CARES Conference Follow-Up – A HUGE SUCCESS
The 2nd Annual Glaucoma Service Foundation CARES* Conference was
a tremendous success! This patient educational event, held on
September 20th at Wills Eye Institute, exceeded our expectations.
We were pleased to welcome over 220 glaucoma patients and their
families along with high-risk individuals from the Philadelphia
community who received free glaucoma screenings and information
about glaucoma. In addition to lectures by the world-renowned
Wills Eye glaucoma physicians, attendees had the opportunity to
speak with those physicians in a relaxed atmosphere and visit
vendors to learn about patient assistance programs and low vision
services. We also had the privilege of having Mayor Michael Nutter
and “Ben Franklin” address the audience and participate
in the free glaucoma screenings. This unique conference allowed
glaucoma patients and their families a chance to speak with others
who are dealing with this devastating disease and get valuable
insights to the best treatment options.
A most sincere thank-you to Glaucoma Service Foundation Board
member George H. Strimel for being such a wonderful moderator.
The Glaucoma Service Foundation also sincerely thanks the Wills
Eye Institute Glaucoma Service physicians who shared their time
and knowledge with us on Saturday, September 20, 2008. The doctors
discussed many glaucoma related topics and provided useful information
for all those present. Topics included were as follows:
- Introduction – Julia Haller, MD – Ophthalmologist-in-Chief,
Wills Eye Institute
- Overview of Glaucoma: What is It? Who is at Risk? –
L. Jay Katz, MD
- Management Trends in Glaucoma Surgery: More Lasers, Few Trabeculectomies
– Rachel Niknam, MD
- Psuedoexfoliation Glaucoma: New Insights – Marlene Moster,
MD
- Adherence to Medications: A Critical Stumbling Block to Effective
Care – Jonathan Myers, MD
- Quality of Life in Glaucoma – George Spaeth, MD
- What is Normal for Intraocular Pressure? – Scott Fudemberg,
MD
- Update on the Newest Medications to Treat Glaucoma –
Michael Pro, MD
The Foundation is extremely grateful to the many volunteers who
made this event possible: Glaucoma Service staff members and their
families, Clinical and Research Fellows and Observers, Wills Eye
Residents and medical students, Members of the Foundation’s
Board of Trustees, and Villanova’s Delta Gamma Sorority.
A special thank-you to Jack Scully and Roger Barone for overseeing
the video and photography.
We are also most appreciative to the sponsors who helped make
this event possible: Our lead sponsor, Allergen, made this event
possible with a very generous, unrestricted grant. We also want
to thank Alcon for their generosity in funding. In addition, we
recognize the following companies for their generous gifts-in-kind:
Subway, Dunkin’ Donuts, Pepperidge Farm, Trader Joe’s,
BJs, Rite-Aid, Office Max, Philly Soft Pretzel Factory, Pfizer
Ophthalmics, The Bagel Factory, Walmart, Gayle Slaubaugh Catering,
Great Valley High School, and DeVitis Design.
We would also like to thank the following vendors who shared valuable
information and support with the attendees: Associated Services
for the Blind and Visually Impaired and the Wills Eye Glaucoma
Research Center.
(*Committed to Awareness through Research Education and Support)
DVD Info
We are pleased to offer to all attendees who want a lasting memory
of the event or missed the event professional quality DVD’s
taped during the Conference. We are asking for a minimum donation
of $20 for a boxed set of DVDs to cover production cost and mailing.
Please provide your name, address, phone number with a check payable
to The Glaucoma Service Foundation to Prevent Blindness. DVDs
will be mailed out within six to eight weeks. Please call with
any questions to (215) 928-3283. Please mail your check to Kate
Woodward at the following address:
Wills Eye Hospital
Glaucoma Service Foundation
840 Walnut Street
Suite 1130
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Please feel free to submit all comments regarding the Glaucoma
Service Foundation CARES Conference held on September 20, 2008.
Your thoughts and suggestions on the survey were greatly appreciated! |
