Survey
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
Vision Restored. Lives Reclaimed. A N N U A L R E P O R T 2 0 1 4 Bringing Patients Back Into the Light As Boston Foundation for Sight moves into its third decade, we are proud that awareness and acceptance of BostonSight® PROSE treatment continues to build. This has been fostered by the success of our provider network and a rapidly growing body of peer-reviewed publications that attest to the value of PROSE for treatment of complex corneal disease. PROSE treatment is successful in 95 percent of those who receive it. For so many patients, it offers a way back into the light. We are gratified by the knowledge that our leadership and—dare we say it—vision have created a vibrant community of ophthalmologists and optometrists who treat patients around the world. Moreover, we continue to invest resources in a number of areas to restore vision and help our patients reclaim their lives. First, we are committed to offering financial aid to those who need it—patients who will otherwise be denied PROSE treatment. Also, we must continue to provide education and training to ophthalmologists and optometrists, while conveying to patients—and their families—that they can live full lives despite their difficult diagnoses. Finally, we aim to advance innovation in the design, customization and overall approach to PROSE treatment. With the goal of growing BFS responsibly, we have developed five funding priorities, which are featured in this Annual Report. These priorities reflect a commitment by our team at Boston Foundation for Sight—talented people who provide the compassionate care that is the hallmark of BFS. People make the difference here. That includes our great patients who support and nurture each other, and donate generously to help others gain access to PROSE treatment. Boston Foundation for Sight cannot meet the major challenges we face without your support. Vision is precious; it is the sense that we value most. With your help, we can provide a greater number of individuals with a way back into the light. Sincerely, Eugene A. Bonte President and CEO Gary A. Knaak Chairman, Board of Directors Fundraising Goal: Enhancing Our Medical Education and Training Programs Expanding and Supporting the BostonSight® Network Key Accomplishments for 2014 • • • • • • • Boston Foundation for Sight provided more than $634,110 in financial assistance to 168 patients at the Needham, Massachusetts center and an additional $97,500 in assistance to patients within the U.S. provider network. More than 1,175 patients worldwide received BostonSight® PROSE treatment. The Boston Foundation for Sight lab manufactured a total of 9,500 devices in support of PROSE treatment. The University of Rochester Flaum Eye Institute joined the BostonSight® Network. Boston Foundation for Sight held its second BostonSight® PROSE User Group meeting at the American Academy of Ophthalmology annual meeting. Boston Foundation for Sight continued its tradition of welcoming adults and children with Stevens Johnson syndrome to the fifth annual SJS Care Week. Over the last 25 years, 41 peer-reviewed publications have attested to the impact of PROSE treatment. Twenty-one of those were published in the last five years— triple the number from the previous five years. PAGE 1 Steve Corlett (left), director of lab operations, and Manoel Carvalho, lab manager, assure the highest quality in the manufacture of PROSE devices. Out of Severe Eye Pain and Busy Again New Hampshire Resident Is No Longer Defined by Her Eye Problem Each life has hurdles to be faced and endured. Karen-Lee Simpson has faced numerous, life-threatening hurdles— notably, multiple serious diagnoses that dominated her life for more than a decade. Ms. Simpson survived chronic myelogenous leukemia, years of chemotherapy, a stem cell transplant and a long list of other medical problems and complications. On top of these issues, she faced constant pain due to her severely dry eyes. “The pain began in 2004, a few years after my stem cell transplant, and it was debilitating,” says the Nashua, New Hampshire, resident. “Most nights I woke out of a sound sleep because the pain in my eyes was too much to bear. I had to put drops in my eyes every 15 minutes.” Ms. Simpson’s life also was limited by diminishing vision, so that she could no longer sing in her church choir and was barely able to drive. “There were aging relatives I hadn’t seen in years and who I missed so much,” she says. “But I couldn’t get to them. I depended on other people to drive me where I needed to go, including Dana-Farber Cancer Center for treatment.” One day while sitting in a waiting room at Dana-Farber and placing drops in her burning, painful eyes, she received the answer to her long-standing problem. “A man sitting across from me said ‘I have something to show you,’” she recalls. “He removed a PROSE device from his eye, mentioned Boston Foundation for Sight, handed me Dr. Jacobs’s business card and said ‘they’ll help you.’” Despite the roadblock of first needing cataract surgery, Ms. Simpson was soon in an exam room with Deborah S. Jacobs, MD, BFS medical director, who inserted a pair of trial PROSE devices and encouraged her to spend some time walking around. “I had such clarity of vision that I realized I had been virtually blind,” says Ms. Simpson. “Within 20 minutes, all the pain was gone. It was amazing; I was overjoyed.” BFS provides funds to pay for treatment Her initial introduction to PROSE treatment was followed by the customization process, which was performed by Alan Kwok, OD. He has treated many patients who suffer from extremely dry eyes. “Whether someone has ocular graft-vs-host disease due to a stem cell tranplant or severe dry eye caused by other medical conditions, when the lacrimal gland no longer produces tears, the eye becomes light-sensitive, extremely irritated and red—like a war zone,” Dr. Kwok explains. “Artificial tears will help, but for less than five minutes. As soon as someone begins wearing PROSE devices, the eyes quiet down because the environment over the corneas is how it should be.” Indeed, Ms. Simpson’s eyes responded quickly, and— motivated to return to a full life—she learned to apply and remove her PROSE devices in no time. “Before going to Boston Foundation for Sight, I went on YouTube and watched their training videos so that I would be ready for life with PROSE devices,” she says. There was another important detail: Ms. Simpson’s health insurance would not cover the cost of her PROSE treatment. However, BFS covered more than half the total cost. One of the organization’s top funding priorities is raising additional funds to cover the cost of PROSE treatment for those who will otherwise be unable to receive it. Those days at BFS had an impact on Ms. Simpson. “I met people from all over the world and from all walks of life who found BFS through word of mouth or a prayer,” she says. “I began to realize how much pain I had been in—for nine years—and how much energy it took to live my life.” Another hurdle to climb Back home again, Ms. Simpson prepared to drive to her daughter’s home for Thanksgiving. “I hadn’t been able to drive on the highway in years,” she says. After she arrived that evening, Ms. Simpson suffered an accident that seems incomprehensible: she tripped on the hem of her nightgown as she headed down the stairs, fell and broke her hand and wrist, bruised ribs and tore both rotator cuffs. PAGE 2 “I’m busy again and loving it,” says Karen-Lee Simpson of Nashua, New Hampshire, who now enjoys making jewelry thanks to PROSE treatment. Funding Goal #1: Providing Financial Assistance to Those Who Need Treatment “I was lucky to be alive, but I cried for two weeks,” she says. During her rehabilitation, which stretched to more than a year, Ms. Simpson was unable to insert or remove her PROSE devices. “The people at Boston Foundation for Sight suggested I put them in dry dock until my hand worked again.” By March 2014, Ms. Simpson was back to wearing her devices and is more grateful than ever. “I’m busy again and loving it,” she says, noting that her life is full—with providing counseling services, making jewelry, working out and participating in a TV program that is in development. “The theme is people who have overcome adversity.” Ms. Simpson knows a lot of about that. Being diagnosed with leukemia and getting through a long, difficult treatment regimen was tough enough. “Along the way, I suffered a stroke, had several surgeries, developed diabetes, was diagnosed with kidney cancer, had double-pneumonia twice and was in a coma for ten days,” she says. “While I was battling the leukemia and everything else, my eyes came second.” This is a familiar scenario at BFS, says Dr. Kwok. “When patients have battled for their lives due to cancer, as Ms. Simpson did, they learn to cope with their other problems,” he observes. “They’ve been through so much; they tend to handle the challenge of their serious eye pain.” “For more than nine years, my eye problem defined me as a person,” says Ms. Simpson. “But no more. Now, whenever I get the opportunity to tell someone about Boston Foundation for Sight, I pass it on.” PAGE 3 The Patient and Family Support Center The Kitchen: The Heart and Soul of BFS Funding Goal #2: Growing Our Patient and Family Fund “We usually suggest that patients spend time in the center during their PROSE device wearing assessments,” says Karen Carrasquillo, OD, PhD, director of clinical care. “While they are there, People stop in for coffee, a snack or a patients often meet someone who is meal, but they also go there to relax and already benefitting from PROSE reflect. For many, it is where they treatment, and they become hopeful, too. realize that PROSE treatment is going to provide a way back into the light. “For patients with similar conditions, The Patient and Family Support the kitchen becomes a forum for Center—also known as “the kitchen”— conversation,” she notes. “They develop is the heart and soul of Boston a sense of belonging.” Foundation for Sight. That is especially true each summer, “It is the first place I stop on my visits when SJS Care Week is held at Boston to BFS,” notes Gary Knaak, BFS board Foundation for Sight, and patients chair, who is also a patient. with Stevens Johnson syndrome (SJS)— children and adults alike—fill the room. It’s not a waiting room. It is a community gathering place where long-standing friendships begin and experiences are shared. PAGE 4 The Patient and Family Support Center often serves as a forum for conversation where long-lasting friendships begin. “Everyone gathers around the table, and we catch up the way a family does,” says Mariam Khawam, who travels from Chicago to attend the annual event at BFS. “It’s like a reunion, but you meet new people.” Ms. Khawam also knows the kitchen as a quiet place, which is what she needed when she first came to BFS, accompanied by her mother and brother, in 2011. A college freshman at the time, she had been diagnosed with toxic epidermal necrolysis (TENS), a variant of SJS, and had almost given up hope for regaining her vision. “When I first had PROSE devices inserted, I started crying because I saw my mother’s face for the first time in two years,” she recalls. Later on, in the kitchen, Ms. Khawam began to relax. “That’s where the healing started,” she says. “Pretty soon I was talking with other patients— people from around the world who had diagnoses I’d never heard of. We learn so much from each other, mostly how our eye problems left us emotionally drained.” PAGE 5 The Patient and Family Support Center is stocked with food and beverages and becomes an oasis for individuals who come to Boston Foundation for Sight to get their lives back. In the kitchen, patients reflect on their experience, make friends and are less alone. That is the point, says Dr. Carrasquillo. “The center originally was established because so many patients come to Boston Foundation for Sight from outside the region. They needed a place to spend time. It has evolved to become so much more than that. So many long-lasting friendships have started there.” NETWORK EXPANSION BENEFITS MANY Talented PROSE Doctors Head Off to New York and Texas The dual goals of expanding the BostonSight® Network and providing clinical education on PROSE treatment are closely linked. A steady stream of talented cornea fellows and optometry residents comes to Boston Foundation for Sight to learn about In addition to the presence of outstanding cornea specialists, the treatment of complex corneal disease and the benefits of PROSE treatment. Flaum Eye Institute is the site of Future PROSE providers from around the country also come to BFS for intensive research that may expand training as PROSE clinical fellows. the application and use of The most recent PROSE clinical fellow, Major Kelly Olson, OD, MBA, was selected to undertake the nine-week training when Lieutenant Colonel Evelyn Reyes-Cabrera, OD, who had served as the PROSE provider at Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC) in San Antonio, Texas, was reassigned. Dr. Olson is director of optometry education programs at BAMC and now spends about half his time seeing PROSE patients (see page 8). PROSE treatment. The BostonSight® Network added a twelfth U.S. site—the third in New York—when Flaum Eye Institute became a PROSE provider in late 2014. The story of how the respected eye institute, which is located at the University of Rochester Medical Center, joined the BostonSight® Network is unique. In addition to the presence of outstanding cornea specialists, Flaum Eye Institute is the site of research that may expand the application and use of PROSE treatment (see page 10). Moreover, a grateful and generous patient who received PROSE treatment in 2008 made a gift to underwrite the startup costs associated with Flaum joining the network. “This was the first time that research was part of the motivation to launch a new site,” notes Ilene Knopping, director of the BostonSight® Network. “Dr. Yoon has been investigating the potential for expanding the capabilities of PROSE treatment to improve vision in patients with higher order aberrations [HOA].” In the past, Geunyoung Yoon, PhD, director of the Yoon Lab at Flaum, has traveled to BFS to conduct clinical research on patients whose vision is limited by HOAs, complex deviations from normal vision that often occur in those with keratoconus. Dr. Yoon has developed innovative ways to measure these aberrations and, in an ongoing collaboration with BFS, found ways to incorporate HOA corrections into PROSE devices. James Aquavella, MD, a cornea specialist at Flaum, has been eager to offer PROSE treatment at the busy, diverse institute. “I see patients with complex corneal disease and have referred them to Boston Foundation for Sight,” says Dr. Aquavella. “I know that PROSE treatment is a great benefit to them; it’s been my goal for several years to incorporate PROSE here at Flaum.” PAGE 6 Funding Goal #3: Expanding and Supporting the BostonSight® Network A grateful PROSE patient makes a generous gift Flaum Eye Institute (FEI) now has a The chorus of support for Flaum to join the BostonSight® Network included Joseph Hanna, one of Dr. Aquavella’s patients. “Joe has a unique form of ocular surface disease,” he explains, noting that he tried several different treatments to address Mr. Hanna’s painful dry eyes, to no avail. “In 2008, we sent him to Boston Foundation for Sight so that he could receive PROSE treatment.” PROSE treatment exam room, thanks to a generous gift from Joseph and Linda Hanna. Gathering to see the new room are (left to right) Tara Vaz, OD, Steven Feldon, MD, FEI director, “My vision was fine,” Mr. Hanna explains. “By healing the ocular surface, PROSE had Mr. Hanna, James Aquavella, MD, and an impact on my quality of life; the treatment was very effective. In fact, the entire Geunyoung Yoon, PhD. experience at Boston Foundation for Sight was positive. The staff is so dedicated, and they were very good to me.” Before long, Mr. Hanna—a member of the Flaum Eye Institute Board of Trustees—was involved in discussions about Flaum joining the BostonSight® Network. “I saw what PROSE treatment did for me,” Mr. Hanna says. “I have friends with eye problems, and their lives are diminished as a result.” He, Dr. Aquavella and Dr. Yoon all lobbied to bring PROSE treatment to Flaum. Soon Mr. Hanna, who has made gifts to BFS, as well as Flaum—to support Dr. Aquavella’s lab and the ongoing ocular surface research—offered to underwrite the costs associated with launching a PROSE site, which allowed the institute to move forward. The first step was for Dr. Aquavella to recruit an optometrist who was enthusiastic about providing PROSE treatment. He succeeded in recruiting Tara Vaz, OD, who brought an outstanding background that includes research. PAGE 7 “By healing the ocular surface, PROSE had an impact on my quality of life; the treatment was very effective.” —Joseph Hanna Funding Goal #4: Enhancing Our Medical Education and Training Programs “I knew of PROSE treatment and have always been interested in it,” says Dr. Vaz. “I was eager to expand my depth of knowledge, and the research component at Flaum Eye Institute attracted me.” Training at BFS: invigorating, challenging and inspiring Dr. Vaz was impressed with everything she observed during her nine-week intensive training at BFS. “I was struck by how everyone works in tandem,” she says. “The turnaround in the lab’s ability to manufacture PROSE devices is phenomenal. It was an invigorating and challenging experience for me; I had to be on my toes at all times while I was at BFS. I learned so much.” Like all PROSE providers, Dr. Vaz has patients she won’t forget. “During my training, I treated a patient who suffered from Stevens Johnson syndrome and had persistent epithelial defect,” she says. “Multiple treatments had failed. But PROSE treatment worked, and she was so thankful.” When Dr. Vaz returned to Flaum Eye Institute, she began following existing PROSE patients, as well as consulting on cornea clinic patients who are candidates for the treatment. “In the early months, there were situations where I needed assistance with customizing devices and obtaining insurance coverage for patients,” she says. “They are so supportive. I have everyone’s direct line at Boston Foundation for Sight.” Dr. Vaz says she is eager to help spread the word about PROSE. “Too many cornea specialists—ophthalmologists and optometrists—don’t know what PROSE offers patients,” she says. “I have found out how rewarding it is to provide this treatment.” A lot happened at Flaum Eye Institute in 2014 thanks to the decision to join the BostonSight® Network. Promising research is being supported, new research is being planned, and individuals living in the Rochester area who need PROSE treatment can turn to their trusted and prestigious local eye institute. “I’m pleased that my gift has had an impact on the quality of life of other people,” says Mr. Hanna, who continues to be impressed with the BFS staff. “Ilene Knopping does an excellent job in coordinating the support at network sites. “People are benefiting from having PROSE treatment available in Rochester, and that makes me happy.” PAGE 8 A Unique Mission at Brooke Army Medical Center Major Kelly Olson, OD, MBA, Saw Miracles Happen at BFS At Brooke Army Medical Center, Major Kelly Olson, OD, MBA, and his colleagues see a diverse population of patients—not only current and retired soldiers, but also their spouses and children. “We have the unique mission of supporting war fighters by making sure they are ready to go to war and into harm’s way,” says Dr. Olson. A certain number of them, such as soldiers who have suffered facial/ocular burns, are candidates for PROSE treatment. After nine weeks of training at BFS, Dr. Olson is prepared to provide it. “The doctors at Boston Foundation for Sight who trained me were excellent,” he says. “I was impressed with the precision used to produce PROSE devices and, from the time I arrived at BFS, surprised at the frequency “When I was at BFS, I called my family every night, and my kids would say to me ‘Dad, who did you help today?’” —Major Kelly Olson, OD, MBA of severe cases they see there. I received a tremendous education through my observation and interaction with these patients.” Dr. Olson says he felt a bit spoiled by the first patient he treated. “She was a sweet woman from Vermont who had been struggling for a long time with dry eyes,” he recalls. “We put the PROSE devices in her eyes, and she was completely overwhelmed by the improved vision and reduction in her pain. “She started crying, and there were hugs all round. For me, it set the stage for the kinds of miracles that occur at BFS. When I was there, I called my family every night, and my kids would say to me ‘Dad, who did you help today?’ Providing PROSE treatment is among the greatest things I’ve done in my career.” As a military optometrist, Dr. Olson has traveled throughout the country and the world, including to Iraq, where he was based at Camp Anaconda during 2005-2006. The base camp, located 40 miles north of Baghdad, was one of the largest U.S. military bases during the war. Working with a local dentist who made teeth, Dr. Olson created prosthetic eyes for 24 children. “Needless to say, in addition to improving the quality of life of those kids, this became a source of goodwill with the local sheikhs and tribal leaders in the area, who brought their children to us,” Dr. Olson recalls. “I made 24 friends in Iraq.” Leaving base camp put Dr. Olson at risk for being mortared or bombed. “In Ramadi, I saw soldiers come in with catastrophic injuries and did would I could to help, even if it was just donating blood,” he says. “You develop respect and reverence for those soldiers who sacrifice their lives.” He also made plenty of friends during his training at BFS. “I consider everyone at BFS to be my friends, as well as my colleagues,” he says. “I know that if I need their help with a clinical problem, they’ll be there to solve it. Mostly, I will never forget the compassion they have for their patients.” Making friends in Iraq Dr. Olson found an unexpected role to play while in Iraq. “I was aware of children who had lost an eye,” he says. “I took an elective course on fabricating prosthetic eyes when I was in optometry school, never knowing if I would ever use that skill.” PAGE 9 RESEARCH ON PROSE IS INCREASINGLY DIVERSE Many Studies Are Performed at BostonSight® Network Clinics As more people continue to benefit from PROSE treatment, the amount of research devoted to PROSE has steadily increased. Past research provided clear evidence of the treatment’s impact on those with complex corneal diseases. Current research, including investigations underway during 2014, aims to expand the use of PROSE treatment to benefit more individuals and to make the customization of PROSE devices a quicker, more efficient process, which will reduce the number of visits patients are required to make. Publishing research is a good way to increase awareness and acceptance of PROSE treatment—an important focus for Deborah S. Jacobs, MD, from the time she arrived as medical director in 2006. “In 2007, two different studies were published on patients with ocular graft-vs-host disease, which was followed in 2008 by a study on our pediatric experience with PROSE,” Dr. Jacobs notes. Association Fall Educational Symposium meeting,” says Dr. Jacobs, adding that his abstract received second prize. His report also was selected by the American Academy of Ophthalmology for presentation at its annual meeting in October 2014. Research may lead to expanded use of PROSE devices The number of peer-reviewed scientific publications on PROSE treatment continues to rise, thanks to the efforts of investigators within BFS’s BostonSight® Network. “This is a strong trend at several of the network sites, where our colleagues have published some outstanding papers,” says Dr. Jacobs. “Their independent research validates what we do at BFS and further increases awareness of PROSE treatment.” The first network paper appeared in 2010, when colleagues at Alkek Eye Center, Baylor College of Medicine, published a paper on PROSE treatment for patients with neurotrophic keratitis due to shingles. “By 2010, the first truly prospective Since then, numerous other reports have study—one that followed a group of emerged, including from investigators patients over time—was published. This at Brooke Army Medical Center in San project, conducted in collaboration with Antonio, Texas; at the USC Eye Institute in the Schneider Institutes for Health Policy at Los Angeles, California; and at Sankara Brandeis University, measured the impact Nethralaya and L.V. Prasad Institute, both of PROSE treatment on patients and in India. established its cost-effectiveness.” In 2014, clinicians at the Kellogg Eye More recently, Dr. Jacobs has worked Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan, published with Joshua Agranat, a student at Boston a particularly impressive paper, says University School of Medicine who has an Dr. Jacobs. “Their research showed that interest in ophthalmology, on a study of the PROSE treatment compares favorably, in five-year impact of PROSE treatment, which terms of outcomes and risks, to corneal shows that it offers continued benefit as transplantation,” she explains. “Also, in defined by improved visual function in approximately 26 percent of cases where patients with complex corneal disease. commercial scleral lenses were “Josh’s work was selected for presentation unsuccessful, PROSE treatment was at the 2013 Cornea Society/Eye Bank proven to work.” PAGE 10 At the University of Rochester’s Flaum Eye Institute, which joined the BostonSight® PROSE Network in December (see page 6), research on improving vision with PROSE treatment continues in the lab of Geunyoung Yoon, PhD. Dr. Yoon has developed innovative ways to measure higher order aberrations (HOA), vision problems beyond nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism that occur in many patients with keratoconus and can be challenging to correct. Before Flaum was part of the network, Dr. Yoon and a post-doctoral fellow came to BFS to explore the feasibility of making optical adjustments in PROSE devices to improve vision in this patient population. “PROSE devices can correct HOAs, which interfere with finer vision,” explains Dr. Jacobs. “Some keratoconus patients can’t be fully corrected with ordinary contact lenses despite a clear cornea, and PROSE devices have great potential. Our colleagues at Flaum, led by Dr. Yoon, are helping push this boundary by extending this collaborative work dating back more than five years. Like him, we want keratoconus patients to get to 20/20 vision.“ Now that Tara Vaz, OD, is providing PROSE treatment at Flaum, Dr. Yoon has the on-site support he needs to customize devices for his research. Moreover, patients can now be treated and monitored at Flaum. Elsewhere at Flaum, James Aquavella, MD, a cornea specialist, has a longstanding research interest in the ocular surface and sees potential for PROSE devices for patients who have an artificial cornea, called a keratoprosthesis. “In some of Funding Goal #5: Developing Key Treatment Innovations through Clinical Research these patients, the surface of the eye is vulnerable, and their visual acuity is poor,” says Dr. Aquavella. “We are considering studying the use of PROSE devices on top of the artificial cornea to protect the eye.” of the eye beneath the eyelids. However, scanning the eye is a challenge, because the eye is in constant motion, and some of our more complex patients have difficulty even opening their eyes.” Deborah S. Jacobs, MD, medical director, Progress continues on image-guided customization The hope is that more accurate scanning data will result in a better starting point for customization of PROSE devices, ultimately requiring less time, fewer cuts in the lab and less cost to both the patient and BFS. As part of the upcoming clinical trial, which is scheduled to begin in mid-2015, several PROSE patients will be scanned with one of these instruments to determine how image-guided PROSE devices compare to those produced through the traditional customization method. “We continue to innovate at Boston Foundation for Sight,” says Dr. Jacobs. “There is no question that philanthropic support directed to research helps us. For example, the important Brandeis collaboration, which established the clinical and cost-effectiveness of PROSE treatment, was supported by a donation. The quest to shorten the current, iterative process of customizing PROSE devices through the use of ocular imaging is well underway. The goal of this research, now overseen by Chirag Patel, OD, is to simplify the customization process using optical coherence technology (OCT) or laser scanners to generate a 3D image of the eye. These imaging tools are being developed with grant support from the Small Business Innovation Research program. “Two companies currently are working on the instruments,” says Dr. Patel, who joined BFS in 2014. “Obtaining a comprehensive image requires stitching multiple scans together, and we need to scan portions “If successful, the goal would then be to make this technology available for use during the customization of new PROSE devices in Needham and throughout our network,” notes Dr. Patel. PAGE 11 and Chirag Patel, OD, discuss data related to the image-guided customization research underway at BFS. “Making a gift that supports research is another way to ensure the future—and the growth—of this important technology,” she adds. “It may take a few years to see the results, but fertilizing our research will bear fruit that ultimately will benefit many people.” BFS Strives to Provide Treatment to All Who Need It Boston Foundation for Sight (BFS) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit eye healthcare organization. Our Needham, Massachusetts, Center of Excellence includes a medical institute, a research center, a state-of-the-art manufacturing lab and a Patient and Family Support Center. As demonstrated by the income statement below, the majority of our income is generated from insurance and patient payments. As a nonprofit, BFS actively solicits gifts and grants to support and develop the foundation and fulfill its mission. We are committed to providing financial assistance to patients so that their lives are no longer lost to constant eye pain or limited by poor visual function. In 2014, BFS provided more than $730,000 in financial assistance to patients in Needham and within the domestic BostonSight® Provider Network. However, the aid required by our patients outstripped philanthropic gifts, which were lower than in other years. By deepening their commitment, donors will help BFS continue to provide PROSE treatment to all who need it. 2014 INCOME AND EXPENSES INCOME: Needham clinic revenue, net* Network provider clinic revenue, net* Contributions Rental Other Total income December 31, 2014 December 31, 2013 $ 3,105,238 2,136,430 509,578 300,000 73,786 6,125,032 $ $ $ 4,269,403 1,260,310 302,753 431,049 6,263,515 $ (138,483) $ EXPENSES: Program services Management and general Rental Fundraising Total expenses $ Net income (loss) $ 3,467,850 2,304,900 686,700 300,000 163,429 6,922,879 $ 4,091,546 1,507,816 304,474 421,883 6,325,719 $ 597,160 *Net of financial assistance totaling $731,610 and $719,927 in 2014 and 2013 respectively The information above has been extracted from the IRS form 990 and the financial statements of Boston Foundation for Sight for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 that were audited by the independent certified public accounting firm, Mayer Hoffman McCann, PC, Boston, Massachusetts. A complete set of audited financial statements is available upon request. PAGE 12 2014 BALANCE SHEET December 31, 2014 Assets Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents Accounts receivable — patients, net of reserve for doubtful accounts of $248,000 and $288,000 in 2014 and 2013, respectively Accounts receivable — network clinics Other receivables Prepaid expenses $ Total current assets Other assets: Restricted cash Deposits Total other assets Property and equipment, net Total assets 3,056,784 2013 $ 2,439,602 1,001,556 535,750 67,238 80,027 1,161,100 755,200 123,821 56,920 4,741,355 4,536,643 185,012 32,918 185,361 32,918 217,930 218,279 291,878 435,498 $ 5,251,163 $ 5,190,420 $ 1,012,616 $ 813,390 Liabilities and Net Assets Current liabilities: Accounts payable and accrued expenses Total current liabilities 1,012,616 813,390 Total liabilities 1,012,616 813,390 Net assets: Unrestricted net assets Temporarily restricted net assets Permanently restricted net assets 4,029,799 23,748 185,000 4,151,186 40,844 185,000 Total net assets 4,238,547 4,377,030 Total liabilities and net assets $ PAGE 13 5,251,163 $ 5,190,420 Thank You to Our Valued Donors The following lists recognize donors whose gifts were received between January 1 through December 31, 2014. Lifetime Giving Visionary Circle of Hope $1,000,000 and above $25,000 and above Bruce and Holly Johnstone Michael and Myra McCoy Kate and Seymour Weingarten Bausch + Lomb $250,000 - $999,999 Lorne Abony Nehemias Gorin Foundation and Gorin Family Endowment Michael and Myra McCoy The Thomas Anthony Pappas Charitable Foundation The Samuel Rapaporte, Jr. Foundation Kate and Seymour Weingarten $100,000 - $249,999 Frank and Diana Berry Harry and Honey Birkenruth Henry and Diane Bisgaier Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation The Charles Evans Foundation Bruce and Holly Johnstone Florence Koplow Avinash and Anuja Lele Marino Charitable Foundation Michael L. Nash and Carolyn Duffy Robert and Ruth Remis Robert and Beatrice Schaeberle Michael and Helen Schaffer Foundation The Abraham Shapiro Charity Fund Enid Starr, Esq.* Diane Tonna and George Tonna $50,000 - $99,999 Warren Alpert Foundation Evelyne Balboni Theodore W. and Evelyn G. Berenson Charitable Foundation Irena Bronstein and Eugene Bonte Charitable Foundation Bresky Foundation Comenitz Family Foundation LeRoy and Jane Crosby Sumner and Esther Feldberg Gerald Flaxer Charitable Foundation Howard Gorin John and Olga Guttag Ann Hintlian Max and Selma Kupferberg Family Foundation Paul T. LaRocca Michael and Donna Moskow Larry and Audrey Plotkin Howard Stoner and Dr. Carol Stoner Alan and Ann Strassman Paul Szczygiel *Deceased $1,000 - $4,999 Pamela J. Anderson The Aronson Foundation Lisa and Jay Berlin Marvin Berman and Ronna Finer-Berman Robert W. Best and Elizabeth Wanner $10,000 - $24,999 Thomas and May Chin Anonymous Charles Churchill The Barbara Epstein Foundation Merrill and Trudy Cohen Frank and Diana Berry Dennis and Jillian Corkum Harry and Honey Birkenruth Gertrude Crittenden Henry and Diane Bisgaier LeRoy and Jane Crosby Irena Bronstein and Eugene Bonte Sandra DeFrancisco Charitable Foundation Sumner and Esther Feldberg Cognex Corporation Gary and Susan Fentin Florence Koplow Esther Freeman Jane and Jerry Gnazzo D. Catherine Fuchs, MD Gerald Flaxer Charitable Foundation $5,000 - $9,999 Maureen Gillespie Edward and Nancy Eskandarian Karen L. Grossman Allan and Anne Greenberg Judith Gurewich Joseph Martini Rabbi Donniel and Adina Hartman Max & Selma Kupferberg Family Elise C. Hauenstein and Norm Abram Foundation Jon and Janice Inwood Michael L. Nash and Carolyn Duffy Michael Raizman, MD and Debra Raizman Douglas and Edythe Jablonsky Deborah S. Jacobs, MD and Peter Sacks Ronald Rock Joseph B. and Esther L. Grossman Charitable Foundation Michael Kane David Katz Jay T. Kelly Gary and Sandra Knaak Avinash and Anuja Lele Shaun and Kathleen Levesque Visionary Circle of Hope donors Michael Link, MD and Vicki Link Peter and Tina Locke make gifts of $1,000 or more Roger M. Marino within the calendar year. Their Barbara J. McNeil, MD Anna and Mark* Mergen, MD generosity makes a tremendous Richard Michaud difference in the quality of life of Helaine Miller Roger and Roberta Neal our patients and their families. The Donna Newmyer important support from these William H. O’Neill leadership donors helps us to Ruth Orenstein Charles E. Rehn, MD restore our patients’ sight, which in Richard and Deborah Sasson turn helps them regain their lives. Delia Bowman Sattin Clifford Scott, OD and Mary Scott, OD Paul and Josephine Sears Linda and Richard Smith Specialty Insurance Managers, Inc. Edward A. Tanzman Alice Trisdorfer, PhD Miriam E. Vincent, MD Robert K. Walter Scott and Jacqueline Wellman PAGE 14 Joseph and Susan Zienowicz Visionary Circle of Hope BostonSight Donors $500 - $999 Anonymous (2) Todd Birkenruth Cail Family Foundation J. Stephen and Linda E. Collins Jean and John Conners Cressey Sports Performance LLC Timothy Fazio Richard Grigalunas Sherri Hendricks Beverly and Philip Johnston Ronald J. and Kristine K. Kann Donald Korb, OD and Joan Korb, OD Janice R. Lane Nancy and Maurice Lazarus Fund John Maisch The Max & Elizabeth Blume Silverstein Foundation Mary McCune David and Dora Middleton Eleanore Moran Jerry Mulder David and Patricia Nestler Carmen Paradis and Brian McGrath Michael E. and Marti Partridge John and Sharon Poole William Pospisil Brent and Caroline Stone Carl Valvo and Mav Pardee Dorothy Waldron Steven and Sharon Weber Daniel and Rosemary Wywoda Zeitz Foundation Trust $250 - $499 Abul Abbas, MD and Ann Abbas, MD Kimberly Berry Carroll and Raymond C. Charette Angela Churchill John F. Cogan, Jr. Mary and Deborah Cormier Anna Cressey, OD and Eric Cressey The David Gopen Foundation Joe and Maureen Fazio John E. Fitzgerald Peter. W. FitzRandolph, MD Betty Lou Gallardo C.R. Grigg Heidi Joy Hodges Heidi Price Design Theodore and Ruth-Arlene Howe Charles and Joan Killilea Ilene Knopping and Cliff Kolovson Sharon and Howard Levitan Honorable Stephen M. Limon Mark Maciolek Margaret Mansfield Mark Martini and Family P. Mark Martini Bob and Donna Metafora Chris Moyroud John Mulder Joan E. Murphy Louis Pulzetti The Remis Trust Fund William Rodgers Robert and Susan Seyler Charles and Eileen Share Mr. and Mrs. Robert Strom Charles and Susan Tate Arnold Wallenstein Joseph and Erika Wannemacher Jerome and Joan Weinstein William Wright, MD and Joanna Wright Eileen and Craig Yarnell Under $250 Anonymous (25) Ruth Abelmann Lawrence M. and Linda M. Abramson Rao Addanki Lamia Adjout Martha Akagi Virginia C. Alden Barbara Amato AmazonSmile Foundation Seymour Andrus Richard Apalakian Steven M. Appel William and Andrea Arcuri Mark and Suzanne Aucoin Norman and Monique Avey Robert Awkward Zella Axelrod Bonnie Bader Jim and Patricia Bailey Ross Baldessarini David Baltisberger Janet Barker Kenneth Barnes Paul and Joetta Barnett Stephen Barry Michael Baxter Douglas W. Bell, MD Michael and Helen Bellas Kathleen Bellew Karyn Benson Iris Berent Joanne Berger Daniel Berlin Joan Feinberg Berns Scott and Katherine Berrier Alexandra Berwick Paul C. Bettinger Ann Bixel Richard Blacher, MD Evelyn Blanchard Jaxon Bobbitt Lindsay Bock PAGE 15 Mary Flair Bogan Raymond Boghos Alan R. Boling Ethan Bolker Kathleen and James Bond Constance Bonner Kathleen K. Bowen Robert K. Bower Nancy Bowers Donald and JoAnn Bowman Sally Sparks Boyd Nora Boyle Susan Brady Bill and Helen Bragdon Jack and Nancy Brennan Peter and Evelyn Brewster Robert and Marie Britt Francis and Linda Brockway Norbert P. Brouchoud Maurice and Karen Brown Jeanne Bruno Kathryn R. Buckheit Leslie A. Burg Karen Burgess Ian Burke Peter Burness Timothy Burnett Joseph Burris Ms. Nancy Naylor Busby John and Debbie Butz The Cacela Family Gerald Cadran Cherilyn Caga-Anan Faye Calhoun Betty and Joe Caplan Joanne Caputo Sharlene Carter Steven and Kathleen Case Marvin and Edith Catler Thomas and Jean Catlin Veronica Cavaco John and Ellen Cavaiuolo Anthony J. Cavanna Larry and Ann Chait Brandy Chambers Arthur and Carole Chen Diane Cimilluca Dorothy Ciriani Karen Clift Joan Cody-Wingo Jeffrey Cohen Richard Cohen Carole and Dom Colannino Richard and Julie Colon Molly Compton Lee Connors Nancy Cook Susan R. Costello Donna and Doug Cowan John and Robin Coyne Craigs Landscaping Inc. Robert Crane John and Holly Cratsley Ruth Curran Cynthia Costa Davis Eric D. Joanne Dayton Tom and Valarie DeFelice John Delude Robert and Julie Dempsey Kenneth and Marcia Denberg William and Deborah Dennett Jean A. Desmond Nancy DeSouza Mary Diab Li Diao and Haixiang Zhu Carlos Diaz Gonzalez Amy Dibattista Albert and Elizabeth Dibbins Sandra Dick Jennifer Dickson Elinor DiIorio Renee Domegan Richard and Joan Donnelly Michael T. Dorsett Arthur, Janice and Lynn Drinkwater John and Lisa Dubczak Kevin Dugan William and Lori Dugas Mary Dunbrack Lois and Bernie Edinberg Phyllis Ellis Patti Englert Dan Eshet Rhea T. Eskew, Jr. Cliff Evans James and Catherine Fallon Henry and Kathleen Faulkner Roslyn Feldberg Sarah Feldberg Stephen Feldhoff and Margaret O’Meara Feldhoff James R. Felicetti Deborah Fenn and Stephan Steisel David Fenton Victor S. Ferreira Jacquelin Fiedler John Finn Luke F. Finn Lesley and Mark Finn Ron and Kathy Fisher Jamie and Dennis Floyd Julia Fox Janice Foye John Franconere Vincent Fratello, PhD Jonathan Friedman Sanford and Elyse Friedman Linda and Michael Frieze Anthony Fucillo Mary Furlong Betty Gerathy Jeffrey Gerson Edward Gibson Bob and Joan Gillespie Karen Gillespie Sean Gillespie Arlene Gilman Tamara Gilman Karen Ginsberg Edward Ginsburg Nancy Glazer Pearl Jeffrey Gold, MD Valerie Goldstein Sheryl Goodridge Anna S. Green Gary and Patricia Green Dottie and Bob Grodberg Aron Grossman Clarke and Betty Guilliams Sarah Gunnery Evan Haberman Sterling Hale Vivian Lee Hamilton Cathleen Hardisty James and Helen Harney Danielle Hartigan Christopher Hawrylow Anita L. Hayes Robert and Janice Hayflick Jordana R. Heller Deborah Hirsch Gloria Hitt Lillian Ho David Hobson John F. Hogan Marida Hollos Brad Honoroff Joan Hoogasian Ellen Hopkins Kenneth and Beverly Horn Michael Horn Shirley Houghton Lynne Hourigan Lynn Hughes Rose Hurwitz Barry and Doris Hyman Jeannette Iles Elaine Inker Ruth Isaacs Wanda Jackson Christine Jantzen Jeanne P. Valente Klavs Jensen Odell Johnston, Sr. and Carol Johnston E. Ann and Brian Keith Jones John J. Joy Barbara Juell Carolyn, Alan and Meryl K Karen Kaliris Robert Kane A.W. and Barbara Karchmer Barbara Karr Robert and Geraldine Kastner Joel D. Katz Leslie S. Kaufman Patrick Keating Margaret Kelley Carol Kent Dorothea P. Kerle Nancy Kim Ken and Melinda Kimball Howard King, MD and Phyllis King Suzanne Cook Kinsellagh Anne M. Kiritsy Judith Geleerd Kitzes Andrew Klein Daniel Kleinman Gerard J. Klingman PAGE 16 Elaine Knowlton Joseph and Dorothy Kosewicz Joan Krasnoo Michael J. and Ilana Kraus Bruce and Ruth Kuhnert S.M. “Terry” and Rosalie LaCorte Deborah Lang-Savini Susan Lanteri Linda Large Fred Lawrence Darrow Lebovici Keng Jen and Judith M. Lee John Lescher Alan Leventhal Wendy Levey Barbara Levine Martin and Sandra Levy Cindy Lewis Nancy and Paul Lidard Walter I. Lipsett Kenneth Love Jessica A. Love Jack and Maria Lynch Joan Sullivan and Larry Lynch Patrick E. Lynch Brenna Maguire Kathleen Malloy Phillip and Donna Malyak Lillian Mamon Anne Marcus Nancy and Jean-Pierre Marjollet Diane Marks Vivian and Richard Marson Andrea W. Martin Matthew and Margarethe Mashikian Daniel Massarelli, MD and Sheila Massarelli Mark and Catherine Mathers Patricia Matthews Daniel M. McDonald, Esq. James McDonnel Paul McDonough Richard McGanty Mary McGillivray Joan McGuirk William and Eleanor McGuirk Carol McHugh Mary McMahon-Chappel David A. McMullin Ralph and Ina Melen Sherry Widman and Richard Mendelson Nancy Mercado Tony Messec Richard and Joan Metcalfe Carol T. Meyer and Family Kalvin and Jan Milan Sarah Millar Joanne L. Miller Alison Moll and Fred Benjamin Eva Mongeon Richard and Roberta Moran Tuuli Morrill Steven Moskowitz Craig Mulvaney Dan and Debra Murray Josephine Napoli Scott Nascimento William and Rita Needel Nancy Nelson Carlos Neu, MD and Judith Neu Gary Newman Paula Nobili Willard H. Noble Merle A. Noll Mike Novack Cheryl O’Brien Mary O’Connor Carol J. Odman Alice O’Donoghue Eli and Bonnie Okrant Daniel Omara Miriam L. Ornstein, MD Robert and Marjorie Ory Kathy Owen Eltha Palmer Mairead Paoli Edward Parolin Neal Pearlmutter Beverly Siegal Peiser and Richard Peiser Kendell Penney Cari Pepkin Thomas and Sharon Perosky Augusta Petrone Francis Pettengill Steven Piantoadosi John Picerne Ellen Pichey, MD David Pillemer Tamela Hoover Pink Frank J. Pirrotta William and Sheila Pocaro Susan Polivy Carmen Puopolo Jason Puzniak Linda Racine Raymond and Geraldine Radzanowski Richard Raiselis Lyndsey M. Rawson Orlyn Reese Cintra Reeve Lorraine Regan Susan Regan Teri Piatt Linda Reichert Michael Reinhorn, MD and Stefanie Reinhorn Sherry Reisner David and Chelsey Remington James Reynolds Richard Reynolds Anita Rice Roberta Richards Elizabeth Riordan Charles Robbins Cesar Rodriguez Thomas and Mary Rogers Ilana Roman Tereso Saucedo and Luz Rosales-Lopez Beverly Rosen Karen Rosen Paula Rosen Sylvia Rosenblatt Cynthia Rosenstein and Marty Yespa Patricia and Leonard Rosenthal Julie Ross Barbara Rostosky Jacqueline Royce, MD T. Michael and Angela C. Russo Carlos Sa Florence Sacco Howard R. Sacks George Sahas Shahzad Saleem Andrew Salk Willem Maarten Samsom M. Santiago, Jr. Brenda Hernandez Santiago, MD Tedd and Ella Saunders Judy Saxe Joseph F. Scancarella Casey Scavone Robin L. Scholefield Sylvia Scholnick Mari Hirsh and James Schreiber Joanne Sears Marvin Segal Beth and Michael Sellman Joseph Sergi Sandra Shapiro Neil Shernoff Gene Sherron, PhD Christopher and Linda Shumate Stephen Shusterman Stephen Silk Alfred and Roslyn Silverman Michelle Silvia Karen Simat Devra Simon Margaret Simon Shobha and Kamlesh Singh Paul and Terri W. Skiver Spencer Sleeper Ellen R. Smith Kent Smith Quinn Smith Neal and Sierra Snider Marc Snyder Benjamin and Thelma Soble Dorothy Solomon Laurie Sparks Rosalind Spigel Karen Spikes Stanhope Garage, Inc. Marjorie Stanzler Joe Michalak and Judy Steen Merrill Stein Dorothy Steinbach Donald Steinbrecher Howard Stoner and Carol Stoner, MD Mark F. Straffin David and Lorna Strassler Alan and Ann Strassman Andrew Strauss Ann Strominger Patricia and Dennis Strusa Anna R. Sullivan James and Ruth Sullivan Joan P. Szczepkowski Nancy Tepper James and Carol Ann Thomas Patricia Thomas Irwin Thompson, MD Winston C. Thompson Harry Tily David and Karen Ting Myrna Titelbaum Louis and Barbara Tobasky Herbert Tobin Molly Tobin Sharee K. Tolbert Robert C. Tommasino Jian Tong-Clark Jan Tornick Thomas Toronto David Torres Willard Traub Sotirios Tsimikas, MD and Athena Tsimikas Richard L. Tuck Nelson and Lynn Tucker Samantha Tye Ted Tye Sheri M. Uliano UMassMemorial Medical Center Care Coordination Dept. Eric and Laurie Van Loon Julie Vanek Marcos Vargas Elizabeth Varley-Horan Victoria Vaserman Angela Veloz Jean M. Vnenchak Jeanne and Jim Walker The Walsh Family Judith Warnement Ellen Wassarman Kenneth and Femi Wasserman Brian Wasserstein Anne Weatherwax Herbert and Eleanore Weiss Irwin Weiss Monika Wellenstein Victoria Whalen Anthony Whittemore, MD John Wilkins James and Melissa Willis John and Sheila Wilson Richard and Frances Winneg Andrew Wolff Andy Wong Robert Woodbury Loreen Afua Wutoh Justin Wyner Marcia Yanofsky Judy Dunn and Stephanie Yonowitz Clement Zielinski GIFTS IN KIND Bausch + Lomb MATCHING GIFTS Bank of America BNY Mellon Cargill Chevron Corporation CNA Foundation Johnson & Johnson Liberty Mutual Foundation Qualcomm Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of our donor listings. If there is a misspelling, omission or improper listing, please accept our sincere apologies and call 781-726-7512 so that we may correct our records. Boston Foundation for Sight Board of Directors Senior Staff Staff Gary A. Knaak Chairman Eugene A. Bonte, MBA President and CEO Pamela J. Anderson Mark Ealey Gary S. Fentin, Esq. Andrew Hirsch, MBA Beverly R. Johnston Michael Kane, MBA Barbara Joyce McNeil, MD, PhD Michael B. Raizman, MD Clifford Scott, OD, MPH Kate Weingarten, MBA, CFA, MPA Eugene A. Bonte, MBA President and CEO Carmen R. Addario, MPAH Chief Operating Officer Manoel Carvalho Lab Manager Steve Corlett Director of Lab Operations Melinda Kimball Human Resources and Payroll Manager Ilene Knopping Director of the BostonSight® Network Olga Tomashevskaya Director of Engineering Sara Yost, MBA Director of Finance and Administration Pedro Araujo Alana Baker Artur Barbosa Ashley Brito Susan Carlyle Lynn Carter Samantha Cohen Rita DeFlaminis Yurly Fershter Kyle Fonseca Gillian Fontana Elizabeth Gibson Daniel Gosselin Yudit Guzman Melissa Hatch Sheila Kelly Bill King Nancy Lemist David Loomis Pernell McDaniel Marianne O’Sullivan Isabell Ofgant Henryka Paczuska Kevin Renaud Darlene Riordan Robert Smith Loren Stead Tara Stepanian Heidi Wolfe Medical Staff Deborah S. Jacobs, MD Medical Director Karen G. Carrasquillo, OD, PhD, FAAO Director, Clinical Care Rutvi Doshi, OD, FAAO Alan Kwok, OD, FAAO Amy Paminder, MD Chirag Patel, OD, FAAO Crystal Remington, OD, FAAO Design: Heidi Price Design Editorial Services: Laura Duffy Photography: Tony Rinaldo Kimberly McKinzie (page 7) 464 Hillside Avenue, Suite 205 Needham, MA 02494 781-726-7337 www.bostonsight.org