Iowa Eye Association News Sept, 2001. Series 2, no. 36.

University of Iowa Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences

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Update

The Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences is flourishing on all levels. We continue to attract among the best residents and fellows in the nation and the faculty is thriving. In spite of continuing reductions in reimbursement faced by all institutions and physicians, we are continuing to grow and continuing to enhance clinical, academic, and research in all programs. Although we moved into the Pomerantz Family Pavilion less than 5 and a half years ago, we have nearly run out of space. The original plans for the PFP included a third "pod" that will be occupied by the new Department of Radiation Oncology with continuity of space for ophthalmology on the first level. We have already renovated and expanded our Contact Lens Service, and the Iowa Lions Eye Bank will be expanding its program and moving to office space located on Mormon Trek. This will free up additional space and allow growth of the Refractive Surgery Service.

Since our last issue we have added a number of new faculty: two optometrists who divide their time between the Veterans Administration Ophthalmology Service, another Cornea and External Disease, Refractive Surgery subspecialist, and a full-time research scientist who will work in the Oakdale Research Facility and in the new Medical Education and Biomedical Research Facility (MEBRF) where the College of Medicine has committed an entire floor, 16,000 square feet of space, to the Center for Macular Degeneration.

At the end of September, Tracy Nichols, currently Director of Ophthalmic Photography at the Doheny Eye Institute, will take over as supervisor of ophthalmic photography from Paul Montague, who has headed photography since 1976 and now is responsible for departmental computer science programming.

The William E. Scott Chair for Education in Pediatric Ophthalmology was recently established with an anonymous $1.6 million gift to honor Bill Scott, the founding director of the Pediatric Ophthalmology and Adult Strabismus Service. Bill will be retiring in June 2002, but we hope he will actively participate in the education of students of pediatric ophthalmology and the clinical care of patients. Bill will continue to head the Coming to Your Senses vision and hearing screening program that is being supported in part by the Iowa Lions and Lions International in cooperation with ophthalmology and otolaryngology. Bill will also begin planning and implementation of a new ophthalmic technician training program to help alleviate the shortage of allied healthcare providers in ophthalmology.

Ron Keech, who will take over as director of pediatric ophthalmology, is leading the search for additional faculty. We hope to announce the results of our search within the year.

The 2002 Iowa Eye alumni meeting scheduled for June 13^th-15^th will include a symposium honoring Bill for his contributions to pediatric ophthalmology and his life-long commitment to education and support of the department. We hope that many of his former fellows, colleagues, and friends will return for this festive occasion. Look for further announcements in the near future.

One of my biggest challenges is to find an ophthalmic pathologist to direct the Frederick C. Blodi Eye Pathology Laboratory. We have newly renovated and expanded facilities, excellent staff support, and a large endowment to support the laboratory and faculty. We are fortunate to have two neuro-pathologists providing teaching and clinical service and the support of Bob Folberg via the tele-education program he started in Iowa to help us. Unfortunately few ophthalmology residents are pursuing careers in pathology. The likes of Ashton, Hogan, and Blodi are gone, and many of the giants in ophthalmic pathology are nearing retirement or have retired. Although the American Ophthalmic Society, with funding from the Heed Foundation and support from Research to Prevent Blindness, provide a generous stipend for qualified fellows in ocular pathology, few have taken advantage of the opportunity. In the near future only a handful of ophthalmology programs will have their own ocular pathologist. Most others will depend on pathology departments for education and clinical service.

For Internet access to this and the two past issues of Iowa Eye News: http://webeye.ophth.uiowa.edu/dept/IAEyeNws/IowaEye.htm.

Look forward to seeing you in New Orleans during the annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. The Iowa Eye Reception is scheduled for Monday, November 12, 2001, from 6:30 to 9:30 PM at the New Orleans Hilton Riverside, Oak Alley, 2 Poydras Street, New Orleans.

T.A. Weingeist