EBAA 2020 Annual Meeting

Access sessions from the 2020 Annual Meeting for FREE! CEUs not awarded. 

https://eyelearn.restoresight.org/virtualconference2020

  • Contains 2 Component(s)

    This presentation will demonstrate how Donate Life America (DLA) and our work to promote donation is helping the eye banking community.

    This presentation will demonstrate how Donate Life America (DLA) and our work to promote donation is helping the eye banking community. It will also include updates on DLA programs, new observances and campaigns, national eye donation registration information, new eye donation brochures and resources, trends in donor registration during COVID-19, and ways for your eye bank to take advantage of available resources to aid in your work. 

    Karen Headley

    Donate Life America

    Karen Headley joined the Donate Life America (DLA) staff in December 2012 to develop and manage its fundraising and partnership efforts. As Vice President of Partnerships & Philanthropy, she continues to build DLA’s fundraising program and establishes key partnerships to further the Donate Life mission. Karen possesses more than 24 years of experience in non-profit management, fundraising, corporate sponsorship and volunteer development. Prior to joining DLA, she served for more than ten years in varying leadership roles at The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and worked for Ogilvy Public Relations in their health and medical practice. Karen began her career in the non-profit sector working for the American Cancer Society. She is from Richmond, VA, and received her bachelor's in science from The University of Virginia's McIntire School of Commerce. Karen currently lives in Richmond and serves on many community boards, she loves to cook, travel, enjoys live music and spending time with family, friends and her rescue dog Louie. 

  • Contains 3 Component(s)

    Speakers will discuss procedures related to texting next of kind to facilitate conversations with prospective donor families.

    Speakers will discuss procedures related to texting next of kind to facilitate conversations with prospective donor families.

    Drew Timmons

    Tissue Donation Screening & Education Supervisor

    UT Southwestern Transplant Services Center Lions Eye Bank

    Drew Timmons, CTBS, is the Tissue Donation Screening & Education Supervisor at UT Southwestern Transplant Services Center Lions Eye Bank. While serving as an enlisted aircrew member in the Air Force, Drew became interested in health care after flying a medical evacuation mission from Canada to the United States. Once he left the military, this interest intensified while his wife was dealing with health issues which led to the decision to attend nursing school. After graduation, Drew went to work in a surgical intensive care unit where he worked on numerous organ donor cases. Several years later he joined the Louisiana Organ Procurement Agency as an organ recovery coordinator, later becoming a regional manager. In 1999, Drew moved to Dallas where he began working at Transplant Services Center UT Southwestern Medical Center in a dual role coordinating recoveries and performing hospital development. Currently, Drew oversees the Eye & Tissue Call Center as well as the Outreach team which works with hospitals to facilitate the donation process. In addition, the team performs public education to promote donation. An award-winning photographer, Drew enjoys traveling and spending time with his grandchildren.

    Jan Keeling

    Miracles in Sight

    Jan Keeling is the Director of Donor Services at Miracles in Sight. She has been with Miracles In Sight for 12 years. She has 5 years of Quality and Engineering experience in manufacturing and development, 26 years in management processing, development and design. Mrs. Keeling is a Certified Six Sigma Green Belt. She has also had a seat on the Board of Directors for Donate Life as well as being a member of ASQ for 25 years. 

  • Contains 2 Component(s)

    Dr. Lori Baker-Schena shares key communication and organization insights for motiving your staff while keeping yourself inspired and at the top of your game.

    Working from home presents a unique set of challenges. Not only do we need to effectively manage others from a distance to increase productivity and engagement, but we also find ourselves personally striving to be more productive and organized. In this informative, uplifting webinar, Dr. Lori Baker-Schena shares key communication and organization insights for motiving your staff while keeping yourself inspired and at the top of your game. 

    ​Lori Baker-Schena, MBA, EdD

    LeadHERship Consortiu, LLC

    Lori Baker-Schena, MBA, EdD, is a leadership consultant and professional speaker who works with individuals, academic institutions, professional organizations, small businesses and large corporations to strengthen their management and team-building skills. Dr. Baker-Schena brings to her clients 35 years as a healthcare public relations and marketing consultant, and 25 years as a professor at California State University, Northridge (CSUN) teaching public relations and journalism. Dr. Baker-Schena holds a bachelor’s degree in Journalism and a MBA from CSUN and a doctorate in Organizational Leadership from the University of La Verne. 

  • Contains 2 Component(s)

    Held annually, this session provides Medical Directors and eye bank professionals with information regarding the latest updates to the Medical Standards, EBAA Accreditation inspections, tissue suitability determination, infectious or emerging diseases and additional information that is useful when working with an eye bank.

    Held annually, this session provides Medical Directors and eye bank professionals with information regarding the latest updates to the Medical Standards, EBAA Accreditation inspections, tissue suitability determination, infectious or emerging diseases and additional information that is useful when working with an eye bank. 

    Presentations:

    Medical Director Dilemmas: What Would You Do?
    Adverse Events in Eye Banking: Role of the Medical Director
    Monitoring Your Eye Bank's Training Program
    Slit Lamp Microscopy for Donor Tissue Evaluation: What Medical Directors Need to Know
    Fungal Infections after Endothelial Keratoplasty: Prevention and Prophylaxis

    Michelle K. Rhee, MD

    Medical Director

    The Eye-Bank for Sight Restoration

    Michelle K. Rhee, MD, is the Medical Director of The Eye-Bank for Sight Restoration in New York City.  She is an associate clinical professor of ophthalmology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.  She is the president of the Eye and Contact Lens Association, formerly known as CLAO.  Dr. Rhee completed subspecialty training in diseases of the cornea and refractive surgery at the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary following a residency in ophthalmology at the Eye and Ear Institute of Pittsburgh.  She earned her medical degree from the Icahn School of Medicine where she was part of the Humanities and Medicine Program which offered early acceptance to a selected group of undergraduates.  Dr. Rhee graduated summa cum laude from Princeton University.  Before pursuing a career in medicine, she studied piano, cello, and music composition at the Juilliard School in New York City.

    George Rosenwasser, MD, CEBT

    Gift of Life Donor Program Eye Bank

    George O. D. Rosenwasser, MD, CEBT, has been associated with eye banking since 1984. He is the author of the first atlas and text on eye banking and has been a member of various EBAA committees, including Medical Advisory Board, Technician Education Committee, Scientific Programs Committee, and the International Relations Committee. He is also a member of the steering committee for the Corneal Preservation Time Study. He completely revised the Technician Education Seminar in 2009 and has given many of the lectures from 2009-2019.  He practices Cornea and External Disease in Hershey, PA, and is the Medical Director for the Gift of Life Donor Program Eye Bank.  Dr. Rosenwasser received the R. Townley Paton Award from EBAA in 2015.

    Joshua Hou, MD

    Assistant Professor/Medical Director

    University of Minnesota/Lions Gift of Sight

    Joshua H. Hou, MD, is an Assistant Professor with the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Neurosciences at the University of Minnesota. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from Duke University, where he graduated summa cum laude. He then received his medical degree from Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine. After that, he completed both his ophthalmology residency and cornea and external disease fellowship at the University of Illinois Eye & Ear Infirmary. Since 2015, Dr. Hou has served as Medical Director of the Lions Gift of Sight. In addition to a busy clinical practice, Dr. Hou also maintains a research laboratory at the University of Minnesota and is currently supported by the Minnesota Lions Vision Foundation. His main research interests include limbal stem cell deficiency and corneal tissue processing. Dr. Hou has been an active member of the Eye Bank Association of America (EBAA) since completing his cornea fellowship in 2014. He is a past participant of the EBAA Physician Leadership Program, and he currently serves as a member of the Medical Advisory Board and Scientific Programs Committee. He is also a regular physician lecturer for the EBAA Slit Lamp Microscopy Seminar.

    Jennifer Li, MD

    Medical Director

    Sierra Donor Services Eye Bank

    Jennifer Li, MD, is a Professor of Ophthalmology at the UC Davis Eye Center where she is the Director of the Cornea and External Disease Service and the Fellowship Director. Dr. Li received her medical degree and completed her residency at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas and subsequently completed a fellowship in Cornea, External Disease and Refractive Surgery at UC Davis. She is also the Co-Medical Director of Sierra Donor Services in Sacramento, California. Dr. Li is the Chair of the EBAA Board of Directors and has served on various EBAA committees including EBAA Accreditation Board, the Scientific Programs Committee and as Chair of the Medical Advisory Board. Dr. Li received the R. Townley Paton Award in 2021 for her contributions to the EBAA, sight restoration and corneal transplantation.

    Elmer Tu, MD

    Medical Director

    Eversight

    Elmer Tu, MD, is a Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology and the Director of Cornea Service at the University of Illinois, Chicago. Dr. Tu serves as Medical Director for Eversight, and is a current member of the EBAA Medical Advisory Board and the Eversight Medical Advisory Board. 

    Sean Edelstein, MD

    Associate Medical Director

    Mid-America Transplant

    Sean Edelstein, MD, is an Associate Professor at Saint Louis University Department of Ophthalmology. Dr. Edelstein attended Medical School at University of Cape Town, South Africa, and completed his ophthalmology residency and fellowship in cornea, external disease and refractive surgery at Washington University School of Medicine St. Louis, Missouri. Dr. Edelstein is the Associate Medical Director at Mid-America Transplant and is an active member in the EBAA, where he currently serves on the Accreditation Board and the Medical Advisory Board.

    Shahzad Mian, MD

    Medical Director

    Eversight

    Shahzad Mian, MD, is professor of ophthalmology and visual sciences at the University of Michigan Medical School and holds the Terry J. Bergstrom Collegiate Professorship for Resident Education. He has been irector of the residency training program since 2004, and serves as the Vice Chair for Clinical Sciences and Learning. His practice is focused in cornea and refractive surgery and research interests include corneal transplantation techniques, ocular graft versus host disease, and eye banking. He received the senior achievement award from the American Academy of Ophthalmology in 2015 and the Straatsma award for resident education in 2017. He serves on the Board of the Cornea Society, Residency Review Committee for Ophthalmology, the Accreditation Board for the Eye Bank Association of America, as the Senior Medical Director of Eversight Michigan, and is the past-president of the Program Director’s Council of the Association of University Professor in Ophthalmology.

    Amy Lin, MD

    Utah Lions Eye Bank

    Amy Lin, MD, is Medical Director at the Utah Lions Eye Bank. She is also an Associate Professor in Ophthalmology at the Moran Eye Center at the University of Utah. Dr. Lin is a current member of the Accreditation Board and is a past participant of the Physician Leadership Program.

    David Warner, MD

    Medical Director

    Arkansas Lions Eye Bank & Laboratory

    David B. Warner, MD, is an Associate Professor of Ophthalmology with the Harvey & Bernice Jones Eye Institute at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS). He has served as the Medical Director of the Arkansas Lions Eye Bank & Laboratory, located at UAMS, for nine years. He completed a Corneal, External Disease and Refractive Surgery fellowship at the University of Florida after his residency in Ophthalmology at UAMS.

    Anthony Aldave, MD

    Professor of Ophthalmology

    Stein Eye Institute

    Anthony Aldave, MD, is a Professor of Ophthalmology and Chief of the Cornea and Uveitis Division at the Stein Eye Institute. As a member of the EBAA Medical Advisory Board, Dr. Aldave and colleagues reported an increase in donor-transmitted fungal infections following corneal transplantation in 2013. He has maintained an interest in this topic since, recently publishing an invited editorial on the role of antifungal prophylaxis after receipt of a positive donor rim fungal culture and completing a study investigating the incidence, treatments and outcomes of donor-transmitted fungal infection following DMEK.

    Bennie Jeng, MD

    Chair of Ophthalmology

    Penn Medicine

    Bennie H. Jeng, MD, is Chair of Ophthalmology and Director of the Scheie Eye Institute at Penn Medicine. Dr. Jeng is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, and he completed his residency training and chief residency at the Cole Eye Institute of the Cleveland Clinic, followed by a fellowship in cornea and external diseases at the Proctor Foundation/University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). He was on the faculty at the Cole Eye Institute and UCSF and was most recently a profession and Chair of the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. Dr. Jeng was a past participant of the EBAA Physician Leadership Program, as well as a past member of the Board of Directors. He is currently the Co-Chair of the Accreditation Board and Chair of the Research Committee and also serves on the Medical Advisory Board and Scientific Programs Committee. Dr. Jeng is also currently serving as Chair of the Cornea Society. 

  • Contains 2 Component(s)

    The Scientific Symposium features presentation of 14 abstracts through on-demand content, and a live session that includes panel discussions and invited presentations.

    The Scientific Symposium features presentation of 14 abstracts through on-demand content, and a live session that includes panel discussions and invited presentations.

    Michelle K. Rhee, MD

    Medical Director

    The Eye-Bank for Sight Restoration

    Michelle K. Rhee, MD, is the Medical Director of The Eye-Bank for Sight Restoration in New York City.  She is an associate clinical professor of ophthalmology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.  She is the president of the Eye and Contact Lens Association, formerly known as CLAO.  Dr. Rhee completed subspecialty training in diseases of the cornea and refractive surgery at the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary following a residency in ophthalmology at the Eye and Ear Institute of Pittsburgh.  She earned her medical degree from the Icahn School of Medicine where she was part of the Humanities and Medicine Program which offered early acceptance to a selected group of undergraduates.  Dr. Rhee graduated summa cum laude from Princeton University.  Before pursuing a career in medicine, she studied piano, cello, and music composition at the Juilliard School in New York City.

    Marjan Farid, MD

    Marjan Farid, MD, is Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology, Director of Cornea, Cataract, and Refractive Surgery and Vice-Chair of Ophthalmic Faculty at the Gavin Herbert Eye Institute (GHEI) at UC-Irvine. Dr. Farid's clinical practice is divided between patient care, teaching, and research. Dr. Farid’s research interests focus on corneal surgery, specifically in the use of the femtosecond laser for corneal transplantation. She performs all forms of corneal transplantation -- femtosecond enabled and lamellar keratoplasty. Dr. Farid is also the founder of the Severe Ocular Surface Disease Center at UCI. She performs limbal stem cell transplants as well as artificial corneal transplantation for the treatment of patients with severe ocular surface disorders. She is published in multiple peer reviewed leading journals and text book chapters.

    Albert Cheung, MD

    Onkar Sawant, PhD

    Eversight

    Doowon Huh, PhD

    Anthony Aldave, MD

    Professor of Ophthalmology

    Stein Eye Institute

    Anthony Aldave, MD, is a Professor of Ophthalmology and Chief of the Cornea and Uveitis Division at the Stein Eye Institute. As a member of the EBAA Medical Advisory Board, Dr. Aldave and colleagues reported an increase in donor-transmitted fungal infections following corneal transplantation in 2013. He has maintained an interest in this topic since, recently publishing an invited editorial on the role of antifungal prophylaxis after receipt of a positive donor rim fungal culture and completing a study investigating the incidence, treatments and outcomes of donor-transmitted fungal infection following DMEK.

    Peter Bedard, MS

    Diego Ponzin, MD

    Shahzad Mian, MD

    Medical Director

    Eversight

    Shahzad Mian, MD, is professor of ophthalmology and visual sciences at the University of Michigan Medical School and holds the Terry J. Bergstrom Collegiate Professorship for Resident Education. He has been irector of the residency training program since 2004, and serves as the Vice Chair for Clinical Sciences and Learning. His practice is focused in cornea and refractive surgery and research interests include corneal transplantation techniques, ocular graft versus host disease, and eye banking. He received the senior achievement award from the American Academy of Ophthalmology in 2015 and the Straatsma award for resident education in 2017. He serves on the Board of the Cornea Society, Residency Review Committee for Ophthalmology, the Accreditation Board for the Eye Bank Association of America, as the Senior Medical Director of Eversight Michigan, and is the past-president of the Program Director’s Council of the Association of University Professor in Ophthalmology.

    Joshua Hou, MD

    Assistant Professor/Medical Director

    University of Minnesota/Lions Gift of Sight

    Joshua H. Hou, MD, is an Assistant Professor with the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Neurosciences at the University of Minnesota. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from Duke University, where he graduated summa cum laude. He then received his medical degree from Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine. After that, he completed both his ophthalmology residency and cornea and external disease fellowship at the University of Illinois Eye & Ear Infirmary. Since 2015, Dr. Hou has served as Medical Director of the Lions Gift of Sight. In addition to a busy clinical practice, Dr. Hou also maintains a research laboratory at the University of Minnesota and is currently supported by the Minnesota Lions Vision Foundation. His main research interests include limbal stem cell deficiency and corneal tissue processing. Dr. Hou has been an active member of the Eye Bank Association of America (EBAA) since completing his cornea fellowship in 2014. He is a past participant of the EBAA Physician Leadership Program, and he currently serves as a member of the Medical Advisory Board and Scientific Programs Committee. He is also a regular physician lecturer for the EBAA Slit Lamp Microscopy Seminar.

    Sung Lee

    Katie Solley

    Philip Dockery, MPH

    William Waldrop, MD

    Reza Dana, MD, PhD

    Reza Dana, MD, MPHD, MSc, is the Claes Dohlman Professor of Ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School and Director of the Cornea Service at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear and Vice Chairman of the Harvard Department of Ophthalmology. His contributions to the fields of transplantation, stem cells, angiogenesis, and dry eye disease have led to 470+ publications which have been cited >27,000 times. He is recipient of numerous international honors including the Friedenwald and Cogan Awards from ARVO. Apart from his many clinical trainees, he has trained more than 120 fellows and students from 34 countries in his laboratory to date. 

    Cristina Canavesi, PhD, MBA

    Angela Chen

    Michael A. Puente, Jr., MD

    Grace Dunbar, MD

  • Contains 2 Component(s)

    View the Global Corneal Blindness Keynote and an inspiring story of a sister's life changing gift.

    View the Global Corneal Blindness Keynote and an inspiring story of a sister's life changing gift.

    Kevin Corcoran, CAE

    Eye Bank Association of America

    President and CEO of the Eye Bank Association of America.

    Noël Mick

    Director of Communications

    The Eye-Bank for Sight Restoration

    Noël Mick, EBAA Chair, has more than 25 years of experience in eye banking.  As Director of Communications at The Eye-Bank for Sight Restoration in New York City, she oversees the public and professional education programs including hospital and community outreach; the Marketing Program’s multi-media advertising campaign and social media; as well as the Young Ambassador Program.  

    In addition to supporting the EBAA by serving as a member of the Board of Directors and through extensive committee work, Noël has represented The Eye-Bank for Sight Restoration in local, state, and national collaborative efforts including Donate Life, New York State; and Donate Life America and currently serves on the Donate Life NYS Legislative Committee.

    Noël is a graduate of the College of St. Rose with a BA in English. Prior to joining The Eye-Bank, she held senior account executive positions at PR agencies in New York City.

    Gerard Sutton, MD, MBBS, FRANZCO

    Gerard Sutton, MD, is the Professor of Ophthalmology at Sydney University, Medical Director of the NSW Eye Bank and Director of the Australian Corneal Bioengineering Collaboration.  He has published over 100 peer-reviewed papers and has been awarded numerous awards including the John Parr Medal and the Sydney Research Inaugural Innovation Award fort he iFixSystem.  He currently directs a Corneal & Eye Babk Programme in Myanmar where he is a Visiting Professor at the University of Medicine, Mandalay.

    Shannon Hartley

    Shannon Hartley is a cornea transplant recipient, who had her sight restored when she received her sister Shannon's cornea. 

    Joshua Zaffos, MD

    Joshua Zaffos, MD, is a cornea specialist at Cornea Associates of Texas. His interest in ophthalmology began as an undergraduate while working with the Georgia Eye Bank recovering donor tissue for cornea transplantation. His interest quickly grew into a passion after serving two ophthalmology medical mission trips in Ghana. He completed his residency at the Krieger Eye Institute in Baltimore, MD. He completed his cornea, refractive surgery and external disease fellowship at the Gavin Herbert Eye Institute in Irvine, CA. 

    ​Donna Drury, MBA, CEBT, CTBS

    UT Southwestern Transplant Services Center Lions Eye Bank

    Donna Drury, MBA, CEBT, CTBS, is the Executive Director of the Transplant Services Center at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas.  She has over 28 years’ experience in eye and tissue banking and is certified as both an Eye Bank Technician and a Tissue Bank Specialist.  Her professional activities include current service to the Eye Bank Association of America as the Immediate Past Chair of the Board of Directors.  She has previously served as Chair of the Meetings Committee and Technician Education Committee, member of the Medical Advisory Board and the Accreditation Board as well as service on various other committees.  Ms. Drury holds a B.S. in Biology from Texas Woman’s University and an MBA in Healthcare Management from University of Dallas.

    W. Drew Timmons, RN, CTBS

    Drew Timmons received his nursing diploma from Our Lady of the Lake School of Nursing. Drew went on to the Surgical Intensive Care Unit, where he embraced eye, tissue, and organ donation. In 1994, he became an Organ Recovery Coordinator for the Louisiana Organ Procurement Agency. In 1999, Drew moved to Dallas where he joined the staff of Transplant Services Center. For the last three years Drew has been the Nurse Manager overseeing TSC's Call Center, hospital development, and community outreach programs.
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    Tissue evaluation is an essential part of eye banking and there are various methods that can be used.

    Tissue evaluation is an essential part of eye banking and there are various methods that can be used. During this session, a brief presentation regarding the use of slit lamp biomicroscopy, specular microscopy, OCT, and ex vivo wide field dual imaging for donor cornea evaluation is given and then followed by lectures and panel discussion highlighting practical use of these imaging technologies for evaluation of normal and disease states along with challenging cases.

    Jonathan Lass, MD

    Professor

    CWRU Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences and University Hospitals Eye Institute

    Jonathan Lass, MD, is the Charles I Thomas Professor in the CWRU Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences and University Hospitals Eye Institute.  He also directs the Cornea Image Analysis Reading Center at UH and CWRU and serves as the Medical Director for Eversight Ohio.  He recently served as the PI for the National Eye Institute-sponsored Cornea Preservation Time Study which elucidated the factors impacting graft success and endothelial cell loss following DSAEK.  He received the Paton Award from the EBAA in 2012 and the Castroviejo Award from the Cornea Society in 2017.

    Ahmed Omar, MD, PhD

    Clinical Assistant Professor

    Case Western Reserve University/University Hospitals of Cleveland Medical Center

    Ahmed Omar, MD, PhD, is assistant professor at Case Western Reserve University/University Hospitals of Cleveland Medical Center. Dr. Omar earned his medical degree and completed his residency at Assiut University in Egypt, completed the cornea fellowship at UT Southwestern Medical Center, and is currently Associate Medical Director of Eversight. Dr. Omar currently serves on the EBAA Scientific Programs Committee.


    Adam Stockman, MBA, CEBT

    Director of Clinical Operations

    Iowa Lions Eye Bank

    Adam Stockman, MBA, CEBT, began his eye banking career as a part-time recovery technician for Iowa Lions Eye Bank in 2003. Over the years he has been an active member of several EBAA Committees including serving four years as a faculty member of the Technician Education Seminar and currently serves on the Accreditation Board, Constitution & Bylaws Committee, and Certification Board.

    Anthony Vizzerra, CEBT

    Director of Clinical Services

    Saving Sight

    Anthony Vizzerra, CEBT, serves as Director of Clinical Services at Saving Sight. He has been in the eye banking profession for five years. Anthony earned his Bachelor of Science in psychology with a minor in chemistry from The University of Arizona. In his current role, Anthony oversees the daily operations of the clinical laboratory and directly supervises the lab team.  Since being with Saving Sight, he has been able to successfully change procedural protocols to help reduce processing errors, as well as reduce overall supply costs. 

    Amy Ansin

    Amy Ansin grew up and went to school in Portland, OR, where she received a Life Science degree from the University of Portland. Amy has been with Lions VisionGift for almost six years, currently serving as the Tissue Distribution Supervisor, and  looks forward to continuing to learn and develop in the eye bank profession while carrying out a great mission.

  • Contains 1 Component(s)

    Eye banks are often exploring opportunities for expanding their reach within their communities in hopes of promoting cornea donation and transplantation to more individuals while being more inclusive of diverse groups in their programming and communications.

    Eye banks are often exploring opportunities for expanding their reach within their communities in hopes of promoting cornea donation and transplantation to more individuals while being more inclusive of diverse groups in their programming and communications. 

    Janice Sedgwick, CEBT

    Georgia Eye Bank

    Janice Sedgwick, CEBT, is the Manager of Public and Professional Relations at Georgia Eye Bank. Janice has also been a member of the Donor Development committee since 2012. 

    Kristian Rush

    Kristian Rush is responsible for multicultural and community education at Southwest Transplant Alliance, one of the largest organ procurement organizations in the United States. Throughout her four-year tenure, Rush has educated the community about organ, eye and tissue donation, while also engaging volunteers in support of the organization’s mission to save lives. During her time at STA, she launched the “Know the Truth” campaign, an initiative designed to engage and educate the African American community around organ donation and transplantation. 

    Prior to her time at STA,  Rush was an academic advisor at Cedar Valley Community College. Her love of all things marketing and people began as a street team member and radio personality for K104 FM radio in Dallas. Rush received her Bachelor of Arts from Stephen F. Austin University. She is a native Texan who is passionate about her work, family and friends. 

    Gavin Sweeney

    Originally from Henderson, Nevada, Gavin Sweeney has called Southern California home for nearly a decade. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Communication Studies from Biola University. Gavin is the Ambassadors Coordinator at OneLegacy, where he facilitates and directs the organ, eye and tissue donation advocacy efforts of more than 200 volunteers throughout the most populous and diverse service area of any organization in its field. Gavin is passionate about empathetic communication, social justice, and public health.

    Cheryl McGee-Hills

    In 1993, Cheryl's husband, Roderick  McGee, Sr, had a seizure. He suffered renal failure and began dialysis. He remained on dialysis for 5 years. This was my first time knowing someone on dialysis. My journey began.

    My brother, Lionel Brazile, Jr., had a headache and was taken into surgery for an aneurysm. Lionel's surgery was a Friday and was pronounced brain dead 2 days later. Cheryl's family was approached by LOPA for consent for organ and tissue donation. After 3 1/2 hours we said yes..My husband, Roderick was on the waiting list. We ask the doctor if there's a match, can Roderick receive a kidney. 

    There was a match. My husband received a kidney and 5 other individuals were able to get a kidney, liver,heart and lungs.

    In 1998, Roderick and I became volunteers with the Louisiana Organ Procurement Agency (LOPA). Our lives changed. We were in the community every weekend. 

    In 2001 Roderick became ill. The transplanted kidney was functioning but there was a tumor on the other kidney. Roderick passed away January 9, 2001.

    Roderick's death was not the end of this journey. His corneas were donated and 2 people received sight.

    In October 2001, I became a Community Educator with LOPA. I will be at this agency for 20 years this October. I continue to share this story today as a donor/recipient family member.

    Sid Williams

    Sirdaria ""Sid"" Williams is a Community Educator for LOPA (Louisiana Organ Procurement Agency). Her role with LOPA pools her cumulative experience in public relations, strategic communications, public speaking, digital and social media. Sid is very involved with LOPA's social media efforts, as well as their college partnerships to spread awareness about donation and increase Louisiana's donor registry. 

    In fact, Sid first learned about organ, tissue and eye donation while in graduate school at Louisiana State University. She spent two years as a teacher's assistant for a public relations campaigns class that partners with LOPA every semester to increase the donor registry while spreading awareness on and off-campus. As she helped guide students through their campaigns, she fell in love with LOPA’s core purpose to ""Make Life Happen"" and has helped to promote the cause ever since.   

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    The Technical Skills and Quality Assurance Workshop features a variety of topics of importance to eye bank technicians and quality assurance professionals.

    The Technical Skills and Quality Assurance Workshop features a variety of topics of importance to eye bank technicians and quality assurance professionals.

    Joshua Galloway, CEBT

    Josh Galloway, CEBT, has been with Lions VisionGift since 2003 where he currently serves as the Vice President of Laboratory Services. Josh has trained surgeons and eye bank technicians from all over the world in EK processing. He is currently Chair of the Technician Education Committee, the Certification Board Chair, a faculty member of the Technician Education Seminar, and has been a primary and co-author on numerous presentations and articles.

    Brian Hitt, MD, PhD

    Brian Hitt, MD, PhD, is an Instructor in the Behavioral Neurology section of UT Southwestern Medical Center’s Department of Neurology and Neurotherapeutics. He specializes in neurodegenerative diseases and conducts basic science and translational research aimed at better understanding the molecular mechanisms of neurodegeneration and developing new diagnostic techniques. Dr. Hitt earned his M.D. and Ph.D from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and completed his residency in Neurology and a fellowship in Behavioral Neurology at UT Southwestern Medical Center. 

    Tina Livesay, CEBT

    Tina Livesay, CEBT, Chief Operating Officer at Saving Sight, has 28 years of experience in eye banking ranging from managing all aspects of recovery and lab operations to quality assurance. In her current role, she leads Saving Sight’s eye bank operations, focusing on improving organizational performance while building a team culture of excellence. Livesay is a graduate of Southwest Missouri State University with a bachelors of science degree in Biology. 

    Ingrid Schunder, MBA, CEBT

    VP of Logistics & Development

    Miracles in Sight

    Ingrid Schunder, MBA, CEBT, is the Vice President of Logistics and Development and is responsible for the day to day logistical operations of both North and South Carolina. This includes the supervision and ongoing training of the Surgical Recovery Specialists who perform ocular tissue recoveries as well as the Professional Development Staff servicing the hospitals, Medical Examiners, Coroners and Funeral Homes of North and South Carolina. Ingrid served in the United States Army, HHC, 2nd Armored Division as the Commanding General’s Attendant. Prior to her career in eye banking she taught high school Spanish and English. Her degrees include MBA in Leadership, a BA in Psychology and a BS in Education. Currently, Ingrid serves on the EBAA Technician Education Committee and the Technician Education Seminar Staff

    Troy Win'E, CEBT

    Senior Director of Recovery and Partner Relations

    SightLife

    Troy Win’E, CEBT, is the Sr. Director of Recovery and Partner Relation at SightLife. He received his Bachelor's Degree in Cellular Molecular Biology from the University of Washington. Troy currently serves on the EBAA Technician Education Committee as Chair. 

    Matthew Arnett

    Dakota Lions Sight & Health



    Kristen Pereira, CEBT, CTBS, CQIA, CQA (ASQ)

    Sierra Donor Services Eye Bank

    Kristen Pereira, CEBT, CTBS, CQIA, CQA (ASQ), is the Manager of Quality & Compliance at the Sierra Donor Services Eye Bank and, has been a part of the organization's Quality Assurance Department for the past nine years. She has achieved a Bachelor's Degree in health care administration, along with the following certifications: Certified Tissue Bank Specialist (CTBS), Certified Eye Bank Technician (CEBT), Certified Quality Improvement Associate (CQIA), and Certified Quality Auditor (CQA). She is involved in all aspects of quality; from implementing policies and procedures, to adverse reaction reporting, to handling various types of third party inspections.

    Kristin Mathes, MA

    Kristin Mathes, MA, started in eye banking in 2000 as a per diem recovery technician at Rocky Mountain Lions Eye Bank in Colorado. She spent a couple of years working for a medical device company before moving to Oregon and joining the Lions VisionGift team in 2008. At Lions VisionGift, she oversees the quality assurance and eligibility determination departments. Kristin earned her Master's in Science with a focus in regulatory science from Johns Hopkins University in 2018.

  • Contains 2 Component(s)

    The speakers discuss different perspectives and processes that their organizations have in place to connect donor families and recipients.

    The bond between a donor family member and a recipient is a meaningful one and eye banks can help bring them together by facilitating meetings or communication. During this session, speakers discuss the programs that their organizations have instituted to connect donor families and recipients. This session highlights many of the different methods and processes that eye banks utilize to facilitate meetings and communications between donor families and recipients and includes materials for physicians to give to recipients, direct communication with donor families and recipients, instructions for how to write letters to a donor family, and family after care programs.  

    Matt Webber

    Partner Relations Manager

    Lions VisionGift

    Matt Webber is the Partner Relations Manger at Lions VisionGift, helping to develop and implement strategies and activities to advance Lions VisionGift's initiatives. Prior to this, Matt served as the Community Engagement Manager at Donate Life NW. Matt enjoys Oregon, his running shoes, fly fishing, and writing short bios for presentations at EBAA.

    Janice Sedgwick, CEBT

    Georgia Eye Bank

    Janice Sedgwick, CEBT, is the Manager of Public and Professional Relations at Georgia Eye Bank. Janice has also been a member of the Donor Development committee since 2012. 

    Kristel Gruslin, RN, CTBS

    Kristel Gruslin received her Bachelor of Science in nursing in 2014. Before joining Transplant Services Center, she worked in the emergency department at Parkland Memorial Hospital and as a dialysis charge nurse at Fresenius Medical Care. At TSC, in addition to her hospital development and call center duties, Kristel has taken ownership of the Donor Family Aftercare Program (including correspondence exchange) transforming it into a highly effective program for our families.

    Rebecca Grossman

    Senior Manager of Family and Community Resources

    SightLife

    Rebecca Grossman, BSW, is the Senior Manager of Family and Community Resources and oversees the Aftercare Program. Her unique background fits well for this rewarding and complex position. Rebecca’s formal education began with a degree in social work from the University of Vermont. Rebecca has continued her education by earning certificates from University of Washington in Adult Education and Public Relations and has taken numerous courses to become a death doula. She also co-produced a live storytelling program for 11 years. She is an advocate, a storyteller, and has cultivated a truly remarkable community to support and connect SightLife donor families.