Our doctors, scientists and staff have had a partnership with San Diego since our beginning. The community provided us with the Shiley Eye Center in 1990, while over the years responding to additional needs and opportunities resulting in the Anne F. & Abraham Ratner Children’s Eye Center, Hamilton Glaucoma Center, Joan & Irwin Jacobs Retina Center, the Ruth and Victor Schulman Community Ophthalmology, the Bill and Eva Weyland Library and recently a new wing still under construction. This new wing, expected to be completed in early 2008, will add much needed research, clinical and surgery space.

The Shiley Eye Center’s contribution to this partnership with our community has been to provide extraordinarily talented clinicians in all fields of ophthalmology who are always available with the best and most up to date eye care. These doctors are unique, in that they are also scientists who have made and continue to make important advances in ophthalmology that constantly translate to better treatments for our patients.

In spite of being the youngest university Department of Ophthalmology in the country, we rank in the top ten in research and are closing in on the top position. Our trainees have become leaders in our field. We have the largest community outreach program for adults and children in the United States, as well as offering assistance throughout the world.

Due to the increase in San Diego’s population and prevalence of blinding eye diseases, our patient volume continues to rise. This dynamic creates new challenges which we strive to meet regarding accessibility and personalized care.

Nevertheless, we cannot be satisfied with our past successes or daunted by future challenges. We can and must move forward improving all aspects of our patient care, as well as seizing opportunities in our research.

To achieve these goals we continue to need your financial support. I believe we have proven the value of your past investment and will succeed even more with your future support.

Best Regards,

Stuart I. Brown, M.D.
Professor and Chairman, Department of Ophthalmology
Dr. Richard K. and Tatiana A. Lansche Distinguished Chair in Ophthalmology
Director, Shiley Eye Center