Fall 2024 Message from the Chair
Welcome to the Fall 2024 edition of the Department of Ophthalmology InSight Newsletter. This year has marked many notable anniversaries – 60 years as a department of the UW School of Medicine, 15 years for the Eye Institute, our 15th Gained in Translation research symposium, and the 5th anniversary of the Karalis Johnson Retina Center.
Featured in this issue, we held a celebration and reunion for the Community Action Board on Oct. 14, honoring those who have served and continue to serve as ambassadors and supporters of our department. Learn more about the CAB here.
Gained in Translation, the annual symposium of ophthalmology clinicians and researchers from UW, Oregon Health Sciences University, and the University of British Columbia, was held on Nov. 2, with our department hosting on the South Lake Union campus. Read more about this year’s conference in this issue.
This issue's research spotlight shines on retinal specialist Assistant Professor Chris Fortenbach’s work investigating the therapeutic potential of photoswitches to restore vision in degenerated retinas in his lab at the Vision Science Center in South Lake Union.
In our patient care feature, we highlight the newest faculty member, Assistant Professor Minh Nguyen, MD, a graduate of our residency program. We were so fortunate to welcome him back to the department in August.
Finally, in our philanthropy spotlight, The Violet Sees Fund for Pediatric Ophthalmology Research has provided crucial support to Dr. Michelle Cabrera, professor and director of pediatric ophthalmology, and Dr. Andrew Stacey, associate professor and director of ocular oncology, over the past five years, enabling them to expand their research and improve patient care. Thanks to Violet’s family for their generous support of our department.
Please visit our website at ophthalmology.washington.edu and our Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn pages for more news and updates.
Russell N. Van Gelder, MD, PhD,
Boyd K. Bucey Chair, UW Medicine Department of Ophthalmology
Director, Roger and Angie Karalis Johnson Retina Center
Director, Vision Science Center