The American Academy of Ophthalmology Foundation

A message from the CEO

A spirit and behavior of professionalism can be defined in many ways but include committing to lifelong professional expertise, subordinating personal interests to those of the patient, behaviors that reflect a social contract with communities, and to altruism.

The Academy Foundation’s mission is absolutely consistent with the mantra of professionalism, and it provides a trusted, responsible vehicle for our members and our generous supporters to share in that spirit.

Whether assisting individuals through EyeCare America or communities through disaster relief programs, the Foundation actively represents the core values of our profession — with a collective impact far beyond that achievable by any of us alone!

The Foundation also provides the profession with the resources to innovate — in education and in elevating the quality of care. Both the ONE Network and the IRIS clinical data registry cost millions of dollars to develop. The former has evolved into the world’s largest repository of educational resources available to the global community of ophthalmologists. The latter, launched just four years ago, is already the world’s largest specialty-based clinical registry — in any specialty. It is spawning new scientific discoveries and improving the quality of care at the individual physician level. And neither would be possible without the Foundation.

Each of us owes our professional success to educational resources developed by the Academy. Our profession wouldn’t be what it is today without the Foundation. Help it grow to serve our patients, our communities, and those who will carry forward the profession we love.

— David W. Parke II, MD, CEO