Prevent Blindness to Host Seventh Annual Focus on Eye Health National Summit
CHICAGO (PRWEB) April 18, 2018 -- Prevent Blindness, the oldest volunteer eye health and safety organization in the United States, will hold its seventh annual Focus on Eye Health National Summit on July 18, 2018 from 7:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. A series of presentations will be conducted in relation to this year’s Summit theme “Research to Impact: Honoring 50 Years of the National Eye Institute.”
Lily Peng, MD, PhD, of Google Brain, will be the keynote speaker for the Summit. Google Brain is a deep learning artificial intelligence research project at Google. Dr. Peng will speak about developing innovations that will specifically impact the future of eye care.
Attendees of this free event include patient advocates, national vision and eye health organizations, government representatives, and community-based organizations. Those unable to attend in person will have an opportunity to watch a live video stream of event presentations as well as follow the event on Twitter at #eyesummit.
Additional presentations at the Focus on Eye Health Summit include:
- Improving Access through Telemedicine – Moderated by Jorge Cuadros, OD, PhD, UC Berkeley School of Optometry, this session will include presentations from Rajeev Ramchandran, MD, MBA, University of Rochester; Graham E. Quinn, MD, MSCE, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia; Emily Y. Chew, MD, National Eye Institute; and Lily Peng, MD, PhD, Google Brain.
- Innovative Screening Models and Their Impact on Global Eye Health –
Alan L. Robin, MD, Johns Hopkins University and University of Maryland, Board of Aravind Eye Hospital
- Promising Practices Emerging from NEI Partnerships – Michael Steinmetz, PhD, National Eye Institute; Stephen Rose, PhD, Foundation Fighting Blindness; and Cynthia A. Toth, MD, Duke Eye Center and Member of ARVO “Telling the Story of OCT” Steering Committee
- Advancing Eye Health in Native American Communities – Stacy Bohlen, National Indian Health Board
- Vision’s Impact on Learning with Children – Moderated by Laura Anderko, PhD, RN, Georgetown University and Chair of the National Center for Children’s Vision and Eye Health at Prevent Blindness, this session will include presentations from Gayathri Srinivasan, MS, OD, FAAO, New England College of Optometry; Marjean Kulp, OD, MS, The Ohio State University College of Optometry; and Mae Millicent Winfrey Peterseim, MD, Medical University of South Carolina
- Eyes on the Hill – A Congressional Conversation, with the Congressional Vision Caucus, including Co-Chair Rep. Gene Greene (D-TX) [subject to change]
- National Eye Health Surveillance System — John Wittenborn, NORC at the University of Chicago
Sponsorship opportunities are available. Current Gold sponsors of the Summit are Allergan, Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, The EyeSight Foundation of Alabama, Genentech, International Retinal Research Foundation, Johnson & Johnson Vision, Lighthouse Guild, National Center for Children’s Vision and Eye Health at Prevent Blindness, NORC at the University of Chicago, Shire, and Vision Impact Institute.
Silver sponsors include the Alliance for Eye and Vision Research, American Academy of Ophthalmology, American Academy of Optometry, American Optometric Association, BrightFocus Foundation, Foundation Fighting Blindness, Lions Clubs International, Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals, Thrombogenics and Vision 2020 USA.
During the event, Prevent Blindness will present the 2018 Jenny Pomeroy Award for Excellence in Vision and Public Health to the Johns Hopkins University School-Based Eye Care Team. Team members include Megan E. Collins, MD, MPH; David S. Friedman, MD, MPH, PhD; Michael X. Repka, MD, MBA; Robert E. Slavin, PhD; and Nancy A. Madden, PhD. The award is presented annually to an individual, team, or organization that has made significant contributions to the advancement of public health related to vision and eye health at the community, state, national and/or international level.
In addition, a Recognition Award will be presented to Paul A. Sieving, MD, PhD, on behalf of the National Eye Institute, honoring its 50th anniversary.
“The Prevent Blindness Focus on Eye Health National Summit has become a key venue to provide all those committed to improving our nation’s vision and eye health with the opportunity to collaborate with leaders in public health, community outreach and service, and government agencies,” said Jeff Todd, president and CEO of Prevent Blindness. “By sharing ideas and resources, we can work to provide Americans with education on vision issues, access to care, program development and sight-saving services.”
Prevent Blindness will also hold its annual Eyes on Capitol Hill event, providing volunteer patient advocates with the opportunity to meet with their government representatives on Tuesday, July 17. A reception for the Congressional Vision Caucus will be held the evening of this Capitol Hill event. A Congressional briefing will be held on Thursday, July 19.
To register or for more information about the 2018 Prevent Blindness Focus on Eye Health National Summit and sponsorship opportunities, please visit http://www.preventblindness.org/eyesummit or call (800) 331-2020.
About Prevent Blindness
Founded in 1908, Prevent Blindness is the nation's leading volunteer eye health and safety organization dedicated to fighting blindness and saving sight. Focused on promoting a continuum of vision care, Prevent Blindness touches the lives of millions of people each year through public and professional education, advocacy, certified vision screening and training, community and patient service programs and research. These services are made possible through the generous support of the American public. Together with a network of affiliates, Prevent Blindness is committed to eliminating preventable blindness in America. For more information, or to make a contribution to the sight-saving fund, call (800) 331-2020. Or, visit us on the Web at preventblindness.org or facebook.com/preventblindness.
Sarah Hecker, Prevent Blindness, http://www.PreventBlindness.org, +1 312.363.6035, [email protected]
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