Cornea specialists head to San Diego

Yearly ASCRS, once-every-five World Congress to meet.

By Jerry Helzner, Contributing Editor

COURTESY SAN DIEGO CONVENTION CENTER

The almost 15,000 ophthalmologists, practice administrators, staff and spouses who will attend the 41st annual ASCRS/ASOA Symposium and Congress from April 17 to 21 in San Diego can expect a lively and informative experience, highlighted by distinguished speakers, Ophthalmology Hall of Fame inductions, Glaucoma Subspecialty Day (April 17) and the once-every-five-years World Cornea Congress.

ASCRS/ASOA Symposium & Congress
April 17-21

Robert J. Cionni, MD, President (2015-2016)

Donald T.H. Tan, MD

Shigeru Kinoshita, MD, PhD

Daniel Kraft, MD

Dr. Cionni will lead ASCRS

Robert J. Cionni, MD, a widely recognized innovator in the field of modern cataract surgery and the medical director of The Eye Institute of Utah, will lead ASCRS for the next year. He serves as ASCRS’ vice president and will replace outgoing president Richard A. Lewis, MD.

Dr. Cionni will deliver the incoming president’s address on April 18 during the ASCRS Opening General Session. Over his extensive career, Dr. Cionni pioneered many advanced techniques, including his own design for a capsular tension ring to facilitate difficult cataract surgeries in which zonules are damaged or missing.

“ASCRS has been so important in my career development,” said Dr. Cionni. “ASCRS quickly became one of my main avenues for learning about the newest techniques and technologies that now provide improved outcomes for my patients. As time went by, ASCRS also provided me tremendous insight into managing a practice and navigating the pressures brought by ever-changing regulations.”

The Binkhorst Medal

Donald T.H. Tan, FRCS, will be awarded the prestigious Binkhorst Medal and present the accompanying lecture on April 18 during the ASCRS Opening General Session. The Binkhorst Medal has been awarded to those ophthalmologists who have made significant contributions to the science and practice of ophthalmology, since 1975.

Dr. Tan was appointed The Cornea Society’s first international president in 2012. In 2009, he formed the Association of Eye Banks of Asia, dedicated to enhancing eye banking activities and standards in Asia.

Dr. Tan is among the pioneers of modern corneal lamellar surgery, serving as the Arthur Lim professor of ophthalmology at the Duke-National University of Singapore, Graduate Medical School and professor of ophthalmology at the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore. Dr. Tan is internationally recognized for his contributions to the areas of myopia, refractive surgery and cornea and external eye diseases.

The Kelman Innovator lecture

A prominent researcher who established the concept of centripetal movement of corneal epithelium will deliver the Charles D. Kelman Innovator Lecture. Shigeru Kinoshita, MD, PhD, will deliver his lecture on April 20 during the ASCRS Innovators Session.

Since 1992, Dr. Kinoshita has served as a professor and chairman of ophthalmology at the Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine. During the early 1980s, he established the concept of centripetal movement of corneal epithelium. This groundbreaking work shed new light on the importance of limbal epithelium.

Dr. Kinoshita also has focused on the research and development of new therapeutic modalities for the cornea. His research group established the novel systems of cultivated mucosal epithelial stem cell transplantation and cultivated corneal endothelial cell transplantation.

The Science & Medicine lecture

The realm of TED (Technology, Entertainment and Design) brings together innovative thinkers from a wide range of disciplines to generate new concepts that can be applied in a number of areas, including the practice of medicine.

TED and TEDMED contributor Daniel Kraft, MD, will marry health care and technology in his talk on April 19 at 10 a.m. during the Sunday Summit. Dr. Kraft’s diverse TED and TEDMED talks have been viewed worldwide over 1 million times.

A pilot, he has conducted research on aerospace medicine published with NASA and was a finalist for astronaut selection.

HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES

Frederick C. Blodi, MD

Gunter K. von Noorden, MD

TWO TO ENTER HALL OF FAME

Frederick C. Blodi, MD (1917-1996)

The namesake of the FC Blodi Eye Pathology Laboratory at the University of Iowa’s Department of Pathology, the late Frederick C. Blodi, MD, was a recognized expert in ophthalmic pathology, a skilled diagnostician and an accomplished surgeon. Dr. Blodi, who was born in Vienna and emigrated to the United States in 1947, was best known for his teaching skills — from medical book editing to thoughtful lecturing.

Dr. Blodi served internships and residencies in pathology at various hospitals throughout his native Austria during World War II. He received his doctorate from the University of Vienna School of Medicine in 1940. He was the first foreign-trained ophthalmologist to sit on the American Board of Ophthalmology and served as its chairman in 1975. Dr. Blodi served as Association of University Professors of Ophthalmology president in 1982 and AAO president in 1979. In 1980, while serving as chief editor of the Archives of Ophthalmology, he received the Lucien Howe Medal of the American Ophthalmological Society.

While he was at the University of Iowa’s Department of Ophthalmology, more than 160 residents and 120 fellows were trained. Dr. Blodi began as an associate professor with the University in 1961 and was heading the department six years later. Colleague H. Stanley Thompson, MD, said, “During Dr. Blodi’s leadership (1967-1984), the [University’s reputation] was enhanced as one of the best places in the world to learn ophthalmology.”

Gunter K. von Noorden, MD

Gunter K. von Noorden, MD, a pre-eminent leader in ophthalmology and strabismus surgery for the past 40 years, serves as an emeritus professor at the Baylor College of Medicine and clinical professor of ophthalmology at the University of Southern Florida in Tampa.

Prior to his current role, Dr. von Noorden was professor and director of the Ocular Motility Service at the Baylor College of Medicine and professor at the Wilmer Eye Institute at Johns Hopkins University. He began his career as special fellow and assistant professor of ophthalmology at the University of Iowa. Dr. von Noorden completed his fellowships at the Cleveland Clinic and the University of Tabigen Eye Clinic (Germany), following his ophthalmic residency at the University of Iowa in 1960.

Born in Germany in 1928, Dr. von Noorden moved with his family to Berlin in 1937. It exposed him to Adolf Hitler’s dictatorship and Nazi propaganda. Following his involvement in World War II, Dr. von Noorden dedicated his life to healing others and worked his way through medical school at the Johann-Wolfgang Goethe University.

Dr. von Noorden, a former president of the American Association of Pediatric Ophthalmology, also served as former president of the American Association of Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.

He has published 310 scientific papers and four books, including “Ocular Motility and Binocular Vision: Theory and Management of Strabismus,” heralded as the “gold-standard text for ocular motility disorders for the past 30 years.”

Special honored guests

Philippe Sourdille, MD, and Marcelo Ventura, MD, PhD, will be recognized at the Opening General Session as special honored guests. Dr. Sourdille is a French ophthalmologist affiliated with the University of Nantes who has developed safer techniques for performing cataract surgery. He has also written or co-authored numerous papers relating to cataract surgery and is a former president of the European Society for Cataract and Refractive Surgery.

Dr. Ventura is a Brazilian ophthalmologist whose Altino Ventura Foundation has been dedicated, since 1986, to training ophthalmologists and bringing professional eye care to low-income areas of Brazil. A main area of focus of the Foundation is pediatric ophthalmology and treatment of congenital cataracts in children, which is a pervasive health problem in Brazil.

Prime Time for San Diego Tourism

Major events mark Balboa Park’s centennial.

By Jerry Helzner, Contributing Editor

This year marks the centennial celebration of the city’s great downtown attraction Balboa Park, which first served as an exposition site in 1915 to mark the opening of the Panama Canal. Since then, the original buildings and gardens have been expanded to house 17 museums, the San Diego Zoo and other attractions — all of which are planning special events this year. ASCRS attendees who can tear themselves away from the meeting will not be sorry.

Natural History Museum highlights King Tut

The centerpiece of the Balboa Park attractions is “The Discovery of King Tut” exhibit at the San Diego Natural History Museum. This lavish exhibit provides the story behind the excavation process and the discovery of the tomb, and offers 1,000 replicas of the actual treasures faithfully reproduced to scale.

The Natural History Museum is also featuring a “Birds of the World” exhibit consisting of award-winning photos from all continents taken by 14 of the world’s best natural history photographers. Also, the Museum has a special exhibit called “Whales: Giants of the Deep.” This is an interactive exhibit that brings visitors “eye-to-eye with some of the world’s most elusive creatures.”

Admission to the Natural History Museum is $17 for adults and $11 for children under 17 for a one-day pass; the King Tut exhibit is extra.

Trolley tour covers many attractions

If your goal is to take in many of San Diego’s attractions in a single day, the Old Town Trolley Tour may be the answer. The “hop-on, hop-off” tours feature a conductor/narrator and enable visitors to plan their own stops at such places as Old Town, Seaport Village, Coronado and Balboa Park and then board another trolley to continue on to their next destination. The trolleys leave every 30 minutes and a one-day pass is $39 on site or $35.10 if purchased in advance.

San Diego Zoo: one of the best

The world-famous San Diego Zoo in Balboa Park tops many “must-see” lists. Features include baby gorillas and the Polar Bear Plunge, which allows guests to come within feet of active polar bears. This exhibit also includes a mock polar bear snow den and an Arctic research helicopter.

In addition, the San Diego Zoo is one of the few zoos in the United States to still retain an elephant population, which are part of the Elephant Odyssey exhibit. Another rare treat are the three giant pandas (mother, father and cub) that are housed at the Zoo. A big favorite is the Koala Colony, which features a natural Australian Outback setting.

The San Diego Zoo Safari Park, located about 30 miles northwest of center city, is an 1,800-acre preserve where wild animals roam free over vast expanses. The Journey Into Africa exhibit allows visitors to ride an open-air tram and view rhinos, Cape buffalo, gazelles and a variety of native African birds.

DOWNTOWN
Across the street from the convention center is the city’s Gaslamp Quarter, where you’ll find premier dining, shopping and entertainment. Go ahead, shake off the jet lag.

ATTRACTIONS
See animals from around the globe at the San Diego Zoo or the San Diego Zoo’s Safari Park.
COURTESY SAN DIEGO CONVENTION CENTER

Other attractions include SeaWorld, on Mission Bay, and SeaLife Aquarium at Legoland.

And more

The retired aircraft carrier USS Midway is berthed on Harbor Drive alongside Navy Pier in downtown San Diego. It is home to 60 exhibits and 29 restored US warplanes, ranging from World War II vintage to Operation Desert Storm.

On April 18 and 19, the Coronado Flower Show will be held in Spreckels Park in downtown Coronado Village. A large flower show, admission is just $5. Another seasonal attraction is the Flower Fields Ranunculus Display, which features 50 acres of beautiful Tecolote Giant Ranunculus flowers that come into bloom each spring at the Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch.

All of these events have websites, so check online for additional information.

Surveying San Diego’s wine scene

In eateries or shops, they’re all worth the pour.

By Candice Woo

ASCRS meeting attendees will want to unwind after their days of hearing sessions, and San Diego’s vibrant restaurant community offers the perfect break. The city’s growing wine scene is especially rewarding to those who wish to do a little exploring.

It wasn’t always this rich. With more than 100 licensed breweries in the area, craft beer is arguably king of the local landscape; the area already is being referred to as the ‘Napa Valley of craft beer’.

But wine will always have a place in local glasses; in recent years an influx of well-trained wine professionals has helped to strengthen and broaden the wine programs offered in San Diego restaurants, helping to expose diners to worthy wines from around the globe and to bring attention to the best local wine efforts.

IN THE RESTAURANTS

► Juniper & Ivy, which opened last spring, is arguably the hottest restaurant in San Diego. Led by Richard Blais of Top Chef fame, the dynamic eatery is part of the Little Italy neighborhood, which has become the city’s top dining destination. Inspired by the bounty of the West Coast, the menu is based on dishes using local seafood, meat and produce. The 100-bottle wine list, curated by experienced sommelier Tami Wong, is divided by varietal into sections with a ratio of 70/30 imports to domestics; “Tried & True” holds old and new world wines familiar to experienced palates, while “Leap of Faith” exposes drinkers to wines from regions off the beaten path.

► The Grand Del Mar in North County is a five-star resort known for its golf and spa amenities that also boasts San Diego’s premier fine dining establishment, Addison. The restaurant’s chef, William Bradley, has been nominated several times for James Beard Awards, as has its wine program, currently overseen by Elizabeth Huettinger, who last worked at Spago in Los Angeles. An advanced sommelier, Huettinger presides over a list of 3,500 selections that spans from vintage wines dating back to 1900 to the most sought after wines in the world. Addison also offers an extensive half-bottle list.

► Huettinger also devised the wine program at Addison’s sister restaurant Bijou, in La Jolla, whose cuisine is French bistro. Her wine list for Bijou is succinct at nearly 50 selections, with a focus on mostly French and American wineries.

► La Jolla’s legendary George’s at the Cove is several restaurants in one. Overlooking the Pacific Ocean, casual dining is offered on the rooftop terrace and mid-level bar, while the ground floor is dedicated to the more formal George’s California Modern dining room. Acclaimed chef Trey Foshee has a seasonal menu inspired by local seafood and produce and is best showcased via his TBL3 experience. Those who want TBL3 must book a week in advance. The 12- to 14-course dinner is available with beverage pairings from a wine list with more that 400 globe-spanning selections.

► Sommelier Josh Orr leads the wine program at the downtown San Diego Marriott Marquis & Marina’s signature restaurant, Marina Kitchen. Orr’s CV includes a stint in Burgundy, France and sommelier posts in Las Vegas; last year, he competed against 200 sommeliers from around the country and won the title of top sommelier in America. The 300-bottle selections on his list showcase artisanal wineries, both domestic and international.

► Chef-owner Carl Schroeder of MARKET Del Mar is a multiple James Beard Awards nominee and is well-regarded for his locally-inspired cuisine fueled by San Diego-grown produce, much of it grown at nearby Chino Farm, a favorite of Chez Panisse’s Alice Waters. Designed to complement and reflect Schroeder’s menu, MARKET’s wine list leans toward smaller producers and changes often to highlight new boutique wineries.

► Schroeder also runs the more relaxed Bankers Hill Bar + Restaurant, which is known for its excellent craft cocktails and accessible and seasonal dishes. General manager J.M. Woody van Horn is an accredited sommelier and helped to run Thomas Keller’s Bouchon in Yountville while sommelier.

► A hidden gem, the Wine Vault & Bistro doesn’t quite function like a traditional restaurant. It hosts up to 40 winemaker dinners a year, five to seven courses with pairings. Dinners are usually held Sunday through Wednesday. From Thursday to Saturday, the Wine Vault offers three- to five-course bistro menus, with optional wine flights or wines by the glass.

► A very popular restaurant in San Diego, CUCINA urbana is admired for its attentive service and affordable, accessible menu of California-inspired Italian dishes that range from antipasti to pizza and pasta. The wine list focuses on wines of “The Americas and the Mediterranean”; bottles can be purchased in their adjacent wine shop and opened with a corkage fee or taken to-go.

► A wine-centric haven in the craft beer-saturated neighborhood on North Park, The Smoking Goat is a European bistro run by chef-owner Fred Piehl, who trained at Paris’ Le Cordon Bleu and worked at NINE-TEN, an acclaimed fine dining restaurant in La Jolla. GM Ross Harmon also hails from NINE-TEN and is a certified sommelier; his wine list is split between California and France, with contributions from Spain, Italy and Germany.

► Jayne’s Gastropub is a chic, cozy eatery (burgers, fish and chips, lamb shepherd’s pie) with a concise but cutting-edge wine list. Co-owner and wine director Jon Erickson writes a wine column for the Union-Tribune and curates his list like a proper wine geek — find everything from natural and orange wines to high-acidic varieties.

BARS AND BOTTLE SHOPS

► A favorite local neighborhood, South Park, is home to The Rose Wine Bar and Bottle Shop, a friendly spot with an eclectic, thoughtfully sourced wine list and small bites menu that ranges from cheese and meat boards to flatbreads and salads. The wine shop’s owners prefer wines made organically, with native grapes, minimal additives — or those produced with ambient yeast. The Rose also carries well-reviewed local wines: Vesper Vineyards, based in Valley Center, also operates an urban winery and tasting room in nearby Escondido; Vesper’s production is extensive, from rosé to carignan. San Francisco Chronicle wine editor Jon Bonne named a Vesper white blend to his Top 100 Wines of 2013.

► Village Vino in Kensington is a wine store and bar that serves salads and wine-friendly snacks. Owner Rita Pirkl has more than 20 years experience in the wine business and supports small family-owned and operated producers from around the world; two to three times a month, she hosts wine tastings that showcase a particular winery or wine-producing region. OM