ASRS – American Society of Retina Specialists

Jerzy Nawrocki, MD, PhD, FASRS, chair of the Ophthalmology Department of the Jasne Blonia Clinic in Lodz, Poland, is the recipient of the 2025 ASRS Founders Award. Dr. Nawrocki, who co-founded the Jasne Blonia Clinic in 2001, is receiving the award for his major contributions to the advancement of vitreoretinal surgery, treatment, research, and patient care.   The Founders Award was first presented in 1997 to honor the efforts of the Society’s founders, Drs. Jerald A. Bovino, Roy A. Levit, and Allen Z. Verne, for their foresight, dedication, and leadership in establishing the Society as an open, democratic, worldwide organization dedicated to the advancement of vitreoretinal surgery and the study of vitreoretinal diseases.   Dr. Nawrocki serves as an international representative on the ASRS Board of Directors, is a past president of the European Vitreoretinal Society (EVRS), and serves on the board of the Association of Polish Ophthalmic Surgeons.     ASRS presents several awards each year to recognize excellence and innovation in the field of retina. Congratulations to this year's recipients who will receive their awards on Friday, August 1, during the Awards Ceremony in Long Beach. Learn more at https://lnkd.in/gjrrtHE7.   #ASRS2025

The July/August 2025 issue of the Journal of VitreoRetinal Diseases is out now. Peruse the issue's table of contents and read an insightful editorial on purpose in medicine by JVRD Editor-in-Chief Tim Murray, MD MBA, as well as an open access manuscript on epiretinal membranes associated with choroidal melanoma and a case report on cancer-associated retinopathy initially presenting as panuveitis in a patient with minimally invasive follicular thyroid carcinoma. Also, don't miss the 2025 JVRD Contributor Awards as we thank ASRS members for their critical work in helping maintain the Journal's world-class quality and impact. https://conta.cc/3ICrefb #JVRD #RetinaResearch #RetinaScience #PeerReviewedResearch #RetinaSpecialist

The Retina Research Foundation’s 30th Annual Gertrude D. Pyron Award is being presented to Rajendra S. Apte, MD, PhD.  Dr. Apte is the Paul A. Cibis Distinguished Professor at Washington University School of Medicine, where he serves as vice chair of innovation and translation in the John F. Hardesty, MD, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences and is a professor in the Department of Developmental Biology and Medicine.  Dr. Apte’s research bridges scientific innovation and clinical/surgical practice. His discoveries related to aging and inflammation have transformed understanding of the root causes of age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and glaucoma. ASRS presents several awards each year to recognize excellence and innovation in the field of retina. Congratulations to this year's recipients who will receive their awards on Friday, August 1, during the Awards Ceremony in Long Beach. Learn more at https://lnkd.in/emA4Eur. #ASRS2025

ASRS members are in Washington, DC to meet directly with their representatives and senators to advocate for their patients and the specialty. They are asking legislators to maintain patient access to specialty care, to enact long-term, Medicare physician payment reform and curb prior authorization and step therapy. Thank you to our members who took time out of their busy schedules and away from their patients to bring these critical messages to the Hill. #ASMFLYIN

What sustains us in medicine through challenge, change, and complexity? I believe it’s purpose.  In my latest editorial for the Journal of VitreoRetinal Diseases, I reflect on how a deep sense of purpose—rooted in compassion, ethics, and service—is essential to preserving the soul of our profession.  As modern practice evolves, so do the pressures: administrative burdens, corporatization, and emotional fatigue. Yet, purpose remains a powerful force—one that strengthens resilience, guides ethical decision-making, and improves both patient care and physician well-being.  This piece is a call to leaders, educators, and institutions: Cultivating purpose must be central to our professional culture if we are to build a sustainable and humane future for retina – and all of medicine.  The July/August issue of JVRD also includes the 2025 JVRD Contributor Awards. We thank ASRS members for their critical work in helping maintain the Journal’s world-class quality and unparalleled coverage of today’s most important retina science, clinical information, and thought leadership. The enthusiastic participation of ASRS members, both as authors and reviewers, around the world is deeply appreciated and firmly positions JVRD as retina’s preeminent professional journal.   Follow this link to read my full editorial and access the latest issue, featuring timely science, case reports, and expert insights across retina care: https://lnkd.in/eeWsVepA   #Retina #RetinaSpecialist #RetinaResearch #Ophthalmology #JVRD

Kevin J. Blinder, MD, FASRS, partner at The Retina Institute in St. Louis and professor of clinical ophthalmology and visual sciences at Washington University, is the winner of the 2025 Packo Award in recognition of his exceptional service to the Society. The Packo Award is named in honor of its first recipient, ASRS 2001-2002 President Kirk H. Packo, MD, FACS, FASRS, whose dynamic leadership and strategic innovations helped shape and advance the Society for more than 30 years. Learn more about the Packo Service Award and its past winners at www.asrs.org/packoaward. ASRS presents several awards each year to recognize excellence and innovation in the field of retina. Congratulations to this year's recipients who will receive their awards on Friday, August 1, during the Awards Ceremony in Long Beach. #ASRS2025

Who's joining us at #ASRS2025 in Long Beach? Do you still need to register? Rates increase on July 15, so don't delay. Visit https://lnkd.in/gjEuEmrm to secure your spot! This year’s meeting program features several new program offerings to maximize your educational experience, spark new conversations, and create opportunities for collaboration. The program features shorter podium talks followed by longer discussion periods and a new emphasis on investigator-led studies on innovative ideas that focus on surgical-oriented techniques, instrumentation, and outcomes. On July 30, the meeting opens with the new ASRS Surgical Retina Summit featuring a battle of the continents with notable retina surgeons from Europe, Asia, and the Americas discussing surgical techniques and technologies used across the globe. This will be followed by a high-octane expert panel debate. Also new for 2025, roll up your sleeves and head to the ASRS Experience Center in the exhibit hall for hands-on lab experiences with some of the field’s latest surgical products and instrumentation from a variety of manufacturers. We look forward to welcoming you to beautiful Long Beach in just a few short weeks! Register today: https://lnkd.in/gjEuEmrm.

The Foundation of the ASRS has selected Rajeev H. Muni, MD, MSC, FRCSC, FASRS, as the winner of the 12th annual ASRS Presidents’ Young Investigator Award. Learn more at https://lnkd.in/gmNFUDwf. ASRS presents several awards each year to recognize excellence and innovation in the field of retina. Congratulations to this year's recipients who will receive their awards on Friday, August 1, during the Awards Ceremony in Long Beach. #ASRS2025

@Specialtydocs are coming to Capitol Hill! Follow us as we advocate for greater access to specialty care, including reforms to Prior Auth, Medicare Advantage, GME, and Medicare Physician Reimbursement. Details here: https://bit.ly/44sUgVC #ASMFLYIN

In a newly published ASRS Milestones in Retina panel discussion, host Dr. Christina Weng traces the remarkable story of the development of optical coherence tomography (OCT) through first-hand accounts from leading pioneers Drs. James G. Fujimoto, David Huang, Jay S. Duker and David Sarraf. Listen in as the group discusses the discovery of OCT, which constituted a quantum leap in the evolution of the field of retina and ophthalmology. Today’s retina specialists can’t imagine practicing without OCT imaging. It’s one of the first diagnostic tests obtained for the vast majority of patients, and is essential for the diagnosis and management of the most common retinal diseases, as well as the rarest. Click here to watch the full video now: https://lnkd.in/gweEX_Ea. You can access even more insightful Milestones in Retina videos and other History of Retina content on the History of Retina website (www.HistoryofRetina.org) and ASRS YouTube channel. If you'd rather listen on the go, download episodes on Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other popular podcast directories.