Honors for Three Moran Physicians
Paul S. Bernstein, MD, PhD, was honored with the 2016 American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) Outstanding Humanitarian Service Award and the AAO Achievement Award at the organization's annual meeting in Chicago on October 16. The humanitarian award recognizes academy members for their contribution to charitable activities and their care of the indigent and community. He was honored for his "above and beyond" work for vitreoretinal services in the developing world, including training other specialists.
Bernstein has worked with the John A. Moran Eye Center's Global Outreach Division and the Himalayan Cataract Project to train aspiring retina specialists from Nepal, Ghana, Ethiopia, and Bhutan. He has also worked extensively with the Tilaganga Eye Hospital in Kathmandu, which has now become the leading center for retina surgery in the Himalayas.
Randall J Olson, MD, Moran CEO, received the 2016 AAO Secretariat Award. The Secretariat Award recognizes individuals for their special contributions to the Academy and to ophthalmology in general. As AAO's Secretariat Awardee, Olson organized and directed the symposium and spirited debate "Areas of Controversy Regarding Cataract Surgical Preferred Practices."
Distinguished Alumni Award
Dr. Olson presented the third annual John A. Moran Eye Center Distinguished Alumni Award to Iqbal "Ike" Ahmed, MD, Moran adjunct and former glaucoma fellow, at the Moran Alumni Reception during the AAO weekend. Since his fellowship, Ahmed has gone on to receive numerous research grants and has earned a worldwide reputation for his work in the development of many innovative surgical devices and techniques. His pioneering work in glaucoma surgery techniques has resulted in a new term microinvasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS), which has emerged as a new genre of surgical approaches.
Moran's Educational Leadership
Fifteen Moran physicians led or participated in over 46 seminars, presentations, panels, committees, and sub-specialty day at AAO 2016. AAO is one of the biggest professional ophthalmology gatherings in the country, where doctors from all over the world come to exchange ideas and explore cutting-edge products and techniques. This year's event included 350 instruction courses, 56 surgical skills labs, 51 symposia, and 585 exhibitors.