Executive Committee
The Executive Committee of the Women’s Eye Health.org is responsible
for making decisions and implementing the activities of the organization.
This small volunteer group was chosen so that important and necessary
expertise and abilities would be available. The Committee meets monthly,
and subgroups working on specific projects communicate frequently.
Ilene
K. Gipson, PhD, Chair
Senior Scientist at Schepens Eye Research Institute, Boston,
MA and Professor of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School (HMS), Boston
Dr. Gipson is a cell biologist and has been appointed the “Ocular Surface Scholar” at the Schepens. She is an accomplished researcher in ocular surface diseases, some of which are prevalent in women. She is also an experienced teacher and lecturer, and is expert in managing groups of people to optimize their efforts.
Alice
J. Adler, PhD
Senior Scientist Emeritus at Schepens and Associate Professor Emeritus of Ophthalmology,
HMS
Dr. Adler is a biochemist with many years of experience conducting research on components of the retina and mechanisms of vision. She is the writer for the WEH.org, applying the skills she has acquired, through writing grant applications and journal articles, to communicate our message to the public and to professionals.
Dong Feng Chen, M.D., Ph.D.
Associate Scientist, Schepens Eye Research Institute, Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
Dr. Chen's research projects are repairing retinal damage and disease by neural stem/progenitor cell strategy; molecular mechanisms underlying optic nerve regeneration; neural and glial contribution to early diabetic retinopathy
Janine
Austin Clayton, MD (formerly Smith)
Deputy Director, Office of Research on Women's Health (ORWH), and clinical investigator, National Eye Institute, NIH
Dr. Clayton is an ophthalmologist specializing in cornea and external disease and uveitis and conducts research focused upon immune-mediated diseases of the eye. Her experience with the diagnosis, treatment, and clinical study of ophthalmic diseases-specifically inflammatory diseases, which disproportionately affect women and knowledge about women's health and sex/gender effects on health and disease provide expertise to WEH.org.
Mary E. Hartnett MD
Professor of Ophthalmology
University of Utah and the Moran Eye Center
Dr. Hartnett is Professor of Ophthalmology at University of Utah and the Moran Eye Center where she works as a vitreoretinal surgeon specializing in adult and pediatric retinal diseases and Principal Investigator of a retinal angiogenesis laboratory. Her work in age-related macular degeneration particularly influences women, because AMD is a common cause of vision loss in the aging population. Dr. Hartnett is also an educator of medical and graduate students, ophthalmology residents and post-doctoral and retinal fellows and has edited three textbooks, including as Editor-in-Chief, Pediatric Retina.
Ula V. Jurkunas, M.D.
Cornea and Refractive Surgery Service, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary; Assistant Scientist, Schepens Eye Research Institute; Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School.
Dr. Jurkunas is a clinician-scientist specializing in cornea, external disease and refractive surgery. Her main research interests are corneal endothelial dysfunction in Fuchs corneal endothelial dystrophy and stem cell cultivation for patients with limbal stem cell deficiency. Her vast clinical, surgical and research experience provides the Task Force with expertise on pertinent ophthalmic issues faced by patients in relation to their eye disease.
Peter Mallen
Web & Graphic Artist, Scientific Illustrator, Schepens Eye Research Institute
In addition to his work at Schepens, Peter is a prolific freelance artist, specializing in painting, sculpture and hand made papers.
Noorjahan Panjwani, Ph.D.
Director of Vision Research, Professor of Ophthalmology and Biochemistry, New England Eye Center, Tufts University Medical School, Boston, MA
Dr. Panjwani’s main research interest is glycobiology in diseases of the eye.
Debra
A. Schaumberg, ScD, OD, MPH
Clinical Scientist, Schepens Eye Research Institute; Associate Professor
of Medicine and Associate Professor of Epidemiology, Division of Preventive
Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Brigham & Women’s Hospital
Dr. Schaumberg is an epidemiologist specializing in identifying risk factors for age-related eye diseases. She has training in public health ophthalmology from an international viewpoint. She provides the Task Force with expertise on the appropriateness of epidemiological methods used in published studies, and can assess the validity of data on risk factors (including sex differences) for eye diseases.
Ann Tisdale, MS
Scientific Associate, Schepens Eye Research Institute, Boston, MA
Ann, a 20+ year employee at Schepens, specializes in microscopy and histology.
Gale
E. Unger
Administrative Assistant, Schepens Eye Research Institute
Ms. Unger has twenty years of experience as an Administrative Assistant and is a freelance copyeditor. She serves the WEH.org Executive Committee as its Administrative Assistant.
Advisory
Board
The National Advisory Board of the Women’s Eye Health.org consists
of outstanding American eye researchers. This group has very wide
and deep expertise in science and medicine, including clinical specialists
in all the major eye diseases. The Board meets with the Executive Committee
at the yearly ARVO (Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology)
convention in Fort Lauderdale, FL. This Board is invaluable for its
advice and its networking strategies. It has been instrumental in publicizing
the problem and in advising the Executive Committee about fundraising
and about methods to disseminate information.
Mark Abelson, MD
Clinical Senior Scientist
Schepens Eye Research Institute
Associate Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology
Harvard Medical School
Ophthalmic Research Associates
Ocular surface disease
Penny A. Asbell, MD
Professor of Ophthalmology
Director of Cornea Service and Refractive Surgery Center
Mount Sinai Medical Center
Corneal and external eye disease
Nathalie F. Azar,
MD
Associate Professor of Ophthalmology
University of Illinois Medical School
Pediatric Ophthalmology
James D. Chodosh, MD
Lecturer in Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School
and Massachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary, Boston, MA
Corneal and external eye diseases
Elisabeth J. Cohen, MD
Professor of Ophthalmology
Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University
Co-Medical Director of the Lions Eye Bank of Delaware Valley
Director of the Cornea Service
Wills Eye Hospital
Corneal and external eye diseases
Deborah J. Colville,
MBBS
Center for Eye Research Australia
University of Melbourne
Women's Vision Health
Paul Courtright, DrPH
Kilimanjaro Centre for Community Ophthalmology
Tumaini University
Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre
Epidemiology of gender risk in eye disease
Reza Dana, MD, MPH, MSc
W. Clement Stone Scholar, Senior Scientist, Schepens Eye Research Institute
Professor of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School
Director, Cornea Service, Massachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary
Director, Harvard-Vision Clinical Scientist Development Program
Ocular immunology and ocular surface inflammation
Alvin Eisner, PhD
Obstetrics and Gynocology Department, Oregon Health and Science University
Studies effects of breast cancer medication on vision and the eye,
and visual changes across the menstrual cycle
Joan M. Exford, OD
Diplomate Contact Lens Section
American Academy of Optometry
Optometry
Debora B. Farber, PhD
Professor of Ophthalmology
Jules Stein Eye Institute
School of Medicine
University of California at Los Angeles
Retinal biology and disease
Michael S. Gilmore, Ph.D.
Ankeny Director of Research,
Schepens Eye Research Institute
Charles L Schepens Professor
Harvard Medical School
Infections diseases
Eve J. Higginbotham, MD
Dean and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs
Morehouse School of Medicine
Ophthalmology, glaucoma
Jill E. Keeffe, OAM
Associate Professor
Centre for Eye Research Australia
University of Melbourne
Low vision
Stella K. Kim, MD
Associate Professor of Ophthalmology, Adjunct, Associate Professor of Radiation Oncology, Director, Clinical Research in Ophthalmology
University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center
Cornea and external eye disease
Charles E. Kostro
Past International Director
Lions Clubs International
Advocate for healthy vision
Michael A. Lemp, MD
Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology
Georgetown University School of Medicine
Dry eye disease
JoAnn E. Manson, MD, DrPH
Chair, Division of Preventive Medicine
Elizabeth F. Brigham Professor of Women’s Health
Harvard Medical School
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Div. of Preventive Medicine
Women’s health
Julie A. Mares, MSPH, PhD
Professor
Ophthalmology and Visual Science
University of Wisconsin, Madison
Effects of nutrition on eye disease
William D. Mathers, MD
Professor of Ophthalmology
Corneal and External Disease Dept
Casey Eye Institute
Oregon Health Sciences University
Dry eye disease
Joan W. Miller, MD
Chair, Department of Ophthalmology
Harvard Medical School
Head, Department of Ophthalmology
Massachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary
Ophthalmology, retinal disease
Kelly K. Nichols, OD, MSPH, PhD
Associate Professor-Clinical
College of Optometry
The Ohio State University
Dry eye disease
Mildred M.G. Olivier, MD
National Eye Institute Advisory Council
President and CEO
Midwest Glaucoma Center, PC
Glaucoma
Eli Peli, MSC, OD
Co-Director of Research, Senior Scientist, Moakley Scholar in Aging Eye Research
Schepens Eye Research Institute
Professor, Harvard Medical School
Adjunct Professor of Optometry, New England College of Optometry
Director Vision Rehabilitation Service, New England Eye Center
Low vision aids
Johanna M. Seddon, MD, ScM
Director, Ophthalmic Epidemiology and Genetics Service, New England Eye Center;
Professor of Ophthalmology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA
Epidemiology of eye disease and macular degeneration
Richard D. Semba, MD, MPH
Professor of Ophthalmology,
Molecular Microbiology & Immunology & International Health
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
The Wilmer Ophthalmological Institute
Ophthalmology and epidemiology
Michael E. Stern, PhD
Research Investigator, Biological Sciences
Ocular Surface Disease Program
Allergan, Inc.
Ocular surface inflammation and dry eye disease
David A. Sullivan, PhD
Senior Scientist
Schepens Eye Research Institute
Associate Professor of Ophthalmology
Harvard Medical School
Dry eye syndrome
Allen Taylor, PhD
Director, Laboratory for Nutrition and Vision Research
Professor of Nutrition, Biochemistry, and Ophthalmology
USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging
Nutrition and vision
Hugh R. Taylor, MD
Managing Director
Melbourne School of Population Health
University of Melbourne
Epidemiology of eye disease; translating epidemiology of eye disease
into public health action
