Eye-catching News

Updated November 3, 2009

John A. Hoepner, MD Awarded Distinquished Service Award
from Onondaga County Medical Society
SYRACUSE, NY- At their annual dinner meeting on November 2, 2009, the Onondaga County Medical Society declared that John A. Hoepner, MD has rendered distinguished service to the Onondaga County Medical Society, area physicians and hospitals, patients and the general public. In his roles as Professor and Chairman of the Department of Ophthalmology at Upstate Medical University, Director of the University's Center for Vision Care, Chief of the Department of Ophthalmology at Crouse Hospital, Consultant for the Medical Advisory Committee of the New York State Commission for the Blind and Visually Handicapped, Consultant for Welch-Allyn, Inc., Member of the Boards of Directors of the Lighthouse/Aurora, Veterans Administration Medical Center Chief of Staff Search Committee, Member of the Task Force on Eye Care Delivery Systems and the Ethics Committee of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, Member of the Executive Committee of Upstate Medical University's College of Medicine, Author, Lecture Presenter, and Officer of the Onondaga County Medical Society, he has brought great honor to himself and the profession of medicine.
The Onondaga County Medical Society, in recognition of the outstanding leadership talents and highest professional and personal standards of Dr. John A. Hoepner, as physician, teacher, and researcher, confers its Distinguished Service Award as a mark of the esteem in which he is held by the members of this Society. Signed: Gregory A. Threatte, MD President OCMS

Photo courtesy of Marc J. Safran, MD

Center for Vision Research Director Robert B. Barlow, PhD Named ARVO Gold Fellow

SYRACUSE– Robert B. Barlow, PhD, Director of the Center for Vision Research at SUNY Upstate Medical University and Professor of Ophthalmology and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, has been named a 2009 Gold Fellow by the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO).

An ARVO fellow is a new honor that recognizes current members for their individual accomplishments, leadership, and contributions to the association. Dr. Barlow qualified for the Gold level for his participation in ARVO as a member of the Board of Trustees of ARVO, ARVO Foundation and International Affiliate Council. He will be inducted at the organization's 2009 Annual Meeting in May.

Dr. Barlow said, "I am indeed honored to be named an inaugural ARVO Gold Fellow and I look forward to many more years of participation in this great organization."

The Center for Vision Research was started in 1997 and its mission is to be a leading center for research on major eye diseases and vision disorders. Our goal is to understand the cell and molecular biology underlying the most prevalent blinding diseases.

Matched Residents for 2010

Laryssa Huryn
Dimitrios Sismanis

Congratulations 2009 Graduates

Dr. Jane Pan, Dr. Emmett Hurley, and Dr. Kris VanWagner, the Department of Ophthalmology congratulates you on your 2009 graduation.

Dr. Pan is continuing her education through her retina fellowship, Dr. Hurley is also continuing his education through his oculo-plastics fellowship, and Dr. VanWagner has entered private practice.

Center for Vision Care: Phaco Lab Established

Thanks to the help and support of Alcon, our program was able to locate and acquire equipment to outfit a permanent wet lab in the Center for Vision Care in 2003.

The surgical lab is an excellent way to introduce the resident to the "feel" of microscopy including the magnified world of the microscope and surgical maneuvers entirely dependent on the hand-held instrument. It is also an experience that provides the opportunity to practice at a pace of his or her own choosing. Every nuance can be discussed with the instructor who can also sit in for demonstration purposes. Wet labs are often preceded by a presentation on a specific type of surgery in order to give the residents an overview before approaching the practice eye. Residents are shown below in a wet lab sponsored by Alcon.

2006 News: Thanks to Alcon, the wet lab was updated with a new Legacy EVEREST phacoemulsification system in January.

Below are pictures from the 2009 Wet Lab.

Wet Lab 2008-1 Wet Lab 2008-3
Wet Lab 2008-2 Wet Lab 2008-4