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.
Janine
A. Smith, MD
Deputy Clinical Director, Dept. of Epidemiology & Clinical Research,
National Eye Institute, NIH
Dr. Smith is an ophthalmologist specializing in cornea and external disease and uveitis. She conducts a research program 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—provides expertise to the WEHTF.
Debra
A. Schaumberg, ScD, OD, MPH
Clinical Scientist, Schepens Eye Research Institute; Assistant Professor
of Medicine and Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology, Division of Preventive
Medicine, HMS 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.
Alice
J. Adler, PhD
Senior Scientist at Schepens and Associate Professor 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.
Alice
R. Dietrich
Trustee, Schepens Eye Research Institute
Mrs. Dietrich owns and operates an investment management service for individual investors, and has thirty years of experience in her trade. She has been a trustee at The Schepens for seven years and is the WEH.org liaison to The Schepens’ Public Relations Committee and Board of Trustees.
Patti
Jacobs
Public Relations Officer, Schepens Eye Research Institute
Ms. Jacobs is a public relations consultant with 25 years of experience in science and health care communications. As a communications professional, she has helped to get the word out to the press and the public about the issue of women and blindness and the work of the Women’s Eye Health.org.
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 and its webmaster.
Rita N. Bárcia, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow at Schepens
Eye Research Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
Dr. Bárcia is an immunologist whose research focuses on the cornea.
She has interests in public health and in preventing eye diseases at
both national and international levels. She is a young energetic new
member of the Executive Committee and contributes to the WEH.org through
the development and execution of new projects.
Advisory
Board
The National Advisory Board of the Women’s Eye Health.org consists
of 35 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
Marian W. Catlin,
MD
Private Practice
Medfield, MA
Pediatrics
James D. Chodosh, MD
Department of Ophthalmology
Dean A. McGee Eye Institute
University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
Corneal and external eye disease
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
Pamela Colbert
Director, Glaucoma Research Foundation
Risk Management Manager, Wells
Fargo
Advocate for curative treatment for glaucoma
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
M. Reza Dana, MD, MPH, MSc
W. Clement Stone Scholar, Professor and
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
Neurological Science Institute
Oregon Health Sciences 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 and CEO
Schepens Eye Research Institute
Charles L Schepens Professor
Harvard Medical School
Infections diseases
Mary E. Hartnett MD
Associate Professor of Ophthalmology
Vitreoretinal Service
University of North Carolina, Department of Ophthalmology
Retinal disease
M. Rosario Hernandez, DDS
Professor of Ophthalmology
Northwestern University
Feinberg School of Medicine
Glaucoma
Eve J. Higginbotham, MD
Dean and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs
Morehouse School of Medicine
Ophthalmology, glaucoma
Jill E. Keeffe, PhD
Associate Professor
Centre for Eye Research Australia
University of Melbourne
Low vision
Stella K. Kim, MD
Plastic Surgery/Ophthalmology
University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center
Cornea and external eye disease
Frances B. Kinne,
PhD
Trustee, Eye Research Institute of Jacksonville
President Emeritus, Jacksonville
University
Eye disease and its treatment
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
M Cristina Leske, MD, MPH, DSc
Distinguished Professor
Preventive Medicine and Ophthalmology
Department of Preventive Medicine
Ophthalmology and epidemiology
JoAnn E. Manson, MD, DrPH
Chief, 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
Associate 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
Assistant 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
Senior Scientist, Moakley Scholar in Aging Eye Research
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
Stephen C. Pflugfelder, MD
James and Margaret Elkins Professor of Ophthalmology
Cullen Eye Institute
Baylor College of Medicine
Dry eye, ocular surface and corneal diseases
Johanna M. Seddon, MD
Associate Professor of Ophthalmology
Director, Epidemiology Unit
Harvard Medical School
Ophthalmology/Epidemiology
Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary
Epidemiology of eye disease and macular degeneration
Richard D. Semba, MD
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
Centre for Eye Research Australia
University of Melbourne
Epidemiology of eye disease; translating epidemiology of eye disease
into public health action
