Coach Whittingham receives the “I Made It Happen Award” from the John A. Moran Eye Center.
University of Utah Football Coach Kyle Whittingham has received many extraordinary awards in the world of college football this year. But there is one honor that no other coach in the United States except Coach Whittingham received; it's the "I Made It Happen Award" from the John A. Moran Eye Center.
Yes it's true; Moran Executive Director Wayne Imbrescia presented the coveted award to Coach Whittingham on March 3rd, at a small (very small) ceremony in Coach's office. The "I Made It Happen Award" is given to an individual voted by Moran managers and directors for, well, making it happen.
Read more about Coach Whittingham...
Moran Eye Center Surgeon Installed as President of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery
John A. Moran Eye Center ophthalmic surgeon, Dr. Alan Crandall was installed as president of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS) April 4, 2009 in San Francisco at the annual ASCRS convention. Dr. Crandall is a graduate of the University of Utah, School of Medicine, and now serves as senior vice-chairman of the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at his alma mater. He focuses on the medical and surgical management of glaucoma and cataract. At the Moran Eye Center, Dr. Crandall sees patients from around the world as one of University Health Care's more than 1,600 specialists.
Read more about Dr. Crandall...
Dr. Geoffrey Tabin Brings Sight to African Villagers
Moran Eye Center Ophthalmic Surgeon and Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Utah, Dr. Geoffrey Tabin received an Unsung Heroes of Compassion award from The Dalai Lama on April 26, 2009 in San Francisco. The award is being given to Dr. Tabin for his dedicated service overcoming preventable and treatable blindness throughout the world.
Read More about "A Dance of Joy - A Vision of Hope"
Moran Eye Center Ophthalmic Imaging Specialist Paula Morris Elected President of Ophthalmic Photographers' Society
John A. Moran Eye Center ophthalmic photographer Paula Morris, C.R.A., F.O.P.S., was recently elected president of The Ophthalmic Photographers' Society (OPS). The Ophthalmic Photographers Society is an international non-profit organization dedicated to a highly specialized form of medical photography pertaining to the field of ophthalmology. The main objectives of the Society are to provide primary and continuing education in the field of ophthalmic photography, to set and maintain standards for the profession through a multi-level certification program and to promote scientific advancement in the technology. Members of the Ophthalmic Photographers Society perform photography of all structures of the eye using highly specialized equipment. They are healthcare professionals who increase the level of care to patients and help to advance the science of ophthalmology. As president, Paula will be responsible for presiding over the OPS Board of Directors, over the administration OPS business, and serve as an ex-officio member of the Boards of Education and Certification.
We congratulate Paula on this very important and prestigious honor. Read more about Paula. You can learn more about news and events of the past year on the Moran website at www.moraneyecenter.
Moran Clinician and Researcher Dr. Bala Ambati Receives Research to Prevent Blindness Award
Salt Lake City, Utah, January 27, 2009. Dr. Bala Ambati was recently awarded a Research to Prevent Blindness (RPB) physician-scientist award. This award is given to strengthen and promote clinical and/or basic research done by clinicians in RPB Grantee ophthalmology departments. Three to five $60K grants are awarded nationally each fall, offering support for early or mid-career MDs holding primary positions as Assistant Professors through full Professors in ophthalmology departments. The award is given to ophthalmologists who are nationally recognized in their subspecialty and actively engaged in research.
Dr. Ambati is building collaborative research programs within Moran and on-campus with a view towards continued development of anti-angiogenic agents, understanding the mechanisms of alternative splicing controlling sVEGFR-1, and advancing drug delivery to the eye. Dr. Ambati's laboratory published a key paper in Nature in 2006 defining the basis of the cornea's natural avascularity, which was selected as a 2006 Signaling Breakthrough of the Year by Science.
With respect to clinical research, Dr. Ambati is committed to constant analysis of results of cornea transplants, LASIK, cataract extraction, and other anterior segment procedures with a view towards optimization of patient outcomes.
The WIG Corner
Welcome to the "Wildly Important Goals" corner. 
Each month we will be spotlighting the Moran Eye Center goals. This month we're happy to announce that we reached 100% compliance on our flu shots. At the Moran Eye Center, we strive to provide the best possible patient care by ensuring that our staff is infection free. We are happy to announce that we achieved our goal of 100% compliance for employee flu shots. We set a goal of having all our employees who contact patients participate in the program. Of the 308 employees, 132 were Hospital specific employees, and 176 were School of Medicine employees. Moran operating room nurse supervisor Laurel Kay said this about the flu shot project, “It makes a major difference in preventing the spread of infection if our caretakers are well. We had great compliance in having influenza immunizations this year with our nursing and technician staff, our office personnel and our researchers. We also expect a reduction in sick days due to the great compliance we have had.” We also provided as many of our patients as possible with their immunizations, and discussed and offered the injection to each patient as they came in for surgery. More than 200 of our patients participated in this program.
“Eye” Witness Perfect Vision of Health Care by Ruth Ann Harnisch
A blog we found on the Internet. A real compliment to Moran employees for providing world-class service to a patient.
"You think health care is messed up in the USA? Nobody ever expects a visit to an emergency room to be anything but a nightmare. Most hospitals are unpleasant. (Fill in your own horror stories here.)
Yesterday, a family member needed to see an eye specialist in a hurry. We braced ourselves for the inevitable.I could not be more shocked to report that we had an experience unlike any other in my nearly six decades.
I used to be a health reporter - I know what it takes to deliver the kind of care we experienced at the Moran Eye Center connected with the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. It takes money, leadership, dedication, and, um, vision.
We drove into the underground parking lot (no ticket, no charge) to be greeted by a pleasant attendant, who noticed me looking around when we got out of the car and without being asked, spoke up and indicated where to enter the building.
The first thing I noticed was how clean the place is. (Isn’t it amazing how dingy and stinky most health care facilities are?) The furniture is welcoming and comfortable. The decor is pleasant. Even though we were five minutes past the cutoff time for Triage patients, we were graciously accommodated. Every person we dealt with was so professional, warm, and just plain nice.The intake person apologized that the process would take ten minutes no matter how fast he worked.The technician was gentle and comforting.
We had to wait (who doesn’t expect to wait?) but we waited in a clean, pleasant examining room.Three times people dropped in to ask if we needed or wanted anything (bottled water? soft drink?) and to assure us we were not being forgotten. Dr. Richard Aldous was not only a thorough professional, he was a wonderful teacher. Two medical students observed his work as he quizzed them about what they were seeing.
He was patient with them and meticulous with us."
Read more about Ruth Ann's experience at the Moran.
The Bookplate Program
If you haven't heard about the great bookplate program in our Bloomberg Library on the 5th floor, it is a unique way to make a contribution to our Ophthalmology program. By purchasing a book, you have the opportunity to make a charitable donation that will last for years to come. Whether you’re a patient or a supporter of the Moran Eye Center, your gift will be a substantial contribution to our program.
The Bookplate program is also a wonderful way to commemorate the passing of a loved one by donating on their behalf. Inside each book is this unique bookplate (see below) that shows who the gift was given by and on whose behalf it was given.
For more information about making a donation, please contact Elaine Schwanebeck at 801.585.6701 or via email at elaine.schwanebeck@hsc.utah.edu
Alumni elected as president of the American Academy of Ophthalmology
Randolph L. Johnston, M.D. of Cheyenne Eye Clinic is the new President-Elect of the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO).
Dr. Johnston received his medical degree from the University of Utah College of Medicine in 1979 and completed his internship and residency at Utah in 1980 and 1983, respectively.
To read more about the new President-Elect for the AAO, click on Dr. Johnston.