Alumni News

Volume: I Number: 2

Alumn NewsUpcoming Events

Academy Alumni ReceptionSunday, October 17, 2010

6 - 8 pm

The Drake Hotel140 E. Walton Place, Chicago, IL

Venetian/Georgian Rooms

Fall Visiting Professor SeriesOptics Course

September 25Constance West, MD

Cincinnati Children’s Hospital

Ophthalmology Update 2010October 1 and 2David Abramson, MD

Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer CenterPaul Palmberg, MD, PhD

Bascom Palmer Eye InstituteStephen Pflugfelder, MD

Baylor College of Medicine

Daniel Bisno Medical Ethics LectureNovember 4Aine Donovan, EdD

Ethics Institute, Dartmouth CollegeNancy Holekamp, MD

Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology &Visual Sciences, Washington University

SLOS* / WU Neuro-OphthalmologyVisiting Professor

November 11Anthony Arnold, MD

Jules Stein Eye Institute

Barry and Jack Kayes Visiting ProfessorDecember 15Kenneth Kenyon, MD

Mount Holyoke College

*St. Louis Ophthalmological Society

Charitable gifts to the Department of Ophthal-mology & Visual Sciences can take manyforms. Often they represent bequests ofmoney or property. Sometimes they areoutright gifts. Funds can be used for generalpurposes or dedicated to specific projects orpieces of equipment. Some gifts, such asendowments, are given in perpetuity.Our development office, Mike Schroeder, 314-935-9895, ([email protected]) will behappy to discuss options and work with po-tential benefactors to structure their donationsaccording to their desires. All gifts are tax-deductible to the amount allowed by law.

Education Past & Present

Congratulations

Mort Smith, MD

Samuel R. Goldstein Leadership Awardin Medical Student Education for 2009

Received a Goldstein Leadership Award as a reflection ofexcellence in and commitment to medical student education

and recognition for outstanding contributions to teaching.

Hello Alumni and Friends,

So Mary H and Mary C wanted to know how our education programdiffers from 40 years ago. Naturally, they turned to the oldest memberof the ophthalmology faculty for the answer. When I started as aresident in 1961, there was much less structure to the educationprogram compared to today. It was essentially Bernie Becker. Dr.Becker moderated all Grand Rounds, and they were outstanding. Thatis because Bernie knew everything about ophthalmology. Bernie alsoconducted bedside rounds several mornings each week. The basicdidactic lectures did not conform to any structure until the BCSC camealong and tighter rules were set by the Residency Review Committee.

Case presentations at Grand Rounds today utilize photos of patient’sfindings, whereas in the past actual patients were examined in theclinic before we convened in the auditorium. I suppose HIPPA rulespreclude us bringing back actual patients for Rounds (although I admitthat I have been Visiting Professor in least one ophthalmologydepartment where live patients were examined before Rounds). In allfairness, I am not so sure we need patients rather than photos to keepup to date.

In summary, then, I would say that today’s education program atWashington University is much more structured than in the past… butdoes that necessarily mean that we are learning more? It does meanthat every one is learning the same things. And it means that we canstructure how to evaluate what they are learning. The ACGME is tryingto make teaching residents into a science. But what we don’t want tolose is the art of apprenticeship. The old dogs like me (Mort), MikeKass, Harry Knopf and Bob Feibel are still mentoring students in theold school. Fortunately WU still recruits residents who understand thatophthalmology is both an art and a science, and they benefit from boththe newly imposed structure and the clinical experience that WU stilldoes, and will continue to offer.

Mort Smith, MD

The annual symposium was very well attended. The audiencelearned many new ideas. Congratulations to Joel Sugar, MD,the 19th Distinguished Alumnus Lecturer, (center) and invitedspeaker James Tsai, MD, (right) pictured here with Dr. MichaelKass. The David and Mary Seslen Lecture was presented byPhilip Rosenfeld, MD, PhD.

Consider joining us for the October 1 & 2, 2010 program:Alumnus Lecturer - Paul Palmberg, MD, PhDInvited Speaker - Stephen Pflugfelder, MDSeslen Lecturer - David Abramson, MD, FACS

Larry Tychsen, MD, Retina Fellow ’01 Kumar Rao, MD,Mike Conners, MD, PhD ’00 and Sean Breit, MD ’06enjoy the day at Pebble Beach

Ophthalmolgy Update 2009

AAO Alumni ReceptionSunday, Oct. 25, 2009 - Grand Hyatt in San Francisco

Almost 80 former residents and fellows from many decades and their guests came through the door of the 32ndfloor. The weather was mild, the sky clear and the view spectacular. A solid contingent of west coast alums came,but the other parts of the country were also well represented.

Third year residentWhitney Lomazow, MDand Cornea Fellow ‘09Vanee Virasch, MD.

Jon Silbert MD ’99, Stephanie Po, MD ‘97,Dilys Bart, MD ’97 and Jerry Roper, MD ‘98

Mike Conners, MD, PhD ’00, George Harocopos, MD ’04, Mort Smith, MD ’66,Sean Edelstein, MD ’07 and Rob Chang, MD ’07.

Third year residentsWhitney Lomazow, MD,Beti Belachew, MDand Andrew Schimel, MDtake a moment to rest atMuir Woods.

Class NotesClass NotesClass NotesClass NotesClass Notes

A message from the Residency Program Director . . .The benefit of the structured surgical wetlab: Three years ago when the University Eye Service took over theresident clinics from BJH we had an opportunity to make some changes in our resident curriculum. We implemented astructured, mentored anterior segment wetlab that meets one half day per week on the first-year clinic rotation and isstaffed by adjunct faculty who previously attended the Barnes Eye Clinic. It follows a structured curriculum designed toincrease resident proficiency with basic skills (e.g. instrument handling, suturing, wound construction). Subjectively,faculty commented that residents exhibited better skills earlier in their training after we began the wetlab curriculum.Objectively, we measured a 21.3% increase in the average number of primary surgeon cataract cases in the firstgraduating class to have used the curriculum. We attribute this to an increased efficiency in the O.R., both in terms ofresident surgical skill, but also in resident confidence, which translates into a larger number of primary surgeon casesprior to the start of the third year. In light of the huge success of this program a curriculum was designed foroculoplastics skill acquisition, and hope with the addition of the EYESI virtual-reality trainer at the VA that a posteriorsegment curriculum will soon be available as well.

Sincerely,

Susan Culican

Spotlight on RSpotlight on RSpotlight on RSpotlight on RSpotlight on Resident Resident Resident Resident Resident Researesearesearesearesearccccchhhhh

One might say that Washington University Senior Resident Andrew Schimel has a vested interest in age-relatedmacular degeneration (ARMD) research. Ever since Schimel’s grandfather and childhood mentor was diagnosed withARMD, he has been motivated to discover a novel treatment for dry ARMD. While he may not have tackled thisformidable task yet, with the financial support of the Washington University Department of Ophthalmology and theguidance of Dr. Raj Apte, he is undoubtedly on his way. InJanuary of 2010, Schimel was one of four residents or fellowsnationwide selected to present at the Association of UniversityProfessors of Ophthalmology Resident and Fellow ResearchForum for his research on an antioxidant known asN-acetylcysteine amide (NACA). While NACA has beenestablished as a promising antioxidant therapy for numeroussystemic diseases, Schimel theorized its potential benefit in retinaldegenerations such as cobalamin C disease, retinitis pigmentosa,and ARMD. With the use of mouse models and in vitro testing ofretinal pigment epithelial cells, Schimel demonstrated the efficacyof NACA in preventing oxidative stress related retinaldegeneration. Hoping to take his work from bench to bedside,Schimel believes that NACA may be a novel therapy to delay oreven prevent progression of dry ARMD.

Flash from the Past . . .1999 Awards Ceremony and Farewell Reception.If you are in this picture, we want to hear from you -e.g. promotions, publications, research, family additions,new practice, societal membership/committee, communityleadership, old photos (with labels). . .And if you are not pictured here, we STILL want to hearfrom you.Please email your updates to Mary Carnoali [email protected]

If you thinkIf you thinkIf you thinkIf you thinkIf you thinkyou know whoyou know whoyou know whoyou know whoyou know whothis is, sendthis is, sendthis is, sendthis is, sendthis is, sendhim an email.him an email.him an email.him an email.him an email.

Do you recognize this equipment located in the 13th floor practice lab? Yes, many of you trained on these actualmachines all those years ago. If you are planning on closing or updating your office, please keep us in mind.

Donations welcome!

David Vollman Rajiv Rathod Matthew Albright Matthew CouncilCo-Chief Resident Retina Fellowship Private Practice FacultyUniv. Eye Service/ Illinois Eye and Ear Alabama St. Louis University

John Cochran VAMC Eye Institute

New DirectionsCongratulations to our graduating third years and fellows who are moving on the following positions:

Bethlehem Belachew Whitney Lomazow Azad Mansouri Andrew SchimelCo-Chief Resident Cornea Fellowship Retina Fellowship Retina FellowshipUniv. Eye Service/ UCIrvine National Retina Institute Bascom-Palmer Eye Institute

John Cochran VAMC

Sidney Chang Adam Buchanan Tara Missoi Arghavan Almony Raymond WeePrivate Practice Military Service Faculty Faculty Private Practice

Hawai’i Washington Univ. of MO/Columbia Univ. of MO/Columbia Hawai’i

Class NotesClass NotesClass NotesClass NotesClass Notes

A message from the Residency Program Director . . .The benefit of the structured surgical wetlab: Three years ago when the University Eye Service took over theresident clinics from BJH we had an opportunity to make some changes in our resident curriculum. We implemented astructured, mentored anterior segment wetlab that meets one half day per week on the first-year clinic rotation and isstaffed by adjunct faculty who previously attended the Barnes Eye Clinic. It follows a structured curriculum designed toincrease resident proficiency with basic skills (e.g. instrument handling, suturing, wound construction). Subjectively,faculty commented that residents exhibited better skills earlier in their training after we began the wetlab curriculum.Objectively, we measured a 21.3% increase in the average number of primary surgeon cataract cases in the firstgraduating class to have used the curriculum. We attribute this to an increased efficiency in the O.R., both in terms ofresident surgical skill, but also in resident confidence, which translates into a larger number of primary surgeon casesprior to the start of the third year. In light of the huge success of this program a curriculum was designed foroculoplastics skill acquisition, and hope with the addition of the EYESI virtual-reality trainer at the VA that a posteriorsegment curriculum will soon be available as well.

Sincerely,

Susan Culican

Spotlight on RSpotlight on RSpotlight on RSpotlight on RSpotlight on Resident Resident Resident Resident Resident Researesearesearesearesearccccchhhhh

One might say that Washington University Senior Resident Andrew Schimel has a vested interest in age-relatedmacular degeneration (ARMD) research. Ever since Schimel’s grandfather and childhood mentor was diagnosed withARMD, he has been motivated to discover a novel treatment for dry ARMD. While he may not have tackled thisformidable task yet, with the financial support of the Washington University Department of Ophthalmology and theguidance of Dr. Raj Apte, he is undoubtedly on his way. InJanuary of 2010, Schimel was one of four residents or fellowsnationwide selected to present at the Association of UniversityProfessors of Ophthalmology Resident and Fellow ResearchForum for his research on an antioxidant known asN-acetylcysteine amide (NACA). While NACA has beenestablished as a promising antioxidant therapy for numeroussystemic diseases, Schimel theorized its potential benefit in retinaldegenerations such as cobalamin C disease, retinitis pigmentosa,and ARMD. With the use of mouse models and in vitro testing ofretinal pigment epithelial cells, Schimel demonstrated the efficacyof NACA in preventing oxidative stress related retinaldegeneration. Hoping to take his work from bench to bedside,Schimel believes that NACA may be a novel therapy to delay oreven prevent progression of dry ARMD.

Flash from the Past . . .1999 Awards Ceremony and Farewell Reception.If you are in this picture, we want to hear from you -e.g. promotions, publications, research, family additions,new practice, societal membership/committee, communityleadership, old photos (with labels). . .And if you are not pictured here, we STILL want to hearfrom you.Please email your updates to Mary Carnoali [email protected]

If you thinkIf you thinkIf you thinkIf you thinkIf you thinkyou know whoyou know whoyou know whoyou know whoyou know whothis is, sendthis is, sendthis is, sendthis is, sendthis is, sendhim an email.him an email.him an email.him an email.him an email.

Do you recognize this equipment located in the 13th floor practice lab? Yes, many of you trained on these actualmachines all those years ago. If you are planning on closing or updating your office, please keep us in mind.

Donations welcome!

David Vollman Rajiv Rathod Matthew Albright Matthew CouncilCo-Chief Resident Retina Fellowship Private Practice FacultyUniv. Eye Service/ Illinois Eye and Ear Alabama St. Louis University

John Cochran VAMC Eye Institute

New DirectionsCongratulations to our graduating third years and fellows who are moving on the following positions:

Bethlehem Belachew Whitney Lomazow Azad Mansouri Andrew SchimelCo-Chief Resident Cornea Fellowship Retina Fellowship Retina FellowshipUniv. Eye Service/ UCIrvine National Retina Institute Bascom-Palmer Eye Institute

John Cochran VAMC

Sidney Chang Adam Buchanan Tara Missoi Arghavan Almony Raymond WeePrivate Practice Military Service Faculty Faculty Private Practice

Hawai’i Washington Univ. of MO/Columbia Univ. of MO/Columbia Hawai’i

Volume: I Number: 2

Alumn NewsUpcoming Events

Academy Alumni ReceptionSunday, October 17, 2010

6 - 8 pm

The Drake Hotel140 E. Walton Place, Chicago, IL

Venetian/Georgian Rooms

Fall Visiting Professor SeriesOptics Course

September 25Constance West, MD

Cincinnati Children’s Hospital

Ophthalmology Update 2010October 1 and 2David Abramson, MD

Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer CenterPaul Palmberg, MD, PhD

Bascom Palmer Eye InstituteStephen Pflugfelder, MD

Baylor College of Medicine

Daniel Bisno Medical Ethics LectureNovember 4Aine Donovan, EdD

Ethics Institute, Dartmouth CollegeNancy Holekamp, MD

Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology &Visual Sciences, Washington University

SLOS* / WU Neuro-OphthalmologyVisiting Professor

November 11Anthony Arnold, MD

Jules Stein Eye Institute

Barry and Jack Kayes Visiting ProfessorDecember 15Kenneth Kenyon, MD

Mount Holyoke College

*St. Louis Ophthalmological Society

Charitable gifts to the Department of Ophthal-mology & Visual Sciences can take manyforms. Often they represent bequests ofmoney or property. Sometimes they areoutright gifts. Funds can be used for generalpurposes or dedicated to specific projects orpieces of equipment. Some gifts, such asendowments, are given in perpetuity.Our development office, Mike Schroeder, 314-935-9895, ([email protected]) will behappy to discuss options and work with po-tential benefactors to structure their donationsaccording to their desires. All gifts are tax-deductible to the amount allowed by law.

Education Past & Present

Congratulations

Mort Smith, MD

Samuel R. Goldstein Leadership Awardin Medical Student Education for 2009

Received a Goldstein Leadership Award as a reflection ofexcellence in and commitment to medical student education

and recognition for outstanding contributions to teaching.

Hello Alumni and Friends,

So Mary H and Mary C wanted to know how our education programdiffers from 40 years ago. Naturally, they turned to the oldest memberof the ophthalmology faculty for the answer. When I started as aresident in 1961, there was much less structure to the educationprogram compared to today. It was essentially Bernie Becker. Dr.Becker moderated all Grand Rounds, and they were outstanding. Thatis because Bernie knew everything about ophthalmology. Bernie alsoconducted bedside rounds several mornings each week. The basicdidactic lectures did not conform to any structure until the BCSC camealong and tighter rules were set by the Residency Review Committee.

Case presentations at Grand Rounds today utilize photos of patient’sfindings, whereas in the past actual patients were examined in theclinic before we convened in the auditorium. I suppose HIPPA rulespreclude us bringing back actual patients for Rounds (although I admitthat I have been Visiting Professor in least one ophthalmologydepartment where live patients were examined before Rounds). In allfairness, I am not so sure we need patients rather than photos to keepup to date.

In summary, then, I would say that today’s education program atWashington University is much more structured than in the past… butdoes that necessarily mean that we are learning more? It does meanthat every one is learning the same things. And it means that we canstructure how to evaluate what they are learning. The ACGME is tryingto make teaching residents into a science. But what we don’t want tolose is the art of apprenticeship. The old dogs like me (Mort), MikeKass, Harry Knopf and Bob Feibel are still mentoring students in theold school. Fortunately WU still recruits residents who understand thatophthalmology is both an art and a science, and they benefit from boththe newly imposed structure and the clinical experience that WU stilldoes, and will continue to offer.

Mort Smith, MD

The annual symposium was very well attended. The audiencelearned many new ideas. Congratulations to Joel Sugar, MD,the 19th Distinguished Alumnus Lecturer, (center) and invitedspeaker James Tsai, MD, (right) pictured here with Dr. MichaelKass. The David and Mary Seslen Lecture was presented byPhilip Rosenfeld, MD, PhD.

Consider joining us for the October 1 & 2, 2010 program:Alumnus Lecturer - Paul Palmberg, MD, PhDInvited Speaker - Stephen Pflugfelder, MDSeslen Lecturer - David Abramson, MD, FACS

Larry Tychsen, MD, Retina Fellow ’01 Kumar Rao, MD,Mike Conners, MD, PhD ’00 and Sean Breit, MD ’06enjoy the day at Pebble Beach

Ophthalmolgy Update 2009

AAO Alumni ReceptionSunday, Oct. 25, 2009 - Grand Hyatt in San Francisco

Almost 80 former residents and fellows from many decades and their guests came through the door of the 32ndfloor. The weather was mild, the sky clear and the view spectacular. A solid contingent of west coast alums came,but the other parts of the country were also well represented.

Third year residentWhitney Lomazow, MDand Cornea Fellow ‘09Vanee Virasch, MD.

Jon Silbert MD ’99, Stephanie Po, MD ‘97,Dilys Bart, MD ’97 and Jerry Roper, MD ‘98

Mike Conners, MD, PhD ’00, George Harocopos, MD ’04, Mort Smith, MD ’66,Sean Edelstein, MD ’07 and Rob Chang, MD ’07.

Third year residentsWhitney Lomazow, MD,Beti Belachew, MDand Andrew Schimel, MDtake a moment to rest atMuir Woods.

Introducing. . .The Resident Class of 2013 The Co-Chiefs and Fellows - Classes of 2011 and 2012

Daniel J. Hammer, MDOhio State UniversityCollege of Medicine

Gokul N. Kumar, MD, MBAUniversity of Illinois at Chicago

Courtney L. Kraus, MDWashington University, St. Louis

Jan R. Wong, MDSUNY at Buffalo School of Medicine

Aaron Y. Lee, MDWashington University, St. Louis

Bryan M. Kim, MD Kamalesh J. Ramaiya, MD1st Yr Retina Fellow 2nd Yr Retina Fellow

University of Illinois - Chicago Washington University

John M. Franklin, MD Mathew W. Aschbrenner, MD Jonathan Jonisch, MDPediatric Fellow 1st Yr Retina Fellow 2nd Yr Retina Fellow

University of Louisville University of North Carolina North Shore-Long IslandJewish Medical Center

Loren S. Seery, MD Omar F. Abbasi, MD Steven M. Couch, MDCornea Fellow Glaucoma Fellow 2 Yr Plastics Fellow

Mayo Clinic Kresge Eye Institute Mayo Clilnic

Bethlehem Belachew, MD David E. Vollman, MD Jorge J. Rivera, MDCo-Chief Resident Co-Chief Resident Cornea Fellow

Washington University Washington University Private Practice

Congratulations to the following investigators who received awardsbetween July 2009 and June 2010. Continued success with the research!

Principal Investigator Title Funding Agency

Usha P. Andley, PhD Alpha-Crystallin Function in Lens Biology NIH

Rajendra S. Apte, MD, PhD Effect of Aging on Macrophase Function in Reeves FoundationMaulcar Degeneration

WNT Signaling in Choroidal Neovascularization Macula Society

Role of Cholesterol in Regulating the Pro-Angiogenic Thome FoundationProperties of Senescent Macrophage

Steven Bassnett, PhD CORE Grant For Vision Research NIH

Shiming Chen, PhD CRX and its Regulatory Network in Retince Digenerations NIH - Stimulus

Visionary Award Application Hope For Vision

Thomas A. Ferguson, PhD Regulation of Immunity of Dead Cells NIH

Mae O. Gordon, PhD OHTS NIH - Stimulus

WU ICTSA Pilot NIH

J. William Harbour, MD Molecular Predictive Testing BJH Kling

Ocular Melanoma NIH

Didier M. Hodzic, PhD Involvement in the Linc Complex in MDAEmery-Dreifuss Muscular

The Nucleus Cytoskelton Connection NIH/Sub Johns Hopkinsin Health and Disease

Michael A. Kass, MD OHTS NIH - Stimulus

K-12 Pros Scholar NIH - Stimulus

Vladimir J. Kefalov, PhD Calcium and Adaptation in Mammalian NIH - StimulusCone Photoreceptors NIH

Daniel Kerschensteiner, MD Synaptic Reorganization and Visionrescue Hope For Visionin the Nerual Retain after Loss of Photoreceptors

Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellow Award Alfred P Sloan Foundation

Steven M. Kymes, PhD WU ICTSA Pilot NIH

R. Lawrence Tychsen, MD Visual Brain Repair NIH