Iowa doctors seeing more cases of rare painful, blinding eye disease among contact wearers

Resident, Brittni Scruggs, MD, PhD, and Dr. Mark Greiner led an investigation showing an increase in acanthamoeba keratitis cases in Iowa over the past few years.

Press Citizen excerpt -

"It all started as an informal conversation,' said Dr. Brittni Scruggs, resident at the UI Department of Ophthalmology. "We noted just in the workroom over rounds 'wow there are a lot of patients who are presenting with Acanthomoebakeratitis, severe forms.'"

The painful, sometimes blinding disease particularly affects people with poor contact hygiene who come in contact with the fresh water where the protozoa Acanthomoeba resides. This includes people who wash contacts with tap water and people who wear contacts while showering or swimming. 

A small team of doctors, spearheaded by Scruggs, reviewed the last 16 years of cases to confirm this hunch: The hospital system is seeing more cases of Iowans diagnosed with this diseases, more than doctors would expect looking at the population changes in Iowa.

View full article: https://bit.ly/2Xoi4q2

---

Greiner accepted into AAO Leadership Development Class

The American Academy of Ophthalmology has selected their Leadership Development Program (LDP) Class of 2020. This year's class of emerging ophthalmology leaders includes Dr. Mark Greiner, associate professor of ophthalmology at the University of Iowa. Greiner, who joined the UI faculty in 2012, is head of the Cornea and External Disease Service and holds the Robert and Joell Brightfelt Professorship in Cornea. He is medical director to the Iowa Lions Eye Bank and serves on the Board of the Eye Bank Association of America. 

The LDP provides both orientation and skill development to future leaders of state, subspecialty and specialized interest societies in the field of ophthalmology. During the one-year program, class participants learn about leadership, advocacy and association governance.

More about this year's class and program: https://www.aao.org/about/leadership-development/overview

---

Name that Goat

Wanda Pfeifer's daughter, Brittney, has a new baby goat to raise and take care of this summer. He is a 7-day old male, white, Alpine goat and they are having a hard time coming up with a name! If you have any suggestions please e-mail them to Wanda at pfeiferw2012@gmail.com. The winning name will be shared once selected.

 

---

2019 Family Graduates

This department recognizes the important role that our families play in our lives. The graduation supplement is one way we acknowledge the accomplishments of those who support us behind the scenes.

Congratulations to all the graduates and to their family members in the Ophthalmology Department who have managed to get them this far in life and still be part of a world-class Department.

COLLEGE | POST GRADUATE
Yair S. Abramoff, Ensign USN, son of Michael and Dewi Abramoff, graduated from US Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD on May 24, 2019. He is a Commissioned Navy Officer in the submarine service.	Gabriel (Gabe) Coppinger, son of Brian & Alysa Coppinger, graduated from Iowa State University on May 11th with a double major in Agricultural Business & Economics. Gabe also commissioned with the Army on May 11th, where he was recognized as a Distinguished Military Student. He will be an Aviator training to fly helicopters in Fort Rucker, Alabama.	Jonathan F. Russell, MD PhD, son of Steve and Trudy Russell and formerly an HHMI West High School student in Dr. Stone's laboratory, will graduate from ophthalmology residency at Bascom Palmer Eye Inst/U of Miami on June 16, 2019. Jon is staying on at Bascom Palmer for his retina fellowship followed by Chief Residency in 2020-2021.
Danielle Woepking, daughter of Jeannene Clark, will graduate from Graceland University in August 2019, with a Masters in the Science of Nursing – Family Nurse Practitioner and a 4.0 GPA.
HIGH SCHOOL
Chiara Affatigato, daughter of Louisa Affatigato, graduated from Cedar Rapids Jefferson on May 23rd. She will be attending Macalester College in St. Paul, MN.	Konner Coppinger, son of Brian & Alysa Coppinger, graduated from Lone Tree on May 26th. Konner is a member of NHS, member of FFA and a 3 sport athlete. He will be attending Iowa State University to major in Criminal Justice and follow in his brother's footsteps with ROTC.	Jaxson Howsare and Mike Hoyle, sons of Kristi Howsare, graduated from Solon High School. Jaxson plans to attend Kirkwood to be a Physical Therapist Assistant, and Mike plans to attend Kirkwood for Computer Science.
Megan Lillie, daughter of Colleen and Lloyd Lillie, graduated from Washington High School, Washington, Iowa on May 26, 2019. Megan will be attending the University of Iowa for a Bachelor's degree.	George Liu, son of Xiaoyan Shan, graduated from West Senior High School in May 2019. He will be attending the North Eastern University and majoring in engineering this fall.	Mara Starkweather, daughter of Andrea Hoback, graduated from Louisa-Muscatine High School in May 2019. Mara plans to attend Kirkwood College for Vet Tech.
Sarah Poyer, step-daughter of Jennifer Timmerman, graduated from John F. Kennedy High School as Salutatorian. Sarah plans to attend Iowa State to study biology with a pre human medicine focus.	Skylar Wendt, daughter of Mary Wendt, graduated from West Liberty High School. Skylar is currently working full-time at West Liberty Foods.
PRESCHOOL | KINDERGARTEN PREP
Bryce Heitshusen, grandson of Patti Heitshusen, graduated from First Baptist Preschool in Boerne, TX on May 16, 2019.	Avery, granddaughter of Luan Streb, graduated from Creation Kids Preschool and is off to Kindergarten at Regina next year.	Audrey and Issa Haugsdal, daughters of Jaci Haugsdal, graduated from Frog Hollow in North Liberty. Plans for after graduation are to attend Kindergarten!
Charlie Jons, grandson of Gail Jons, graduated from Little Clippers' Preschool. His honors include writing his name, reading and doing math equations, and singing Country & Western songs. He plans to go on to higher learning in Kindergarten at Clear Creek Elementary School. Charlie's summer break will include trips to Jons' Ice Cream in Tiffin, hanging out at the splashpads and touring various local playgrounds.	Lucía Jane Miller, daughter of Brittni Scruggs, graduated from Kindergarten Prep at Bright Horizons at UIHC. Lucía will be attending Kindergarten this fall at The Portland International School.	Everett Sanders, son of Scott Sanders, graduated from North Liberty Preschool with plans to attend Van Allen Elementary School this fall.

---

Save the Date: Resident & Fellow Graduation

Join us on Thursday, June 27 as we celebrate our 2019 graduates!

What: Resident and Fellow Graduation
When: Thursday, June 27 | Social Hour @ 5:30 PM, Program @ 6:15 PM
Where: Hancher Auditorium, Strauss Hall, 141 East Park Road

For more information, please contact Laura Pitlick, laura-pitlick@uiowa.edu

View PDF (see where our graduates are heading)

---

Geek Speak

Submitted by Jessica Bramow-

Tips & Tricks
Click HERE for a list of mini training videos.  Jess will be adding more content to this page soon!
If you've got ideas for what you'd like training on, please shoot Jess an email: Jessica-bramow@uiowa.edu

Ways to Contact Us for Help
Phone:  78107
Email:  OphthIT@healthcare.uiowa.edu
ESC Portal:  https://service.healthcare.uiowa.edu (click on the link in the tips & tricks section to learn how to submit a ticket properly, so that it gets routed to Ophthalmology IT)

---

Wellness Corner

Submitted by Tonya Looker-

The 2019 Corridor Corporate Games (CCG) offers competitive, non-competitive, and non-sport activities as an option for participation. There truly is something for everyone. Opportunities are available in Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, in the evening, in the morning, during the week and on the weekend! Help us win the cup by participating in the non-competitive events! Please share this information with your colleagues and consider organizing a group of co-workers to participate in one of these; and as a Wellness Ambassador, you may want to track and follow the CCG Leaderboard at https://www.corridorcorporategames.org/Leaderboard. The games officially began on June 1st. Our motto, "Slow and Steady wins the race!" Go Hawkeyes!

The following are the upcoming non-competitive events:

Cycling Tour Ride- Iowa City

• When: Saturday, June 8th, check in 11:00 am-1:00 pm
• Where: Big Grove Brewery- Iowa City

Sunrise Yoga

• When: Saturday, June 22nd 7:30-8:30 am
• Where: Lowe Park- Marion

Zumba

• When: Wednesday, June 26th 7:00-8:00 pm
• Where: Campus Recreation and Wellness Center- Iowa City

Road Race

• When: Saturday, June 29th 8:00 am
• Where: Coralville Recreation Center- Coralville

Basketball Shooting

• When: Sunday, June 30th 1:00 pm
• Where: Mercer Park Aquatic Center Gymnasium- Iowa City

Cycling Tour Ride- Cedar Rapids

• When: Saturday, July 13th, check in 11:00 am-1:00 pm
• Where: Guthridge Park- Hiawatha

Fitness Walk

• When: Sunday, July 28th, check in 11:00 am-1:00 pm
• Where: Terry Trueblood Recreation Area- Iowa City

To find more information about each of these events, and all of the other events offered by Corridor Corporate Games, visit: https://www.corridorcorporategames.org/Events

If you are interested in any of these events, please create an account and sign up for the events. Instructions for creating account:

• Go to the following website: https://www.corridorcorporategames.org/
• Select "Employees Click Here to Set Up an Account & Access Your Dashboard" in the center of the screen
• Select "New User Register Here"
• Enter your information, using your university email address
• The company code is "CCGUOFI"
• You will be redirected to login
• Read and agree to waiver
• Select "Dashboard" in upper right corner
• Click red box to answer company questions
• Enter cell phone number, t-shirt size, employee ID, and campus mail address and select save
• Select "Sign Up For Events" on left to express interest in events
  
• Select "Dashboard" on left to see news, your events, and your volunteer assignment

Why should you participate? These are fun activities that allow you to show your Hawkeye pride and spend time with other University of Iowa community members. Participants will receive a free gold t-shirt and Hawkeye bandana/headband (while supplies last) to wear as an optional uniform!

Have fun and Go Hawks!

Follow @UIowaLiveWELL on Facebook and Twitter, where we are posting openings for Team/Competitive events, too, if you're interested!

Also, if you're not interested in the physical activities, UI does have the need to fill volunteer slots! Check out the liveWELL Corridor Corporate Games site for a complete listing of volunteer opportunities.

---

Iowa Lions Eye Bank | Update

Submitted by Ashley Dockendorf-

Congratulations to Ellie Engelbrecht, Constituent Relations Coordinator at ILEB for completing the DAM to DSM half marathon on June 1st! Great job, Ellie!

---

Donor Dash 5K Fun Run + 2 Mile Walk
Raising Awareness for organ, eye and tissue donation
Saturday, August 17 | 8 AM
Terry Trueblood Recreation Area
Iowa City, IA

Registration opens May 31 (register before July 1st to receive best discounted rate)

More info & Registration: https://bit.ly/2XiKhOS

About the event
Over 114,000 men, women and children are waiting for an organ transplant in the U.S. right now; over 700 right here in Iowa. Join us for this fun, family-friendly event and be a part of a community that is determined to end the wait!  

The 4th Annual DONOR DASH 5K Fun Run and Walk honors those who have given the gift of life, celebrates the lives of organ and tissue recipients, and recognizes those who continue to wait for a life-saving transplant. 

---

Lectures and Conferences