IMPACTING THE
FUTURE SUPPORTING RESEARCH TO IMPROVE HOW WE HEAR, SEE, AND LIVE
2023 ANNUAL REPORT
203 Lothrop Street • Suite 251 EEI • Pittsburgh, PA 15213 • 412-864-1300 • eyeandear.org
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BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2023 Neal S. Beckford, MD Associate Professor of Otolaryngology University of Tennessee Health Science Center Henry S. Beukema, Development Committee Chair Retired Executive Director, McCune Foundation Gail Bleach, PhD Retired Psychiatrist Glenn E. Bost, II Retired Senior Vice President Law, Compliance, and Special Projects of PPG
Lawrence N. Gumberg, Board Chair President, LG Realty Advisors, Inc. Jonas T. Johnson, MD, FACS Emeritus Distinguished Service Professor and Chairman Department of Otolaryngology University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Carole L. Kamin Retired Manager-Buyer, Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh Elena LaQuatra WTAE News Anchor
Charles R. Brodbeck, Board Vice Chair Retired Director, Cohen & Grigsby, PC
Jeffrey B. Markel Investment Committee Chair Managing Director, Perspective Capital
Margaretha L. Casselbrant, MD, PhD Professor Emerita of Otolaryngology University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Michele M. McKenney Founder and Managing Member, McKenney Home Care
Charles C. Cohen Founding Partner and Chairman Emeritus, Cohen & Grigsby, PC
Diana L. Mrvos, MD Ophthalmologist
Deepinder K. Dhaliwal, MD, LAc Director, Cornea & Refractive Surgery Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Douglas P. Dick CEO & Chair, Dick Building Company George A. Fechter Chairman, Fechter Holdings Louis J. Fox Former SVP Gerald Metals, Inc. Bruce S. Gebardt Co-Founder and Principal Pathfinder Capital Advisors, LLC
Albert C. Muse President, The Muse Company Eugene N. Myers, MD, FACS, FRCS Edin (Hon) Distinguished Professor and Emeritus Chair Department of Otolaryngology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine B. Gordon Nelson, III President, B. G. Nelson, LLC José-Alain Sahel, MD Distinguished Professor and Chair, Department of Ophthalmology Eye & Ear Foundation Chair University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Director, UPMC Vision Institute Emeritus Exceptional Class Professor, Sorbonne University, Paris
E. Ronald Salvitti, MD Ophthalmologist Founder and Medical Director, Southwestern Pennsylvania Eye Center Anantha Shekhar, MD, PhD Senior Vice Chancellor for the Health Sciences John and Gertrude Petersen Dean, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine James L. Soffer President & CEO Soffer Organization Cynthia Sunseri, Board Secretary Howard Hanna Real Estate Services Paul R. Vittone Audit Committee Chair Head of Private Equity Investments Bank of New York Mellon Wealth Management Nancy D. Washington, PhD Community Outreach Committee Chair Chair, Allegheny Housing Rehabilitation Corporation Bruce Wiegand Former President/CEO & General Counsel, Phillips Companies José P. Zevallos, MD, MPH, FACS Professor and the Eugene N. Myers MD Chair Department of Otolaryngology University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Aldo Zini, Board Treasurer Retired President & CEO, Aethon, Inc.
RUNNING OUR OWN RACE TO PROVIDE BETTER CARE FOR ALL
This year has felt like we were in a big race, and the journey was exhilarating for both Departments. Otolaryngology recruited a new Chair to fill some very big shoes left by Dr. Jonas Johnson. Dr. José Zevallos took over the Eugene N. Myers, MD Chair position in August of 2022. He is getting off to a running start by inspiring the current clinical and research teams and bringing in outstanding, talented new faculty. The UPMC Vision Institute, led by Dr. José-Alain Sahel, moved into its new home in the UPMC Mercy Pavilion. This 450,000 square feet facility is filled with state-of-the-art equipment, actual art that is amazing to see, and huge teams of clinicians and scientists. So much of what has happened in both Departments is thanks to you helping us bring these talented clinicians and scientists to Pittsburgh via our New Horizons for Care Campaign. When it comes to racing, I have done a lot of it in my life. I was once a competitive track athlete and ran the mile. I am currently a competitive rower and sometimes go to competitions on weekends. What we are doing at the Eye & Ear Foundation is like running several races simultaneously. We are racing to regenerate vision and hearing and find new treatments and cures, and each of these races requires both speed and endurance. Every day we get an email asking when there will be a clinical trial for optic nerve regeneration, tinnitus, or head and neck cancer. Fortunately, we can provide positive news as the research moves in the right direction, but the finish line is sometimes difficult to see. Our racecourse is filled with hills, hurdles, and sometimes the Pittsburgh pothole. As I have experienced many times, the last leg of every race is always the hardest. We will have to reach down deep to find the resources to get to the finish line of our campaign, but the campaign is just the first leg of the race. In every race we are in, we will not stop until we complete the final leg and provide better care for all. Thank you for all you do to help us across the finish line. Lawton Snyder CEO, The Eye & Ear Foundation
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José-Alain Sahel, MD Distinguished Professor and Chairman Department of Ophthalmology The Eye & Ear Foundation Endowed Chair University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Director, UPMC Vision Institute Emeritus Exceptional Class Professor, Sorbonne University, Paris
THE FUTURE IN SIGHT On May 1st, 2023, less than seven years after I joined the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and UPMC, our first patient entered the brand new Vision Institute built by UPMC at the Mercy Pavilion. Despite COVID, the great resignation, and the challenges around us, meeting this milestone was a joy after these years of planning, design, and construction. The support of the Institutions and the Eye & Ear Foundation made this dream come true: working and living in this unique place full of science, technology, and art, all centered on patients’ needs. In a few months, after the scientists have moved in, I trust that the magic I watched in Paris will happen again, resulting from the planned and unexpected encounters between clinicians, staff, students, scientists, and most importantly, patients. The synergies, new ideas, and projects will hopefully flourish in the clinical spaces and labs, as well as on the collaborative stairs, the beautiful meeting spaces and gardens. Our past and new recruits will continue to fight optic nerve lesions, age-related macular degeneration, genetic conditions, glaucoma, and corneal blindness with state-of-the-art technologies. At the same time, they contribute to the development of the next generation of therapies. This home for fighting blindness is yours as much as ours. As this first phase of the campaign has met most of its objectives, its success, our success implies that there will not be an end to it until we have achieved this elusive, ultimate goal for each and all.
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José P. Zevallos, MD, MPH, FACS Professor, Department Otolaryngology The Eugene N. Myers, MD Chair University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
A NEW ERA FOR PITTSBURGH OTOLARYNGOLOGY August 2023 marks one year since I arrived at the University of Pittsburgh as the Eugene N. Myers MD Chair of Otolaryngology. Over this time, I have had the opportunity to get to know the outstanding faculty that make this Department of Otolaryngology among the best in the world. I have also met many of the distinguished alumni of this Department who have left their mark across the United States and internationally, and I am humbled and inspired by their accomplishments. As the third Department Chair, I have benefited tremendously from the wisdom of my two predecessors in this role, Dr. Johnson and Dr. Myers, who helped make this Department a global leader in otolaryngology. With the support of the Eye & Ear Foundation, we are embarking on a new era of excellence in Otolaryngology at the University of Pittsburgh. This era will be characterized by a revitalization of our clinical and research efforts, and a reinvestment in our existing areas of excellence. This fall, we will welcome several outstanding faculty recruits to Pittsburgh across head and neck surgical oncology, head and neck microvascular reconstructive surgery, rhinology and anterior skull base surgery, sleep surgery, and facial plastic surgery. Each of these outstanding recruits will add to the richness of the clinical, research, and training programs in Otolaryngology at the University of Pittsburgh. The support of the Eye & Ear Foundation is the reason that we can take on the most difficult challenges in otolaryngology to improve the lives of our patients. From head and neck cancer to hearing loss, from sleep apnea to COVID-related anosmia, we aspire for Pittsburgh to lead the nation in otolaryngology-head and neck surgery clinical care and research. I look forward to keeping you updated on our progress and accomplishments!
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EYE & EAR SUPPORTERS FISCAL YEAR 2023 JULY 2022 THROUGH JUNE 2023
The Eye & Ear Foundation of Pittsburgh gratefully recognizes the individuals, organizations, trusts, and foundations whose generosity allows us to bring new science for new solutions to people with diseases and disorders of the eye, ear, nose, throat, head, and neck. While we are very appreciative of all the gifts, the Annual Report lists donations of $100 and above. In the fiscal year 2023, our philanthropic support reached $11,378,203.56 dollars raised, with 734 total gifts to fund the research and academic efforts of the Departments of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. This support forges exciting new collaborations among scientists, researchers, and physicians, helping to build an innovative model of medicine. Thank you for your generosity!
CHAIRMEN CIRCLE DONORS The Chairmen Circle recognizes and celebrates our especially generous donors who have contributed $1,000 and over during our fiscal year 2023.
$1,000,000+ William & Margaret Barati+ Hillman Family Foundations E. Ronald & Diann Salvitti $500,000-$999,999 Jack Buncher Foundation Sheila and Milton Fine via The Fine $250,000 - $499,999 Bruce & Barbara Wiegand Jack Buncher Foundation English, Bonter, Mitchell Foundation Sheila & Milton+ Fine via The Fine Foundation Richard King Mellon Foundation $100,000 - $249,999 Brother’s Brother Foundation Louis & Dorothy Fox Hearst Foundation Horne Trust Sheldon Marstine Michael Novogradac Research to Prevent Blindness, Inc. Barbara & Herbert Shear John & Clelia Sheppard Charles & Louella Snyder+ $50,000 - $99,999 Charles & Jill Brodbeck Judith Friedel Ladies Hospital Aid Society of Western PA The Pittsburgh Foundation Anonymous Donor $25,000 - $49,999 Glenn Bost & Susan DeRiggi The Anne L. and George H. Clapp Charitable & Educational Trust Mary & Thomas Donahoe David & Carol Eibling George Fechter & Christine Fulton Mary Louise & Marvin Gantz+ Edward Morascyzk Diana Mrvos & Frank Rath José-Alain & Annie Sahel Richard G. and Barbara A. Snyder General Charity Fund Nancy Washington $10,000 - $24,999 James & Sarah Bregenser Gerald+ & Barbara Chait Alexander Chang Charles Cohen & Michele McKenney Mary Crawford Jennifer & W. Ryan Davis John & Diane Fisher
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Melinda Fogel Bruce & Celeste Gebhardt Lawrence & Ina Gumberg Barry Kutner Love Family Foundation Jeffrey Markel & Carol Robinson Martha Lockhart Mason Trust Jane & Jerry Masters Blanche McManus Albert & Eileen Muse Martha Wandrisco Neff & Philip Neff, Sr. Anonymous Donor Susan Oberg Lane Lewis A. and Donna M. Patterson Charitable Foundation John & Cathy Pelusi via UMPC Pennsylvania Lions Hearing Research Foundation, Inc. Donald & Sylvia Robinson Family Foundation Rolf Romani/Unique Vibes Shop UG Diana Shoemaker John & Patricia Staley Jeremy Stone William & Saundra Stout Cynthia & David Sunseri Gayle Tissue & Yiannis Kaloyeropoulos Ellen Walton $5,000 - $9,999 Armstrong County Community Foundation Neal & Rosetta Beckford Henry & Charlotte Beukema Carl & Beth Campbell Donahue Family Foundation, Inc. Timothy & Elizabeth Katen Anne Lewis Salah Nooruddin Pamela & William Sagan Huberta Siciliano Jenny & Andrew Urquhart Thomas Wandrisco Betty Lou Yount Trust $1,000 - $4,999 Abeles Family Charitable Fund via The Pittsburgh Foundation David Arguez Anonymous Donor Vitasta Bazaz Jennifer Berge Albert & Barbara Biglan Richard Bowers & Miriam Rader Dianne Boyle Michele & Daniel Bursick Joseph & Carol Cambridge Margaretha Casselbrant Chautauqua Women’s Club Inc. David Cognetti Hugh Curtain Kathryn Deane
Deepinder Dhaliwal & Sanjiv Singh Douglas & Laura Dick Patricia Dimmock Nancy & Danforth Fales Laura Fisher via Eden Hall Foundation Joyce & Neil Hay-Roe Robert Hines Sara Horsman Jonas & Janis Johnson Charles Jordan Diane & David Laughlin Terry Lerman Lockhart Trust Catherine & Mark+ Loevner Spyros Macris Michael Magidson via Zissu Family Foundation James McGraw & Jane Love McGraw Daniel McLain Pamela Meadowcroft Holland Donald & Janet Moritz Eugene & Barbara+ Myers B. Gordon & Kennedy Nelson Anna Pou Bette Rom Mildred & Gary Ryan John Sartorio Barry Schaitkin & Sally Carty Francis and Madeline Shane Fund of The Pittsburgh Foundation G. Whitney Snyder Charitable Fund Lawton & Susan Snyder Barry & Arlene Sokolow Ruth & Garrett Stauffer Edythe Van Dyke Eric Wang Deborah & Michael Wasilchak Edmond & Comly Watters Evan & Laura Waxman Western Pennsylvania Lions Hearing Foundation Charles Yankel Sam & Anne Zacharias José & Juliette Zevallos Thomas Zuck $500 - $999 Mark Benninghoff Leonard Brezarich Bradley & Paula Butler Robert & Louise Byer Ann Catlett Faith & Herbert Cohen Ian & Toni Conner Richard Dilley Elaine & Mark Ehalt ENT & Allergy Specialists of WPA, P.C. Caroline & Clement Erbmann Carl Frankel W. Peter Geissler Racelle & Morton Goldstein
Dean Hu Richard & Martha Masson Mt. Lebanon Lions Club Jennifer & James Muse Cheryl & Joseph Pastor Eileen & Jeffrey+ Paul Kathleen Perod Andrew & Kathleen Petcash Elaine Preston Christina Rath Stephen Sakumoto David Scopa Lester Shapiro Ahmed Soliman SPOHNC Support For People With Oral And Head And Neck Cancer Thea & Richard Stover Charles & Jacqueline Territo Today’s Cosmetic Surgery Dennis Unkovic Paul & Tara Vittone Michael & Carol Yahr Audrey Zelkovic Michelle & Lee Zimmer Aldo & Kathryn Zini $100 - $499 Nanetta Abruzzi Michael Alexander George & Suzanne Ashman Barbara Atwell Linda & George Austin Michael & Carol Azar Alice Backer John Barber Robert Behler Paula & John Bell Nicole Bello Joseph Bello Thomas Bennett Constance Bentzen Alice Berkey Robin Bernstein Helen Billak-Henry John Boggess Pamela Bolkovac Louise Boutwell Thomas & Sandra Bradigan Mary Ann & John Brenkus James Buchin Patricia Campos Anonymous Donor Denise Capurso Kun-Che Chang James Christy Connie Clark Howard Cohen Laura Colker Richard Cooper Ferris Crane Rachel Cupcheck
† Deceased
Hugh & Carole Curtin Joseph Spirer & Ada Davis Gregory Dematteo William Dempsey Heidi DeWald Melissa Dodge Joseph Dohar Edward Douthett Marjorie & Ronald Drake Roger DuBois Andrew Eller & Andrea Solomon-Eller Jane Falkowski Martin & Nanette Farkas Susan Ferguson Eldin Fox Lynne & Mark Frank Edwin Friend George Gerneth Grant Gillman James Glascock Anonymous Donor Paul & Elaine Gormsen Carole & Marcus Gottlieb Ralph Grabowsky Richard Green Marjorie Gross Joanne & Jeffrey Hall Houston Harbaugh Bridget Hathaway William & Beverly Heimberger Eric Henderson Barry Hirsch & Jean Harwick Beth & Gary Hopen Lorene Metcalf & Loyis Horton Paul Huber W. James Hunter Stephen Imholte Noel & Amanda Jabbour Linda Kaib Carole & Daniel Kamin Richard Kasdan Wallis Katz Tara Kenney Margo & Leslie Kiel Sandra & Ronald Kiersarsky
Hong Kim Thomas Kirsch Renee Klueber Susan Koehler Donna Kortner John & Mary Lacarte Vivian & Alan Lawsky James Lazor Henrietta Lelis Marcia Lerch Stanley & Patricia Levine Ruth & Frank Lowe Carlo Luciano Sherri Maddick Judith Malloy Alex Mammen & Saira Varghese Jeffrey & Tammy Mantini Joseph Martel Lynn Mason Andrew McCall Anne & William McConnel Matthew McConnell Robert & Barbara McFetridge John McGoogan Thelma Meacci Barbara Miller Cecilia Miller Carol & Richard Minker Lawrence Monroe Nancy Moody Stephanie Moody Antonio Jeanne Mulert Donna Nativio Anonymous Donor Charles & Edith Nevins Carl Nilsen Theresa Nimick-Whiteside Hideo & Kazuko Niwa Lauren North Caitlin Olson Garrett & Charmaine+ Osche Reema Padia Kristen & Stephen Pakela Jill & Mark Palmer Steven Parnes
Marlene Patton Philip Perez Michael & Carol Perry Kenneth & Cheryl Peters Shaohua Pi Julia & Boris Polat Scott & Susan Portnoy Mildred Posvar Genevieve & Ralph Potter Heberto Poveda Tashe Radevski Maryanne Reed Mildred Rendulic James Richey John Rickart The Ricketson Fund of The Pittsburgh Foundation Carol & Patrick Riley Timothy Roberts Charlie & Robert Roche Andrew Roman Constance Roman Janice Rosenberg Jim & Linda Rosenbloom Thomas Rosinski Patricia Roth Constance Rusconi Deborah & David Rusnak Kathleen & Karl Salesi Mikell & A. William Schenck David & Alece Schreiber Linda Schumacher-Feero Joel & Cheri Schwartz Frances Schwarz Joshua Sckolnick William & Susan Scurci Robert Sechan Laurie Shearer Rita Sicari Alan Siger Vicki & Frank Simonetta John Skowvron Joyce Slagel Patricia Slider Libby Smith
James Snyder Carl Snyderman & Michelina Fato Laurie Sokolsky Florita Sonnenklar Ryan Soose Edward & Maryanne Sowinski Shaum Sridharan Amanda Stapleton Craig Stauffer Gerald Stewart William & Rose Strickland Choloappadi & Nirmala Sundar-Raj Shivalingappa & Sudha Swamynathan James & Marjorie Swartz Mikhaylo Szczupak Daniel Talbot Carmen Tener Monica Tener Jay & Kevin Tennyson The Rosanna J Tice Fund David Treworgy Joseph Turner Mary Jo Tutchko Dorothy Twiggs Frances Urban Victor Vandewater Donna & John Viehman Andrea Wachter Marilyn Wagner Elizabeth & James Webster Joyce Werner James & Marilew Wetzel Sharon Wills David Wood Robert & Nancy Worstell Gary Zalac Cathy Zamba Roger Zelt John Zimmerman
THE SCIENCE & SOLUTIONS SOCIETY
MEMORIAL DONATIONS
In 2010 the Eye & Ear Foundation established the Science & Solutions Society to honor those individuals who have made a commitment to the Foundation through a planned estate gift.
The Eye & Ear Foundation received donations in fiscal year 2023 to honor the memory of the following:
At this time, we would like to recognize the following members of our Science and Solutions Society. Their generosity ensures that the Eye & Ear Foundation continues to provide the support needed to advance the research and academic efforts of the Departments of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.
Margaret Barati William Barati Carolyn Black Michael Bucci George Buerger Cherie Carlen Sean Cody Earl Faust Harold Forman Jenifer Fruit Donna Grabowsky Elvira & F. Green Rose Harkins H. King Hartman
Anonymous William & Margaret Barati Albert & Barbara Biglan Gail Bleach Victor & Jody Burdell Nanette & Martin Farkas Sheila & Milton Fine Sylvia Fischer Louis & Dorothy Fox Mary Louise & Marvin Gantz
Barbara Giaquinto Loretta & Thomas Hanwell Carole & Daniel Kamin Clarence Klaus Jane & Jerry Masters Howard Perlow & Nyoka White Paul Rafail & Gregory Roth Ralph & Sharon Tarter Gayle Tissue & Yiannis Kaloyeropoulos David Wagner
Stephen Heller Kathleen Hughes Evelyn Kirsch Clarence Klaus Phyllis Kramer Marian Mosites Barbara Myers Charmaine Osche Philomena Palmieri Jeffrey Paul Kenneth Richardson Mary Robinson Rita Sartorio Lavinia Schumann
Louis Sebastian Charles Snyder Louella Snyder Carson Stauffer James Swartz Audrey Tosic Raymond Tucker Irwin Wagner James Walton Thomas Wilson Mary Zuck Walter Zuck
Should you wish to add the Eye & Ear Foundation to your estate plans, please contact us at 412.864.1300.
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LIFETIME GIVING SOCIETY
The Lifetime Giving Society represents the highest level of giving to the Eye & Ear Foundation and the Departments of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology at the University of Pittsburgh. We sincerely appreciate those who have remained dedicated to the Foundation’s mission.
FINDING A CURE LEVEL $1,000,000+ William & Margaret Barati+ James & Alice Beckwith+ Jack Buncher Foundation Sheila & Milton+ Fine Louis & Dorothy Fox Hillman Family Foundations Horne Trust Estate of Virginia Huban Anonymous Donor Richard King Mellon Foundation Research to Prevent Blindness, Inc. E. Ronald & Diann Salvitti John & Clelia Sheppard Charles and Louella Snyder+ Anonymous Donor Edward N. and Della L. Thome Memorial Foundation Edith L. Trees Charitable Trust at PNC Foundation & Charitable Trusts UPMC Enterprises Bruce & Barbara Wiegand
COLLABORATION LEVEL $100,000 - $249,999 Abgenix Addison Gibson Foundation Sooud Al Qassemi Anonymous Donor Dick & Rhodora Barton Youssef Berrada Glenn Bost & Susan DeRiggi L. Spencer & William+ Boyd Charles & Jill Brodbeck Brother’s Brother Foundation The Anne L. and George H. Clapp Charitable & Educational Trust Jeff & Christine Coury Family Foundation Samuel and Rose Cox Charitable Foundation Mark Cuban Mary & Thomas Donahoe George Fechter & Christine Fulton Victoria & Gary Frenette Anonymous Donor Hearst Foundation Drue and H.J. Heinz II Charitable Lead Trust Jonas & Janis Johnson Knights Templar Eye Foundation, Inc. Ladies Hospital Aid Society of Western PA Joseph Maroon Martha Lockhart Mason Trust Diana Mrvos & Frank Rath John & Mary Nice Joseph & Eve Novak+ Anonymous Donor Michael Novogradac PA Lions Sight Conservation and Eye Research Foundation John & Cathy Pelusi PNC Charitable Trust Committee Donald & Sylvia Robinson Family Foundation José-Alain & Annie Sahel Joel & Carole Schuman Huberta Siciliano Richard G. and Barbara A. Snyder General Charity Fund Nancy Snyderman Violet Soffer+ Anonymous Donor Jeremy Stoppelman J. Barry Stout+ Usher 1F Collaborative Nancy Washington Betty Lou Yount Trust
DISCOVERY LEVEL $500,000 - $999,999 BrightFocus Foundation Campbell Foundation English, Bonter, Mitchell Foundation Foundation Fighting Blindness Estate of Anne M. Guenther Eden Hall Foundation Kenes International Steven & Marian+ Mosites PNC Foundation & Charitable Trusts Barbara & Herbert Shear Western Pennsylvania Medical Eye Bank Foundation INNOVATION LEVEL $250,000 - $499,999 Margaret “Ritchie” Battle Mary Hillman Jennings Foundation Carole & Daniel Kamin Sheldon Marstine Susan & Martin McGuinn Albert & Eileen Muse Eugene & Barbara+ Myers Douglas & Julie Newton The Pittsburgh Foundation
RESEARCH LEVEL $50,000 - $99,999 Allergan, Inc. American Cancer Society Henry & Charlotte Beukema Albert & Barbara Biglan David & Katherine Bradley James & Sarah Bregenser Carl & Beth Campbell CMR Surgical Charles Cohen & Michele McKenney Davis Estate DePuy Synthes Power Tools David & Carol Eibling Michael & Kim Evans John & Diane Fisher Judith Friedel Mary Louise Gantz+ Glaucoma Research Association of Boston Lawrence & Ina Gumberg Anonymous Donor Timothy & Elizabeth Katen Ruth Kuschmierz Love Family Foundation Jane & Jerry Masters Nancy McDonald Mary Mitskavich Gerard Moufflet B. Gordon & Kennedy Nelson Susan Oberg Lane Gustavus and Louise Pfeiffer Research Foundation Charles & Jo Ann Queenan V.K. & Rani Raju Sumner M. Redstone Charitable Foundation Dorothy Sarni+ Diana Shoemaker John & Patricia Staley Charles & Rhoda Steiner Thomas Stout+ William & Saundra Stout Anonymous Donor Thomas Wandrisco
EDUCATION LEVEL $25,000 - $49,999 Yanna Avramidis Neal & Rosetta Beckford Boston Pediatric Neurosurgical Foundation Patricia & James+ Cayne C. Y. Chang R. Joel & Lynda Coslov ENT & Allergy Specialists of WPA, P.C. Berrylin Ferguson+ FISA Foundation Melinda Fogel Myrtle Forsha Memorial Trust Barry Hirsch & Jean Harwick Richard Hood+ Howard Hughes Medical Institute Roy A. Hunt Foundation Torrence Hunt+ Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc. Jewish Healthcare Foundation James & Pamela Keen Anne Lewis Lockhart Trust Spyros Macris Mark Mandell Brown Jeffrey Markel & Carol Robinson McAuley Ministries Medrobotics Corporation Edward Morascyzk James & Marlee Myers Helen O’Masta+ Anonymous Donor Lewis & Donna Patterson Pennsylvania Lions Hearing Research Foundation, Inc. William Rea+ Barbara Kip & James Reilly Barry Schaitkin & Sally Carty Francis and Madeline Shane Fund of The Pittsburgh Foundation Cynthia & David Sunseri United States Steel Foundation Inc. Western Pennsylvania Lions Hearing Foundation Aldo & Kathryn Zini † Deceased John Zitelli
EVERY CONTRIBUTION, NO MATTER THE SIZE, HELPS TO ADVANCE RESEARCH. The Eye & Ear Foundation of Pittsburgh is a non-profit 501 (C)(3) organization. The Foundation solely supports the educational and research efforts of the Departments of Otolaryngology and Ophthalmology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. To learn more about the Foundation’s mission or current research advances, please call the Eye & Ear Foundation at 412-864-1300 or visit eyeandear.org. Your gift makes a difference! The Faculty in the Departments of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and the Foundation staff are incredibly grateful for your support. 8
Inaugural Issue
Department Outreach Initiative The Departments of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology have made community outreach a priority.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH Read more The Eye & Ear Foundation supports the Departments of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology in advancing care to impact how people hear, see, and live. We also understand that access to care is necessary to ensure this care is available to all. This means also supporting efforts to combat social determinants of health barriers to care. Thanks to the Community Outreach Committee, expertly chaired by EEF Board member Nancy Washington and vice-chair Charles Brodbeck, we have made great strides in this area. The mobile eyeVan is a shining example. It was donated to EEF in 2023 from the Brother’s Brother Foundation to assist Dr. Jake Waxman and the Guerilla Eye Service team in providing free, comprehensive eye exams to underserved communities in the Pittsburgh region. This fully equipped van is an ophthalmology clinic on wheels that will partner with various local organizations and events. This new avenue of care delivery allows Dr. Waxman and his team to find and treat patients where they live, rather than having to navigate through barriers to care.
Audiology Community Projects
The Department of Otolaryngology has long had a presence in underserved communities, providing hearing care through programs such as HearUP and HearCare. These initiatives, led by Dr. Catherine Palmer, provide free services UPMC has several for people at facilities like theAudiology Birmingham and Squirrel Hill clinics.
programs that provide free hearing In 2022, both Departments became part of the annualprograms Mission of Mercy health also care. Although these event, a 2-day free health clinic set up at the David Lawrence are well attended, the challenge isConvention Center to provide dental, vision, and hearing care to some of Pittsburgh’s reaching all of the individuals who most vulnerable populations. Continued involvement in this event and other need this assistance. To better reach community missions will ensure that the Departments of Ophthalmology and people in from the allcommunity who may of care. Otolaryngology impact patients backgrounds and availability
have hearing loss, the UPMC Center for Audiology and Hearing Aids is developing three outreach projects that they hope will connect more individuals to the hearing care they need. Read more
Audiology Community Projects
UPMC Audiology has several programs that provide free hearing health care. Although these programs are well attended, the challenge is reaching all of the individuals who need this assistance. To better reach people in the community who may Vision to Learn have hearing loss, the UPMC Center for Audiology and Hearing Aids is Indeveloping underserved communities across three outreach projects the a shocking 95 percent thatcountry, they hope will connect more of to the hearing they individuals kids who need glasses docare not have need.Most states have a law to them. assess first graders’ vision by having Readread more them an eye chart. An average 25 percent will fail. Those parents receive a letter suggesting follow-up professional vision care. Unfortunately, due to a wide variety o reasons, the follow-up in low income and vulnerable populations is extremely small. Thus, Vision to Lear was created, utilizing mobile clinics to bring eye exams and attractive glasses free of charge to these children.
Read more
Mission of Mercy Participation
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FORGING AHEAD IN 2024 As we look forward to 2024, there are lots of exciting projects to keep an eye on. Here are just a few: • Results due this fall from an optic nerve regeneration large animal trial at the Fox Center for Vision Restoration • Pittsburgh CREATES will focus on surgical innovations • Opening of research labs in the UPMC Vision Institute at the Mercy Pavilion • A functional assessment to measure head and neck cancer outcomes • The start of curriculum development to train community healthcare workers on vision and hearing care • Announcements on growth and additions of clinicians and researchers for hearing sciences • Possible announcement regarding a cortical visual neuro-prosthesis clinical trial
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The Eye & Ear Foundation, a nonprofit 501(C)(3), is the sole support organization for the education and research efforts of Departments of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology at the University of Pittsburgh.
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