To notify the Academy that a colleague (or an ophthalmologist) has passed away, complete this short form. Member ID number is helpful but not required.
Stephen J. Ryan, one of ophthalmology's greatest achievers
Stephen J. Ryan, MD, died April 29, 2013. During a career spanning more than four decades, Dr. Ryan’s accomplishments included president of the Doheny Eye Institute; president of the National Alliance for Eye and Vision Research; leadership in the Institute of Medicine; and member of the board of trustees of Johns Hopkins University. In 2012, the Academy bestowed upon him its highest award — the Laureate Award.
“In Steve Ryan, ophthalmology the world over has lost one its greatest achievers and most prestigious talents. He helped build one of the most significant institutes in ophthalmology and was one of our greatest scientists, clinicians and strategic leaders. The ripples from his work will last generations,” said David W. Parke II, Academy CEO.
Lorenz E. Zimmerman, founder of modern ophthalmic pathology
Lorenz E. Zimmerman, MD, died March 16, 2013, after a respiratory illness. He was 92. A recipient of the Academy's 2006 Laureate Award, Dr. Zimmerman is recognized as the founder of modern ophthalmic pathology. After rising to chair of the department of ophthalmic pathology at Walter Reed's Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, where he went on to spend half a century. A prolific author and teacher, he is the namesake of the Lorenz E. Zimmerman lecture given at the Annual Meeting.
John Scott, a pioneering retinal surgeon
Dr. John Scott, who taught at Cambridge, died earlier this year. He made major contributions to techniques of vitreoretinal surgery—particularly as they pertained to complex retinal detachments with the use of silicone oil. He described these and other techniques in his influential book Surgery for Retinal and Vitreous Disease.
Joseph Colin, a world leader in refractive surgery
Joseph Colin, MD, a world leader in the field of refractive surgery, died Feb. 23, 2013, after a battle with cancer. He was 63. Dr. Colin held numerous leadership positions at the time of his death, including the ophthalmology department chair at the Bordeaux University Medical School in France. He was also a member of the International Society of Refractive Surgery Executive Committee and Journal of Refractive Surgery editorial board. Dr. Colin received the ISRS Lans Award and the Academy’s Honor and Senior Achievement awards.
Leonard Apt, pioneering pediatric ophthalmologist
Leonard Apt, MD, died Feb. 1, 2013, after a brief illness. He was 90. One of the founders of the Jules Stein Eye Institute, Dr. Apt established the pediatric ophthalmology division at UCLA, the first of its kind at any U.S. medical school, and was the first physician board certified in both pediatrics and ophthalmology. With Sherwin Isenberg, MD, Dr. Apt also helped introduce the now-standard antimicrobial use of povidone-iodone on the surface of the eye, an innovation that reduced post-surgical eye infections.
Conor O’Malley, pioneer in vitrectomy instrumentation
Conor O’Malley, MD, died Nov. 30, 2012. He was 82. An early advocate of small-incision surgery, Dr. O’Malley helped invent and patent a system of instruments called the Ocutome. He also taught many physicians how to use the instruments in vitreous and retina microsurgery, through articles and workshops. His lengthy career included U.S. Army service as an ophthalmology consultant; teaching at the University of California San Francisco, where he was on faculty for 14 years; and contributions to the Academy’s Annual Meeting Program.
Morris J. Mintz, MD
Dr. Mintz passed away on Nov. 5, 2012 at the age of 101.
Jean Campbell, leading ophthalmic pathologist
Jean Campbell, MB ChB, died Sept. 23, 2012, after a long battle with cancer. She was 77. A long-time member of the Mayo Clinic faculty, Dr. Campbell was awarded the Mayo Foundation’s Vernon F. and Earline D. Dale professorship for distinguished service in 1994. In 2010, the American Association of Ophthalmic Oncologists and Pathologists awarded her the Zimmerman Gold Medal, presented at the Academy’s Joint Meeting in Chicago.
Denis M. O’Day, former Secretary of Quality Care
Denis M. O’Day, MBBS, died Sept. 8, 2012, after a prolonged illness. He was 76. Among his many contributions to ophthalmology, Dr. O’Day served as the Academy’s secretary of quality care, as chair of the Department of Ophthalmology at Vanderbilt University, and as executive director of the American Board of Ophthalmology. In 2010, Vanderbilt established the Denis M. O'Day, M.B.B.S., Chair in Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences in Dr. O’Day’s honor.
Chandler Dawson, a leader in trachoma control
Chandler Dawson, MD, director of the Francis I. Proctor Foundation for Research in Ophthalmology at UCSF from 1984 to 1995, died unexpectedly on Aug. 20, 2012. Perhaps his greatest contributions were in chlamydia and trachoma, where he collaborated with several giants of the field. With Hugh Taylor, Dr. Dawson developed a trachoma clinical grading system simple enough for non-ophthalmologists to use – a system still in use today by every trachoma program around the globe. With Dr. Schachter, he demonstrated that a single dose of oral azithromycin cleared ocular chlamydial infection in an individual; and if given to entire communities, could be the “magic bullet” for trachoma control.
