Advertise on podcast: ASRS's History of Retina

Once a challenging disease to recognize with few treatment options, macular telangiectasia type 2 (MacTel) is entering a new era. In this informative and compelling Milestone Moments interview, Timothy G. Murray, MD, MBA, FASRS, and Charles C. Wykoff, MD, PhD, FASRS, discuss how advances in retinal imaging have improved diagnosis and explore the development of a new cell-based therapy designed to slow disease progression. Hear the story behind the technology, what clinical trials have shown, and how retina specialists are approaching patient selection, surgical implantation, and counseling as this new treatment enters clinical practice. Learn more at www.retinahistory.asrs.org About the History of Retina The History of Retina is brought to you by the Foundation of the American Society of Retina Specialists (ASRS) in an effort to preserve the history and heritage of retina for generations to come. Trace the journey of the specialty's dynamic evolution by exploring milestones in technology, instrumentation, and techniques and hearing first-hand accounts from retina pioneers whose innovative spirit and pivotal contributions laid the framework for the advanced sight-saving retinal care of today and the enormously promising treatments of tomorrow.

Clinical trials are the foundation of modern medicine, providing the evidence that guides patient care and the advancement of new therapies. The field of retina offers some of the clearest examples of how clinical research can truly transform a specialty. Landmark studies including the diabetic retinopathy studies and Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) have established a foundation for evidence-based care. Since then, pivotal moments from the AIDS era pandemic and the emergence of intravitreal therapy to the anti-VEGF revolution have continued to advance the way we look at clinical practice and clinical trial design. In this discussion, you’ll hear from leaders who helped shape these milestones and who continue to influence the future of clinical retina research. Learn more at www.retinahistory.asrs.org About the History of Retina The History of Retina is brought to you by the Foundation of the American Society of Retina Specialists (ASRS) in an effort to preserve the history and heritage of retina for generations to come. Trace the journey of the specialty's dynamic evolution by exploring milestones in technology, instrumentation, and techniques and hearing first-hand accounts from retina pioneers whose innovative spirit and pivotal contributions laid the framework for the advanced sight-saving retinal care of today and the enormously promising treatments of tomorrow.

For more than five decades, Evangelos Gragoudas, MD, has been innovating, inspiring, and educating in the field of retina and ocular oncology. Early in his career, Dr. Gragoudas trained under the father of modern retinal surgery – the illustrious Charles Schepens. That transformative fellowship and his training at the Mass Eye and Ear Infirmary turned into a career-long commitment to the institution and set the stage for the groundbreaking advances he would go on to achieve. Dr. Gragoudas’ numerous accomplishments include: pioneering proton beam irradiation for uveal melanoma, contributing to the development of photodynamic therapy for macular degeneration, and serving as a pivotal member of the team that uncovered the role of VEGF in age-related macular degeneration. His research has not only saved vision but also saved lives, giving hope to millions of our patients worldwide. Learn more at www.HistoryofRetina.org. About the History of Retina The History of Retina is brought to you by the American Society of Retina Specialists (ASRS) in an effort to preserve the history and heritage of retina for generations to come. Trace the journey of the specialty's dynamic evolution by exploring milestones in technology, instrumentation, and techniques, and hearing first-hand accounts from retina pioneers whose innovative spirit and pivotal contributions laid the framework for the advanced sight-saving retinal care of today and the enormously promising treatments of tomorrow.

Join us for this episode of Leaders & Legends where we explore the extraordinary life and career of Jose S. Pulido, MD, MS, MBA, MPH. Born in Cuba during revolutionary times, Dr. Pulido’s family fled following the 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion, immigrating to the United States when he was 5. Through his parents’ example, he learned the critical importance of education. An out-of-the-box thinker and life-long learner, he went on to train at some of the world’s most prestigious institutions. Today, he is a world-renowned retina and ocular oncology clinician and scientist, who is known for pioneering research in vitreoretinal infection and inflammatory diseases, retinal degeneration, stem cells, checkpoint inhibitors, and immunotherapies. Listen in as Dr. Pulido shares details of his remarkable journey and explains how his differences and forward-thinking mindset influenced his professional career and personal story. Learn more at www.HistoryofRetina.org. About the History of Retina The History of Retina is brought to you by the American Society of Retina Specialists (ASRS) in an effort to preserve the history and heritage of retina for generations to come. Trace the journey of the specialty's dynamic evolution by exploring milestones in technology, instrumentation, and techniques and hearing first-hand accounts from retina pioneers whose innovative spirit and pivotal contributions laid the framework for the advanced sight-saving retinal care of today and the enormously promising treatments of tomorrow.

The History of Retina is pleased to welcome Johanna Seddon, MD, ScM, FARVO, FASRS, to the Leaders & Legends Series. Dr. Seddon’s illustrious career as a clinician/ scientist has focused on the care of patients with retinal degenerations and dystrophies, and she has made notable contributions to shaping our understanding of how genetics, nutrition, and lifestyle factors drive the pathogenesis of age-related macular degeneration. She has also served in numerous leadership roles and on the editorial board of the American Journal of Ophthalmology. Lastly, Dr. Seddon is a woman retina pioneer who is helping to trailblaze the way for women in the field. Listen in to learn more about her extraordinary career and contributions to the field. Learn more at www.HistoryofRetina.org. About the History of Retina The History of Retina is brought to you by the American Society of Retina Specialists (ASRS) in an effort to preserve the history and heritage of retina for generations to come. Trace the journey of the specialty's dynamic evolution by exploring milestones in technology, instrumentation, and techniques, and hearing first-hand accounts from retina pioneers whose innovative spirit and pivotal contributions laid the framework for the advanced sight-saving retinal care of today and the enormously promising treatments of tomorrow.

The History of Retina welcomes Mark W. Johnson, MD, to the Leaders and Legends series. A distinguished clinician, surgeon, and researcher, Dr. Johnson has helped define our field through pioneering work on macular diseases, the vitreomacular interface, and surgical strategies. His academic contributions are enormous with nearly 250 publications. Throughout his remarkable career, Mark has been a steady and inspiring force advancing retina science through keen observership, thoughtful innovation, and unwavering commitment to patient care. All of this, while mentoring generations who are now shaping the field worldwide. Learn more at www.HistoryofRetina.org. About the History of Retina The History of Retina is brought to you by the American Society of Retina Specialists (ASRS) in an effort to preserve the history and heritage of retina for generations to come. Trace the journey of the specialty's dynamic evolution by exploring milestones in technology, instrumentation, and techniques and hearing first-hand accounts from retina pioneers whose innovative spirit and pivotal contributions laid the framework for the advanced sight-saving retinal care of today and the enormously promising treatments of tomorrow.

Born in Shanghai, China, Stanley Chang, MD, immigrated to the United States with his family in 1949 at the age of two. He went on to earn an electrical engineering degree at MIT in 1968, followed by a master's degree in biomedical electronic engineering from the University of Pennsylvania and a medical degree from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1974. He completed his ophthalmology residency at Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary in 1978 and his fellowship at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute in 1979. World-renowned for his many groundbreaking contributions to the field, Dr. Chang is perhaps best known for his development of perfluorocarbon liquids, a product that revolutionized the process of repairing retinal detachments, particularly those associated with proliferative vitreoretinopathy and giant retinal tears. He also played a pivotal role in the development of a panoramic vitreoretinal surgery viewing system and subsequently educated retina specialists worldwide on the merits of this novel technique to improve the outcomes of vitreoretinal surgery. Listen in as he shares a firsthand account of these and other innovations, along with compelling stories from his prolific career.  Learn more at www.HistoryofRetina.org. About the History of Retina The History of Retina is brought to you by the American Society of Retina Specialists (ASRS) in an effort to preserve the history and heritage of retina for generations to come. Trace the journey of the specialty's dynamic evolution by exploring milestones in technology, instrumentation, and techniques and hearing first-hand accounts from retina pioneers whose innovative spirit and pivotal contributions laid the framework for the advanced sight-saving retinal care of today and the enormously promising treatments of tomorrow.

One of Retina’s true statesmen, Dr. Charles Patrick Wilkinson is Chairman Emeritus of Ophthalmology at the Greater Baltimore Medical Center and Professor Emeritus of the Department of Ophthalmology at the Johns Hopkins Hospital. Dr. Wilkinson watched the history of retina unfold, working alongside fellow retina giants, including Drs. Norton, Curtin, Gass, Michels, Machemer, and others. In this interview, he recounts the early years, the birth of vitreoretinal surgery and the rapid-fire innovation that followed. You’ll be hard-put to find a more-humble soul, but make no mistake, Pat Wilkinson is a true pillar in retina, a renowned surgeon, clinician, academician, and author who has contributed mightily to the development of the field.  Learn more at www.HistoryofRetina.org. About the History of Retina The History of Retina is brought to you by the American Society of Retina Specialists (ASRS) in an effort to preserve the history and heritage of retina for generations to come. Trace the journey of the specialty's dynamic evolution by exploring milestones in technology, instrumentation, and techniques and hearing first-hand accounts from retina pioneers whose innovative spirit and pivotal contributions laid the framework for the advanced sight-saving retinal care of today and the enormously promising treatments of tomorrow.

If there is one discovery that constituted a quantum leap in the evolution of the field of retina and ophthalmology, optical coherence tomography (OCT) is undoubtedly on the short list. Today’s retina specialists can’t imagine practicing without OCT imaging. It’s one of the first diagnostic tests obtained for the vast majority of patients, and is essential for the diagnosis and management of the most common retinal diseases, as well as the most rare. Join host Dr. Christina Weng as she traces this remarkable story of innovation with first-hand accounts from leading pioneers Drs. James G. Fujimoto, David Huang, Jay S. Duker and David Sarraf. Learn more at www.HistoryofRetina.org. About the History of Retina The History of Retina is brought to you by the Foundation of the American Society of Retina Specialists (ASRS) to preserve the history and heritage of retina for generations to come. Trace the journey of the specialty's dynamic evolution by exploring milestones in technology, instrumentation, and techniques and hearing first-hand accounts from retina pioneers whose innovative spirit and pivotal contributions laid the framework for the advanced sight-saving retinal care of today and the enormously promising treatments of tomorrow.

Cynthia A. Toth, MD, FASRS, has always been ahead of the curve, from being the first female surgeon to join the faculty at Duke to becoming one of the earliest researchers to use OCT to study retinal injuries. She was also one of the first to use a handheld OCT system to examine infants, and she pioneered the first intraoperative OCT-guided surgical system. Dr. Toth has helped revolutionize how doctors see and treat the retina, not only in adults, but also in our youngest and most vulnerable patients.  Interestingly, despite an early inclination toward engineering, Dr. Toth chose medicine, and in this truly inspiring Leaders & Legends interview, you’ll hear how she found ways to weave threads of engineering into the tapestry of her illustrious medical career.  Learn more at www.HistoryofRetina.org. About the History of Retina The History of Retina is brought to you by the Foundation of the American Society of Retina Specialists (ASRS) in an effort to preserve the history and heritage of retina for generations to come. Trace the journey of the specialty's dynamic evolution by exploring milestones in technology, instrumentation, and techniques and hearing first-hand accounts from retina pioneers whose innovative spirit and pivotal contributions laid the framework for the advanced sight-saving retinal care of today and the enormously promising treatments of tomorrow.

The History of Retina is pleased to welcome one of retina’s most highly esteemed ambassadors to Leaders & Legends.   Dr. William F. Mieler has channeled his passion and impressive background into an illustrious career as a clinician, educator, researcher, and international leader in ophthalmology. He has served in countless leadership positions in organized ophthalmology, including president of ARVO and the Macula Society. He also founded the Advanced Vitreoretinal Technology and Techniques (AVTT) and Fellows Course, one of the most popular courses for 2nd year surgical retina fellows.   Listen in as he recounts coming of age under the tutelage of revered retina giants Don Gass, MD, at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Thomas Aaberg, Sr., MD, at the Medical College of Wisconsin and Jerry Shields, MD, at the Wills Eye Hospital. He discusses their unique styles of practice and leadership, their profound impact on the field as well as his own professional journey.   Learn more at www.HistoryofRetina.org. About the History of Retina The History of Retina is brought to you by the Foundation of the American Society of Retina Specialists (ASRS) in an effort to preserve the history and heritage of retina for generations to come. Trace the journey of the specialty's dynamic evolution by exploring milestones in technology, instrumentation, and techniques and hearing first-hand accounts from retina pioneers whose innovative spirit and pivotal contributions laid the framework for the advanced sight-saving retinal care of today and the enormously promising treatments of tomorrow.

The History of Retina is pleased to welcome revered educator, surgeon, and clinician Dr. Lee Jampol to Leaders & Legends. Dr. Jampol’s remarkable career has largely centered around research trials, studying retinal diseases like diabetic retinopathy and central serous retinopathy. He has been a key player in some of the field's most pivotal trials, including the Macular Photocoagulation Study, SCORE studies, and Submacular Surgery Trials. He has also been extremely involved with the DRCR Retina Network since its inception over two decades ago. Listen in as he shares details of his extraordinary professional journey and insights on the field of retina past, present and future.   Learn more at www.HistoryofRetina.org. About the History of Retina The History of Retina is brought to you by the Foundation of the American Society of Retina Specialists (ASRS) in an effort to preserve the history and heritage of retina for generations to come. Trace the journey of the specialty's dynamic evolution by exploring milestones in technology, instrumentation, and techniques and hearing first-hand accounts from retina pioneers whose innovative spirit and pivotal contributions laid the framework for the advanced sight-saving retinal care of today and the enormously promising treatments of tomorrow.

Join us for an extraordinary Milestones in Retina expert panel discussion detailing the discovery and evolution of a treatment that truly revolutionized the field of retina and the lives of patients around the world – virtually overnight. That therapy is, of course, anti-VEGF. It goes without saying that there is an army of researchers, clinicians, patients and industry representatives who contributed mightily to the success of this pivotal therapy. This new Milestones segment celebrates and shares the amazing story of innovation by tracking anti-VEGF’s miraculous discovery and the extraordinary therapeutic development that followed through the compelling first-hand accounts of a few highly notable experts, Drs. Joan Miller, Julia Haller, Jeffrey Heier and Jay Duker. Learn more at www.HistoryofRetina.org. About the History of Retina The History of Retina is brought to you by the Foundation of the American Society of Retina Specialists (ASRS) in an effort to preserve the history and heritage of retina for generations to come. Trace the journey of the specialty's dynamic evolution by exploring milestones in technology, instrumentation, and techniques and hearing first-hand accounts from retina pioneers whose innovative spirit and pivotal contributions laid the framework for the advanced sight-saving retinal care of today and the enormously promising treatments of tomorrow.

Emily Y. Chew, MD, is director of the Division of Epidemiology and Clinical Applications and deputy clinical director of the National Eye Institute (NEI). She is also a senior investigator and Chief of the NEI’s Clinical Trials Branch. In this Leaders & Legends interview Dr. Chew shares fascinating experiences and perspectives from her extraordinary life and career. Born in Canton, China, Dr. Chew is a first-generation American, who has blazed a trail for women in the field while building a stellar career at one of the world’s leading health agencies. She  has worked on some of retina’s most pivotal multi-centered clinical trials, including the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study. In addition, she chaired the Age-Related Eye Disease Studies – (AREDS 1 and 2), and she directs the clinical portion of the international Macular Telangiectasia Project. She works with renowned experts across the globe and her groundbreaking research has changed the treatment paradigm and improved the lives of patients around the world. Learn more at www.HistoryofRetina.org. About the History of Retina The History of Retina is brought to you by the Foundation of the American Society of Retina Specialists (ASRS) in an effort to preserve the history and heritage of retina for generations to come. Trace the journey of the specialty's dynamic evolution by exploring milestones in technology, instrumentation, and techniques and hearing first-hand accounts from retina pioneers whose innovative spirit and pivotal contributions laid the framework for the advanced sight-saving retinal care of today and the enormously promising treatments of tomorrow.

Unlike most kids, Eugene de Juan, Jr., preferred his toys broken. Fascinated by his ophthalmologist father’s many gadgets and his grandfather’s workshop, Gene discovered his passion for fixing things at an early age.  He went on to complete his ophthalmology and vitreoretinal training at world-class institutions including the Johns Hopkins University’s Wilmer Eye Institute and Duke University, and later channeled his medical expertise into his passion for innovation. Today, when we talk about pivotal innovators in retina, Dr. de Juan’s name is certainly always at the top of the list. He is the inventor or co-inventor of nearly 100 products, and holds nearly 450 US patents and patents pending. Among his many discoveries is what we know as the transconjunctival approach to 25-gauge vitrectomy, a discovery that revolutionized retinal surgery.  In 2005, Dr. de Juan established ForSight Labs, a serial ophthalmic company incubator that has helped develop more than a dozen companies. Listen in as he shares fascinating stories and insights from his truly remarkable career.  Learn more at www.HistoryofRetina.org. About the History of Retina The History of Retina is brought to you by the Foundation of the American Society of Retina Specialists (ASRS) in an effort to preserve the history and heritage of retina for generations to come. Trace the journey of the specialty's dynamic evolution by exploring milestones in technology, instrumentation, and techniques and hearing first-hand accounts from retina pioneers whose innovative spirit and pivotal contributions laid the framework for the advanced sight-saving retinal care of today and the enormously promising treatments of tomorrow.