News & Events » Recent Events
Los Angeles, CA - Dining in the Dark Visionary Awards Dinner
|
The Foundation Fighting Blindness hosted its 2nd Annual Los Angeles Dining in the Dark Visionary Awards Dinner on Tuesday, May 18 at The Beverly Hills Hotel. This year’s dinner honorees, Bartly J. Mondino, M.D., and Bradley R. Straatsma, M.D., J.D., were honored for their commitment to the advancement of science and technology that is driving vital research towards treating and preventing retinal degenerative diseases. Dr. Bartly Mondino is the Chairman of the UCLA Department of Ophthalmology and Director of the Jules Stein Eye Institute. He is responsible for leading the academic pursuits of the Institute's faculty and trainees in a complex and challenging environment, while maintaining the highest standards in research, teaching and patient care. Additionally, he treats patients and pursues research interests in the field of inflammatory and infectious eye diseases. He has published extensively on autoimmune diseases of the external eye and contact-lens-related corneal ulcers. Dr. Mondino serves as Executive Vice President of the Association of University Professors of Ophthalmology and as a Medical Advisory Board Member of the Board of Directors for the Braille Institute. Dr. Bradley Straatsma is Professor of Ophthalmology Emeritus at the Jules Stein Eye Institute at the University of California, Los Angeles. Dr. Straatsma commenced faculty appointment at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in 1959. He was appointed Professor in 1962, Director of the Jules Stein Eye Institute in 1964, and Chairman of the Department of Ophthalmology in 1968, where he remained until 1994. In 2002, Dr. Straatsma graduated from the University of West Los Angeles School of Law (J.D., Cum Laude). Committed to the world of ophthalmology, Dr. Straatsma is currently a Member of the International Council of Ophthalmology and President of the International Council of Ophthalmology Foundation. The evening began with a welcoming from actor and philanthropist, Harry Hamlin, who emceed the entire evening and kept the crowd laughing and entertained. Foundation Fighting Blindness Chief Development Officer, Jim Minow, spoke about the Foundation before the night’s honorees received their Visionary Awards. Our Los Angeles VisionWalk Chair, Diana Whitlach, gave a passionate and moving speech that led to the live auction segment. The dinner continued after the successful live auction with an unforgettable dining experience in complete darkness, as the guests were taken through a unique journey of tastes, sounds and touch with their visually impaired servers. This truly memorable evening raised over $161,000 for critical research with over 225 guests in attendance from the local community and ophthalmic industry. The evening ended with closing remarks from FFB supporter, Susan Sragow. For more information on this or future Southern California events, contact the Foundation Fighting Blindness Western Region office at (310) 207-2089. |
