ASRS lauds ophthalmologists at annual meeting

Maui, HI-Neil M. Bressler, MD, Susan B. Bressler, MD, Alexander J. “Sandy” Brucker, MD, and Stanley Chang, MD, were honored for their work in the subspecialty of retina Oct. 12 at the annual meeting of the American Society of Retina Specialists (ASRS).

The Bresslers shared the Gertrude D. Pyron Award, created by the Retina Research Foundation, which recognizes outstanding vision scientists whose work contributes to knowledge about vitreoretinal disease.

Dr. Neil Bressler is chief of the retina service division and the James P. Gills Professor of Ophthalmology at the Wilmer Eye Institute of the Johns Hopkins University (JHU) School of Medicine, Baltimore. Additionally, he is chairman of the National Institutes of Health-sponsored Diabetic Retinopathy Clinical Research Network (DCRC.net), chairman of the National Eye Institute’s Data and Safety Monitoring Committee for Intramural Clinical Trials, and a voting member of the FDA Ophthalmic Devices Panel.

Dr. Susan Bressler is the Julia G. Levy, PhD, Professor of Ophthalmology at the Wilmer Eye Institute. There, she was the second woman to be named a full professor of ophthalmology and the second woman to receive an endowed professorship in ophthalmology. She has been a principal investigator on many clinical trials and for 15 years directed all medical student ophthalmology programs at JHU.

Dr. Brucker received the Founders Award, which recognizes individuals who have made major contributions to the advancement of vitreoretinal surgery, treatment, research, surgical instrumentation, and patient care. A professor of ophthalmology at the Scheie Eye Institute of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Dr. Brucker is the founder and editor in chief of the journal Retina and the quarterly journal Retinal Cases and Brief Reports. He also was one of the founding members and is a former president of the Macula Society.

Dr. Chang received the 2008 Crystal Apple Award from the Young Physicians Section of ASRS. The award recognizes an ASRS member who advances the education and professional development of vitreoretinal specialists at the beginning of their careers. Dr. Chang is the Edward S. Harkness Professor of Ophthalmology, the K. K. Tse and Ku Teh Ying Professor of Ophthalmology, and the chairman of the Department of Ophthalmology/Harkness Eye Institute at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York.