SOCIETY INSTALLS NEW OFFICERS

David G. Buerger, MD, FACS, was formally installed as president of the Pittsburgh Ophthalmology Society (POS) at the society’s annual banquet held March 29 at the Terrace Room of the Omni William Penn Hotel. Dr. Buerger, who served as president-elect since 2017, will serve a two-year term for 2019 through 2021

He has been an active member of the POS since 1996 and is a founding member of the Thorpe Circle, which was established in 2014 to help offset the costs associated with the Annual meeting so that the society could continue to invite the best and brightest lecturers in the field of ophthalmology to the Pittsburgh area.

Dr. Buerger earned his medical degree from Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, where he served as class president for four years. He completed a transitional internship at Mercy Hospital before being selected to attend Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia for his ophthalmology residency. Following his year as chief resident, he completed a fellowship in Ophthalmic Plastic Surgery with Joseph Flanagan, MD, chief, Oculoplastic Surgery at Wills Eye Hospital.

Board certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology, Dr. Buerger returned to Pittsburgh in 1996 to practice as a physician and surgeon with Pittsburgh Oculoplastic Associates and practices with Drs. Daniel Buerger, Philip Choo, and Cari Lyle.

Dr. Buerger is a fellow of the American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and the American Academy of Ophthalmology and is a diplomate of the American Board of Ophthalmology.

Marshall W. Stafford, MD was elected to serve as president-elect of the POS and will serve a two-year term. Dr. Stafford has been an active member since 1996 and has served as Treasurer of the Society since 2003.

Dr. Stafford earned his medical degree from Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, PA, in 1990. He completed a transitional internship at the Medical Center of Delaware in Wilmington before attending the Eye and Ear Institute, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, for his ophthalmology residency. He completed a fellowship in Glaucoma at Washington University Eye Center, St. Louis, MO, in 1994.

Board certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology, Dr. Stafford serves as chairman, Department of Surgery, St. Margaret Hospital, UPMC, and is clinical assistant professor, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. He has been the team ophthalmologist for the Pittsburgh Steelers Football Club since 2012.

The formal installation of officers took place at the Annual Banquet, held March 23 at the Terrace Room in the Omni William Penn Hotel.  In her final remarks as President, Sharon Taylor, MD thanked the POS Board, Membership and Allied Course Directors for their assistance during her tenure.  In her two years as president, she initiated the Wet Lab program (a hands-local program which is typically found at larger ophthalmology conferences.  Board member Ian Conner, MD, PhD was also instrumental in the planning of the Wet Lab series. Dr. Taylor formally installed David G. Buerger, MD, FACS as President.   His first officially duty was presenting the President’s plaque and thank you gifts to Dr. Taylor in recognition of her service.

UPCOMING MEETINGS:  3rd Annual Wet Lab:  June 4 / June 5

 Register for June 4 Session

Register for June 5 Session

Direction to Sessions:

Parking is available in the Presby Garage. The main entrance to the Eye and Ear Institute is found on Lothrop Street. The Lab and Room 150 will be located on the left as you enter lobby. Go through doors and down hall to Room 150.   

Thank you to the following who provided support:

BAUSCH & LOMB  

MICROSURGICAL TECHNOLOGY

Jill Foster, MD (center) pictured with (left to right):  Srinivas Kondapalli, MD; Daniel Buerger, MD; Sharon L. Taylor, MD (President); and    David Buerger, MD (President-Elect)

 Dr. Foster was the final presenter of the POS 2018-2019 academic season and delivered two excellent lectures.  Thank  you to David Buerger, MD for inviting       Dr. Foster to  Pittsburgh.   Following the first lecture, Sohani Amarasekera, MD, Resident at the University of Pittsburgh Eye Center, presented an interesting case for review and  discussion. 

The Society would like to thank Allergan for support of the February meeting. 

Carl Awh, MD, (center) pictured with (left to right):  Sharon L. Taylor, MD; Andrew Eller, MD, Benjamin Botsford, MD and Thierry Verstraeten, MD 

 Dr. Awh started the 2019 meeting season with two interesting presentations. Following the first lecture, Benjamin Botsford, MD, Resident at the University of Pittsburgh Eye Center, presented an interesting case for review and  discussion. Thank you to Dr. Verstraeten for inviting Dr. Awh to Pittsburgh and to Regeneron and Spark Therapeutics for support of the program. 

Debra Goldstein, MD (left) with Pamela Rath, MD (who invited Dr. Goldstein) and Sharon Taylor, MD, President. 

 lFollowing Dr. Goldstein's first lecture, Jennifer Lee, MD, Resident at the University of Pittsburgh Eye Center, presented an interesting case for review and  discussion. Thank you to Carl Zeiss Meditec and Genentech for co-sponsoring the meeting.

Shakeel R. Shareef, MD (left) with Sharon L. Taylor, MD and Ian Conner, MD, PhD. (right). Dr. Shareef was the guest speaker for the October 4 meeting. Thank you to Dr. Conner who extended the invitation to Dr. Shareef and to Alcon for sponsoring the meeting.