SPEAKERS

ARTHUR ALLEN, M.D.
Pacific Eye Associates, San Francisco, CA

Dr. Allen received a Bachelor of Science and medical degree from the University of Michigan. After completing his residency in ophthalmology at the University of Colorado, he served in the Air Force and was Chief of Ophthalmology while stationed at USAF Hospital Clark in the Philippines.

Dr. Allen was chosen to be a Heed Fellow in Retinal and Vitreous Diseases and Surgery at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami. He became an Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Southern California Doheny Eye Institute and later moved to San Francisco and joined the practice that has grown into the present day Pacific Eye Associates (PEA).

Dr. Allen has volunteered internationally with Project Orbis. He was a founding director of OMIC and went on to become Chairman of the Board before rotating off after 19 years. He has been Vice Chairman of the Ophthalmology Department at California Pacific Medical Center since 1993 and has served as an Associate Examiner for the American Board of
Ophthalmology for the last 30 years.

He received the Honor Award and Senior Honor Award from the AAO, and is a member of the AMA, CMA, AAO, the Macula Society, Retinal Society, and the American Society of Retinal Specialists.

Adam Berger, M.D.
Center for Retina and Macular Disease, Winter Haven, FL.

Dr. Berger received his Bachelor of Science degree from Brooklyn College, and his doctorate degree from the State University of New York Medical School. After completing his residency at Washington University and serving as Chief Resident and Instructor, he was granted a Retina/Vitreous Research Fellowship and Retina/Vitreous Surgical Fellowship at Duke University. He then served for 3 years as Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at Washington University.

Dr. Berger is an accomplished teacher and lecturer and has been a board certified ophthalmologist since 1994. He is an active member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Society of Retina Specialists.

David Browning, M.D.
Charlotte Eye, Ear, Nose & Throat Associates, P.A., Charlotte, NC

Dr. Browning received a bachelor and medical degree from Harvard University. He went on to complete his internship at Duke University Medical Center and continued with his residency at Duke University Eye Center. Dr. Browning completed his fellowship training at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute at the University of Miami.

He is a frequent lecturer and has authored numerous papers and journals. Dr. Browning gives back by participating in several third world mission trips and mini-fellowships to visiting international ophthalmologists. Dr. Browning serves on the Journal Editorial Board (American Journal of Ophthalmology). He is currently active on the American Board of Ophthalmology, American Academy of Ophthalmology, and the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.

Dr. Browning currently is a subspecialist in vitreoretinal diseases and surgery at the Charlotte Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Associates. Honors include Heed Fellow (1985-1986), Honor Award (American Academy of Ophthalmology, 1998 and American Ophthalmogical Society, 2010).

HARRY W. FLYNN, M.D.
Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Miami, FL

Dr. Flynn is a professor at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute at the University of Miami and appointed as J. Donald M. Gass Distinguished Chair in Ophthalmology in 2001. Dr. Flynn received his bachelor degree at Wake Forest University and went on to earn his medical degree from the University of Virginia. He continued his training in ophthalmology during his residency at the University of Virginia Hospital and fellowship at Presbyterian Hospital in San Francisco.

Dr. Flynn served his country in the US Army Medical Corps specializing in Ophthalmology Service - Retina subspecialty. Upon his honorable discharge, Dr. Flynn went on to publish several books, chapters and abstracts. He is board certified and licensed to practice in three states. He is a current member of over ten professional and honorary organizations such as the American Academy of Ophthalmology, American Medical Association, Vitreous Society, the Pan American Association of Ophthalmology, and many more.

Dr. Flynn has been fortunate to receive several honors over the years and most recently awarded the 2008 Lifetime Achievement Honor Award (American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Karen Gehrs, M.D.
Center for Retina and Macular Disease, Winter Haven, FL.

Dr. Gehrs received her medical degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia. Upon completing her internship at St. John’s Mercy Medical Center, Dr. Gehrs finished her post graduate education by completing her residency and fellowship (vitreoretina) at Duke University Eye Center prior to becoming Chief Resident in 1993. Dr. Gehrs specializes in retina/vitreous and focuses her research in diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration. She is certified in both the National Board of Medical Examiners and the American Board of Ophthalmology. Dr. Gehrs is an accomplished teacher, frequent lecturer and is very active in several professional associations.

After more than a dozen years as a vitreoretinal faculty member at the University of Iowa, Dr. Gehrs joined the Center for Retina and Macular Disease in 2009. Most recently, Dr. Gehrs was awarded the Achievement Award by the American Academy of Ophthalmology in 2004 and has been distinguished as Best Doctors in America for the past four years in a row.

Richard Hamilton, M.D.
Center for Retina and Macular Disease, Winter Haven, FL.

Dr. Hamilton received his Bachelor of Science Degree in chemistry from Harvard University and his doctorate degree from the Harvard University Medical School. His extensive and varied training includes completion of a fellowship in anatomic and clinical pathology at Massachusetts General Hospital. Dr. Hamilton embarked upon general surgical residency at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, but soon realized his true calling was in ophthalmology. After completing his residency in ophthalmology at the Doheny Eye Institute, he was granted a fellowship in retinal and vitreous diseases at the Medical College of Wisconsin.

Dr. Hamilton is board certified in ophthalmology since 2005 and is an active member of several professional organizations such as the American Academy of ophthalmology, the American Society of Retinal Specialists, the American Medical Association, and the Florida Medical Association.

Glenn Jaffe, M.D.
Duke Eye Center, Durham, NC

Dr. Jaffe received his medical degree from the University of California-San Francisco School of Medicine. He continued his professional training by interning at Mt. Zion Hospital in San Francisco and later as a resident in ophthalmology at the University of California. Dr. Jaffe pursued his vitreoretinal fellowship at The Eye Institute/Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee.

He is currently the Chief of Vitreoretinal Diseases and Surgery Service at Duke University Eye Center. His clinical interests include vitreoretinal diseases and retinal cell biology, macular holes, retinal detachment, subretinal neovascularization, proliferative diabetic retinopathy, and posterior segment surgical procedures for diagnosis or therapy of uveitis.

Among his many talents, Dr. Jaffe is particularly active in resident and fellow education. He has authored numerous publications and textbook chapters. Among other awards, Dr. Jaffe has recently been honored with The Clinical Uveitis Research Award, German Uveitis Patient Interest Group (2008), and ARVO Fellow (2010).

Dr. Jaffe is an active member in American Academy of Ophthalmology, Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, American Medical Association, North Carolina Medical Society, North Carolina Society of Ophthalmology, Durham and Orange County Medical Society, National Eye Care Project, and the Southern Medical Association.

Szilárd Kiss, M.D.
Weill Cornell Medical College, New York Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY

Dr. Kiss received his undergraduate degree with honors from Columbia University and completed his medical school training at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. Following an internal medicine internship at St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital in New York City, Dr. Kiss moved to Boston to complete an ophthalmology residency and a vitreo-retinal fellowship, both at Harvard Medical School and the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary. During that time, Dr. Kiss was selected as the Chief Fellow of the Harvard Medical School Vitreo-Retinal Service at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary.

Dr. Kiss is currently an Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology at Weill Cornell Medical College and an Assistant Attending Physician at the New York Presbyterian Hospital. He is a board certified ophthalmologist with a primary focus in the surgical and medical management of adult and pediatric vitreo-retinal disorders.

Some of Dr. Kiss's major interests include vitreo-retinal surgery (e.g. retinal detachment repair, epiretinal membrane pealing, macular hole repair, retained lens fragment removal), and surgical and medical treatment of age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy. He has published over two dozen articles including publications on innovative surgical techniques and novel treatment paradigms for retinal disorders.

Dr. Kiss has presented the findings of his research at local, national and international scientific meetings. He is also highly active in professional societies and serves as a scientific reviewer to major journals.

BEN KIM, M.D.
Center for Retina and Macular Disease, Winter Haven, FL.

Dr. Kim grew up in South Carolina, and he obtained a Bachelor of Science in Molecular Biology as well as a Music Minor in Piano Performance from Vanderbilt University. He received his medical degree from the Yale University School of Medicine. His training then took him to Boston where he completed the Harvard Medical School Residency Program in Ophthalmology at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary. Dr. Kim’s vitreoretinal fellowship training was at the Wilmer Eye Institute at Johns Hopkins. Dr. Kim was an Instructor in Ophthalmology at Wilmer. During his last year of fellowship training, he also served as the chief resident at Wilmer.

Dr. Kim has been a recipient of the Heed Fellowship Award. He has published articles and book chapters on a variety of ophthalmic topics, ranging from genetics to new treatments of diabetic macular edema.

John Niffenegger, M.D.
Retina Associates of Sarasota, Sarasota, FL

Dr. Niffenegger is a board certified fellowship trained vitreoretinal surgeon. He practices with his partner Dr. Keye Wong at Retina Associates of Sarasota.

Dr. Niffenegger graduated from Harvard College magna cum laude and received his medical degree from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland. His training in ophthalmology residency and vitreoretinal surgery fellowship was performed at Harvard Medical School's specialty eye hospital - The Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary. After completing his training Dr. Niffenegger stayed on as an attending ophthalmologist at the Eye and Ear Infirmary prior to joining Retina Associates of Cleveland. Before moving to Sarasota six years ago, Dr. Niffenegger was Vice-president of Eye Centers of Ohio and President-elect of the Ohio Ophthalmological Society.

Dr. Niffenegger has participated in national clinical trials for treatments of macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, retinal detachment, ocular melanoma, and retinopathy of prematurity.

Kirk Packo, M.D.
Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Il

Dr. Packo is Professor and Chairman of the Department of Ophthalmology and Director of the Retina Section at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, Illinois. Additionally, he is a senior partner in Illinois Retina Associates, a Chicago-based private practice group.

His undergraduate studies were completed at Notre Dame University in pre-medical studies and went on to receive his medical degree from St. Louis University School of Medicine. Dr. Packo followed up with a medical internship at St. John’s Medical Center in St. Louis. Under the direction of Morton F. Goldberg, MD, he completed his residency at the University of Illinois Eye & Ear Infirmary. He went on to complete a fellowship in retinal disease at Emory University in Atlanta and then returned as chief resident and director of the General Eye Services at the University of Illinois.

Over recent years, Dr. Packo has gained an international reputation as a retinal thought leader and speaker. He has participated in over 350 meetings in 20 countries, having delivered more than 800 individual presentations on retinal disease management.

Dr. Packo holds membership in the Retina Society, the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the American College of Surgeons, the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, the Association for Vision Research in Ophthalmology, the American Medical Association, and the Chicago Ophthalmologic Society, which he currently chairs as President.

Johanna M. Seddon, M.D., ScM
Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA

Dr. Seddon received her medical degree from the University of Pittsburgh. She then went on to continue her training in ophthalmology completing her residency at Tufts Medical Center and her ophthalmic pathology/retina fellowship at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary.

Dr. Seddon is a pioneer in nutritional research in age-related macular degeneration and cataract, as well as in the field of ophthalmic epidemiology. For more than 20 years, Dr. Seddon has received NIH grants on epidemiologic, biologic, and genetic biomarkers for macular degeneration, and has made original contributions in these areas.

She was a vice-president and trustee of ARVO, and the recipient of the inaugural Maurice F. Rabb, Jr. Award from Prevent Blindness America for her dedication and contributions to prevention and treatment of age-related macular degeneration.

Dr. Seddon is currently the Professor of Ophthalmology at Tufts University School of Medicine and Founding Director of Ophthalmic Epidemiology and Genetics Services at The New England Eye Center at Tufts Medical Center in Boston, MA.

Michael Tolentino, M.D.
Director of Clinical Research, Center for Retina and Macular Disease, Winter Haven, FL.

Dr. Tolentino joined the Center for Retina and Macular Disease in 2005. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in computer science from Brown University and his doctorate degree from the University of Massachusetts Medical School. During medical school he worked in the Bermann-Gund retinal degenerations laboratory at Harvard Medical School. After medical school, Dr. Tolentino continued his training at Harvard Medical School and interned at the Mount Auburn Hospital and completed his post-doctoral Angiogenesis research fellowship at the Childrens Hospital of Boston and Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary. It was there that he helped develop anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapies used today for macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy. After completing his residency at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, he joined the ophthalmology and molecular biology faculty at the University of Pennsylvania and headed the program vitreo-retinal training.

Dr. Tolentino earned numerous awards and received several prestigious grants while at the University of Pennsylvania, and developed a new class of therapeutic molecules called siRNA. He has 2 issued and 4 pending patents on the use of these molecules for treating eye diseases, cancers, and arthritis. The technology that Dr.Tolentino’s inventions utilize for therapeutic purposes received the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 2006. Based on his patents, Dr. Tolentino co-founded Acuity Pharmaceuticals which was merged to form OPKO health (Amex: OPK) a publically traded biopharmaceutical company.

With the team at the Center for Retina and Macular Disease, Dr. Tolentino has helped to establish one of the largest retinal clinical trial centers in the country which has been involved in over 45 clinical trials in the last 3 years. Dr. Tolentino is a frequent international lecturer on new treatments for macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy. He is on several scientific advisory panels and is a consultant for several pharmaceutical companies. He is also serving as the CEO and co-founder of Acuity Dynamics a privately held ophthalmic company.

Michael T. Trese, M.D.
Associated Retina Consultants, P.C., Royal Oak, MI

Dr. Trese is currently the Clinical Professor of Biomedical Sciences at The Eye Research Institute of Oakland University, Clinical Associate Professor at Wayne State University School of Medicine, and Chief of Pediatric and Adult Vitreoretinal Surgery at William Beaumont Hospital.

Dr. Trese earned his undergraduate degree at the University of Michigan and followed up with his medical degree at Georgetown University School of Medicine. He continued his training in residency at Jules Stein Eye Institute, UCLA and his vitreoretinal fellowship at Duke University Eye Center.

Dr. Trese is an internationally recognized expert in retinopathy of prematurity and pediatric retinal disease. He has spoken all around the world, delivered several named lectureships, and has authored numerous publications and textbook chapters.

He currently serves as President of the Retina Society and a member of the American Society of Retina Specialists, Club Jules Gonin, the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, the Michigan Ophthalmologic Society, American Medical Association, and Oakland County Medical Society.

Keye Wong, M.D.
Retina Associates of Sarasota, Sarasota, FL

Dr. Wong helped to establish Retina Associates of Sarasota in 2007 with Dr. Niffenegger.

Dr. Wong graduated magna cum laud with a Bachelor of Arts degree in biochemistry from Harvard College. His medical degree was obtained from Rush Medical College. Dr. Wong returned to his native Hawaii to complete an internship at the University of Hawaii and completed his residency at the Duke University Eye Center in Durham, North Carolina. His fellowship in retina-vitreous diseases was completed at the Pacific Presbyterian Medical Center in San Francisco, California.

He is an active member of the Retina Society, American Society of Retinal Surgeons, and a founding member of the Western Association for Vitreoretinal Education.