Volume 9, No. 2 • Fall/Winter 2010

News from the UC Davis Health System Eye Center

STEM CELL UC Davis Eye Center RESEARCH MASTERING THE ART OF VISION RESTORATION UC Davis Eye Center Optical Shop

The right fit, The right look, There’s more to finding the right pair of glasses than just filling your prescription The right style CONTENTS Contents

05 From the Chair’s Desk The Science of Stem Cell Therapy at UC Davis 06 Eye Center 06 Claire Pomeroy, M.D., M.B.A. Advancing The Health of Society

09 Volunteer Clinical Faculty

10 UC Davis Eye Team

16 16 Dr. Schwab Retires Ivan Schwab, M.D., Retires... But Not Quite

18 Larry Hjelmeland, Ph.D. Vision Researcher Larry Hjelmeland Sees Things Differently

20 Stem Cell Dialogues Park Gives New Hope Message to Patients with Retinal 20 Diseases 22 ORBIS The UC Davis Eye Center and ORBIS International

26 Mary Tasker, M.D. The Legacy of Mary Beth Tasker

28 Denise Satterfield, M.D. 26 UCD Alumna with a Passion for Giving Sight to Children 31 Jerry Suran, and Helen Singer Suran Surans Support Eye Center Stem Cell Research

3 is published by the UC Davis Health Thank You! System Eye Center. For more information about The faculty of the UC Davis Health System services and vision research at UC Eye Center is deeply grateful to the Davis, visit our Web site at: following Federal Government agencies: www.ucdmc.ucdavis. edu/eyecenter The National Institutes of Health or call (916) 734-6435. The National Eye Institute Managing Editors The National Institute on Aging Mark J. Mannis, M.D. Ernest Phinney and Contributing Editors Research to Prevent Blindness, Inc. Kim Angelo Barbara Holderreed for their long-time and major Diane Weeks funding of ophthalmology research Contributors at UC Davis. James D. Brandt, M.D. Mark J. Mannis, M.D. Mary O’Hara, M.D. Susanna Park, M.D., Ph.D. Ernest Phinney Directory Production Manager Holland Adams UC Davis Health System Eye Center 4860 Y St., Suite 2400 Photography Sacramento, CA 95817 James D. Brandt, M.D. Bhupinder S. Dhillon Ernest Phinney UC Davis Eye Center Optical Shop 4860 Y St., Suite 2013 Design/Layout Sacramento, CA 95817 Steven A. Osborne (916) 734-6300 Vision Our vision is to be the world’s UC Davis Medical Group, Roseville transformational leader in 2261 Douglas Boulevard collaborative vision research and Roseville, CA 95661 in the development of cures for blinding from cornea UC Davis Eye Services to cortex. 77 Cadillac Dr. Mission Sacramento, CA 95825 We will realize our vision through pioneering collaborative vision To Schedule Patient Appointments: research, providing state-of- (916) 734-6602 (Patient All Sites) the-art, world-class eye care, (916) 734-6992 (FAX) Fall / Winter 2010 2010 / Winter Fall

and training superbly prepared

• (916) 734-6650 (Laser Vision Correction Services) ophthalmologists and vision 4 scientists. FROM THE CHAIR’s DESK From the Chair’s Desk

The Science of Stem Cell Therapy at UC Davis Eye Center

This is an exciting time to be an ophthalmologist. New therapies, both medical and surgical, are emerging with unprecedented frequency–treatments that offer hope in diseases that, only a half- decade ago, we were at a loss to manage. Novel technologies in the operating room employing a new generation of lasers, endoscopic devices, transplant technologies, and remarkable implants have brought ophthalmic surgery to new heights of accomplishment. For the established ophthalmologist, it is a time for us to renew ourselves by learning ever new ways of helping our patients; and for the residents and those just beginning in practice, there is an amazing array of new therapies at our disposal. With all the issues that preoccupy medicine today–the problems of health care delivery, failing reimbursement and the undervaluation of our services, a Mark J. Mannis, M.D., Professor and Chair hostile medico-legal atmosphere, and repeated challenges from paramedical practitioners–never has there been a more exciting time to be an eye physician and surgeon. Of course, one of the most exciting and talked about applications in ophthalmology is stem cell therapy. The notion that pluripotential cells could be directed to differentiate into replacement cells with specific functions has limitless possibilities, albeit, of course, many technical challenges.

Here at the Eye Center, in the context of UC Davis, we benefit from the Center for Regenerative Medicine, which has become a major focus of strategic research development. The eye is uniquely suited to stem cell therapy: Its surface is readily accessible and of manageable size; the intraocular space is small and can be directly visualized using an ophthalmoscope; and cell function is directly measureable in visual performance. Moreover, replacement of defective cells using stem cell technologies in the visual system can have a profound impact on the patient’s quality of life. Needless to say, we stand at the very beginning of the path in the development of stem cell-based therapies. But already, stem cell treatments are showing great promise in reconstruction of the injured or diseased ocular surface and in the replacement of retinal cells that have succumbed to inherited diseases or macular degeneration. For the young clinician-scientist, this is an area of limitless potential for translating science into new treatments. For the patient, it is the path of hope. Here at the Eye Center, our clinicians and researchers are collaborating to translate stem cell therapies from the laboratory into the clinic. We hope that you share our excitement and our commitment to this effort. 5 Claire Pomeroy, M.D., M.B.A. Claire Pomeroy Advancing The Health of Society Fall / Winter 2010 2010 / Winter Fall

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6 CLAIRE POMEROYCLAIRE Claire Pomeroy Advancing The Health of Society

epidemic, a development that would channel her interests for several years. Her next professional stop was a move to the University of Kentucky in Lexington to be head of the Infectious Disease program. Ultimately, she served that university as Assistant Dean for Clinical Affairs and as Associate Dean for Research and Informatics.

Joe Silva, former Dean of the UC Davis School of Medicine, had been in search of an Executive Associate Dean, and in 2003 he recruited Pomeroy, who, interestingly, had been his medical student advisee at the University of Michigan. At UC ach morning, Claire Pomeroy engages the task Davis, Pomeroy immediately Pomeroy parks her with both enthusiasm and made an impression as a “take Prius next to the authority, clearly focused on charge” leader. When Dr. Silva E retired after an impressive record Education Building on the a vision of what UCD can be sparkling medical campus of for Sacramento, the region, the as Dean, the faculty conducted a UC Davis Health System as nation and the world. national search but soon realized she ponders the challenges that the prize was right here. In that the day will surely bring Born in Cambridge, Mas- 2005, Pomeroy was appointed to the Vice Chancellor of sachusetts, Pomeroy grew up Dean of the School of Medicine and Vice Chancellor of Health Health Affairs and Dean in New York and Michigan. Affairs with the confident of the School of Medicine. She attended the University support of the faculty. Managing a leviathan that of Michigan both as an un- encompasses the medical dergraduate and for medical Pomeroy’s values have been school, a research complex on school, and then went to the targeted on social justice–an both the Sacramento and Davis University of Minnesota for a emphasis that, perhaps, grew campuses, the hospital and residency in internal medicine. from her own childhood clinics, and 10,400 employees She developed a clinical inter- experience growing up in a (faculty, residents, fellows, est in eating disorders and also series of foster homes. Her students, and staff) would be took a fellowship in Infectious personal history not only a daunting prospect for almost Disease that coincided with the cultivated her independence anyone. But the diminutive beginning of the HIV and self-reliance

7 but left her with a special its role in society and its impact institution? “Neuroscience is passion for helping individuals on our region and the world”. one of the major strategic foci from dysfunctional family She points out that attesting to of our institution”, she points situations that could seriously this is the dramatic growth in out, “and the Eye Center is disadvantage them. A research funding, the quality a key element of that focus. special project for her here of the medical students, the Quality of life is clearly deeply in Sacramento has been the establishment of the Betty Irene influenced by visual health.” Guardian Scholars Program Moore School of Nursing, and Pomeroy sees the Eye Center as that provides a support system the increasing array of awards an important component of the for aged-out foster kids who that are being garnered by both health care program at UCD otherwise would have none of faculty and students. and is the key to the training the tools needed to move along of the next generation of in the educational system. “We are now viewed as practitioners. “The importance a leading institution in of the Eye Center is that it In 1990, Claire Pomeroy met academic health by both the encompasses all four of our her husband-to-be, William local community as well as missions: high quality health Preston Robertson, on a blind nationally”, she points out. care delivery, teaching, cutting- date in Minneapolis. Bill is an edge research, and service to independent film writer who And through the daily barrage our community.” specializes in documentaries of financial, legal, strategic, and works from their midtown social and community issues, And so, as dusk settles and the home where they live with their Pomeroy maintains her vision Education Building has mostly adopted cocker spaniel, Zoë. with laser focus: to make the emptied, Claire Pomeroy, When not wrestling with the UC Davis Health System frequently the last one out issues of the Health System, the leader in advancing the of the building, heads home Pomeroy is an avid reader of health of society–a task that, to midtown for the simpler mystery novels, an enthusiastic she insists, “will involve demands of Bill and Zoë. movie go-er, and a devoted transforming the way we do Of course, she knows that world traveler, visiting , almost everything!” tomorrow will bring new issues Bali, and the Galapagos Islands and new opportunities to make this past year. “Five years from now, I want UCDHS one of the great health people to see that UCDHS led systems of the nation. Six years into her tenure the way to better outcomes for as Vice Chancellor, Claire patients and with many fewer Pomeroy ponders an answer health disparities.” This goal to the question, “What do you infuses every major decision see as your most significant that she makes. accomplishment at UCD?” Without hesitation, she And what of a new Eye Center answers: “I have watched the Building–the dream of the UCD Health System flourish Department at UCD since well and become more confident of before Pomeroy joined the Fall / Winter 2010 2010 / Winter Fall

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8 CLAIRE POMEROYCLAIRE / VOLUNTEER FACULTY CLINICAL Volunteer Clinical Faculty

he Eye Center is very fortunate indeed to be able to rely on the volunteer Tservices of twenty-two ophthalmologists who lend their expertise and energies to the training of the next generation of UC Davis ophthalmologists. These physicians in various private practice specialties gather annually to review important developments and plans for the next year’s training program. Pictured right at the 2010 meeting held on September 21, 2010 are (clockwise from upper left): 1) Dr. Mannis 1 leads the meeting. 2) Dr. David Kira, Medical Vision Technology, Davis, CA, and Dr. Morse. 3) Drs. Schwab, Mannis, and Morse with Dr. Denise Satterfield, Sacramento, CA. 4) Dr. Ronald Cole, Medical Vision Technology, Davis, CA, Dr. Mannis and Dr. Daniel Lee, Turlock Eye Physicians Medical Group, Turlock, CA.

VCF Members 2

Barbara J. Arnold, M.D. Ernest F. Tark, M.D. Amin Ashrafzadeh, M.D. Tiffany Wong, M.D. Kevin A. Beadles, M.D. John H. Zeiter, M.D. Craig E. Berris, M.D. John Canzano, M.D. David Chu, M.D. Ronald J. Cole, M.D. Byron Demorest, M.D. (Emeritus) 3 Tyrone Glover, M.D. Daniel M. King, M.D. Daniel Lee, M.D. Philip L. Levy, M.D. Robert B. Miller, M.D. Robert E. Nasser, M.D. Jonathan P. Perlman, M.D. James B. Ruben, M.D. Denise Satterfield, M.D. Mithlesh C. Sharma, M.D. 4 Francis J. Sousa, M.D. 9 UC Davis Eye Team

Professor and Chair Mark J. Mannis, M.D., F.A.C.S. Direct, Cornea Service Research Interests: Corneal Transplant Technology, Eye & Skin Diseases, & Artificial Corneas

Ophthalmologists

Duva J. Appleman, M.D. Annie K. Baik, M.D. Assistant Professor, Glaucoma, Assistant Clinical Professor, Veterans Administration, Mather. Glaucoma Service. Research Interests: New techniques Research Interests: Emerging for glaucoma treatment. glaucoma surgical techniques, patient education.

James D. Brandt, M.D. Jeffrey J. Caspar, M.D. Professor, Glaucoma, Clinical Professor, Comprehensive Director, Glaucoma Service. Ophthalmology and Refractive Research Interests: Surgery, Nanotechnology for innovation in Residency Program Director. glaucoma treatments. Research Interests: Improvement of techniques in cataract surgery. Fall / Winter 2010 2010 / Winter Fall

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10 UC DAVIS EYE TEAM

Vahid Feiz, M.D. Francisco J. Garcia-Ferrer, M.D. Associate Professor, Cornea, Associate Professor, Cornea, External External Disease and Refractive Disease and Refractive Surgery, Surgery. Director, Refractive Veterans Administration, Mather. Surgery. Research Interests: New technology Research Interests: Topical for refractive surgery. antibiotics and bacterial flora.

John L. Keltner, M.D. Esther S. Kim, M.D. Professor, Chair Emeritus Associate Clinical Professor, Neuro-Ophthalmology, Comprehensive Ophthalmology, Research Director. Director, Optometric Services. Research Interests: The effects of Research Interests: Improvement of multiple sclerosis (MS) and cancer technology in cataract surgery. on vision.

Michele C. Lim, M.D. Lily Koo Lin, M.D. Associate Professor, Glaucoma, Assistant Professor, Vice-Chair, Medical Director. Oculoplastic Surgery. Research Interests: Drug delivery Research Interests: Improvement of in glaucoma drops and patient aging eyelids. compliance.

Linda J. Margulies, M.D. Lawrence S. Morse, M.D., Ph.D. Clinical Professor, Vitreoretinal Professor, Vitreoretinal Surgery and Disease, Veterans Uveitis, Director, Retina Service. Administration, Martinez. Research Interests: Treatments Research Interests: New for diabetic retinopathy, age- treatment for age-related macular related macular degeneration and degeneration. retinal degeneration.

11 Mary A. O’Hara, M.D., F.A.C.S., Susanna S. Park, M.D., Ph.D. F.C.A.P. Professor, Vitreoretinal Surgery. Professor, Research Interests: Proton beam Pediatric Ophthalmology. treatments for age-related macular Research Interests: Development degeneration, anti-VEGF treatment of new technology in pediatric for age-related macular degeneration, strabismus. retinal imaging and stem cell therapies for age-related macular degeneration. Larissa Johnson-Tong, O.D., F.A.A.O. Senior Optometrist

Alan M. Roth, M.D. Ivan R. Schwab, M.D., F.A.C.S. Professor Emeritus. Professor Emeritus, Cornea, External Research Interests: Ophthalmic Disease and Uveitis. pathology, eye pathology. Research Interests: Limbal stem cell transplants and comparative anatomy.

David G. Telander, M.D., Ph.D. Assistant Professor, Vitreoretinal Surgery. Research Interests: Stem cell for age-related macular degeneration. VEGF immunology of retinal degeneration.

Optometrists

Thomas B. Barnes, Melissa Barnett, Brooke S. Chang, O.D. Fall / Winter 2010 2010 / Winter Fall

• O.D., M.S., F.A.A.O. O.D., F.A.A.O. Senior Optometrist Senior Optometrist Senior Optometrist 12 UC DAVIS EYE TEAM

Larissa Johnson-Tong, Hai Tong, O.D., F.A.A.O. Kaaryn Pederson-Vanbuskirk, O.D., F.A.A.O. Senior Optometrist O.D., F.A.A.O. Senior Optometrist Senior Optometrist

Vision Scientists

Marie E. Burns, Ph.D. Mark S. Goldman, Ph.D. Professor, Psychiatry Associate Professor, Neurobiology, and Behavioral Sciences. Physiology & Behavior. Director, Center for Visual Research Interests: Computer Sciences. models of eye movement. Research Interests: Physiology. http://neuroscience.ucdavis.edu/ user/172

Leonard M. Hjelmeland, Ph.D. Andrew T. Ishida, Ph.D. Professor, Biochemistry. Professor, Retinal Research Interests: Epigenetics of electrophysiology. age-related macular degeneration. Research Interests: Light http://biosci3.ucdavis.edu/ adaptation, ganglion cell excitability, FacultyAndResearch/FacultyProfile. ion channel modulation, retinal aspx?Researcherid=1339 immunohistochemistry. http://neuroscience.ucdavis.edu/ user/26

Christopher J. Murphy, D.V.M., Charles E. Thirkill, Ph.D. Ph.D. Adjunct Professor Emeritus, Professor, Comparative Immunology & Biology. Ophthalmology. Research Interests: Ocular Research Interests: Bio-physical immunology, retinal and optic nerve cueing and modulation of cell imaging techniques. behaviors. 13 John S. Werner, Ph.D. Robert J. Zawadzki, Ph.D. Distinguished Professor, Visual Assistant Researcher, Psychophysics. High Resolution Retinal Imaging. Research Interests: Color and Research Interests: Retinal and spatial vision, normal aging and optic nerve imaging techniques. age-related disease, retinal and http:// vsri.ucdavis.edu optic nerve imaging. http:// vsri.ucdavis.edu

Min Zhao, M.D., Ph.D. Professor, Dermatology. Research Interests: The role of endogenous electric fields to stimulate cell migration, corneal wound healing and regeneration.

Residents

Eric Chin, M.D. Bobeck Modjtahedi, M.D. Alena Reznik, M.D. Jennifer Rizzo, M.D. First Year Resident First Year Resident First Year Resident First Year Resident Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine University of CA Davis Johns Hopkins University School Boston University School of Medicine And Science of Medicine

Samuel Lee, M.D. Kimberly Winges, M.D. Charles Weber, M.D. Danli Xing, M.D. Fall / Winter 2010 2010 / Winter Fall

Second Year Resident Second Year Resident Second Year Resident Second Year Resident • Loma Linda University School New York Medical College Georgetown University UMDNJ- Robert Wood of Medicine Johnson Medical School 14 UC DAVIS EYE TEAM

Mark Greiner, M.D. Claudia Krispel, M.D., Ph.D. Christianna Stuber, M.D. Nanfei Zhang, M.D. Third Year Resident Third Year Resident Third Year Resident Third Year Resident University of CA Davis University of CA Davis University of Pittsburgh Duke University School of Medicine

Fellows

Residents

Ashley G. Lesley, M.D. David A. Paine, M.D. Sara Modjtahedi, M.D. Clinical Glaucoma Fellow Clinical Cornea Fellow Clinical Retina Fellow Baylor College of Medicine SUNY-Buffalo School of Medicine David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA

Suman Pilli, M.D. Saadia Rashid, M.D. Retinal Research Fellow Clinical Retina Fellow NTR University of Medical Sciences The Agakhan University Medical Hyderabad, College

Please visit us at: www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/eyecenter to learn more about our department, faculty, and special events. 15 Dr. Schwab Retires Ivan Schwab, M.D., Retires... But Not Quite

By Mark J. Mannis, M.D.

A renowned clinician, teacher, to UC Davis and to our lecture on the ocular structures scholar and clinical researcher, profession. of the woodpecker…dressed, Ivan Schwab, M.D., Professor of course, as a woodpecker. of Ophthalmology and Universally loved by his Director of the Cornea and patients, students, residents Dr. Schwab’s most recent External Disease Service here and fellows, Ivan has received research has focused on the at the UC Davis Eye Center, many accolades for his development and application has been my colleague and unique abilities as a teacher. of bio-engineered ocular friend for some two decades. As a speaker he has been surfaces for reconstruction Although he continues to see invited as visiting professor and, as a second interest, Eye Center patients two days at universities throughout studies in comparative a week and to do research in the United States as well as ophthalmology. His work comparative ophthalmology internationally. His unique on the ocular surface has on a part-time basis, he retired ability to connect ideas and pioneered several new as a full-time member of our circumstances that might not techniques upon which others Eye Center’s clinical faculty otherwise be thought of as have based their work. With on October 1, 2010. It is well related has marked him as an over 150 peer reviewed that, as he enters this next incomparably original thinker. publications, Dr. Schwab phase of his career, we take This talent brought for him the is respected as one of the this opportunity to recognize prestigious IgNobel Prize in nation’s most erudite and Fall / Winter 2010 2010 / Winter Fall 2006 for which he delivered a knowledgeable scholars in • him for his many contributions

16 DR. SCHWAB RETIRES

Ivan Schwab, M.D., Retires... But Not Quite

the field and was recently one is simply one of the finest and interests is truly of the Keynote Speakers at people in our field–a person astounding; he is willing (even the World Cornea Congress of uncompromising integrity, eager) to challenge the status in Boston. His most recent intellectual honesty, kindness quo and ask tough questions; publications have focused to all, a wry and mischievous and his loyalty to his patients, on management of ocular sense of humor, a great friends and colleagues, and surface disease and the heart, and a self-deprecating the wonderful profession of potential for bio-engineered demeanor that completely medicine and ophthalmology surface restoration. He is belies his numerous is absolute and unwavering.” also the author / editor of two accomplishments. textbooks in ophthalmology. Indeed, Ivan Schwab is a His current scholarly project, A friend and colleague, special individual, and both surely to be his “magnum Gregory Skuta, Chair at the we as faculty, as well as our opus”, is a treatise on the Dean McGee Eye Institute patients, owe him a great deal. historical development of the in Oklahoma, has said of Dr visual system. Schwab: “Ivan is a brilliant Thank you, Dr. Schwab. And leader in our field and also bravo! What does not appear in his one of the most inquisitive, curriculum vitae or even in interesting, and delightful the many recognitions he has individuals I have ever known. received, is the fact that he His broad range of knowledge

17 Faculty Profile Vision Researcher Larry Hjelmeland Sees Things Differently Fall / Winter 2010 2010 / Winter Fall

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18 LARRY HJELMELAND Vision Researcher Larry Hjelmeland Sees Things Differently

pigenetics is a word 1986. These cells, identified Upon arriving at UC Davis, that most people don’t as Aotaki RPE cells (named Dr. Hjelmeland’s blindness Eknow. However, Leonard for his research assistant at indicated a new path, and Hjelmeland, Ph.D., Professor the time), or ARPE-19 (the he dedicated himself more of Ophthalmology and Vision 19 refers to the age of the strongly to administration and a Science, UC Davis School of man from whom the cells role as someone who can “point Medicine, is convinced that were taken), emit a factor that the way”. Since 1995, he has in the coming years, it will appears to reverse AMD and served in several capacities, enter the routine vocabulary RP damage. Although therapy including Associate Dean for of scientists and public alike. involving these cells is still in Research as well as Chair of Epigenetics is the study of early stages of development, the Department of Biological how non-genetic factors Eye Center faculty members Chemistry. He is currently (tobacco smoke, environmental are actively involved in clinical a member of the UC Davis chemicals, temperature, etc.) trials to establish its efficacy. Center for Visual Sciences, affect the expression of genetic an interdisciplinary group of information. And according to Dr. Hjelmeland notes that his vision scientists under the Dr. Hjelmeland, “My crusade in has not been a conventional auspices of the UC Davis Eye the eye research community has career path beginning with Center. been to get people to fund and his undergraduate days work on this area.” at Stanford University Dr. Hjelmeland loves living where he designed his own in Davis with his wife, Mary Dr. Hjelmeland enthuses that interdisciplinary major and Kay, is an avid cook and the new field of epigenetics enjoyed opportunities to learn bridge fanatic, and in his spare will point the way to a much from Nobel Prize laureates. time, he enjoys ballroom deeper understanding of After earning his doctorate dancing and practicing yoga. the complexity of disease. (also interdisciplinary) from Despite significant health While promoting new work Stanford in 1976, he went to issues over the years and an in the field, Dr. Hjelmeland work for the National Institute idiosyncratic career path, Dr. continues to vigorously pursue of Health in Child Health Hjelmeland’s take on his life his research into Retinal and Human Development is overwhelmingly positive. “I Pigment Epithelium (RPE) for ten years working on the am continuously amazed that cells and their application to “synthesis of new detergents things have worked out as well the restoration of vision loss for biochemistry”. But by 1981 as they have.” due to Age-related Macular he had decided to “get more Degeneration (AMD) and biological”, and so he went to Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP). the National Eye Institute. It was during his five-year career Specifically, he has been at the NEI that he went totally working with a line of cells blind due to the effects of (these are NOT stem cells, he undetected diabetic retinopathy. is quick to point out) that was Undeterred, he persevered, discovered during a routine coming to UC Davis in 1986 scan of human eye cells in with a grant and lots of ideas.

Zjelka McBride, Ph.D. 19 Stem Cell Dialogues Park Gives New Hope Message to Patients with Retinal Diseases

By Susana Park, M.D., Ph.D.

rofessor Susanna Park, her research efforts and goals cells are much safer to use M.D., Ph.D. presented to bring autologous adult bone than embryonic stem cells and a message at the July marrow-derived stem cell inducible stem cells. By using Pth 28 , 2010, Stem Cell Dialogues therapy from the laboratory your own stem cells, you don’t Symposium that using stem bench to the clinics to treat have to worry about rejection,” cells to treat patients at UC patients with retinal diseases. said Dr. Park. “In fact, Davis with retinal disease autologous adult bone marrow- may be as close as just one or “Stem cells can potentially derived stem cells have already two steps away. Dr. Park, UC treat both retinal degenerative been used to treat patients Davis Eye Center Professor of diseases, such as macular with acute myocardial infarct Ophthalmology and a member degeneration, and retinal with some success. These cells of the Eye Center’s vitreo-retinal vascular diseases, such as appear to recognize blood faculty, was one of the program’s diabetic retinopathy,” said vessels and tissue that have two featured speakers on the Dr. Park. Both macular been damaged and help repair use of stem cells to treat hearing degeneration and diabetic these cells and tissue.” and vision loss. Her lecture, retinopathy remain leading entitled, “Stem Cell Therapy for causes of irreversible blindness In the case of retinal diseases, Fall / Winter 2010 Winter / Fall

despite advances in therapy. animal studies have already

• Treatment of Retinal Diseases: From Bench to Clinic” outlined “Adult patient’s own stem shown that adult stem cells 20 STEM CELL DIALOGUES Park Gives New Hope Message to Patients with Retinal Diseases

injected into the eye get are pure-enough and sterile- incorporated into damaged enough to be used for patient Dr. Park Lecture: retinal blood vessels and the care. UC Davis is the first Proton Beam Irradiation retina and appear to help repair. medical facility in northern in These cells show promise as California with such a facility. Treating Ocular Tumors therapy for diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration. Dr. Park is in the final phases · Date: April 8, 2011 of performing studies showing · Time: 8 a.m.-10 a.m. “Here at the UC Davis Medical that there are no long-term (tentative) Center, we are poised to start side-effects of injecting adult · Place: UC Davis Cancer stem cell therapy for our bone-marrow derived stem cells Center Auditorium patients with retinal diseases.” in the eyes of mice with retinal (tentative) The Center for Regenerative vascular diseases. Once this For more information, Cures, featuring a fully study is completed, Dr. Park is please contact: Shon Elmer functioning GMP (Good optimistic that UC Davis will (916) 734-6891 Manufacturing Practice) get approval from the Food vashon.elmer@ucdmc. laboratory, opened this past and Drug Administration to ucdavis.edu year. This laboratory is certified start stem cell therapy to treat to manufacture stem cells that patients with retinal diseases. 21 ORBIS International The UC Davis Eye Center and ORBIS International

By James Brandt, M.D.

itizens across much of hundreds of patients each day In 1984, a used DC-8 donated the developed world are but this hardly makes a dent by United Airlines was Cfortunate to have access in countries where there is converted into the world’s first to modern eye care at facilities just one ophthalmologist per Flying Eye Hospital. One of its like the UC Davis Eye Center. million citizens and the trip on first missions was to Malawi, It is rare indeed for someone in foot from a village to a surgical where two ophthalmologists Northern California to go blind camp takes a week or more. served a population of 7 million. from treatable diseases like ORBIS expanded its teaching cataract and glaucoma or eye Since 2007 the faculty of program to include the 28 infections like trachoma. Most the UC Davis Eye Center ophthalmology assistants and 12 of the world isn’t so lucky – the have partnered with ORBIS nurses who played a major role World Health Organization International in their unique in providing eye care services estimates that about 40 million approach to the creation of to the country’s population. The individuals around the world self-sustaining eye care systems ‘capacity building’ approach of are blind from diseases that in the developing world. ORBIS was born. ORBIS long- would be easily treated in the ORBIS began in the 1970s term projects are taking place developed world (see table). when Dr. David Paton, then in , China, , This number will rise to over 75 the chair of Ophthalmology at India, , Peru and million as world population and Baylor College of Medicine, Jamaica. Additional projects life expectancy increase. Over recognized that bringing are underway in many other 90% of the world’s blind live in teaching faculty to the countries around the globe. the developing world. developing world could All projects are geared toward jump-start a self-sustaining making a lasting impact and There are many approaches to eye-care system. allowing activities to continue dealing with world blindness. What was needed long after ORBIS assistance has Surgical camps across Africa was a mobile ended. and southern Asia can treat teaching hospital. Fall / Winter 2010 2010 / Winter Fall

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22 ORBIS INTERNATIONAL The UC Davis Eye Center and ORBIS International

In 1992, the current Flying Eye Brandt, Professor & Director of ORBIS, talk to your UC Davis Hospital (a converted DC-10 the Glaucoma Service, traveled Eye Center ophthalmologist and widebody jet) took to the air to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam visit the ORBIS website at www. for its first mission to , (2008), Trujillo, Peru (2009) orbis.org. China. Since then the ORBIS and Jakarta, Indonesia (2010) DC-10 has clocked millions of to teach glaucoma techniques. Causes of World Blindness miles in the air and hundreds of Dr. Susanna Park, Professor (2002 WHO estimates) weeks on the ground throughout and member of the UC Davis the world teaching surgery to Eye Center’s Retina Service, • cataracts (47.9%) ophthalmologists who then go on traveled to Trujillo, Peru in 2010 • glaucoma (12.3%) to teach local trainees and fellow to teach treatments for diabetes, ophthalmologists in the modern inflammation and age-related • age-related macular techniques of eye care and macular degeneration. degeneration (8.7%) surgery that they learned aboard • corneal opacity (5.1%) the aircraft. The UC Davis Eye Center’s • diabetic retinopathy (4.8%) commitment to ORBIS will go • childhood blindness (3.9%) In 2007, Dr. Mary O’Hara, on in coming years, with future • trachoma (3.6%) Professor & Director of the UC missions planned for India and • onchocerciasis (0.8%) Davis Eye Center’s Pediatric Bangladesh, and return missions Ophthalmology Service, to work once more with our traveled to Wuhan, China to partners in China, Vietnam and teach pediatric ophthalmology Peru. techniques to local ophthalmologists. Dr. James For more information about

23 Fall / Winter 2010 2010 / Winter Fall

(upper row, left to right) 1) Tania Paul, M.D., UC Davis Glaucoma Fellow, screening patients at the Cipto • Mangunkusumo Hospital in Jakarta, Indonesia. 2) Drs. Brandt, Baik & Park in front of the Flying Eye Hospital 24 in Trujillo, Peru. 3) Dr. Park with Patient. 4) Dr. Park with Physician. ORBIS INTERNATIONAL The Marvel that is ORBIS: My Visit to China

By Mary O’Hara, M.D.

t was late at night when My particular task was to pro- one-on-one sessions and a little our DC-10 touched down vide instruction in children’s bit of sight-seeing with our Iin Wuhan, China. Despite eye surgery to a group of eye Chinese colleagues. It has now the hour, a driver was waiting surgeons with multiple levels been three years since my OR- for my daughter and me with a of experience. Some of our BIS trip to Wuhan, but I remain sign: Dr. Mary O’Hara and Ms. “students” were brand new eye in contact with my Chinese Maureen Lloyd. Welcome to doctors barely out of school and friends. We discuss patients, China. A volunteer experience others were very experienced research interests and our lives with ORBIS is always a surgeons who wished to learn as they have changed since that logistical miracle and always the more advanced techniques. fateful week. My daughter has presents a series of adventures. All wanted to learn how to bet- gone on to medical school and A charitable organization that ter care for the eyes of the chil- credits her ORBIS experience draws on the talents of a multi- dren of China. To paraphrase, with her decision to become an national medical community, a they did not want us to come to ophthalmologist. Perhaps some- highly resourceful staff and the their country and fish for them; day I will accompany her when generosity of the world to cure they wished to learn how to fish. she goes on her first ORBIS trip blindness is indeed a marvel. as a visiting ophthalmologist. Year after year, around the world, My week was filled with eye this is what ORBIS does. examinations, surgery, lectures,

25 Mary Tasker, M.D. The Legacy of Mary Beth Tasker

By Mark J. Mannis, M.D. ary Beth Tasker’s smile was infectious. MEveryone who knew her was warmed by it. An active member of our ophthalmic community for over 40 years and Sacramento’s first female ophthalmologist, Mary was an unusual person with broad interests that ranged from medicine to the arts. Over the years, she provided wonderful service to her patients, was a devoted wife and mother, and actively participated in the teaching program at UC Davis. On her death, she left an endowment to the Eye Center to fund innovative research–her last gift to ophthalmology in the Sacramento region. Mary was born and raised in Platteville, Wisconsin. From early in life, she had a gift for music and was headed for a career in music when her younger sister convinced her to join her in medical school. The two sisters matriculated in the same class at the University of Wisconsin–a class in which there were, remarkably for the time, 39 women. She graduated in 1956 and made the decision to pursue ophthalmology as a surgical specialty that would allow her to manage patients of all ages. Residency was at the Long Beach VA Hospital in Los Angeles.

Mary’s arrival in Sacramento Fall / Winter 2010 2010 / Winter Fall

• in 1961 was occasioned by an invitation from the late Dick 26 MARY TASKER The Legacy of Mary Beth Tasker

Shannon, M.D. to work part- different interests. When ophthalmic community was a time in his practice. She later not in the office, she was ‘in bequest of $100,000 to serve joined Norman Schwilk, stealth mode’ about being a as an endowment to fund M.D. as a business partner. physician”, they pointed out. innovative ophthalmic research Together, they purchased at UC Davis. With this gift, land at 50th and J Streets, Anyone who knew Mary, Mary Tasker, who passed away built an office there, but had knew of her lifelong interest on October 2, 2009, leaves a separate practices on the in music. She was a strong legacy of generosity that will premises. And in the latter supporter of the classical encourage creative innovation part of her career, she sold music scene in the Capital in ophthalmology and will her practice to James Reece, City. Beginning in her first echo the music of her career M.D. and worked one day year in practice, she sang with for years to come. a week for him until she the Sacramento Symphony finally fully retired in 2006. Chorus, and in subsequent Mary was, for much of her years with the Medichords Mary Beth Tasker Fund career, the only woman in (the Medical Auxiliary the Sacramento ophthalmic singing group), the River City Contributions to the Mary community, but she held Chorale, and the Sacramento Beth Tasker Fund can be made her own, and was proud to Mastersingers. Mary felt by sending checks made out to see other women become strongly that her involvement UC Regents and sent c/o Mr. important practitioners in our in music and the arts enhanced Ernest Phinney, Development community. Over the years, her ability to relate to patients Office, UC Davis Eye Center, she was also a regular member as a physician. The memorial 4860 Y Street, Suite 2400, of the volunteer clinical faculty service held for her earlier Sacramento, CA 95817. at UCD, where she derived this year was, appropriately, considerable satisfaction from a musical paean to a life teaching the residents and dedicated both to healing and medical students. to beautiful music.

Mary was also a devoted Although Mary lived her family woman. Her husband, professional life as a private Lawrence (d. 2007) worked practitioner, she clearly as an engineer for Aerojet and understood the important role later as a civilian engineer played by UC Davis in the for the air force. Her three Sacramento region. For many children–Diana (a biomedical years, therefore, she taught the engineer in Sacramento), residents in the clinic and was Lawrence and Kenneth (both a regular participant in Grand businessmen) remember her as Rounds here at UCD. “a very capable professional who, outside of the office, Mary’s final gift to the was a person with many university and to the 27 Denise Satterfield, M.D. UCD Alumna with a Passion for Giving Sight to Children Fall / Winter 2010 2010 / Winter Fall

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28 Denise Satterfield UCD Alumna with a Passion for Giving Sight to Children

The opportunity to observe an ophthalmic surgeon elegantly straightening the eyes of a cross- eyed child convinced Denise Satterfield, an R.N. at that time, that this was something that she wanted to do. That case set her career on course.

Born to a military family in Southern California, the older of two daughters, Denise initially set her sights on a career in nursing and got her associate degree in nursing (R.N.) at the University of Alaska. But she realized that she had aspirations to be a physician and, after completing a bachelor’s degree in microbiology at UC San Diego in 1982 and working as an R.N. for four years, she was admitted to the School of Medicine at UC Davis. Realizing that ophthalmology was a competitive field, she undertook basic research during medical school, working on endothelial function in rabbits in the laboratory of Christina Kenney, M.D., Ph.D.

She graduated with the School of Medicine class of 1987 and, after an internship in pediatrics at UCDMC, she joined the UCD Department of Ophthalmology for residency. Consistent with her focus from the outset, after completing residency training in 1991, Dr. Satterfield joined the Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research

29 pediatric ophthalmology with involved with the residents, not Board of the medical school Art Jampolsky, M.D. and Alan only because I have something for eight years Scott, M.D. Her research there to teach them, but because with two terms as board culminated in an important I also learn from them.” president. Her emphasis has paper on the psychosocial Satterfield teaches not only the been helping students target aspects of strabismus. UCD ophthalmology residents the right career goal. (commonly supplying food and Immediately after fellowship, wine in addition to her wealth Of the Eye Center, Satterfield she opened her practice here of clinical experience), but also points out: “The expertise in in Sacramento. Since then, hosts family practice residents the department is tremendous, Dr. Denise Satterfield has from the Sutter and Mercy and the UCD Eye Center become one of Sacramento’s programs in her office. is a true resource for the premier pediatric specialists. community for help with She has enjoyed solo private Denise is married to Dale difficult problems. I have practice largely because she Smith, M.D., her husband of always found the staff can deliver very personal care 30 years. Dale is a urologist responsive to my needs as a and has the independence to affiliated with the Woodland referring physician.” make decisions about patient Clinic. They reside in Davis care, office management where they brought up their Dr. Satterfield continues to find and personnel. She values two daughters Megan (26) satisfaction in her practice and the “personal touch” in who is pursuing a career in remains a proud graduate of patient care, and is currently gastronomy and Lindsey UCD School of Medicine and recruiting for a practice (24) who is working on her the Eye Center, dedicated to partner. prerequisites for nursing maintaining and restoring the school. vision of children. Throughout her career, Denise has remained affiliated with Denise has been a the UCD Eye Center, serving devoted UCD continuously on the Volunteer alumna, serving Clinical Faculty. “I love being on the Alumni Fall / Winter 2010 2010 / Winter Fall

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30 THE SURANS

Surans Support Eye Center Stem Cell Research

By Ernest Phinney

erry Suran and Helen Singer Suran are almost newlyweds Jand philanthropy is clearly one of their most cherished activities. Jerry and his first wife, Elsie, had endowed chairs and research funds at both Syracuse University and UC Davis, and now Jerry and Helen are continuing that tradition of supporting the communities and institutions they care about.

Diagnosed with age-related honorary doctorate from In spite of having lost sight in macular degeneration, Helen Syracuse University for the one eye and some difficulty Suran has been a patient of UC development of the first GE recognizing people’s faces due Davis Eye Center faculty member implantable cardiac pacemaker, to the AMD, Helen Suran has Dr. Susanna Park. Helen has and Senior Lecturer Emeritus a very busy life. She is a great also been a patient subject in in the Graduate School of grandmother, and remains the CATT study (Comparison Management and in the active in her family’s life. She of Age-related Macular Department of Electrical & and Jerry spent an extended Degeneration Treatment Trials) Computer Engineering at the family Mexican vacation since November 2009. And so University of California, Davis, with Helen’s children, grand it was that when she and her is still actively involved with children and great grand new husband were considering teaching at UC Davis at age 84. children in August. Helen their philanthropy in 2009, they “It is one of my great pleasures, is also an active member of chose to support Dr. Park’s stem and teaching is one of the things her synagogue, and in many cell research. According to Mrs. (among many) that Helen and community activities, such as Suran, “I’m glad to be a part of I have in common. She was a the University Farm Circle and the study and to do anything I can to contribute to medical high-school Spanish teacher for the Friends of the Mondavi, and science. For some diseases, many years in the Los Angeles as a political activist in Davis, regenerative medicine is the only City Schools and enjoyed where she writes frequent hope for a cure. I wish it could teaching as much as I do.” letters to the editor of the Davis happen for AMD in my lifetime, Enterprise and speaks out but if not, there are certainly Both Jerry and Helen were against anti-Semitism. many people who may benefit widowed after more than 50 from it in the future. If I can years with their former spouses. As Jerry Suran says, “Although help, then I need to take an active Jerry reflects, “We had the I play golf, Helen has become participation.” same accountant and the same my hobby. We’re busy enjoying attorney here in Davis, but we life.” Jerry Suran, holder of an had never met. Mutual friends introduced us.” 31 Non-Profit Org. US Postage PAID UC Davis UC Davis Health System Eye Center 4860 Y Street, Suite 2400 Sacramento, CA 95817

Volume 9, No. 2 • Fall/Winter 2010

News from the UC Davis Health System Eye Center Fall / Winter 2010 2010 / Winter Fall

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