BroadEye: An Ophthalmology Podcast

From the operating room to the C-suite in pharma - Dr. Jay Duker

Dr. Duker is an accomplished ophthalmologist, that is now the Chief Operating Officer of EyePoint Pharma, a biotech company that develops sustained-release medications to treat serious ocular disorders. We talked about his career path and what motivated him to move from a clinical to an executive position. For the 21 years before he took the COO position at EyePoint, Dr. Duker was the Director of the New England Eye Center (NEEC) and Professor and Chair of the Department of Ophthalmology at Tufts Medical Center, Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston, Massachusetts. Dr. Duker received his medical degree from Jefferson Medical College. He completed a residency and fellowship in vitreoretinal diseases and ocular oncology at the Wills Eye Hospital.

Art beyond what we can see - Dr. John Kennedy

What might come as a surprise to most people is that the visually impaired can draw!

Dr. Kennedy is a Professor of Psychology at the University of Toronto and is especially interested in the theory of pictures drawn by people who are blind. The key idea is that lines in outline drawings mean the same thing to the sighted and people who are blind -- edges of surfaces, such as profiles of people and corners of cubes. These shapes are understood via touch as well as vision. We also talked about how drawing kits are now made available free to all children who are blind in the US and his book on the topic: Drawing and the Blind: Pictures to Touch.

Flying Eye Hospital, Telemedicine, and AI to cure blindness - Dr. Hunter Cherwek

In this episode, we learned how Orbis International is much more than a flying hospital. Using the latest technologies such as AI and telemedicine, Dr. Hunter Cherwek is leading a global initiative to train ophthalmologists and help eliminate avoidable blindness in low-resource communities.

Google’s Approach to Eyecare - Dr. Christian Gutierrez

Christian is the Head of Digital Therapeutics and Director of Business Development at Twenty Twenty Therapeutics, a joint venture between Verily Life Sciences, an Alphabet company, and Santen, a leading Japanese pharmaceutical company. We talked about the company’s vision to eliminate preventable blindness with technology that empowers patients to care for their own vision between doctors’ visits.

Fighting Cancer, Playing Music, and Promoting Science - Dr. Gail Seigel

Dr. Seigel is an accomplished researcher, helping to develop more efficient ways to treat retinoblastoma. We also had the chance to chat about her role in the Rochester NY March for Science, a global movement that aims to promote science for the common good and equitable access to scientific education and opportunities.

The Current State Of Research For New Therapies To Treat Retinitis Pigmentosa - Dr. Bill Stell

In this episode, Dr. Bill Stell gives a comprehensive overview of the most promising clinical research and potential treatments for inherited retinal diseases, including Retinitis Pigmentosa. Dr. Stell further explores avenues for retired researchers and clinicians to continue helping patients and mentoring young professionals. 

How Virtual Reality Is Being Used To Treat Amblyopia - Dr. Dennis Levi

In this episode, Dr. Dennis Levi provides an in-depth overview of the causes and treatment options for patients with Amblyopia. Dr. Levi highlights how virtual reality and perceptual learning are becoming increasingly important in optimizing stereovision. 

How CRISPR Is Being Used To Treat Blinding Eye Diseases - Dr. Mark Pennesi

In this episode, Dr. Mark Pennesi provides an overview of inherited retinal dystrophies and how CRISPR is being used to edit DNA in the eyes of patients. Dr. Pennesi further shares recent research findings from a clinical trial using CRISPR to treat patients with Leber Congenital Amaurosis. 

Living Life At The Edge Of Your Comfort Zone - Anthony Ferraro

In this episode, Anthony Ferraro shares the story of his journey from being diagnosed with Leber Congenital Amaurosis — a rare and blinding eye disease — to training for the 2024 Paralympic Games. In recent years, Anthony has gained an incredible following on social media as an inspiring athlete, amateur musician, and overall beacon of positivity.

How The Foundation Fighting Blindness Is Accelerating Research and Therapies For Blinding Retinal Diseases - Dr. Jacque Duncan

In this episode, Dr. Jacque Duncan provides an overview of how The Foundation Fighting Blindness is funding critical research that could impact millions of patients with inherited and degenerative retinal diseases. Dr. Duncan further describes her research focus which aims to preserve vision and stimulate visual function.