a decided difference the subtlest aspects in the weather between of all that we see. Florida and New Hamp- It is not surprising, shire, but also a vastly therefore, that many greater variety of avian of us have adopted species. In any case, he hobbies or avoca- returned to the Sunshine tions that incorporate State for his residency at a careful examina- Bascom Palmer Eye Insti- tion and appreciation tute and, after a fellowship at of the diverse marvels the Proctor Foundation in San throughout this world in which we live. An excellent example is our colleague, Richard his issue contains the biographical sketches of two major K. Forster, MD, who has spent Tfigures in ophthalmology: Drs. Lorenz Zimmerman and countless hours looking through Claes Dohlman. Both articles were written by one of their chil- the lens of his camera at the wad- dren: Mary Louise Z. Collins, MD and Henrik Dohlman, PhD, ing birds and shorebirds of Florida. respectively. “Zim” and Claes were good friends for many years, as well as competitors on the tennis court. Dr. Zimmer- Dr. Forster’s love of nature man passed away in 2013. Dr. Dohlman remains clinically active began at an early age. Growing up at Harvard and the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary. on a small poultry farm in New Hampshire, he spent many hours WHAT WE ARE DOING TODAY Richard K. Forster, MD of which he purchased last year. it into two DVDs, which he did The tradeoff for quality record- in 2017. Since then, he produced ings with the new camcorder has another DVD in 2018, “Wad- Francisco, came back to Bascom been the weight of the camera, ing and Shorebirds of Florida: Palmer as chief resident in 1969. which requires the use of a tri- Favorite Feeding Behaviors,” and He remained there on the fac- pod, except when photographing earlier this year completed his ulty for 50 years and counting. diving or quick-moving birds. latest, “The Herons of Florida.” During his long tenure at Bas- In 2016, he began to organize Now, you may be thinking that com Palmer, Dr. Forster rose to his videos into DVDs with the 30 minutes of watching birds enjoy international prominence as a professional assistance of a vid- their dinner could be a bit tedious. leader in external disease and con- eographer and a recording studio. But having viewed several of his tributed to establishing his insti- After completing an hour of videos, courtesy of Dr. Forster, tution as one of the finest in the recording in the field, I can report without country. He only left for a five-year Dr. Forster edits the fear of being disin- period (1987-1992), when he was footage, listing genuous, that it recruited as medical director of the the specific is really quite a King Khaled Eye Specialist Hos- birds and pleasant expe- pital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. He the date, rience. The returned to the faculty at Bascom time and cinematog- Palmer in Miami and served as location of raphy is of interim chair and medical direc- each film- professional tor from 1999 to 2001. In June of ing. The quality, 2016 he “retired,” but continues videogra- the natural to see patients two days per week pher then settings are at the Bascom Palmer facility in downloads lush, and Palm Beach Gardens, an arrange- the edits to a the birds are ment that has allowed more time work DVD, from not only beauti- for his joy of bird watching. which Dr. Forster ful and exotic, but selects footage and also intriguing, often Although an appreciation and designs the sequence for the humorous and altogether enjoyment of nature has been part final, refined DVD. He then writes entertaining in their behavior. I of Dr. Forster’s life since child- and personally records a narration highly recommend the videos. hood, it took on a more active to fit the footage. The results are form in the early 1980s, highly professional DVDs Although most of the Forster’s when he and his “directed, filmed and birdwatching and photography wife, Janet, began narrated by Rich- has been done throughout Florida, attending bird- ard K. Forster” they have also made several trips ing field trips with acknowl- outside the state, such as Machias and photo- edgements Seal Island on the north coast of graphing of his video Maine to observe Atlantic puf- birds in the editor and fins and to the Galapagos Islands surrounds narration with their daughter. Also, while of Miami recorder lecturing in Trinidad, he filmed and Sanibel and, most oil birds at the Asa Wright Nature Island. He importantly, Center and scarlet ibis at Caroni began with his “bird- Swamp in the Port of Spain. In still photog- ing partner addition to producing his DVDs, raphy, but an and wife, Janet Dr. Forster has made presenta- interest in bird F. Forster.” tions at assisted-living facilities behavior, especially and museums and has more the feeding habits of wad- Dr. Forster’s first DVD scheduled for this year. His videos ing birds and shorebirds, led him is entitled “The Feeding Behav- are available at the J.N. “Ding” to get out the family camcorder to ior of Wading and Shorebirds of Darling National Wildlife Refuge document their foraging behavior. Florida,” which includes 62 spe- on Sanibel Island and the Elliott Over time, he transitioned from cies at various locations in Florida Museum in Stuart, Fla. They the analog camcorder to a Sony and runs for 61 minutes. Janet can be purchased online from Digital 8 Handycam and then a Forster felt this was a bit too long the Historical Society of Martin for viewing in one session and County, which operates the Elliot Sony digital high-definition video 2 camera recorder, the latest model convinced her partner to divide Museum http://www.hsmc-fl.com. know would fall apart. The same within our current family units could be said for our solar sys- and plan and hope for the best for From the tem, as the planets maintain their our future generations. Much the Editor’s assigned orbits around our sun. same can be said of our connec- We continue to learn how every- tions with our dearest friends. Desk thing in our universe appears to be connected by forces that are As I have thought about all still only vaguely understood. these human connections, I am reminded of how fortunate you and As I have pondered this appar- I have been to enjoy the associa- ent connectivity of every physical tions we have experienced in our thing in our world, I couldn’t help medical careers and especially as being struck by the parallel relation- ophthalmologists. Again, there has ship within the human race. We are been the sharing of ever advanc- certainly dependent on each other ing knowledge and technology in many ways. I guess this is one over the generations, to which we of the reasons that I enjoy reading have been privileged to contribute Connectivity history, in that it gives me a sense with the hope that it will add to By M. Bruce Shields, MD of our connectedness throughout the foundation on which continued all the generations that have gone advances will be made. On a more ne of the decided luxu- before us, not only in passing on personal level, I suspect we can ries of retirement is the ever advancing knowledge and tech- all look back to role models who Oopportunity to read for nology, but also in the basic hopes got us started long ago and to all pleasure in the middle of the day, and dreams that have been shared the priceless friendships we made which probably doesn’t come by societies down through the ages. with colleagues along our profes- natural to most of us. It took me sional journey. Now, as we ease quite a while to overcome a sense into our retirement years, we can of decadence and guilt when I sit all take pride in the new genera- down in an easy chair with a good I don’t have a clue tion of ophthalmologists whom we book in the middle of a workday.

Load more