The Tear Film and Ocular Surface Society Governing Board
Management Board
Officers
Board of Governors
The board of directors (the "Governing Board") is composed of nine persons. Each of the initial governing board members shall serve until the position is filled by election by membership. The first election was held in 2001. The President, Vice-President, Treasurer and Secretary of the Society shall serve as permanent Governing Board members. The President of the Society shall be Chairman of the Governing Board. Governance of the corporation shall be based in North America but represented internationally. Therefore, at least five members if the Governing Board shall be from North America, at least one from Europe/Africa, and at least one from Australia/Asia. If there is any vacancy within the Society officers it shall be filled by the Board members then serving. Other than members of the initial Governing Board, Board members shall hold office for four years, except for Treasurer who shall serve a term of five years; terms of office shall be staggered so that a proportion of the Board members will be replaced early.
President
Dr. David A. Sullivan
Schepens Eye Research Institute, USA
Dr. David A. Sullivan, a Ph.D. graduate of Dartmouth Medical School, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School and a Senior Scientist at The Schepens Eye Research Institute, Boston, MA. During the past 20 years, his laboratory's research has focused upon the: (1) development of potential hormone therapies for the treatment of dry eye syndromes; (2) determination of the nature, impact and mechanisms involved in the sex steroid regulation of the lacrimal and meibomian glands, as well as the interrelationships between sex, sex steroids and dry eye syndromes; and (3) clarification of the innate, immunological circuitry, as well as the functional role, of the secretory immune system of the eye. This research has led to the generation of USA Phase II clinical trials, which are now being conducted by Allergan to evaluate the efficacy of topical androgens for the treatment of aqueous-deficient and evaporative dry eye.
Dr. Sullivan is the President and a Founder of the international Tear Film & Ocular Surface Society and recently served as the Chairperson of the Medical and Scientific Advisory Board of the Sjogren's Syndrome Foundation. He has directed the 1992, 1996 and 2000 International Conference on the Lacrimal Gland, Tear Film and Dry Eye Syndromes: Basic Science and Clinical Relevance and is currently involved in organizing the 2004 Conference. Dr. Sullivan has acted as a reviewer for research grant proposals for NIH, the Concerted Action Program of the Ministry of Education of Flanders and the Veterans' Administration, served on the Fellowship Review Panel for the Fight for Sight Research Division of the National Society to Prevent Blindness, and assisted as an editorial referee for numerous ophthalmic, immune and endocrine journals. He has also served as a preceptor for 18 postdoctoral fellows and acted as a Chairman of the Graduate Education Committee of the Dartmouth Medical School Alumni Council. Dr. Sullivan has authored or co-authored over 140 scientific articles and is a co-editor of 3 books on dry eye syndromes.
Vice-President
Dr. Michael E. Stern
Allergan, Inc., USA
Michael E. Stern is a Research Investigator for Allergan, Inc. Dr. Stern is responsible for developing and managing the Ocular Surface Disease Program, a research program which covers activities regarding healing of the ocular surface and dry eye research. He has pursued research both in-house and through collaboration resulting in the recommendation to pursue development of topical cyclosporine as well as topical androgens (collaboration with Dr. David A. Sullivan - SERI, Harvard Medical School). Additionally, this position has resulted in allowing Dr. Stern to present scientific information to the FDA and Ministries of Health in Sweden and Great Britain. Dr. Stern is Vice President and a Founder of the Tear Film & Ocular Surface Society.
Dr. Stern received a B.S. from Purdue University, a M.S. and a PhD. in Physiology from the Medical College of Wisconsin. He was a Graduate Assistant in Biology at William Paterson College and he had fellowship training in Physiology at the Medical College of Wisconsin.
Dr. Stern is a member of numerous national and international professional and research organizations, including the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, the International Ocular Inflammation Society and the Wound Healing Society. In addition, he is a member of the Sjogren's Syndrome Foundation Medical & Scientific Advisory Board. Internationally recognized, Dr. Stern is a frequently invited speaker at worldwide symposia and conferences. Dr. Stern has authored over 30 publications and is currently a Member of the Editorial Board for The Ocular Surface (Review Journal). Moreover, he served as a Co-Director of the 3rd International Conference on the Lacrimal Gland, Tear Film & Dry Eye Sydromes: Basic Science and Clinical Relevance (Maui 2000).
Treasurer
Dr. Darlene Dartt
Schepens Eye Research Institute, USA
Darlene A. Dartt is an Associate Professor of Ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School. In addition, she is the Acting Director of Research at The Schepens Eye Research Institute. She is active in the investigation of the regulation of secretion in normal and diseased lacrimal glands. Dr. Dartt is Treasurer and a Founder of the Tear Film & Ocular Surface Society.
Dr. Darrt received an A.B. from Barnard College of Columbia University, NY, and a PhD. in Physiology from the University of Pennsylvania, PA. She followed with a fellowship at the Institute of Medical Physiology C, University of Copenhagen, Denmark. Dr. Dartt came to Boston for additional fellowship training in Physiology at Tufts University School of Medicine, where she was subsequently appointed Research Assistant Professor of Physiology.
Dr. Dartt is a member of numerous national and international professional and research organizations, including the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, American Society for Cell Biology and the International Society for Contact Lens Research. In addition, she is the Leader of the Research Planning and Review Committee at Schepens Eye Research Institute. Dr. Dartt has authored numerous peer-reviewed articles as well as served as editor to many industry-leading publications. Moreover, she served as a Co-Director for the International Conferences on the Lacrimal Gland, Tear Film & Dry Eye Sydromes: Basic Science and Clinical Relevance (Bermuda 1992, 1996 and Maui 2000).
Secretary
Dr. Stephen Pflugfelder
Cullen Eye Institute, USA
Stephen C. Pflugfelder is a Professor for the Department of Ophthalmology, Cullen Eye Institute, Baylor College of Medicine. Currently, he is Secretary for the Tear Film & Ocular Surface Society.
Dr. Pflugfelder received a B.A. from Colgate University and a M.D. from SUNY-Upstate Medical College. He did his residency in Ophthalmology with the Department of Ophthalmology, Cullen Eye Institute, Baylor College of Medicine and had fellowship training in Cornea and External Disease at the Department of Ophthalmology, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami School of Medicine.
Dr. Pflugfelder is a member of numerous national and international professional and research organizations, including the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, the National Board of Medical Examiners, the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the Executive Committee Florida Society of Ophthalmology. In addition, he is a member of the Sjogren's Syndrome Association Medical Advisory Board. Internationally recognized, Dr. Pflugfelder is a frequently invited speaker at worldwide symposia and conferences. Dr. Pflugfelder has authored over 130 publications and is currently a Member of the Editorial Board for Cornea, for Ocular and Cutaneous Toxicology and a guest editor for Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science. Moreover, he served on the Executive Board for the International Conference on the Lacrimal Gland, Tear Film & Dry Eye Sydromes: Basic Science and Clinical Relevance (Maui 2000).
Dr. Anthony Bron
Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, University of Oxford, England
Anthony J. Bron is a Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology and Head of Department of Ophthalmology for the University of Oxford. His early training was in physiology and medicine at Guy's Hospital in London, after which, between 1964 and 1965, he completed a research fellowship at the Wilmer Institute in Baltimore. His residency training was in Moorfields Eye Hospital, London. Professor Bron's interests are in external diseases of the eye, including corneal healing, dry eye and ocular infection. He also has a major interest in the causes of cataract and glaucoma and in certain inherited ocular diseases. Professor Bron is on the Governing Board for the Tear Film & Ocular Surface Society.
At various times, Professor Bron has served as President of the Ophthalmic Section of the Royal Society of Medicine in London, Chairman of the Association of Eye Research and Vice-President of JERMOV (Joint Eye Research Meetings in Ophthalmology and Vision). He is currently Chairman of the Corneal Section of EVER (European Association for Vision and Eye Research). He has authored over 200 publications and serves on the Editorial Board of six peer-reviewed journals. He has lectured extensively in the U.K. and abroad. He was recipient of the Castroviejo Medal in 1992 and of the Doyne Medal in 1996. He is co-author of WolffÍs Anatomy of the Eye and Orbit, Ocular infection, Lens Disorders and a student text on Ophthalmology. Moreover, he served on the Executive Board for the International Conference on the Lacrimal Gland, Tear Film & Dry Eye Sydromes: Basic Science and Clinical Relevance (Maui 2000).
Dr. Sarah Hamm-Alvarez
School of Pharmacy, University of Southern California, USA
Sarah Hamm-Alvarez is an Associate Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Physiology and Biophysics and Ophthalmology at the University of Southern California, School of Pharmacy. Dr. Hamm-Alvarez has a particular interest in cytoskeleton and membrane trafficking; epithelial cell biology; signal transduction; viral trafficking; lacrimal gland; tear film and ocular surface, dry eye and Sjogren's syndrome; drug targeting and intracellular drug delivery. In addition to her position in the faculty of USC, Dr. Hamm-Alvarez also serves as Director, Confocal Microscopy Sub-Core, University of Southern California Center for Liver Diseases. Dr. Hamm-Alvarez is on the Board of Governors for the Tear Film & Ocular Surface Society.
After receiving a B. A. in Chemistry from Carleton College, MN and a Ph.D. in Biochemistry with a minor in Toxicology from Duke University, Durham NC, Dr. Hamm-Alvarez followed with a fellowship at Duke University in the Department of Cell Biology. She received honors as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow from the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
Dr. Hamm-Alvarez is a member of numerous professional and research organizations, including a position on the Advisory Board for the Center for Gastroenterology Research on Absorptive and
Secretory Processes (GRASP), Tufts/New England Medical Center, the Pharmacology Study Section (Ad hoc), NIH, and the Program Chair for the West Coast Salt and Water Meeting. In addition, she is the immediate past Co-Chair of the Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics Focus Group, AAPS. Dr. Hamm-Alvarez has authored a variety of peer-reviewed articles, manuscripts, and abstracts, as well as served as Ad hoc reviewer to many industry-leading publications including Journal of Cell Science, American Journal of Physiology and Experimental Eye Research. Moreover, she serves on the Editorial Board for Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews.
Dr. Janine Smith
National Eye Institute, USA
Dr. Kazuo Tsubota
Ichikawa General Hospital, Japan
Kazuo Tsubota is Director of Ophthalmology Tokyo Dental College, Ichikawa General Hospital in Ichikawa, Chiba, Japan. Dr. Tsubota is one of the leading researchers in the fields of cornea, dry eye, and refractive surgeries. In addition to his faculty position at Tokyo Dental College, Dr. Tsubota also serves as Chairman of the Cornea Eyebank. He is also clinically active in LASIK and retractive surgeries. Dr. Tsubota is on the Board of Governors and a Founder of the Tear Film & Ocular Surface Society.
After graduating from Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan, Dr. Tsubota obtained an ECFMG and completed his Clinical Fellowship (Cornea) Programs at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary. Upon returning to Japan, Dr. Tsubota was appointed as the Director of Ophthalmology at National Tochigi Hospital, Tochigi, Japan. Subsequently, he attained a position in the Department of Ophthalmology at Tokyo Dental College as Chairperson.
Dr. Tsubota is a member of numerous national and international professional and research organizations, including the Founder and Board Member of Sjogren's Syndrome Association Japan, a Medical Advisory Board member of the National Sjogren's Syndrome Association (U.S.A.) and an International Society of Refractive Surgery International Representative / Asia Pacific. In addition, he is the Vice-President of the International Society of Dacryology. Dr. Tsubota is a frequently invited speaker at worldwide symposia and conferences involving ophthalmology.
Dr. Mark Willcox
Cooperative Research Centre for Eye Research and Technology, Australia
Mark Willcox is Director Biological Research, at the Cooperative Research Centre for Eye Research and Technology (CRCERT) at the University of New South Wales, in Australia. In this role he manages the CRCERT/Cornea and Contact Lens Research Unit (CCLRU) Inflammation Project, collaborating with scientists from India and the United States. Additionally, Dr. Willcox oversees the CRCERT Biological Sciences Laboratories that involve activities in diagnostic and experimental microbiology, biochemistry and immunology. Dr. Willcox has a particular interest in the microbiology of the eye - pathogenic, immunological and ecological mechanisms of infection, including the analysis of mechanisms of bacterial adhesion to contact lenses and ocular cells; the complement pathway in tears; and the analysis of the interaction of bacteria with tear proteins. Dr. Willcox is on the Board of Governors for the Tear Film & Ocular Surface Society.
After receiving a B.Sc. in Applied Biological Sciences from Bristol Polytechnic (University of the West of England), Bristol, UK, Dr. Willcox earned a Ph.D. in Medical Microbiology from the University of Manchester, Manchester, UK. Dr. Willcox continued his education at the University of Sydney in the School of Biological Sciences for the methodology of molecular genetics. Additionally, he did graduate work at the University of New South Wales. Dr. Willcox is an Honorary Research Associate, Institute of Dental Research, Surry Hills in Sydney, Australia.
Dr. Willcox is a member of numerous professional and research organizations, including the CRCERT/CCLRU Executive Committees, Australian and American Societies for Microbiology and the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology. In addition, he is Head of the Executive Committee, Ocular Microbiology Special Interest Group of the Australian Society for Microbiology. Dr. Willcox has authored a variety of peer-reviewed articles, manuscripts, and abstracts, as well as served on the Editorial Board to many industry-leading publications including Investigative Ophthalmology and Vision Science and Current Eye Research.
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