Summer 2007 An Historic Occasion... Groundbreaking: The Robert H. and Clarice Smith Building and the Maurice Bendann Surgical Pavilion at Wilmer PAGE 4 2 S i g h t LINE • THE WILMER EYE INSTITUTE Inside this Issue The View from Wilmer Development Five years ago, when I joined the Wilmer development 4 Groundbreaking staff, I worried that I might Wilmer breaks ground on the new Robert H. and Clarice Smith Building never “get up to speed” on and the Maurice Bendann Surgical all of the extraordinary work Pavilion on June 6th being done by Wilmer clini- cians and scientists. I was absolutely right! The na- 10 Professorship Advances ture of science and medicine in a place like Johns Macular Degeneration Hopkins is such that things are always evolving, Research improving, changing: research yields discovery and The G. Edward and G. Britton Durell discovery brings progress. Wilmer has more than Professorship is dedicated 100 full-time faculty members, each of whom is de- termined to do his or her best to make a positive 12 Morton F. Goldberg, M.D., difference in Wilmer’s mission to find new treat- Director’s Discovery Fund ments and eventual cures for blinding eye diseases. A global approach to treating angle There would probably be something amiss if a lib- closure glaucoma eral arts major (such as I) could keep up with their progress! What the Wilmer development team can do is our utmost to find the philanthropic support needed to 14 The Lions Club Celebration help our brilliant faculty accomplish their goals. Group reaches $4 million endowment Some require a special piece of equipment for the to fund the Lions Vision Research and lab, or money to fund a technician’s salary. Others Rehabilitation Center need funding for a graduate fellow. We take tremen- dous pride in our role in helping them acquire the tools they need to succeed. 16 W. Richard Green, M.D. Years ago, former Wilmer director Dr. Goldberg Professorship and current director Dr. McDonnell realized the Dedicated on May 18th critical need for a new research and eyecare facility at Wilmer. On June 6th, 2007, we broke ground for the Robert H. and Clarice Smith Building and the Maurice Bendann Surgical Pavilion. It is a magnifi- 18 Wilmer Alumnus Receives cent dream realized, and we are deeply grateful for Top Honors the support of the generous donors (the majority of James P. Gills, Jr., M.D. is named a whom are not medical or scientific experts), listed Distinguished Medical Alumnus and is on page 8 of this publication and to all of those who inducted into the Society of Scholars will help us complete the funding. Whether scien- tists or liberal arts majors, the quest to end blind- ness is what binds us together. m On the Cover: Laurette L. Hankins Architect rendering of the new Robert H. and Clarice Smith Building and Director of Development the Maurice Bendann Surgical Pavilion of the Wilmer Eye Institute [email protected] S i g h t LINE • THE WILMER EYE INSTITUTE FROM THE DIRECTOR Reflecting on Wilmer’s Past while Looking Toward a Better Future une 6 marked an auspicious occasion in the eighty- time spent teaching the next generation of ophthal- three year history of the Wilmer Eye Institute, with mologists and scientists, and more time working in Jconstruction commencing on a new research and teams and teaching each other. surgical building. When completed, roughly two years Since my return to Wilmer four years ago, I have fre- from now, this magnificent structure will make Wilmer quently found myself marveling at the talent, dedication much larger, more modern and more attractive. But and creativity of so many of the people who work at the none of these adjectives captures the real reason this building is so important to us. The bottom line is that “We shape our buildings. this building will make us better. Thereafter, they shape us.” • Better in surgery, as the new facility will permit us Winston Churchill to operate much more efficiently, performing ap- proximately 50% more operations. Patients will find Institute. Whatever kind words are said about Wilmer, the surgical experience much easier and “friendli- and however prominently we appear in national rank- er,” with less waiting time. Surgeons and nurses will ings, Wilmer faculty and staff are never complacent. find it a better place to work, with less stress and less Rather, they are always looking for ways to improve. It is “busy work,” allowing more time to concentrate on truly exciting to look toward the future and imagine how our patients. many patients in our country and throughout the world • Better in research, as our scientists will no longer will benefit from the scientific discoveries and the much be limited by space. Also better because our scien- larger number of eye surgeries that this new building tists will work together in open “research neighbor- will make possible. hoods”, where they will be able to share equipment, On behalf of all who work at Wilmer, I offer heartfelt expertise and ideas to accomplish their work more thanks to those generous individuals who made this rapidly and successfully. ground breaking happen, and my gratitude, in advance, to those who will help us complete the funding for the • Better healers in our clinics, as we redesign our clin- entire transformational structure. Thank you for making ical areas in our existing buildings to make them us better. m more patient- friendly. Our physicians will be able to work in teams to help the patients with multiple complicated problems who so often come to us and who need care from multiple specialties. Peter J. McDonnell, M.D. • Better educators in our clinics, laboratories and op- William Holland Wilmer Professor and Director erating rooms, as our greater efficiency means more S i g h t LINE • THE WILMER EYE INSTITUTE Groundbreaking Brings Wilmer’s Vision to Life Alan Guerrieri, Patti Guerrieri, Peter McDonnell, M.D., Morton Goldberg, M.D., Sandy Forsythe, Rick Forsythe, William Brody,M.D., Ph.D., Ronald Peterson, Michael Liss, Robert Smith, Edward Miller, M.D. Clarice Smith, Michelle Smith, Arnall Patz, M.D., Robert Kogod, Arlene Kogod, Madeleine Pickens, T. Boone Pickens, William Tiefel, Norma Tiefel, Al Turner, Walter Stark, M.D., Glenn Turner he Wilmer Eye Institute is a giant step closer commitment to being of service to his fellow man and to realizing its dream of a new state-of-the-art the happiness this brings him. T facility to better serve patients and their fami- After addressing the crowd that included Wilmer lies and to facilitate cross-disciplinary collaboration faculty, staff and friends, Johns Hopkins administra- among researchers. Groundbreaking for the Robert H. tion, elected officials, and generous donors to Wilmer, and Clarice Smith Building and the Maurice Bendann Smith donned a hard-hat and declared, “The theme for Surgical Pavilion of the Wilmer Eye Institute at Johns today’s event is breakthroughs, so let’s go for a break- Hopkins was held June 6. through, right here, right now.” Other major donors More than 400 people gathered under a white tent at and Hopkins leaders joined him on stage for the fina- the future building site to cheer lead donor, Robert H. le. As Smith knocked down the wall, confetti cannons Smith, as he welded a sledgehammer to symbolically sounded and rained shiny bits of paper upon the audi- break through a mock glass wall that clouded the list of ence which rose for a standing ovation. diseases and conditions of the eye that the Wilmer Eye “This is a key event in Wilmer’s history,” says Peter J. Institute seeks to cure. In a moving ceremony that in- McDonnell, M.D., Wilmer’s Director and William Hol- cluded remarks by leadership from Wilmer and Johns land Wilmer Professor of Ophthalmology. “This build- Hopkins University, Smith spoke eloquently about his ing will allow our researchers to move beyond any S i g h t LINE • THE WILMER EYE INSTITUTE physical and space limitations; they will be limited closely with former Wilmer director Morton Goldberg, only by the brilliance of their ideas.” M.D. to streamline the pre-construction process. Located at the corner of Broadway and Orleans Street, “This building is absolutely crucial for the future of the building will serve as the gateway to the historic Johns the Wilmer Eye Institute and all of those who struggle Hopkins East Baltimore campus. “This building holds a with all types of eye disease,” says Smith, whose mother- premier site,” says J. Michael Barber, project manager in-law was treated by Wilmer ophthalmologists for age- and senior associate for Ayers/Saint/Gross, one of two related macular degeneration. “For me, it has become a architectural firms designing the facility. passion to make this building happen now. Our gift is a A major focus of the building’s design is to encour- age collaboration among researchers and allow those “Our researchers ... will be limited coming into the field an opportunity to associate in- only by the brilliance of their ideas.” formally with their experienced colleagues, explains Peter J. McDonnell, M.D. Barber. From the patient perspective, Barber says, “The design and finishes throughout the outpatient and sur- by-product of the reputation of Johns Hopkins and the gical areas clearly communicate that patients are be- quality of important initiatives Wilmer is undertaking.” ing treated in a world-class institution. In designing Rick and Sandy Forsythe, co-chairs of Wilmer’s Ad- the operating rooms and recovery areas, we looked to visory Council, have been involved with Wilmer since improve both patient flow and efficiency.” Rick began treatment for macular degeneration some five years ago.