ASCRS News: ASCRS Foundation update
Spring 2025
ASCRS Foundation spotlight on humanitarian efforts with Andrew Chang and Zeiss
The ASCRS Foundation appreciates the support of its many partners in helping promote its mission of eradicating preventable blindness through education, industry resources, and empowering the ophthalmic community to provide humanitarian ophthalmic surgery and care, both domestically and abroad.
The ASCRS Foundation would like to spotlight the efforts of Carl Zeiss Meditec and Andrew Chang, president of Carl Zeiss Meditec USA and co-chair of the ASCRS Foundation Industry Relations Committee.
Carl Zeiss Meditec, Mr. Chang said, is a business of the Carl Zeiss Foundation, which means at the company’s core is a responsibility to “accelerate social health and well-being through innovation.” He added that this incredibly important responsibility helps to guide the company’s vision and strategy. “Zeiss strives to create value for a sustainable society through its products and to provide access to high-quality healthcare to as many people as possible. Ultimately, this comes to life when we have opportunities to give back to the communities in which we live and work.”
According to Mr. Chang, Zeiss has been participating with the ASCRS Foundation for many years. Zeiss, he said, is deeply committed to charity work, both around the world and in the U.S.
Mr. Chang said that he and ASCRS Foundation Executive Director Abby Markward realized that they had an opportunity to increase collaboration and build on what both groups do well. “We wanted to accelerate our collaboration because we are passionate about giving back to this amazing eyecare community that we’re a part of.”
Mr. Chang said on a personal level, he is dedicated to giving back as well, in terms of his own financial contributions and giving of his time and resources to charitable activities.
He said that Zeiss and the ASCRS Foundation work well together. “There’s a lot of activities that we’ve jointly driven and accomplished together,” he said, adding that part of these efforts are to help align the goals of everyone involved. He referenced, for example, Zeiss’ recent collaboration with the Health in Sight Mission and Paul Kang, MD, who have orchestrated mission trips in Honduras. This is something that Mr. Chang personally took part in, mentioning that the Health in Sight Mission is just one of many groups that is working toward humanitarian care, and he looks forward to highlighting and featuring others who are making similar efforts.
“Now we’re doing even more to accelerate these efforts with the help of the ASCRS Foundation,” Mr. Chang said. “We’re using our communication channels to build awareness about critical donation and charity work, whether it’s people, resources, products in kind, or monetary support.”
Mr. Chang said it’s been amazing to see the impact. “Without our desperately needed support, there were rural areas where people would have gone blind and lost their sight permanently. It could be for the simplest reasons, and we were able to change their futures with basic care. Then the dilemma becomes figuring out how to deploy the same care in a way that is sustainable. I think that’s our long-term goal.”
As part of the ASCRS Foundation Industry Relations Committee, he said there was a massive effort to support sustainable care in the past by prior board members, like David Chang, MD, Jim Mazzo, and others. “This continues to be our job to try to figure out how to support industry and find other ways industry can get involved.”
Mr. Chang and Jeannette Bankes from Alcon are co-leaders of the ASCRS Foundation Industry Relations Committee. “Even in difficult times or despite shortfalls in product availability, we’re trying to figure out if we can still provide care to those in need around the world,” he said. “For example, how do we extend these opportunities to other industry leaders, so they can contribute to the work being done?” Providing the opportunity for industry leaders to get involved is key, he said. “Creating a path to do that, not just monetary funding but with donations of in-kind products or personnel support training, these are great ways that industry leaders can get involved.”
Mr. Chang said Zeiss is also building awareness internally about opportunities in humanitarian work because there is a lot of interest to contribute. “If Zeiss employees want to contribute, they are encouraged to do so through their community or through a specific charity,” he said. “Our teams are ready!”
He concluded that he’s also hoping to expand the connection with Operation Sight in the U.S., encouraging involvement across all 50 states, particularly in areas where there is a greater need.
Join the ASCRS Foundation at Party for a Purpose
The ASCRS ASOA Party for a Purpose is back again this year during the ASCRS Annual Meeting, and attendees can join the party “Hollywood style.” Attendees will have the opportunity to cheer on teams showcasing iconic movie moments while socializing with friends and raising money to cure preventable blindness as part of the work of the ASCRS Foundation. Attendees are encouraged to dress like Old Hollywood or a modern-day celebrity ready to walk the red carpet.
Participating teams will be representing a variety of movies. Neda Shamie, MD, will lead the Grease team; Zaina Al-Mohtaseb, MD, will lead the Barbie team; Daniel Chang, MD, will lead the Back to the Future team; Erin Powers will lead the Top Gun team; Carrie Jacobs, COE, will lead the Saturday Night Fever team; and John Hovanesian, MD, will lead a team highlighting Marvel movies. Go to the official donation page to support this year’s teams.
The event will be held at The Novo at L.A. Live on Friday, April 25 from 8–11 p.m. ASCRS, ASOA, industry/exhibitor attendees and their guests are welcome (bring your Annual Meeting registration badge for entry, and attendees of Party for a Purpose must be 21 or older).
The ASCRS Foundation would like to thank iOR Partners for its generous match donation of $35,000.
Join the ASCRS Foundation Lindstrom Legacy Gift Club today
Demonstrate your dedication to the ASCRS Foundation’s mission of educating, providing resources to, and empowering the eye health community to serve and deliver humanitarian ophthalmic surgery and care in the U.S. and internationally.
In appreciation of major donors, a personal annual donation of $5,000+ includes special recognition and access to a Foundation Lounge at the 2025 ASCRS Annual Meeting.
Gifts may be in the form of cash donations, planned gifts, bequests, a donor-advised fund, qualified charitable distribution, stock transfer, or a combination of choices.
Join today and learn more about the benefits and levels of support for the Lindstrom Legacy Gift Club and to make a secure donation online.
Make an individual donation by April 15 for guaranteed access to the Foundation Lounge at the 2025 Annual Meeting. Email Lrousseau@ascrs.org with any questions.
ASCRS Foundation Resident Excellence Awards
ASCRS was founded by young, enterprising ophthalmologists, and the ASCRS Foundation’s Resident Excellence Awards carry on and honor that tradition. Each year, the ASCRS Foundation makes 10 awards to enable ophthalmology residents exhibiting exemplary performance to attend the ASCRS Annual Meeting. The categories for consideration include research, patient care, leadership, and education.
This year’s winners are: Sejal Lahoti, MD (University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center), Delaram Mirzania, MD (University of Michigan), Enchi Chang, MD (Harvard University), Keke Liu, MD (Duke University), Andrew Duong, MD (University of Southern California), Suleman Khan, MD (Boston University), Esteban Peralta, MD (Duke University), Yilin “Eileen” Feng, MD (Harvard University), Diana Khair, MD (University of Kentucky), and Mélanie Hébert, MD (Laval University).
This year, the Resident Excellence Awards program is generously sponsored by STAAR Surgical.
ASCRS Foundation Young Eye Surgeons International Service Grant Recipients
The ASCRS Foundation is excited to announce the recipients of the 2025 Young Eye Surgeons International Service Grant. This year’s winners are Anthony Mai, MD, Van Nguyen, MD, Sana Qureshi, MD, and Imane Tarib, MD.
The Young Eye Surgeons International Service Grant was created to inspire young eye surgeons to become involved with global eyecare on a long-term basis. The grant affords the opportunity to participate in healthcare systems, including teaching institutions and community programs, in developing countries.
Working with the ASCRS Foundation and its international partners, recipients will develop a customized international volunteer plan that provides the opportunity for a young eye surgeon to learn first-hand the intricacies behind global eyecare efforts.
