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ALUMNI ASSOCIATION CLINICAL FACULTY • RESEARCH FACULTY • UW EYE CLINIC PERSONNEL
Alumni Dear University of Wisconsin Ophthalmology Alumni,
Greetings to you and your loved ones on behalf of University of Wisconsin Ophthalmology Alumni Association. As you know we have reason to be extremely proud and the honored to be an Alumni of one of America's foremost and prestigious ophthalmology programs. It is obvious as we read journals that arrive in our offices every month that the University Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences' faculty is well represented. At our most recent Alumni Board meeting, it was noted that in 2005 the UW Medical School Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences ranked third in the nation for NIH funding. Several of our faculty members had received awards in 2006. These include David Gamm, M.D. Ph.D., Barbara Klein, M.D. MPH, Ronald Klein, M.D. MPH, and Dan Albert M.D., MS. Eleven of our faculty have been named to the 2006 Best Doctors list the State of Wisconsin.
The physical structure of the Department has changed and improved. Research space at the Medical Science Center (MSC) has added 4000 ft.² of laboratory space and two additional labs. The remodeling project for the Department will be completed in August 2007. The Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences successfully recruited the following positions: Dan Knoch (comprehensive) starting July 1, 2007, Vivek Patel (neuro- ophthalmology) starting August 15, 2007, and Julia Agapov (glaucoma -- clinical) starting September 1, 2007. Things are happening.
The Alumni Association was founded some 12 years ago. Under the consistent and excellent leadership of our Executive Director, Dr. Richard Dortzbach, membership has grown greatly. We are fortunate to have Dr. Paul Kaufman, the Chair of the Department, attend meetings and give significant input and advice to us all. If you are a member, we thank you for your support. If you are not, we eagerly would like you to join us. Your membership helps the Association achieve its goals and helps us all to stay in touch with each other and with the University.
The purpose of the Alumni Association is threefold. First, to lend support to our current residents. Second, to support the Department in efforts towards teaching, clinical services, and research. Our final goal is to promote friendship and fellowship among fellow alumni.
In terms of resident support, the Association has instituted programs and has addressed several needs. For example, an educational fund was established to help defray the cost of textbooks for every first-year resident. This year that fund was increased this year to help pay the cost of surgical loupes. In addition, computer equipment has been supplied to the residents in order to hold cataract cases, the teaching file, presentations, pictures taken with the on-call camera, and other educational items. Funds are given to the third-year residents who presented papers at the ARVO meeting. The Association administers Dr. deVenecia's Travel Fund to the AAO for third-year residents.
Funds that the Alumni Association raises, primarily from dues and contributions, have helped to develop the surgical practice lab at the VA Hospital. We have contributed funds for the James Allen Memorial Library. We also sponsor the George Kambara and the Alice McPherson Lectures at the annual Wisconsin Eye MD Symposium. We are currently contemplating the possibility of Internet grand rounds, although this is just in its infancy, in terms of a final product.
The Alumni Association can benefit you in many ways, every year at the Academy meeting, we host an Alumni reception. At the reception there is a bulletin board on Alumni and Department News. It's an opportunity to meet retired faculty, current residents, and renew friendships with your fellow residents and with former fellows. There is good food and beverage supplied.
There is an Alumni dinner during the Spring symposium, at which time we usually have a guest speaker. The most recent speaker discussed the plight of the timber wolves after their reintroduction into Northern Wisconsin. It was entertaining, educational and a lot of fun. During the last three years at this meeting, we have honored a distinguished alumni. This year's recipient was C. Thomas Dow. His accomplishments and kindnesses were inspiration to us all.
Next year the Department is planning an Extraordinary Ophthalmology meeting being held on July 11-12, 2008 in Madison at the Monona Terrace. We will not be planning a Spring Symposium as in the past, but will try to make arrangements for the Alumni to either have a dinner or lunch during this meeting.
We support UW Ophthalmology Department's web site and help alumni with article retrieval. If you need help locating out-of-print texts and research advice, we can help facilitate those requests.
As the new president of the Alumni Association, I look forward to the opportunity to meeting you at either of these events. It is my hope that the Association will grow and become more meaningful to all of us during these next two years. I'm thankful for the dedication and leadership of Dr. George Davis who has preceded me as President of the Association. I am humbled by the exceptional board members, who devote their time and efforts to the Department and to the Alumni Association. I look forward to working with Dr. Andrew Bousch as President-Elect, as well. I welcome your contacting me by e-mail at pwholm@gmail.com or my office number 715-723-9375.
Please become involved. You can do this by continuing to maintain your membership, and by paying your dues. If you are not currently a member of the Alumni Association, please join us in supporting this program and each other. Personally, I feel it has been a true honor and privilege to have been associated with the Department both during my residency and since. I hope that you all feel the same way.
With sincere and warm personal regards,
Peter W. Holm, M.D. UW Dept of Ophthalmology Alumni Association President Class of 1981.
It’s a long way from the South Bronx, New York to Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, but Peter Holm was glad he made the journey. As a teenager he moved to Long Island (Oyster Bay, Home of Teddy Roosevelt’s summer Whitehouse) and discovered that there were things called trees, and water and clean air. It was the beginning of a continual downsizing from 12,000,000 to 12,000 via College and Medical School at Northwestern University in Evanston and Chicago, respectively. He did his Internship at Loma Linda University where he developed a love of vegetables and came to Madison for his Ophthalmology Residency in 1978 where he planted his first vegetable garden (with the help of eye clinic secretary Karen’s pig manure). The Eye Department at Madison was a dream come true for Peter and his wife of four years, Susan. It was a place where Town and Gown worked in concert to create amazing opportunities for the Residents in the program. The Karma was tangible. His first child, Anne, was born there. What a rush!
In 1981 Peter joined Tom Dow in practice in Eau Claire and Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. Two years later, as things became busier in Chippewa Falls, Peter started his own practice there. Currently the practice has three general ophthalmologists and three offices and is still independent in a sea of large multispecialty clinics. Peter, Terry McCanna (Peter McCanna’s brother), and Jeff Brown (both graduates of Wills Eye Hospital) love independent practice in Chippewa Falls. The practice is a busy one, but good Karma continues.
Peter’s son Joseph was born in Chippewa Falls in 1982.
One of the most cherished parts of Peter’s life (besides his family) are his patients. In this small community his patients have become his friends. Home visits are part of the practice. There isn’t a spring where flowers aren’t brought to his home or the clinic, or a fall when apples, squash and pumpkins don’t show up in massive amounts. This love and gratitude makes working late into the day, at nights and weekends all worthwhile.
Peter has been involved in many community projects, was President of the County Medical Society and also St Josephs Hospital, among other things. He enjoys the out of doors and is an avid kayaker, hiker, fisherman (catch and release, fly-casting), cyclist, birdwatcher and phenologist. But mostly he loves life and his good fortune in being able to practice ophthalmology.
The UW Ophthalmology Alumni Association presidency affords Peter another opportunity to enjoy life. He hopes to show all the alums the changes and improvements in the Department and to try to have 100% participation in the Alumni Association. Better communication between the current residents and the former residents is also a goal during his tenure.
Peter can be reached at pwholm@charter.net or by phone at 715-723-9375. If you have any questions concerning the Alumni Association, feel free to contact him.
Dear Alumni/ae,
This is the third year for the Distinguished Alumni Award.
The following four criteria are used in the selection of the Distinguished Alumni Award. 1 ) Distinguished leadership in the field of ophthalmology. 2) Distinguish leadership in the community. 3) Devotion and service to the University of Wisconsin Alumni Association 4) Service above self, both professionally and personally.
This year’s recipient, C. Thomas Dow, fits all the above criteria. I've known this alum for 26 years, both professionally and socially and it is indeed a privilege for me to be able to present this award to him. When preparing this presentation, I asked for help from his wife. If I can paraphrase: “he is passionate about his patients, his community projects, and is the most optimistic person I know. He is a guy who sees the Big Picture and acts on it.” Tom Dow came to Eau Claire, Wisconsin 1978 and joined Frank Brown, MD. His education at UW Madison, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences had prepared him well. Soon after arriving in Eau Claire, he performed the first corneal transplant in Eau Claire, the first retinal reattachment surgery in Eau Claire, and through his optimistic enthusiasm convinced Sacred Heart Hospital to purchase its first Argon Laser. Since that time, the Chippewa Valley Eye Clinic has grown to nine ophthalmologists and four optometrists in six different towns. Currently, Tom is involved in research, performing newer glaucoma procedures.
In the community, Tom served on the UW Eau Claire Board of Directors, the City Parks and Planning Commission, and numerous church committees. He sings in the church choir, has a tenor voice that would make an Irishman cry.
He is the resident ophthalmologist for the White Pine Rehabilitation Center where he sees owls, as well as people and has done eye surgery on injured owls when it was necessary for their survival. He also teaches family practice residents both in his office and in the hospital setting.
Tom has been an instigator for numerous large community projects in Eau Claire. He initiated fundraising, land procurement, and work for the city to plan a park for soccer use. He has also helped organize the Eau Claire area youth basketball Association. Currently, he is involved on working to find a cure for Crohn's disease through research at the UW Madison.
Finally, and what I admire most about Tom Dow is his kindness to those less fortunate than himself. Tom has traveled to the Philippines for 10 consecutive years on surgical missions performing 250 to 300 surgeries per visit. He also helps locally, those people who have no insurance or little means to pay for surgery.
Tom's devotion to his family has been obvious to me during the 26 years I've known him. He has been an excellent father to his children Katie and Jordan. Through the years he has been a wonderful parent and wonderful friend to both of them. He is encouraged them in their academic endeavors and athletic endeavors. His wife Suzanne has been a soul mate and source of support throughout his busy career. They enjoy many of the same activities and spend time together in sports, community, and UW Alumni events.
In short, Tom represents all characteristics of the great physician and a great human being. I'm very proud of the able to give him this Distinguished Alumni Award on behalf of all the UW-Madison Department of Ophthalmology Alumni Association.
Congratulations to Tom on this award presented on May 11, 2007.
Yours Truly,
Peter W. Holm, MD President Distinguished Alumnus Award Nomination Form Activities of the UW Ophthalmology Alumni Association (Past and/or Present) 1) Mission of Alumni Association
2) Sponsor George Kambara Lecture and Alice McPherson Lecture at spring symposium (funded by George Kambara and Alice McPherson)
4) AAO Meeting
5) James Allen Memorial Library -Computers,
glassed-in shelves, and periodicals.
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