ASCRS News
April 2023
by Liz Hillman
Editorial Co-Director
William Link, PhD, has been on the innovation side of eyecare for more than 40 years, so it’s only fitting that his topic for the Charles D. Kelman, MD, Innovator’s Lecture will reflect on the history and status of innovation in ophthalmology.
“There are multiple key stages that successful innovation must pass through. I will share my perspective on this cycle of innovation,” said Dr. Link, who specializes in early stage investing in medical devices.
In the 1980s and 1990s, Dr. Link founded and helped build two enduring ophthalmic companies. The first was American Medical Optics, which would later become Advanced Medical Optics, then Abbott Medical Optics (AMO). AMO was acquired by Johnson & Johnson Vision in 2017. The second company was Chiron Vision, which was acquired by Bausch + Lomb in 1997.
After this Dr. Link got involved with healthcare investment, co-founding Versant Ventures and Flying L Partners.
“During my investment career, I have invested in and helped build nearly 30 ophthalmic companies,” he said, among them IntraLase, Eyeonics, AcuFocus, Glaukos, Wavetec, LenSx, Oculeve, Oyster Point, RxSight, and Tarsus Pharmaceuticals.
Before entering the healthcare industry, Dr. Link was an assistant professor in the Department of Surgery at Indiana University School of Medicine.
In addition to his work with venture capital companies, Dr. Link currently serves on the board of several private companies and three public companies (LENSAR, RxSight, and Tarsus Pharmaceuticals). Dr. Link received his BS, MS, and PhD from Purdue University.
“[It is] a privilege to be selected to give the Charles D. Kelman, MD, Innovator’s Lecture,” Dr. Link said. “Early in my career, I had the good fortune to work with Dr. Kelman. My life and career have been impacted by what I observed and learned from this stalwart innovator.”
The Charles D. Kelman, MD, Innovator’s Lecture and Medal honors the work of individuals whose creativity has benefited ophthalmologists and their patients.
About the source
William Link, PhD
Managing Director
Versant Ventures
Irvine, California
Contact
Link: bill@williamjlink.com
