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"EYE-55" CELEBRATES THE EYE-BANK'S 55 YEARS OF SERVICE
September 17, 2007
BLOOMINGTON – The Illinois Eye-Bank, Watson Gailey will celebrate its 55 years of service to central Illinois during a cocktail and hors d’oeuvres celebration, September 27, 2007 at 5:30pm at the NV UltraLounge in Normal.
The 55th Anniversary event, dubbed Eye-55, is open to all who support the Eye-Bank’s mission to restore sight. “We are grateful for the decades of support we’ve received from the community,” says Robert Albrecht, Manager of the Eye-Bank’s facility in Bloomington. “We have a network of excellent surgeons, medical directors and healthcare workers who make it possible for us to recover and provide healthy eye tissue for transplantation.
Founded in 1952 by ophthalmologist Watson Gailey, M.D., the Eye-Bank has grown to become affiliated with the Illinois Eye-Bank in Chicago, and is itself a division of Midwest Eye-Banks. It is fully accredited by the Eye Bank Association of America (EBAA) and, in conjunction with the Chicago facility, helped to provide 1,517 corneas for transplantation during 2006 alone. None of this would be possible without the generosity of our donor families, as well as those who have supported us through charitable contributions,” Albrecht continues. “Thanks to them, we are able to support research and education initiatives while continuing to provide eye tissue to those in need.The 55th Anniversary event will also mark the creation of the Dr. John E. Randolph Memorial Fund, established in memory of John E. Randolph, M.D., a dedicated corneal surgeon in the Bloomington-Normal area. Contributions to the fund will help to enable the Eye-Bank to provide its services free of charge for patients who cannot afford sight-restoring cornea transplant surgery.
Cost to attend the event is $55 per person, and space is still available. The NV UltraLounge is located at 107 E. Beaufort Street in Normal. RSVP to the Illinois Eye-Bank, Watson Gailey at (800) 548-4703 ext. 770.
The Illinois Eye-Bank, Watson Gailey is a division of Midwest Eye-Banks, and is a 501(c)(3), independent, not-for-profit organization dedicated to the restoration of sight. It recovers, evaluates and distributes human eye tissue for transplantation. It also supports research into the causes and cures of blinding eye conditions, promotes donation awareness through public and professional education, and provides humanitarian aid to people in need of corneal transplantation throughout the world. For more information, visit the Eye-Bank online at http://www.illinoiseyebank.org/ or call (800) 548-4703.
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Eye Injury Prevention Month: The Most Ordinary Things Can Cause the Most Extraordinary Eye Injuries
September 1, 2007
[Midland] - When most people go out to mow the lawn, jump-start the car or get ready to do some spring cleaning, the last thing they think about is protecting their eyes, but it should be the first thing on their mind.
October is Eye Injury Prevention Month. Michigan Eye-Bank and Lions of Michigan are urging Americans to protect their eyes from the extraordinary damage often caused by the most ordinary of activities.
More than one million people suffer from eye injuries each year, but 90 percent of these eye injuries could have been prevented if the individual was wearing appropriate protective eyewear (with “ANSI Z87.1” marked on the lens or frame).
Many household chemicals, such as cleaning fluids, detergents and ammonia, are extremely hazardous and can burn the eye's delicate tissues. When using chemicals, always read instructions and labels carefully, work in a well-ventilated area and make sure spray nozzles point away from you and others before spraying. Be sure to wash your hands thoroughly after use.
Before using a lawnmower, power trimmer or edger, check for debris. Stones, twigs and other items can become dangerous projectiles shooting from the blades of a lawnmower, potentially injuring your eyes or those of innocent bystanders.
Michigan Eye-Bank and Lions of Michigan also want to warn people about one of the most dangerous activities, in terms of eye injuries. Each year hundreds of people end up with terrible eye injuries and burns from fireworks that are set off in the backyard. The majority of victims are bystanders and children. There's just no way to use fireworks at home safely. Even sparklers burn at 1,800 degrees Fahrenheit, hot enough to melt gold. A good way to honor our nation is by going to see a professional fireworks display.
Prevention is the first and most important step in avoiding serious eye injuries, so be sure to protect your eyes with appropriate protective eyewear.
In order to promote eye health and the prevention of eye injury and disease, Michigan Eye-Bank offers a free eye disease and injury prevention kit geared towards early elementary school students and their families. To include this in your students’ or child’s curriculum, please call Michigan Eye-Bank for more information at (800) 247-7250, or visit our Web site, www.michiganeyebank.org.
The Michigan Eye-Bank is a 501(c)(3), independent, not-for-profit organization dedicated to the restoration of sight. It recovers, evaluates and distributes human eye tissue for transplantation. It also supports research into the causes and cures of blinding eye conditions, promotes donation awareness through public and professional education, and provides humanitarian aid to people in need of corneal transplantation throughout the world. Download PDF Version
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Children's Eye Health and Safety Month: Protect Your Child's Eyesight
August 1, 2007
[Midland] – Vision problems affect one in 20 preschoolers and one in four school-aged children.
September is Children's Eye Health and Safety Month. Michigan Eye-Bank and Lions of Michigan want Americans to know that children often have serious vision problems without their parents’ knowledge. As a result, infants should be screened for common eye problems during their regular pediatric appointments, and vision testing should be conducted for all children starting at around three years of age. If there is a family history of eye problems or if a problem is apparent, parents should consult an eye doctor promptly about when and how often a child’s eyes should be examined.
Among the conditions an eye care professional will look for are amblyopia (lazy eye), strabismus (crossed eyes), ptosis (drooping of the upper eyelid), color deficiency (color blindness) and refractive errors (nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism).
Aside from conditions that threaten vision, eye screenings for children are important because vision changes can occur without parents or children noticing them. If a child is having trouble seeing the blackboard or the words in a book, her or his academic performance and participation in recreational activities will suffer. Because vision problems can interfere with school performance, it's important to distinguish them from learning disorders.
Children’s eyes must also be protected from the danger of eye injuries. Parents should be sure that their kids’ toys are appropriate for the child’s age and maturity level. Avoid toys with sharp, protruding or projectile parts. Sports can also endanger a child’s eyes, meaning appropriate protective eyewear is also important.
Eye health care is provided by the three “O’s” – opticians, optometrists and ophthalmologists. It is the ophthalmologist, or eye doctor, who can treat it all – eye diseases and injuries, and perform eye surgery.
In order to promote eye health and the prevention of eye injury and disease, Michigan Eye-Bank offers a free eye disease and injury prevention kit geared towards early elementary school students and their families. To include this in your students’ or child’s curriculum, please contact Michigan Eye-Bank at (800) 247-7250, or visit our Web site, http://www.michiganeyebank.org/.
The Michigan Eye-Bank is a 501(c)(3), independent, not-for-profit organization dedicated to the restoration of sight. It recovers, evaluates and distributes human eye tissue for transplantation. It also supports research into the causes and cures of blinding eye conditions, promotes donation awareness through public and professional education, and provides humanitarian aid to people in need of corneal transplantation throughout the world.
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Fireworks Safety Month: Leave Fireworks to the Professionals
May 21, 2007
[ANN ARBOR] - Fireworks were involved in an estimated 10,800 injuries treated in U.S. hospitals during 2005, including 1,600 eye injuries, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s 2006 report.
In an effort to reduce these preventable injuries, Michigan Eye-Bank and Lions of Michigan encourage families to attend local public fireworks displays instead of using fireworks at home this Fourth of July. This recommendation is made as part of Fireworks Eye Safety Month sponsored by the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Attending a professional public fireworks display is a safe way to honor our nation.
People often do not recognize how dangerous fireworks can be when in an inexperienced hand. As many as 400 Americans lose vision in one or both eyes due to fireworks injuries. The risk of losing an eye is not worth the excitement of setting off fireworks. The CPSC notes that children under age 15 suffered 45 percent of the fireworks-related injuries reported in 2005, with the most common injuries being to the eyes, hands, head and face.
Although illegal fireworks, bottle rockets and Roman candles account for the majority of injuries, seemingly harmless sparklers also cause numerous injuries each year. Sparklers account for the most injuries to children under the age of five. Fascinated by the bright sparks, children find these sticks of fire - burning as hot as 1,800 degrees, hot enough to melt gold - irresistible to touch.
In order to promote eye health and the prevention of eye injury and disease, Michigan Eye-Bank offers a free eye disease and injury prevention kit geared towards early elementary school students and their families. To include this in your students’ or child’s curriculum, contact Michigan Eye-Bank at (800) 247-7250 or visit our Web site, http://www.michiganeyebank.org/.
The Michigan Eye-Bank is a 501(c)(3), independent, not-for-profit organization dedicated to the restoration of sight. It recovers, evaluates and distributes human eye tissue for transplantation. It also supports research into the causes and cures of blinding eye conditions, promotes donation awareness through public and professional education, and provides humanitarian aid to people in need of corneal transplantation throughout the world. Download PDF Version
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Mid-Michigan Celebrates A Night for Sight with Michigan Eye-Bank
May 15, 2007
BAY CITY – Cornea transplant recipients, eye, organ and tissue donor families, surgeons, volunteers and community leaders will join the Michigan Eye-Bank for a special program and reception at the Delta College Planetarium on Thursday, May 17.
“Night for Sight is an opportunity for us to celebrate the gift of sight with people in the communities we serve,” explains Florence Johnston, President and Chief Executive Officer of Midwest Eye-Banks. “It also gives them a chance to meet us and learn what an eye bank does. They may know that corneal transplantation can restore lost sight, but they probably don’t know there is an eye bank working behind the scenes to make that restoration of sight a reality for someone. We feel that holding our event at the planetarium is a special way to honor those who give and receive the gift of sight – without which we couldn’t fully enjoy the wonders of our universe.”
Bay City Mayor Michael J. Buda will be on hand to deliver an official proclamation on behalf of the city. Guests will also be treated to a special presentation by local corneal surgeon Miriam Schteingart, M.D., who has worked closely with the Eye-Bank for many years.
“Mid-Michigan is home to many of the Eye-Bank’s most loyal supporters,” Johnston explains. The Rollin M. Gerstacker Foundation, for example, has been a major benefactor of the Michigan Eye-Bank’s Eye and Vision Research Program since the 1980s.
Future Night for Sight events are being planned in other areas of the state. Call (800) 247-7250 or visit http://www.michiganeyebank.org/ for updates.
The Michigan Eye-Bank is a 501(c)(3), independent, not-for-profit organization dedicated to the restoration of sight. It recovers, evaluates and distributes human eye tissue for transplantation. It also supports research into the causes and cures of blinding eye conditions, promotes donation awareness through public and professional education, and provides humanitarian aid to people in need of corneal transplantation throughout the world. For more information, visit the Michigan Eye-Bank online at http://www.michiganeyebank.org/ or call (800) 247-7250.
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Healthy Vision Month: Protect Your Sight
April 16, 2007
[Ann Arbor] - Eye conditions and diseases that can rob your family of their vision could strike people at any age, from newborns to seniors, and at any time.
In honor of May’s Healthy Vision Month, Michigan Eye-Bank and Lions of Michigan urge Americans to take care of their eyes and their family’s eyes. Pay attention to warning signs and visit an ophthalmologist regularly.Many people associate eye problems with getting older. While it's true that seniors are at higher risk for a certain eye conditions, some of those problems actually start earlier, and vision loss could be prevented if the problem is caught sooner. Preschoolers, senior citizens and people with diabetes, as well as others with high risk factors for certain eye problems, all need regular eye care. Too often, they don't seek or receive this care, and the result is vision loss.
Infants and toddlers should be screened for common childhood eye problems, such as strabismus (crossed eyes) and amblyopia (lazy eye), during their regular pediatric appointments. Vision testing is recommended for all children starting at around three years of age.
Some warning signs that your child may have vision problems include wandering or crossed eyes, a family history of childhood vision problems, redness, discharge, a disinterest in reading, difficulty viewing distant objects, and squinting or turning the head in an unusual manner while watching TV.
Most children and teenagers have healthy eyes, but they still need to take care of their vision. The major risk to kids and teens is accidental injury. Michigan Eye-Bank and Lions of Michigan recommend protective eyewear for all activities that present a risk of eye injury. An eye doctor can recommend and fit appropriate protective eyewear.
Groups at increased risk for eye disease include African-Americans over age 40 (glaucoma), people with diabetes (diabetic retinopathy), those over age 60 (macular degeneration and cataracts) and those with a family history of eye problems. If you fall into one of these categories, check with your eye doctor to find out how often you need to have a complete eye exam.
In order to promote eye health and the prevention of eye injury and disease, Michigan Eye-Bank offers a free eye disease and injury prevention kit geared towards early elementary school students and their families. To include this in your students’ or child’s curriculum, contact Michigan Eye-Bank at (800) 247-7250 or visit our Web site, http://www.michiganeyebank.org/.
The Michigan Eye-Bank is a 501(c)(3), independent, not-for-profit organization dedicated to the restoration of sight. It recovers, evaluates and distributes human eye tissue for transplantation. It also supports research into the causes and cures of blinding eye conditions, promotes donation awareness through public and professional education, and provides humanitarian aid to people in need of corneal transplantation throughout the world.
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Sports Eye Safety Month: Play Hard, Play Safe!
April 1, 2007
[Ann Arbor] – From major league stadiums to small-town courts, America’s favorite pastimes make great memories for many. But for more than 40,000 athletes, those memories are ruined by eye injuries, the vast majority of which were preventable.
In recognition of April's Sports Eye Safety Month, Michigan Eye-Bank and Lions of Michigan urge all athletes to wear appropriate protective eyewear. Efforts to protect athletes’ eyes can prevent eye injuries and infections that may lead to cornea transplants.
High school senior Gina Gonzales knows the importance of wearing protective eyewear, but only after a basketball injury caused her to lose vision in her right eye. It only took the poke of a finger during a game to give Gonzales an infected corneal ulcer, leading to irreparable damage. “I couldn’t see out of my right eye at all,” she recalls. “My left eye was straining a lot. I was getting bad headaches from the strain.” Without a cornea transplant to restore her sight, Gina’s basketball career, academic performance and possible college scholarship would have been threatened.
Gonzales’ nightmare is all too common among athletes. Sports-related eye injuries range from abrasions of the cornea and bruises of the lids, to internal eye injuries, such as retinal detachments and internal bleeding. Unfortunately, some of these athletes end up with permanent vision loss and blindness.
Today, athletes can choose from various types of sturdy, lightweight, effective and fashionable eyewear. With polycarbonate lenses and proper fitting by an eye care professional, eyewear does not hinder performance and can prevent 90 percent of sports eye injuries. Some professionals, including NBA All-Star Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and NFL Hall of Famer Eric Dickerson, have already gotten the message - sports eye protection doesn't hinder performance; it protects eyes and careers.
Basketball, football, hockey and baseball aren't the only sports that contribute to the thousands of eye injuries suffered each year. Soccer, tennis, golf and water sports also are dangerous to the eyes. Different kinds of protective eyewear are available for different sports, and Michigan Eye-Bank recommends that athletes seek the assistance of an eye care professional to ensure the correct eyewear is used.
The long-term benefits of playing sports are clear, but sports are the leading cause of eye injuries in children. Most sporting leagues don't require their young athletes to wear eye protection, yet when they do, the occurrence of eye injuries is greatly reduced. For now, it is up to parents and other adults to make sure children use appropriate eye protection.
In order to promote eye health and the prevention of eye injury and disease, Michigan Eye-Bank offers a free eye disease and injury prevention kit geared towards early elementary school students and their families. To include this program in your students’ or child’s’ curriculum, please call Michigan Eye-Bank at (800) 247-7250, or visit our Web site, www.michiganeyebank.org.
The Michigan Eye-Bank is a 501(c)(3), independent, not-for-profit organization dedicated to the restoration of sight. It recovers, evaluates and distributes human eye tissue for transplantation. It also supports research into the causes and cures of blinding eye conditions, promotes donation awareness through public and professional education, and provides humanitarian aid to people in need of corneal transplantation throughout the world.
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Lions Eye Bank of New Jersey honors Bergen County Medical Examiner
March 14, 2007
SPRINGFIELD, NJ – The Lions Eye Bank of New Jersey will honor Mary Ann B. Clayton, M.D., Medical Examiner for Bergen County, as its Visionary of the Year at a dinner program on Monday evening, June 11, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at L’Affaire Restaurant, 1099 Route 22 East, Mountainside.
"We’re very pleased to honor Dr. Clayton for her extraordinary advocacy on behalf of eye, organ, and tissue donation," says Kenneth Mattfield, Chairman, Lions Eye Bank of New Jersey. "The medical examiner plays a critical role in coordinating the vital resources necessary to save lives and restore sight. We’re grateful for her hard work on behalf of the people of New Jersey."
Dr. Clayton, a graduate of Rutgers Medical School, received her residency training in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology from St. Barnabas Medical Center and completed a fellowship in Forensic Pathology at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, Providence, Rhode Island. Her work to support eye, organ, and tissue donation is "part of my job," she says.
"I am a strong proponent of organ and tissue donation, on a personal level," Dr. Clayton explains, "and it carries over to my professional responsibilities. On occasion, a family will contact our office directly and inform us that their deceased loved one was an organ and tissue donor, and ask for our help in making the right contacts. I am happy to step in."
Dr. Clayton adds that her involvement in the donation process often begins with a phone conversation with the New Jersey Sharing Network, helping to determine a prospective donor’s suitability to donate eyes, organs or tissues. "Sometimes, during my conversations with families, I may be the person who introduces the topic and offers the opportunity for (eye, organ and tissue) recovery and donation," she says. "The generosity and kindness of families who are in the midst of their own personal grief always amazes me. It is a comfort to them to provide a gift of life in their time of sorrow, and it is my pleasure to assist them in any way I can."
The Visionary of the Year Award Program is a fundraising event to benefit the Lions Eye Bank of New Jersey. Tickets are available for $45. For reservations, contact Margaret Chaplin, Executive Director, Lions Eye Bank of New Jersey, at 973-379-4535.
The Lions Eye Bank of New Jersey, founded in 1970, is a subsidiary of Midwest Eye-Banks. It is a 501c(3), independent, not-for-profit organization dedicated to the restoration of sight. It recovers, evaluates, and distributes human eye tissue for transplantation. It also supports research into the causes and cures of blinding eye conditions, promotes donation awareness through public and professional education, and provides humanitarian aid to people in need of corneal transplantation throughout the world. For more information, visit LEBNJ online at www.lionseyebanknj.org or call (800) 653-9379.
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LIONS EYE BANK OF NEW JERSEY APPOINTS CHAPLIN AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
January 3, 2006
SPRINGFIELD, NJ – Midwest Eye-Banks and its subsidiary, the Lions Eye Bank of New Jersey (LEBNJ), have announced the appointment of Margaret Greenaway Chaplin as LEBNJ’s Executive Director, effective January 1. Chaplin spent 13 years with St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children in Philadelphia, serving as Administrative Director, Professional Services during the past seven years. She has been in the health care industry for 20 years, having received her master’s degree in Health Services Administration from George Washington University in Washington, DC. “In addition to her extensive background in health care, Margaret has an impressive history of community involvement,” notes Susan d’Olive Mozena, Midwest Eye-Banks’ President and Chief Executive Officer. “She brings management skills and experience in health care operations, experience with governance, and a real sense of community outreach and development, which are critical to the success of the Lions Eye Bank of New Jersey.” Since LEBNJ joined Midwest Eye-Banks in August, 2005, its administrative duties have been managed on an interim basis by Bradley Tennant, Midwest’s Vice President, Clinical Operations. Tennant has been instrumental in LEBNJ’s success under Midwest, including its recent three-year accreditation by the Eye Bank Association of America (EBAA), and will continue his involvement on a clinical basis. The Lions Eye Bank of New Jersey, founded in 1970, is a subsidiary of Midwest Eye-Banks. It is a 501(c)(3), independent, not-for-profit organization dedicated to the restoration of sight. It recovers, evaluates, and distributes human eye tissue for transplantation. It also supports research into the causes and cures of blinding eye conditions, promotes donation awareness through public and professional education, and provides humanitarian aid to people in need of corneal transplantation throughout the world. For more information, visit LEBNJ online at http://www.lionseyebanknj.org/ or call (800) 653-9379.
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DAVID MONTROSS NAMED 2007 MAN OF VISION
January 9, 2007
CHICAGO – David Montross, CEO of Equis Corporation, has been named the 2007 Man of Vision by Midwest Eye-Banks, Chicago. Montross, who is also a double cornea transplant recipient, will be honored at the annual Gift of Sight Gala on Friday, March 23. This popular black-tie event will be held at The Ritz Carlton Hotel and will include an elegant dinner, dancing to the music of Stanley Paul and his orchestra and a silent auction. The Gala benefits the Eye-Bank’s Eye and Vision Research Program and donor awareness public education programs.
For decades, Montross has dedicated his leadership to important causes benefiting Chicago citizens. With 25 years in commercial real estate, David helped to create a corporate citizenship program that enables Equis to make charitable contributions to such Chicago institutions as the Illinois Eye-Bank, Adler Planetarium, Howard Brown Health Center, Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago Architecture Foundation, Fairygodmother Foundation, and Greater Chicago Food Depository. Montross has also been involved in the Annual Fund for the Ravina Festival. The theme of the Eye-Bank’s event – vision – has a deeper personal meaning for Montross. Under the care of the Illinois Eye-Bank’s Medical Director, Dr. Joel Sugar, David received double cornea transplants in 1988 and 1989. “We feel that David is a tremendously worthy recipient of this award,” adds Charles Pivoney, the Eye-Bank’s Vice President, Illinois Operations. “We are proud to have played a role in the transplants that have assisted him in serving the community for so many years.” Former recipients of the Man and Woman of Vision award include Marilyn Miglin of Miglin Cosmetics, Bill Zwecker of the Chicago Sun-Times and CBS 2 Chicago, Michael Christ of Tiffany & Co., Donna LaPietra of Kurtis Productions, Ltd., Richard Driehaus of Driehaus Capital Management, Chicago restaurateurs Steve and Peggy Lombardo, Joe Ahern of CBS 2 Chicago, as well as Myra and John Reilly. All were honored for their dedication to causes that help others and their belief in Midwest Eye-Banks’ mission. The Illinois Eye-Bank, a division of Midwest Eye-Banks, is a 501(c)(3), independent, not-for-profit organization dedicated to the restoration of sight. It recovers, evaluates and distributes human eye tissue for transplantation. It also supports research into the causes and cures of blinding eye conditions, promotes donation awareness through public and professional education, and provides humanitarian aid to people in need of corneal transplantation throughout the world. For more information, visit the Illinois Eye-Bank online at http://www.illinoiseyebank.org/ or call (800) 548-4703.
To reserve seats at this year’s Gift of Sight Gala, call 312/706-9650 by March 1. Tickets are $350.
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MIDWEST EYE-BANKS APPOINTS DIRECTOR, SYSTEMS AND FACILITIES
November 19, 2006
Midwest Eye-Banks has announced the appointment of Collin M. Ross as Director, Systems and Facilities, effective December 1.
Ross joined Midwest Eye-Banks in July, 1997 as an Information Systems Technician. Since that time, he has worked as the Eye-Bank’s Systems Administrator and Systems Manager. He was also instrumental in the Eye-Bank’s successful relocation to its new building, and has more recently taken on the duties of Facilities Manager.
“Collin’s creativity, attention to detail, commitment to excellence and enthusiasm have made a significant impact throughout Midwest Eye-Banks,” explains Susan d’Olive Mozena, President and Chief Executive Officer. “He has grown, along with his role, to become an important part of our management team.”
As Director, Systems and Facilities, Ross will manage staff and other resources necessary to maintain the Eye-Bank’s growing technology infrastructure, and will be directly involved in the oversight of facility improvements and maintenance at all sites in Illinois, Michigan and New Jersey. He will also be responsible for budget planning, purchasing and vendor relationships in these areas, as well as corporate continuity planning.
A native of Madison Heights, Michigan, Ross holds a master’s degree in Public Management from the University of Maryland, and a bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University. He is a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE), a Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) and holds A+ and Network+ certifications. He resides in Ann Arbor with his wife, Jennifer Rydman, and their two children.
Midwest Eye-Banks, based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, is a 501(c)(3), independent, not-for-profit organization dedicated to the restoration of sight. It recovers, evaluates, and distributes human eye tissue for transplantation. It also supports research into the causes and cures of blinding eye conditions, promotes donation awareness through public and professional education, and provides humanitarian aid to people in need of corneal transplantation throughout the world. For more information, visit the Midwest Eye-Banks online at http://www.midwesteyebanks.org/ or call (800) 247-7250.
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Safe Toys and Celebrations Month: How to Prevent Holiday Tragedies
November 15, 2006
ANN ARBOR- In the 1983 movie "A Christmas Story", Ralphie sets out to convince the world that a Red Ryder BB gun is the perfect gift.
"You'll shoot your eye out!" was the response he got from his parents, teacher and even Santa Claus. It's one of the more memorable quotes from this Christmas classic because we've all heard it repeatedly during our childhood. And unfortunately, it comes true for too many people.
It's hard to resist giving into your child's overwhelming desire for his or her most wished for gift, especially during the holiday season, but sometimes you have to stand firm for their safety.
Toys - including some seemingly innocent ones - and sporting equipment are responsible for thousands of eye injuries to children every year. That's why Michigan Eye-Bank and Lions of Michigan are promoting Safe Toys and Celebrations Month and urging Americans to purchase safe toys and gifts this holiday season and all year long.
Every year, ophthalmologists see the devastating injuries that seemingly safe toys can cause. By getting the word out, the Eye-Bank and the Lions hope to save you and your child from needless suffering.
When shopping for toys, check labels to make sure they are appropriate for your child’s age and maturity level. Watch out for games or toys with sharp or protruding parts or projectiles, and consider carefully before giving darts, pellet guns or other firearms. These items are not appropriate for most children.
If you're giving sporting equipment, consider including appropriate protective eyewear. Approximately 40,000 sports-related eye injuries occur every year, but 90 percent of these injuries could be avoided with the right protective eyewear.
Lastly, before you open a bottle of your favorite bubbly to toast the holidays, learn how to do it safely. Make sure corks are covered by a towel and are pointed away from you and others. Also, ensure the champagne is chilled to at least 45 degrees Fahrenheit before opening. Every year, warm bottles of champagne, coupled with bad cork-removal technique, are responsible for causing serious blinding injuries.
By following a few simple safety tips, you can make sure your holidays are festive and injury-free.
The Michigan Eye-Bank is a 501(c)(3), independent, not-for-profit organization dedicated to the restoration of sight. It recovers, evaluates and distributes human eye tissue for transplantation. It also supports research into the causes and cures of blinding eye conditions, promotes donation awareness through public and professional education, and provides humanitarian aid to people in need of corneal transplantation throughout the world.
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Lions Eye-Bank of New Jersey Anounces Open House to commemorate Lions Eye Bank Week
November 9, 2006
SPRINGFIELD – The Lions Eye Bank of New Jersey will commemorate Lions Eye Bank Week with an Open House on Saturday, December 3 at 1:00 p.m. The Open House will be held at the Eye Bank, located in the New Jersey Sharing Network building at 841 Mountain Avenue in Springfield.
The event highlights the Lions Eye Bank of New Jersey’s mission to recover eye tissue for transplantation, support eye and vision research, and provide public and professional education regarding eye, organ, and tissue donation and the New Jersey Donor Registry.
The Open House will also feature a presentation by Eileen Carrigg Specchio, R.N., Ph.D., Associate Professor of Nursing, College of St. Elizabeth, who will share her personal experience with donation as a donor mother, as well as her professional perspective as a nurse educator.
A tour of the facility and refreshments will follow the program. To attend this free program, RSVP at (800) 247-7250 ext. 175 by November 27, 2006.
In 1984, Lions Clubs International officially adopted the Lions Eye Bank Program. Today, Lions Clubs aid 60 Lions Eye Banks located in nine countries. The Lions Eye Bank of New Jersey partners with the New Jersey Sharing Network to serve individuals and their families who wish to give the gifts of sight and life through organ, tissue and eye donation.
The Lions Eye Bank of New Jersey is a subsidiary of Midwest Eye-Banks, a 501(c)(3), independent, not-for-profit organization dedicated to the restoration of sight. Through its facility in Springfield, the Eye Bank recovers, evaluates and distributes human eye tissue for transplantation. It also supports preliminary research into the causes and cures of blinding eye conditions, and promotes eye, organ and tissue donation through public and professional education programs. For more information, contact the Lions Eye Bank of New Jersey at (800) 653-9379 or visit http://www.lionseyebanknj.org/.
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Midwest Eye-Banks Dedicates Memorial Garden for Eye, Organ and Tissue Donors
November 12, 2006
ANN ARBOR – Eye, organ and tissue donors and their families were honored at Midwest Eye-Banks’ Donor Memorial Garden dedication event on August 19, 2006.
The garden, located on the grounds of Midwest Eye-Banks’ headquarters in Ann Arbor, is available to donor family members, transplant recipients, friends of the Eye-Bank and anyone whose life has been touched by eye, organ and tissue donation. “It has been created in memory of eye, organ and tissue donors who have provided the gifts of sight and life,” explains Susan d’Olive Mozena, President and Chief Executive Officer of Midwest Eye-Banks. “It also honors their families, who have helped to make these gifts possible for others in the midst of their own personal loss.”
Donor families attending the garden dedication listened as the names of their loved ones were read aloud. Peggy Chapo, a young woman whose husband died suddenly in his early 30s, explained how deciding to donate his corneas helped her through the most difficult time in her life. Alan Sugar, M.D., renowned eye surgeon and Medical Director for the Michigan Eye-Bank, underscored the meaning of the gifts made possible by donors and their families.
Guests were then treated to a tour of the new garden. The garden was designed in collaboration with professional landscaping contractor Clem Chargot of 3 C’s Landscaping, and was completed this summer. Cornea transplant recipient and Master Gardener Jerry Redoutey donated his time and expertise, providing guidance in the garden’s initial planning stages. In addition to lush greenery and colorful flowering plants, the garden features a cedar pergola, several benches and a walkway composed of decorative paving stones, which are available to be memorials. Those interested in naming opportunities should contact Midwest Eye-Banks’ Development Office at (734) 780-2129.
Midwest Eye-Banks, based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, is a 501(c)(3), independent, not-for profit organization dedicated to the restoration of sight. It recovers, evaluates, and distributes human eye tissue for transplantation. It also supports research into the causes and cures of blinding eye conditions, promotes donation awareness through public and professional education, and provides humanitarian aid to people in need of corneal transplantation throughout the world. For more information, visit the Midwest Eye-Banks online at http://www.midwesteyebanks.org/ or call (800) 247-7250.
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Midwest Eye-Banks Contributes Nearly $125,000 to Eye and Vision Research and Student Stipends
June 19, 2006
ANN ARBOR – Midwest Eye-Banks has announced that the following researchers and projects will receive funding as part of its annual Eye and Vision Research Program for 2006-2007:
Charlotte E. Joslin, O.D., University of Illinois at Chicago, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, “Chicago-area acanthamoeba keratitis study.” $9,228
Surendra Basti, M.D., Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology, “Can corneal epithelial stem cell kinetics be modified xx-vivo to yield a pure population of stem cells for transplantation?” $14,992
Ali Djalilian, M.D., University of Illinois at Chicago, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, “Evaluation of the function and persistence of transplanted limbal stem cells cultured on a collagen matrix.”
David N. Zacks, M.D., Ph.D., University of Michigan, Department of Ophthalmology, “Intravitreal linezolid in rabbits, “An electrophysiologic and histopathologic analysis.” $15,000
Kenneth R. Alexander, Ph.D., University of Illinois at Chicago, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, “Visual noise and computational efficiency in retinal degenerations.” $15,000
Ashok Kumar, Ph.D., Wayne State University, Kresge Eye Institute, “Regulation of TLR mediated-inflammatory response by dietary compound curcumin in the cornea.” $15,000
Deepak Shukla, Ph.D., University of Illinois at Chicago, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, “Role of nectin-1 in corneal HSV infection.” $15,000
David C. Musch, Ph.D., University of Michigan, Department of Ophthalmology, “Long-term follow-up of keratoconus graft recipients.” $15,000
In addition to these research projects, $2,000 stipends were awarded to five students involved in eye and vision research at the University of Illinois Chicago, the University of Michigan and Wayne State University.
This brings the total eye and vision research and student stipend funding provided by Midwest to $124,220 for 2006-2007.
Midwest has awarded more than $2 million in seed money grants since its Eye and Vision Research Program began in 1980. Over the years, this funding has led to important scientific findings, including the discovery of a gene that, if defective, can cause early childhood blindness.
Midwest Eye-Banks is a 501(c)(3), independent not-for-profit organization dedicated to the restoration of sight. It recovers, evaluates and distributes human eye tissue for transplantation. It also supports research into the causes and cures of blinding eye conditions, promotes donation awareness through public and professional education, and provides humanitarian aid to people in need of corneal transplantation throughout the world. For more information, visit the Midwest Eye-Banks online at www.midwesteyebanks.org or call (800) 247-7250.
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Midwest Eye-Banks Remembers Eye, Organ and Tissue Donors on Memorial Day
May 5, 2006
ANN ARBOR—Memorial Day, originally known as “Decoration Day”, is a day to remember those who gave their lives in service to our country. This Memorial Day, Midwest Eye-Banks especially remembers those who shared their lives to give the gifts of sight and life. The holiday originated in 1866, when druggist Henry C. Welles suggested that the soldiers who died in the Civil War should be honored by decorating their graves. The name was changed to Memorial Day In 1882, and soldiers who had died in other wars were also honored. In much the same way, Midwest Eye-Banks honors those whose gift is a “last act of charity” – donors and their families – through its Donor Memorial Garden.
The Memorial Garden was planned by landscape architects and a special team of Eye-Bank staff members, with the help of master gardener Jerry Redoutey, who is himself a cornea recipient. The garden features plants, shrubs and trees, as well as a decorative fountain, pergola and park benches. It will also include a special Gift of Life rose and the butterfly bush, a symbol of organ transplantation. “Our Memorial Garden will provide a beautiful place for all to reflect on the virtue of sharing oneself with others,” says Susan d’Olive Mozena, Midwest Eye-Banks’ President and Chief Executive Officer.
The garden, which will be formally dedicated later this summer, will offer naming opportunities for those who wish to purchase engraved paving stones, park benches, trees, plants or other elements to be named in memory of a loved one.
Midwest Eye-Banks, based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, is a 501(c)(3), independent, not-for profit organization dedicated to the restoration of sight. It recovers, evaluates, and distributes human eye tissue for transplantation. It also supports research into the causes and cures of blinding eye conditions, promotes donation awareness through public and professional education, and provides humanitarian aid to people in need of corneal transplantation throughout the world. For more information, visit Midwest Eye-Banks online at www.midwesteyebanks.org or call (800) 247-7250.
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Midwest Eye-Banks Honors Social Worker with Special Service Award
April 24, 2006
ANN ARBOR – Each year, Midwest Eye-Banks’ Board of Directors recognizes individuals who have made enormous efforts to further the mission of the Eye-Bank. Julie Ann Johnson, a social worker from Marquette, Michigan, has been honored this year with a Special Service Award for her outstanding work on behalf of the Eye-Bank. Johnson has been an integral part of the eye donation referral process at Lake Superior Hospice, personally speaking to families about donation and facilitating the consent process.
“She has done an unbelievable job,” says Robert Chabie, manager of the Michigan Eye-Bank’s Upper Peninsula satellite office. “She has put more heart and effort into offering the option of donation than anyone I have ever seen…Julie Ann has truly bridged the gap between donors and recipients.” Johnson’s efforts have resulted in 10 eye donors and nine surgical corneas, plus two training and two research corneas, since January, 2005. “Hospice patients sometimes feel that they are always taking from others, and this gives them a feeling of giving back,” explains Johnson. “I just educate and help along the way.”
Midwest Eye-Banks, based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, is a 501(c)(3), independent, not-for profit organization dedicated to the restoration of sight. It recovers, evaluates, and distributes human eye tissue for transplantation. It also supports research into the causes and cures of blinding eye conditions, promotes donation awareness through public and professional education, and provides humanitarian aid to people in need of corneal transplantation throughout the world. For more information, visit Midwest Eye-Banks online at www.midwesteyebanks.org or call (800) 247-7250.
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Midwest Eye-Banks Establishes Memorial Garden to Commemorate Eye Donor Awareness Month
March 1, 2006
ANN ARBOR – Midwest Eye-Banks’ mission begins with the “last act of charity” by donors of eye tissue and their families. To establish a living legacy honoring their gift – the gift of sight – a Memorial Garden will be established at the headquarters of Midwest Eye-Banks, in Ann Arbor.
“Our staff, especially those who help families through the donation process, are heartened by the willingness of people to share part of their lives so others may see,” explained Susan d’Olive Mozena, President and CEO of Midwest Eye-Banks. “Whether providing community education or counseling families, we are ever-respectful of the Gift of Sight, as one of the most important commitments one can make in life. We encourage all people, especially during Eye Donor Awareness Month in March, to consider signing their state Donor Registry, which will help ensure that eye tissue is always available for those in need.”
The Memorial Garden will be planned by landscape architects, staff members and Jerry Redoutey, a cornea recipient and master gardener. It will include plants, shrubs and trees to reflect all seasons, as well as a decorative fountain and park benches. A private groundbreaking for donor family members will be held on March 11, followed by a community dedication in June.
“The gift of sight provides families a sense of joy that, through the loss of their loved one, the life of another person – and perhaps more – will be enhanced by renewed vision,” Mozena said. “Our Memorial Garden will provide a beautiful place for all to reflect on the virtue of sharing oneself with others.”
To provide a contribution to the Memorial Garden, contact Susan Smith, Director of Development, at 1-800-247-7250, ext. 129.
Midwest Eye-Banks is a 501(c)(3), independent, not-for-profit organization dedicated to the restoration of sight. Through the Illinois Eye-Bank, Michigan Eye-Bank and the Lions Eye Bank of New Jersey, it recovers, evaluates and distributes human eye tissue for transplantation. It also supports research into the causes and cures of blinding eye conditions, promotes donation awareness through public and professional education, and provides humanitarian aid to people in need of corneal transplantation throughout the world. For more information, visit Midwest Eye-Banks online at www.midwesteyebanks.org or call (800) 247-7250.
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Midwest Eye-Banks Acquires Lions Eye Bank of New Jersey; Capital Improvements Planned
November 11, 2005
ANN ARBOR – Midwest Eye-Banks acquired the Lions Eye Bank of New Jersey on Aug. 25, announced Susan d’Olive Mozena, President and Chief Executive Officer of Midwest Eye-Banks, and Marshall Klein, Executive Director of the Lions Eye-Bank of New Jersey. The Lions Eye Bank of New Jersey will be a subsidiary of Midwest Eye-Banks.
“We are pleased to welcome the Lions Eye Bank of New Jersey into our family of eye banks,” Mozena said. Midwest Eye-Banks has divisions in Michigan and Illinois, operating as the Michigan Eye-Bank and the Illinois Eye-Bank; Each Midwest division is accredited by the Eye Bank Association of America (EBAA).
“For more than 50 years, our eye banks have distinguished themselves as among the finest in the world,” she added. “We have achieved this position with a sincere commitment to the communities we serve, respect for those who donate precious eye tissue and their families, and a passion for quality in our clinical services.”
The Lions Eye Bank of New Jersey has been in operation since 1970 and is also accredited by the EBAA. The eye bank recovers, processes and distributes about 400 corneas annually for transplantation.
“We’re fortunate to belong to an organization with such high clinical standards,” Klein said. “With the clinical skills and information technology of Midwest Eye-Banks, and the support of the New Jersey Lions, we will continue to serve our communities well.”
Klein, who is retiring as executive director, will serve as a consultant to Midwest Eye-Banks during the transition, until the end of the calendar year. Bradley Tennant, Vice President of Clinical Operations for Midwest Eye-Banks, has been named interim executive director, while Midwest recruits for the position.
Midwest Eye-Banks will make some minor capital improvements to the New Jersey tissue processing laboratory, and is installing all of its information technology and clinical systems in the operation. In addition, Midwest will bring to New Jersey its programs in fund development, public relations and marketing, community education, and outreach to hospital professionals. The New Jersey eye bank’s medical director, William H. Constad, M.D., is a cornea surgeon and clinical professor of Ophthalmology at the New Jersey Medical School, Newark.
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Midwest Eye-Banks Dedicates New Corporate Headquarters, Site of Michigan Eye-Bank
November 11, 2005
ANN ARBOR – With unseasonable warmth and sunny skies as a backdrop, Midwest Eye-Banks celebrated the opening of its new offices on Thursday, November 3. The ceremony commenced with opening remarks from William D. Barr, Ed.D., Chairman of the Eye-Bank’s Board of Directors and Lions Past District Governor, followed by guest speakers, a tour of the building and light refreshments for guests. More than 100 people were in attendance.
“We dedicate this building, and we re-dedicate ourselves, to the restoration of sight,” proclaimed Susan d’Olive Mozena, President and Chief Executive Officer of Midwest Eye-Banks, as guests were allowed a first glimpse of the new offices and laboratory. John W. Henderson, M.D., Ph.D., founding surgeon of the Michigan Eye-Bank and a member of the Ann Arbor (Host) Lions Club for five decades, was on hand to perform the ribbon-cutting.
Also on hand was Keller Johnson Thompson, Vice President of the Helen Keller Foundation and Ambassador for the American Foundation for the Blind. In her remarks, Keller, who is the great grand niece of Helen Keller, explained how Helen Keller first charged Lions Club members to become “Knights of the Blind” 80 years ago this year. She praised the Ann Arbor (Host) Lions and Midwest Eye-Banks for working together to change lives, as Helen Keller and her teacher, Anne Sullivan, had done years earlier.
Following Keller’s remarks, the Ann Arbor (Host) Lions Club presented a check for $25,000 to Midwest Eye-Banks, part of a five-year, $50,000 pledge in support of the new building. Midwest Eye-Banks’ Board of Directors named the Michigan Eye-Bank laboratory in honor of Dr. John Henderson, founding surgeon of the Michigan Eye-Bank, at the request of the Ann Arbor (Host) Lions.
The building is a 10,000 square-foot facility, built in 1995 and located at 4889 Venture Drive in Pittsfield Township, on the south side of Ann Arbor. Some renovation was required to accommodate the Michigan Eye-Bank laboratory and Eye-Bank staff offices. The Eye-Bank selected architect Robert Black and F & F Contractors to manage the renovation project.
Midwest Eye-Banks was formerly headquartered in the University of Michigan’s Kellogg Eye Center, with additional office space in the Plymouth-Green Innovation Community. Although the Eye-Bank will continue its strong working relationship with the University and with Kellogg, CEO Susan Mozena explains that organizational expansion and the need for more laboratory space necessitated the move.
Midwest Eye-Banks is a 501(c)(3), independent, not-for-profit organization dedicated to the restoration of sight. Through its laboratories in Illinois, Michigan and New Jersey, it recovers, evaluates and distributes human eye tissue for transplantation. It also supports research into the causes and cures of blinding eye conditions, promotes donation awareness through public and professional education, and provides humanitarian aid to people in need of corneal transplantation throughout the world. For more information, visit the Midwest Eye-Banks online at http://www.midwesteyebanks.org/ or call (800) 247-7250.
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Midwest Eye-Banks appoints Chicago attorney to Board of Directors
November 10, 2005
ANN ARBOR – Susan Mozena, President and Chief Executive Officer of Midwest Eye-Banks, has announced the appointment of Chicago attorney Peter J. Latz to Midwest’s Board of Directors.
Latz has an extensive history with the Illinois Eye-Bank, a division of Midwest Eye-Banks located in downtown Chicago. He currently serves on the Illinois Eye-Bank’s Advisory Council and, in the 1980s, he served as an Eye-Bank volunteer.
“Peter can appreciate how far we’ve come,” says Charles Pivoney, Midwest’s Vice President, Illinois Operations. “Back when there was a long waiting list for corneal tissue, he was on call several nights per week and performed eye tissue recoveries.
“He’s well-informed about what our needs are. From clinical operations to development, he knows the business.”
Latz has been in private law practice since 1989. He is currently the sole owner and principal of a five-attorney firm, specializing in estate planning and planned giving. He also serves on the Board of Directors for the Illinois Society for the Prevention of Blindness, and is a member of the Fenwick Estate Planning Council. He resides in River Forest, Illinois.
The Illinois Eye-Bank has been helping to restore sight for nearly 60 years. It was the fourth organization of its kind, founded in 1947 at Cook County Hospital. In 1985, the Illinois and Michigan Eye-Banks joined to form the Midwest Eye-Banks and Transplantation Center, now known as Midwest Eye-Banks. The organization also covers central Illinois through its Watson Gailey division in Bloomington.
Midwest Eye-Banks, based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, is a 501(c)(3) independent not-for-profit organization dedicated to the restoration of sight. It recovers, evaluates and distributes human eye tissue for transplantation. It also supports research into the causes and cures of blinding eye conditions, promotes donation awareness through public and professional education, and provides humanitarian aid to people in need of corneal transplantation throughout the world. For more information, visit the Midwest Eye-Banks online at www.midwesteyebanks.org or call (800) 548-4703.
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Catharine Crockett, M.D. Named to Illinois Eye-Bank’s Board of Directors
November 2, 2005
BLOOMINGTON – The Illinois Eye-Bank, Watson Gailey, a division of Midwest Eye-Banks, has announced that Catharine Crockett, M.D., a Medical Director for the organization, has been named to its Board of Directors. As a member of the Board, Dr. Crockett will help to determine the future of all Midwest Eye-Banks divisions and subsidiaries in Illinois, Michigan and New Jersey.
“We are extremely pleased to name Dr. Crockett to our Board of Directors,” says Charles Pivoney, Vice President, Illinois Operations. “Her experience with the organization and commitment to its mission makes Dr. Crockett a natural choice for the position, and she will undoubtedly prove to be very effective in this new leadership role.”
Dr. Crockett has been a medical director for the Illinois Eye-Bank, Watson Gailey since 1994. She specializes in cornea and external disease, as well as small-incision cataract surgery and refractive surgical procedures of LASIK, CustomVue and corneal transplantation. Dr. Crockett is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, American Medical Association, Illinois State Medical Society, Illinois Society of Ophthalmology & Otolaryngology, and the McLean County Medical Society. She maintains a busy general ophthalmology practice for both pediatric and adult patients. Dr. Crockett shares Medical Director responsibilities for the Illinois Eye-Bank, Watson Gailey with Gregory Halperin, M.D., of Bloomington.
The Illinois Eye-Bank, Watson Gailey is a division of Midwest Eye-Banks, a 501(c)(3), independent not-for-profit organization dedicated to the restoration of sight. Through its offices in Chicago and Bloomington, it recovers, evaluates and distributes human eye tissue for transplantation. It also supports research into the causes and cures of blinding eye conditions, promotes donation awareness through public and professional education, and provides humanitarian aid to people in need of corneal transplantation throughout the world. For more information, visit the Illinois Eye-Bank online at www.illinoiseyebank.org or call (800) 548-4703.
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Lions Eye Bank of New Jersey Joins Midwest Eye-Banks; Lions Community Mission to Continue
November 1, 2005
SPRINGFIELD – The Lions Eye Bank of New Jersey has become a subsidiary of Midwest Eye-Banks, announced Susan d’Olive Mozena, President and Chief Executive Officer of Midwest Eye-Banks and Marshall Klein, Executive Director of the Lions Eye Bank of New Jersey.
“We are pleased to welcome the Lions Eye Bank of New Jersey into our family of eye banks,” Mozena said. Midwest Eye-Banks has divisions in Michigan and Illinois, operating as the Michigan Eye-Bank and the Illinois Eye-Bank. “For more than 50 years, our eye banks have distinguished themselves as among the finest in the world,” she added. “Our mission has been in concert with the Lions clubs in the communities we serve – to prevent blindness.
“Our community mission simply could not occur without the continuing generosity of our contributors, including Lions and Lioness organizations,” Mozena said. Mozena, is a member of the Ann Arbor Host Lions Club in Michigan, which helped establish the original Michigan Eye-Bank in 1957.
The new arrangement will not affect the role that Lions play in the organization, as it will continue to be governed by a Board of Directors comprised of New Jersey Lions, added Stanley Grossman, Treasurer, and eight-year member of the Lions Eye Bank of New Jersey. Grossman has also served as District Governor of the New Jersey Lions District 16E and has served on the Lions International Board of Directors.
“I’m confident that the mission of the Lions in New Jersey, relating to the Eye Bank, will not only continue under the leadership of Midwest Eye-Banks, but will be strengthened,” Grossman said. “We’re going to be better off.”
One of the areas in which he anticipates change is in the ability of the Eye Bank to maximize the potential of procuring and distributing corneas.
Midwest Eye-Banks will make some minor capital improvements to the New Jersey tissue processing laboratory, and is installing all of its information technology and clinical systems in the operation, Mozena said. In addition, Midwest will bring to New Jersey its programs in fund development, public relations and marketing, community education, and outreach to hospital professionals.
Midwest Eye-Banks’ divisions distribute nearly 3,000 corneas for transplant annually and is accredited by the Eye Bank Association of America (EBAA). Midwest waives or reduces tissue processing fees when there is the charitable need to do so. Additionally, each year Midwest grants approximately $100,000 to academic researchers to support early stage research into the causes and cures of blinding eye diseases.
The Lions Eye Bank of New Jersey has been in operation since 1970 and is also accredited by the EBAA. The eye bank recovers, processes and distributes about 400 corneas annually for transplantation.
“We’re fortunate to belong to an organization with such high clinical standards,” Klein said. “With the clinical skills and information technology of Midwest Eye-Banks, and the support of the New Jersey Lions, we will continue to serve our communities well.”
Klein, who is retiring as executive director, will serve as a consultant to Midwest Eye-Banks during the transition, until the end of the calendar year. Bradley Tennant, Vice President of Clinical Operations for Midwest Eye-Banks, has been named interim executive director, while Midwest recruits for the position.
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Midwest Eye-Banks Contributes Nearly $80,000 to Eye and Vision Research
June 17, 2005
ANN ARBOR – Midwest Eye-Banks has announced that the following researchers and projects will receive funding as part of its annual Eye and Vision Research Program for 2005-2006:
Bruce I. Gaynes, O.D., Pharm.D., Assistant Professor, Ophthalmology and Pharmacology, Rush College of Medicine, "Phase Contrast Tomography of the Mammalian Lens." $5,825.00
Peter Hitchcock, Ph.D., Professor, Departments of Ophthalmology and Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, "Function of Midkine b in the Developing and Regenerating Retina." $15,000.00
Cindy L. Linn, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, Western Michigan University, "Mechanism of ACh - induced Neuroprotection in Retinal Ganglion Cells." $15,000.00
Ping Qiu, M.D., Ph.D., Research Associate, Kresge Eye Institute, Wayne State University, "Thymosin beta 4, PINCH, and Corneal Epithelial Cell Migration." $15,000.00
Debra A. Thompson, Ph.D., Associate Professor, University of Michigan, Departments of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, and Biological Chemistry, "The RPE Visual Cycle and Metabolism in Cone Cell Function.” $15,000.00
In addition to these research projects, five stipends of $2,500 each were awarded to students and medical residents involved in eye and vision research at the University of Illinois-Chicago, the University of Michigan and Wayne State University in Detroit. This brings the total eye and vision research funding provided by Midwest to $78,325 for 2005-2006.
Midwest has awarded nearly $2 million in seed money grants since its Eye and Vision Research Program began in 1980. Over the years, this funding has led to important scientific findings, including the discovery of a gene that can cause early childhood blindness if defective.
Midwest Eye-Banks is a 501(c)(3), independent not-for-profit organization dedicated to the restoration of sight. It recovers, evaluates and distributes human eye tissue for transplantation. It also supports research into the causes and cures of blinding eye conditions, promotes donation awareness through public and professional education, and provides humanitarian aid to people in need of corneal transplantation throughout the world. For more information, visit the Midwest Eye-Banks online at www.midwesteyebanks.org or call (800) 247-7250.
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Midwest Eye-Banks Selects Interactive Business Systems to Develop Core Business System
May 20, 2005
DETROIT, MI – Interactive Business Systems, Inc. (IBS), an IT services provider, announced today that it was chosen by Midwest Eye-Banks to provide software development services related to the Eye-Bank's core business data management system.
Midwest Eye-Banks’ Eye-Bank Information System (EIS) manages all data related to donor screening, tissue evaluation, surgery scheduling, distribution and follow-up. EIS also aids in the Eye-Bank’s compliance with federal regulations governing eye banking practices. The new system will be based on a Microsoft platform using .NET and the Microsoft suite of development tools, and will be managed and developed through IBS’ local Michigan technical development center.
About Midwest Eye-Banks
Midwest Eye-Banks is a 501(c)(3), not-for-profit organization dedicated to the restoration of sight. Through its divisions, the Illinois Eye-Bank and the Michigan Eye-Bank, the organization recovers, evaluates and distributes human eye tissue for transplantation. It also supports research into the causes and cures of blinding eye conditions, promotes donation awareness through public and professional education, and provides humanitarian aid to people in need of corneal transplantation throughout the world. For more information, contact the Midwest Eye-Banks at (800) 247-7250 or visit www.midwesteyebanks.org.
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Midwest Eye-Banks releases new corporate logo and identity
May 19, 2005
ANN ARBOR – Midwest Eye-Banks has announced a new corporate logo and graphic identity.
Midwest Eye-Banks is the parent company of the Michigan Eye-Bank in Ann Arbor, and the Illinois Eye-Bank in Chicago and Bloomington, Illinois. Its former name, Midwest Eye-Banks and Transplantation Center, was changed last summer.
“By condensing our corporate name, we are more clearly projecting the nature of our mission to our stakeholders,” noted Susan d’Olive Mozena, President and Chief Executive Officer of Midwest Eye-Banks. “Our new logo reflects our focus – the eye – with clarity and professionalism.
“Midwest Eye-Banks is known for the quality of its service and its contribution to the restoration of vision. This new graphic identity reflects that tradition and projects it into the future.” The new logo includes the organization’s mission statement: “Dedicated to the restoration of sight.”
Midwest Eye-Banks is one of the nation’s premier providers of recovered eye tissue. It recovers more than 4,000 corneas annually for distribution to ophthalmic surgeons in Michigan and Illinois, as well as to international eye banks and humanitarian missions.
The Eye-Bank has an active research funding program, supporting scientists working in eye and vision-related research. Community outreach efforts in Michigan and Illinois work collaboratively with Lions Clubs and organ procurement agencies to promote the importance of eye, organ and tissue donations.
For more information on Midwest Eye-Banks, visit www.midwesteyebanks.org or call 1-800-247-7250.
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Midwest Eye-Banks acquires new building for corporate headquarters
May 19, 2005
ANN ARBOR – Midwest Eye-Banks today acquired a 10,013 square-foot building in Pittsfield Township, which will serve as its new corporate headquarters and the site of the Michigan Eye-Bank, announced Susan d’Olive Mozena, President and Chief Executive Officer, Midwest Eye-Banks.
The purchase price for the building was $1.4 million. Financing for the building, formerly owned by EMC International and located at 4889 Venture Drive, has been arranged through National City Bank.
The new facility will allow Midwest Eye-Banks to consolidate its offices. Since the founding of the Michigan Eye-Bank in 1957, the organization has utilized space within the University of Michigan Department of Ophthalmology, moving with the department in 1986 to the Kellogg Eye Center. Currently, the Eye-Bank also has staff located in a second office in the Plymouth-Green Innovation Community, also located in Ann Arbor.
The new building will nearly double the Eye-Bank’s working space, including an enlarged processing laboratory serving the Michigan Eye-Bank, a division of Midwest Eye-Banks. About 30 laboratory technicians and other staff will be housed in the new complex. Relocation is expected to occur by fall, 2005.
“We are delighted to establish our corporate offices in one place and expand our laboratory facility,” Mozena said. “We have been honored to share space with some of the leading researchers and clinicians in ophthalmology at Kellogg Eye Center for many years. However, space constraints and the need to consolidate our staff necessitated the move.”
In addition to the Michigan Eye-Bank, Midwest Eye-Banks operates the Illinois Eye-Bank, located in Chicago and Bloomington, Illinois. One of the most active eye banks in the United States, Midwest Eye-Banks recovers more than 4,000 eye tissues for transplantation and medical research annually.
A member of the Donate Life Coalitions of Michigan and Illinois, the Eye-Bank actively promotes eye, tissue and organ donation. In addition, Midwest Eye-Banks’ Vision Research Program provides more than $100,000 in annual grants to support new eye and vision research initiatives.
For more information on Midwest Eye-Banks, visit www.midwesteyebanks.org or call 1-800-247-7250.
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Midwest Eye-Banks appoints Director of Quality Improvement
December 14, 2004
Jan Ableson has been appointed Director of Quality Improvement at Midwest Eye-Banks, announced Susan d'Olive Mozena, Midwest Eye-Banks President and Chief Executive Officer.
Formerly Vice President of Patient Care Services and Clinical Resource Improvement Services at Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, Ableson has been in the healthcare field for 35 years. A registered nurse with a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from Wayne State University, she also holds a Master of Business Administration and Master of Science in Management from Walsh College.
“Mrs. Ableson brings to our organization many years of experience in developing, implementing and maintaining successful quality improvement initiatives in a clinical environment,” according to Mozena. “We are delighted that the Midwest Eye-Banks will have the benefit of her expertise.”
Ableson notes that healthcare organizations like the Midwest Eye-Banks are moving beyond traditional quality control and quality assurance, into a culture of Quality Improvement. “I’m looking forward to facilitating the culture shift toward QI,” she explains. “It’s a necessary part of doing business.”
The Midwest Eye-Banks is a 501(c)(3), not-for-profit organization dedicated to the restoration of sight. Through its divisions, the Illinois Eye-Bank and the Michigan Eye-Bank, the organization recovers, evaluates and distributes human eye tissue for transplantation. It also supports research into the causes and cures of blinding eye conditions, promotes donation awareness through public and professional education, and provides humanitarian aid to people in need of corneal transplantation throughout the world. For more information, visit the Midwest Eye-Banks online at www.midwesteyebanks.org or call (800) 247-7250.
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