March 2024
Doheny Welcomes New Planned Giving Associate Director
Doheny Eye Institute is pleased to introduce our new Associate Director of Planned Giving Heidi Simpson-Sandoval. Ms. Simpson-Sandoval officially joined Doheny in December as part of the Office of Development & Communications.
“We welcome Heidi and her decades of accomplished leadership in the banking industry,” says Molly Ann Woods, CFRE, Chief Development Officer. “Her past experience as a director of business strategy at BNY Mellon and Northern Trust will only strengthen our team.”
Ms. Simpson-Sandoval’s focus has been helping high net worth clients, family offices and non-profit organizations achieve their financial goals and objectives. Her success is largely due to her strength in building and managing relationships. She quickly earns respect and becomes a trusted advisor.
Her move into development is a natural extension of her approach to business. “I like people,” Ms. Simpson-Sandoval notes, and also quickly points out, “The real pleasure in planned giving is meeting donors, learning their interests, and guiding their discovery of the right giving opportunities.”
She describes her transition to Doheny Eye Institute this way, “Now is my time to give back.”
If you have questions, an interest in making a planned gift to Doheny Eye Institute, or simply wish to meet with Heidi, feel free to email her at or give her a call at 323-342-7104.
Construction Update: Doheny Eye Center UCLA Pasadena
Construction continues on what will become the new home of the Doheny Eye Center UCLA Pasadena. Scheduled to open in mid-2025, the state-of-the-art facility will be located on the first floor of the Doheny Pasadena campus at 150 North Orange Grove Boulevard in Pasadena.
Members of the Doheny Board of Directors recently gathered for a walkthrough of the space, which offers an array of new features that will elevate patient care:
- 36 fully equipped exam lanes with 2 convenient in office procedure rooms, 3 advanced laser and injection rooms, and 3 certified clinical research lanes
- Spacious central imaging center, housing over 20 state-of-the-art diagnostic and imaging devices, and dedicated electrophysiology lab
- A dedicated Pediatric Ophthalmology suite with a focus on the care and treatment of children’s eye diseases and conditions
- A range of services from world-class clinicians that support many different ocular diseases and patient needs, including age-related macular degeneration, retinal disease, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, vitreoretinal surgery, Graves’ disease, optic nerve disease, corneal transplantation, cataract surgery and more
The development of the new clinic space is symbolic of the next phase of our relationship with UCLA, as we mark our 10th anniversary. It also strengthens the collaboration between the groundbreaking research undertaken by Doheny Eye Institute and the innovative care offered at Doheny Eye Center UCLA by bringing both entities together under one roof.
Luminaires Mark 50 Years of Supporting Doheny Eye Institute at Annual Fundraising Luncheon
For half a century, the Luminaires – a fundraising support group – have generously supported Doheny Eye Institute in our mission to conserve, improve and restore human eyesight. On March 14, more than 200 attendees gathered at the Jonathan Club in Los Angeles for the annual Luminaires Luncheon and Fashion Show.
The fundraising luncheon included a shopping boutique and prize drawings, along with a fashion show featuring elegant designs from Robert Ellis Boutique. It was a wonderful event with a meaningful purpose.
Doheny Eye Institute was well represented onsite. CEO Marissa Goldberg and Chief Scientific Officer Deborah Ferrington, PhD, mingled with guests to personally thank them for their support and share the latest news and updates from Doheny. Additionally, Dr. Ferrington gave formal remarks during the luncheon to share highlights of Doheny’s groundbreaking research that supports vision for all.
The entire Doheny team is greatly appreciative of Luminaires President Fran Biles, Benefit Co-Chairs Jinny Dalbeck and Linda Moore, the entire Benefit Committee, and all of the members and event supporters whose contributions are so important to the work we do.
We thank the Luminaires for 50 impactful years of supporting Doheny Eye Institute. Since its founding in 1975, the Luminaires have raised over $8.5 million in support of Doheny.