Message from the Chair

 

“Things should be made as simple as possible, but not any simpler.”
– Albert Einstein

Teamwork made simple. Devices made simple. Sound simple?

Ophthalmology—working side by side with engineers. Can this synergy generate new technologies that will help people see? I believe this to be true.

Ophthalmology—integrating new drug discovery. Can this synergy generate new opportunities that will improve vision? I believe this to be true.

Over the past two decades, Emory Eye investigators have worked in teams exploring both of these new directions in vision research. The results of this work are changing the field of ophthalmology. Some of the newly patented devices are extraordinarily simple—yet not too simple.

The potential for improving sight and the quality of vision is very exciting. Many of our Eye Center projects have evolved from the labs and are now entering pre-clinical investigation through patience, perseverance and constant iteration. Henry Edelhauser's award-winning translational research program is a sterling example of such research, as seen in our current Emory Eye magazine. His years of collaborative work have led to a very simple device, the microneedle apparatus . . . yet, not too simple.

Of course, we can only reach final success through teamwork. Atlanta is home to one of our nation's strongest schools of engineering, Georgia Tech. It's also home to Emory University and Emory Healthcare, an institution that has become one of our nation's finest, fully-integrated academic health care systems. When Georgia Tech and Emory combine, 1 + 1 = 3: the definition of synergy.

At the Emory Eye Center, our clinics are midway through a fundamental redesign. Our restructured clinical space focuses on patient care, enables increased efficiency, and supports education and clinical research. Additionally, we've welcomed talented new faculty members who are enthusiastic, well trained, and full of ideas that are re-invigorating our clinical, research, and educational programs.

In every endeavor—research, clinical care, structural improvements, and new programs and services—all of us at the Emory Eye Center work every day to improve vision for our patients and to teach our outstanding students. We welcome your feedback about our program, as always.

Timothy W. Olsen, MD
F. Phinizy Calhoun Sr. Professor of Ophthalmology
Chair of the Department of Ophthalmology
Director, Emory Eye Center