April 2025
Highlights from the 2025 Annual CME Conference and Distinguished Alumni Dinner
On March 29, more than 90 ophthalmologists descended upon Doheny Eye Institute’s Pasadena campus for the Annual CME Conference. The annual conference featured Doheny alumni as well as Doheny-UCLA faculty who presented state-of-the-art research findings and spoke on a wide range of ophthalmic specialties.
It was a dynamic day filled with knowledge sharing and meaningful learning, highlighted by two compelling lectures.
- The Irvine Memorial Lecturer was Baruch Kupperman, MD, PhD, Steinert Professor and Chair of the Department of Ophthalmology at the UC Irvine School of Medicine, and the Director of the Gavin Herbert Eye Institute.
- The Doheny Distinguished Alumnus Lecture was delivered by David Hwang, MD, FACS, Professor and Vice Chair, the Pearl T. Kimura and Samuel J. Kimura MD Endowed Chair in Ophthalmology, and Associate of the Francis I. Proctor Foundation for Research in Ophthalmology at UC San Francisco.
That evening, the gathering turned into a celebration for the Distinguished Alumni Dinner honoring Dr. Hwang. Doheny alumni gathered at the Valley Hunt Club for dinner, conversation, and to acknowledge the positive impact Dr. Hwang has on the field of ophthalmology.
A renowned ophthalmologist, researcher, and educator at UCSF, Dr. Hwang has made extraordinary contributions to corneal surgery, refractive surgery, and ocular surface disorders. His dedication to advancing ophthalmology through innovation, mentorship, and patient care embodies the values of Doheny Eye Institute.
15th Annual RIMR Conference Continues a Legacy of Scientific Collaboration in AMD
From March 26-28, over 100 leading scientific minds from around the globe gathered in Southern California for the 15th annual RIMR conference. The goal of the conference is to bring together scientists from very different backgrounds and disciplines to collaborate on the major challenges and opportunities in age-related macular degeneration (AMD) research and generate new ideas and solutions to overcome the roadblocks preventing us from eliminating vision loss due to AMD.
In the weeks leading up to the conference, participants undergo extensive preparation, including tutorials designed to help them understand the language and concepts of disciplines beyond their own. Once on site, they are divided into task groups to collaboratively tackle specific challenges related to the unresolved questions surrounding dry AMD.
Each group then presents a summary of their discussions and insights, along with recommended studies aimed at overcoming key research barriers.
To date, RIMR has sparked an impressive wave of scientific collaboration — resulting in numerous groundbreaking partnerships, a substantial body of published research, and significant federal funding totaling in the hundreds of millions. These achievements reflect the conference’s critical impact in advancing efforts to eliminate vision loss caused by AMD.
The Luminaires Founders Chapter Hosts Annual Spring Gala Benefitting Doheny Eye Institute
On March 27, the Luminaires Founders Chapter hosted their annual spring gala benefiting Doheny Eye Institute. Set amidst a backdrop of hues of blue and white, over 200 guests gathered for “An Afternoon on La Cote d’Azure” at the Jonathan Club. The afternoon featured marketplace shopping, an opportunity drawing, and a fashion show featuring Robert Ellis Boutique.
Attendees from Doheny included CEO Marissa Goldberg and Board Member Kathleen Duncan, who several years ago was a Luminaires Junior Member herself, making for a full circle moment.
For more than 50 years, The Luminaires have been steadfast supporters of Doheny and collectively raised millions of dollars to support our mission.
While speaking during the luncheon, Ms. Duncan thanked The Luminaires for their continued generosity and noted that their “Unwavering efforts have not only fueled advancements in ophthalmic research and – ultimately – patient care worldwide, but have also helped bring global recognition to Doheny as a leader in vision science.”
Deborah Ferrington, PhD, Recognized by the Los Angeles Business Journal as a Nonprofit Executive of the Year
For her tremendous contributions to vision research in the Greater Los Angeles community and around the world, Doheny Eye Institute Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) Deborah Ferrington, PhD, was recently recognized at the Los Angeles Business Journal Nonprofit Awards as the Nonprofit Executive of the Year (Large) Honoree.
Dr. Ferrington is world-renowned for her groundbreaking research on age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of blindness among the elderly. Her continued research is helping to shed light on the disease and risk factors.
Beyond her important AMD investigations, as CSO Dr. Ferrington guides the research work conducted at Doheny and is integral in helping secure much-needed funding to continue innovative, life-changing research. She is also an active participant in the community through speaking opportunities at local organizations, and she works to support the next generation of vision researchers.
Dr. Ferrington embodies the mission of Doheny and is a tremendous asset to driving the future success of the organization.
Read the Los Angeles Business Journal’s recent profile on Dr. Ferrington here.
Doheny Will Shine at the Upcoming Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology 2025 Annual Meeting
More than 25 Doheny Eye Institute scientists and clinician-scientists will present their latest research at the upcoming Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) Annual Meeting, the premier gathering for eye and vision scientists from across the globe. The meeting will take place May 4-8, 2025, in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Onsite, Doheny and UCLA Stein Eye Institute will once again exhibit together at Booth #1025. In addition to a strong lineup of presenters, Doheny will also be well represented as SriniVas R. Sadda, MD, closes out his term as president of ARVO at the culmination of the 2025 meeting.
Welcoming Our Newest Faculty Member, Dr. Emma Lessieur-Contreras
Doheny Eye Institute is excited to announce that, effective May 5, Emma Lessieur-Contreras, MD, PhD, will be joining Doheny Eye Institute as a Principal Investigator and the UCLA Department of Ophthalmology as an Assistant Professor in Residence.