Alumni News

Dear Fellow Alumni,

In my dual role as president of the Alumni Association and interim chairman of Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, I have been intimately involved with all facets of clinical activity, laboratory research, construction, medical education and philanthropy.  I hope my various communications are keeping you up-to-date on all that is happening at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute.

Clinical activity is increasing throughout the entire Bascom Palmer system.  Renovation continues throughout the Anne Bates Leach Eye Hospital – the lower level, first, fourth and fifth floors have been completely redone.  A new and much larger emergency room and residents’ clinic have opened on the second floor; we are currently remodeling the third floor to include larger space for our cornea service; and plans are underway to renovate the patient rooms and waiting areas on the sixth floor.  In just four years, we have outgrown our Naples office space and are planning to expand into larger offices next summer. We are also finalizing architectural plans to develop our third (currently shell) building on our Palm Beach Gardens campus as a clinical research building.  In addition to conducting clinical trials in this building, it will house a satellite microbiology laboratory and designated space for our research fellows.

Our outstanding family of faculty members continues to grow.  We currently have 73 full-time faculty members in the Department of Ophthalmology and recruitment for the best and brightest clinicians and researchers continues.  I am pleased to tell you that effective June 1, 2008, Carol Karp (F’94) becomes professor of clinical ophthalmology.  

Our faculty continues to travel around the world participating in numerous ophthalmic educational programs.  Our residents and fellows contribute to Grand Rounds each week in the Retter Auditorium, (you can see these on our website at www.bascompalmer.org); and our continuing medical education department is busier than ever organizing a full roster of post-graduate programs to meet the needs of ophthalmologists in this region and beyond. 

Many of you have contacted me regarding the University of Miami’s current search for a new chair for the Department of Ophthalmology.  The University has assured us that a new chair will be selected by the end of the summer.  Our faculty is deeply involved and committed to finding the ideal person to lead our great institution well into the next decade. 

It was a pleasure seeing many you at our annual alumni association reception last November in New Orleans during the American Academy of Ophthalmology meeting. At the reception, we were thrilled when Ophthalmology Times presented Bascom Palmer with the 2007 Best Program Awards for “Best Clinical Care” and “Best Training Program.” Drs. Victor Curtin, Steven Gedde and I accepted these awards on the Institute’s behalf.

I hope to see you at this year Residents’ Days on June 13 and 14, 2008 at our home-base, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute in Miami, or for one of our named lectures or continuing medical education programs. Please visit our Continuing Medical Education web pages for details of upcoming events and visit our Calendar of Events. Thank you again for your loyalty and support of Bascom Palmer and the Alumni Association.

Sincerely yours,

Eduardo C. Alfonso, M.D. (84)
President
Bascom Palmer Alumni Association

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