About Us

Our Staff

• Andrea Smith

  Office Administrator

  Andrea Smith Bio
  Andrea Smith

  Office Administrator

  Andrea is from the Dayton, Ohio area and has lived in Bradenton for the past 15 years. Along with her smiling face, she brings over 10 years of office administration knowledge to the Macular Degeneration Association. In early 2019, she was invited to join the association in a full-time capacity. She is responsible for the AMD Centers of Excellence program by working directly with the Executive Director and Medical Directors. Andrea communicates with practices and patients inquiring about the AMD Centers of Excellence and maintains the Centers of Excellence database located on our website.

  Andrea served eight years in the U.S. Army Reserves and possesses a sense of teamwork and superb communication skills which she gained while serving in several overseas missions.

• Lynne Henry

  Donor Relations Director

  Lynne Henry Bio
  Lynne Henry

  Donor Relations Director

  Lynne holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of Colorado, Boulder. She brings over twenty years of financial and business management experience to the foundation.

  As Administrative Director, Lynne oversees the Parkinson Research Foundation Major Donor Program.  She manages the daily business operations for both the foundation and Parkinson Place.

  Lynne’s enthusiasm and strong interpersonal skills contribute to Parkinson Place’s overall mission to play a positive role in the lives of Parkinson patients, caregivers and the community at large.

• Dustin Tenney

  Communications Director

  Dustin Tenney Bio
  Dustin Tenney

  Communications Director

  Originally from the Cleveland, Ohio area, Dustin has resided in Sarasota for the past thirty years.  With over ten years of experience in technical management, he joined the Macular Degeneration Association in 2014.

  Dustin oversees all technical services to include maintaining the MacularHope.org website.  He is responsible for final design of marketing and collateral materials and offers audio-visual tech support for daily programs and special events.

  Dustin provides a special touch for the Macular patients by making himself available to those requiring special help and assistance. He is a valued member of the team.

• Donna Auger

  Executive Director

  Donna Auger Bio
  Donna Auger

  Executive Director

  Ms. Auger brings 32 years of knowledge and experience in the optometric and opticianry field. In 1991, she became a licensed optician, holding certifications from the American Board of Opticianry and the National Contact Lens Examiners.

  She began working for a Retina Specialist in 1997, gaining experience and extensive knowledge of various eye diseases; including but not limited to age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, and diabetic eye disease. After 10 years in the field of retina disease, Ms. Auger followed her passion and love for educating patients and their caregivers about these diseases.

  As the Executive Director, Ms. Auger is responsible for developing educational programs and materials. She also maintains social media, writes all grants, compiles the website content, contributes to the quarterly newsletter and is a liaison to doctors within the optometric field.

  She said, “Macular degeneration can create multiple challenges to the patient as well as their caregiver but with proper education, adequate support, a better understanding of the disease and available treatment options; the patient will possess the tools to make informed decisions for their specific visual diagnosis”.

• Lawrence Hoffheimer

  Chairman and Founder

  Lawrence Hoffheimer Bio
  Lawrence Hoffheimer

  Chairman and Founder

  Larry Hoffheimer is founder and chairman of the Macular Degeneration Association, though his career did not begin in the not-for-profit sector.  Upon graduating law school, Larry  joined the United State Department of Justice as a federal prosecutor, serving attorneys general for eight years.  After leaving DOJ, he launched a career as a Washington, D.C. healthcare attorney, playing key roles in healthcare legislation.

  In 1999 Larry’s mother began to lose her vision due to Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) and eventually became legally blind. Larry accompanied his mother to optometrists and ophthalmologists, all of whom offered no hope of regaining sight, thus preventing her from reading and watching television.

  When many of his contemporaries were contemplating retirement, Larry set his sights on a third act, driven by his mother’s battle with AMD.  In 2007, he formed a not-for-profit foundation to educate, empower and share hope with AMD patients who make up the largest group of legally blind persons in the western world.

  Larry is also a living example that genetics plays a role in AMD. Early in 2018 Larry noticed a change in his vision, and because of his familiarity with the early onset of wet AMD, he immediately arranged an appointment with a retina specialist who administered the first of many eye injections of a drug that prevents the progression of the disease.  At that time Larry also learned his sister suffered from wet AMD in both eyes.

  As Chairman, Larry oversees the activities and direction of the Macular Degeneration Association.   Indeed, Larry is the vision behind the tireless and nationwide efforts of the association.

Medical Board

• Jeffry D. Gerson, OD, FAAO

  Medical Director

  Lawrence Hoffheimer Bio

  Jeffry D. Gerson, OD, FAAO

  Medical Director

  Dr. Jeffry Gerson graduated from Indiana University School of Optometry in 1997, after which he went on to do a VA residency concentrating in low vision and ocular disease. He has been in several different practice settings, including a retina referral practice where he participated in several large clinical trials.

  Currently, Dr Gerson is in private practice that is a collaboration of both ODs and MDs. He sees primary care patients and has an emphasis on retinal care in his practice. He enjoys having 4th year optometry interns with him and the challenges that they present. He still participates in clinical trials and utilizes many different diagnostic modalities.

  Dr. Gerson is a frequent lecturer in the US and abroad, and writes regularly for optometric publications. When not at work, he enjoys travelling, working out and spending time with his family.

• Mile Brujic, OD, FAAO

  Mile Brujic, OD, FAAO Bio

  Mile Brujic, OD, FAAO

  Mile Brujic, OD, FAAO is a 2002 graduate of the New England College of Optometry.  He is a partner of Premier Vision Group, a successful four location optometric practice in Northwest Ohio.  He practices full scope optometry with an emphasis on ocular disease management of the anterior segment and specialty contact lenses.  He is active at all levels of organized optometry.  Dr. Brujic is on the editorial board for a number of optometric publications.  He has published over 400 articles and has given over 1800 lectures, both nationally and internationally on contemporary topics in eye care.

• A. Paul Chous, MA, OD, FAAO, CDE

  A. Paul Chous, MA, OD, FAAO, CDE Bio

  A. Paul Chous, MA, OD, FAAO, CDE

  Dr. A. Paul Chous is an optometrist with a private practice specializing in diabetes eye care and education in Tacoma, WA. He attended Brown, UC Irvine and UC Berkeley. Dr. Chous writes and lectures on diabetes, nutrition, and AMD in the US and internationally, and is thrilled to be on the MDA advisory board.

   

• Christine Kay, MD

  Christine Kay, MD Bio

  Christine Kay, MD

  Dr. Kay has a special interest in inherited retinal disease and is actively involved as an investigator in multiple clinical trials at VRA involving Stargardt disease, Achromatopsia, and Usher syndrome. She was previously an Assistant Professor of at the University of Florida, and is currently Affiliate faculty at the University of South Florida. Dr. Kay was recently inducted into Retina Society in 2017 and received an honor award from American Society of Retina Specialists in 2012. She practices at the Vitreo Retinal Associates in Gainesville. They have additional offices in Ocala and Lake City.

• Dana Deupree, MD

  Dana Deupree, MD Bio

  Dana Deupree, MD

  As a retina specialist, Dr. Deupree focuses on medical and surgical management of macular disorders, diabetic retinopathy, complex retinal detachments and trauma. Dr. Deupree is a Fellow of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American College of Surgeons. He also formerly served as clinical assistant professor at the University of South Florida, Tampa.

  He received his medical degree from the American University of the Caribbean in 1983. He was a Harvard Research Fellow on a National Eye Institute grant in Boston with a focus on diabetic eye disease. His internship and residency were completed at St. Francis Medical Center in Pittsburgh, PA.Current research interests have included Rheopheresis treatment for macular degeneration being the principal investigator in a phase three FDA clinical trial. Dr. Deupree is the Founder/Owner of the  Macula Center in Palm Harbor, FL

  Blue Ocean West Clinical Research- is composed of a seasoned research staff at the renowned Florida retina practice, The Macula Center.  Specializing in retina research, BOCRW will continue to expand into all fields of ophthalmology and other pertinent medical fields. Doctors Deupree, Macoul and Lin are currently accepting new patients who they are screening for possible research trial candidates.

• Marc H. Levy, MD

  Marc H. Levy, MD Bio

  Marc H. Levy, MD

   Neuro-Ophthalmology and Orbital Surgery Specialist. Board-Certified Ophthalmologist. Fellowship Trained in Neuro-Ophthalmology. Fellowship Trained in Orbital Surgery

  Dr. Levy has been with Sarasota Retina since 1986 and is married with 4 children and 4 grandchildren. Dr. Levy was an undergraduate at Tulane University (Chemistry) and received his B.S. Degree (with Honors) in 1978 from the University of Miami. From there he went on to receive his M.D. Degree from the University of Miami School of Medicine in 1981.

  Dr. Levy did his Internship in Internal Medicine (1981-1982) and Residency in Ophthalmology (1982-1985) at the Alton Ochsner Medical Foundation Hospital in New Orleans, Louisiana. During his residency in 1984, he was invited to spend a resident fellowship at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute in Miami, Florida and study under J. Lawton Smith, M.D. a prominent Neuro-Ophthalmologist. He performed the first Implantable Miniature Telescope (IMT) in the state of Florida in 2002 as part of the multicenter FDA National Trial and was the lead eye surgeon in Florida. Dr. Levy is affiliated with Sarasota Memorial Hospital, Sarasota Physicians Surgical Center and the University of South Florida where he holds the rank of Associate Professor of Ophthalmology. Dr. Levy also acts as a team physician ophthalmologist for the Tampa Bay Rays, donating his time since 2013.

  Currently doing clinical trials with Samsara Vision on the new Implantable Miniature Telescope

• David Eichenbaum, MD

  David Eichenbaum, MD Bio

  David Eichenbaum, MD

  Dr. Eichenbaum serves as Director of Research for Retina Vitreous Associates and has been Principal Investigator in over 70 early- to late-stage clinical trials studying common retinal diseases such as dry and wet macular degeneration, diabetic eye disease, and retinal vascular disease. Dr. Eichenbaum has published over 50 articles in professional journals and authored multiple textbook chapters and continues to passionately contribute to the current retinal literature. Dr. Eichenbaum presents data internationally and is a regular abstract presenter at the American Society of Retinal Specialists, American Academy of Ophthalmology, the Association of Research and Vision in Ophthalmology, and at the prestigious invitational Retina Society meeting. He serves on numerous Clinical and Scientific Advisory Boards and National Steering Committees for clinical research. Under Dr. Eichenbaum’s direction, Retina Vitreous Associates of Florida has been recognized nationally as a cutting-edge research site for the advancement of the retinal specialty.

• Jeremiah Brown, Jr., MS, MD

  Jeremiah Brown, Jr., MS, MD Bio

  Jeremiah Brown, Jr., MS, MD

  Dr. Jeremiah Brown, Jr. is a board-certified Ophthalmologist with more than 20 years of practice experience as a Vitreoretinal Surgeon. He is devoted to diagnosing, treating and researching diseases of the retina and vitreous. Dr. Brown is motivated by the satisfaction and rewarding sense of accomplishment from preserving vision in his patients. It is this feeling that drives his clinical practice and his desire to research and be a part of developing new treatments for his patients. Dr. Brown is dedicated to remaining on the cutting edge of technology in order to provide the most effective results for his patients. Dr. Brown held an academic appointment as Clinical Associate Professor of Ophthalmology at the UT Health Science Center in San Antonio, and served as President of the San Antonio Society of Ophthalmology. He is an active member of the American Society of Retinal Specialists, American Academy of Ophthalmology and American Medical Association. He has served as a voting member on the FDA’s Advisory Panel on Ophthalmic Devices, as well as an ophthalmology consultant to the U.S. Army Medical Material Development Agency. Dr. Brown has joined the Retina Consultants of Texas serving the following areas Schertz, Westover Hills & RCTX San Antonio Medical Center

• Joshua Greene, MD

  Joshua Greene, MD Bio

  Joshua Greene, MD

  Dr. Greene is Board-Certified: American Board of Ophthalmology. He is aFellow with the AmericanAcademy of Ophthalmology. He did his fellowship in surgical retina at Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN. He did his residency at Long Island Jewish Medical Center and internship at Albert Einstein Medical Center.He belongs to several professional organizations and has conducted over 100 teaching and speaking engagements. He practices at the Philadelphia Retina Associates in Philadelphia, PA.

• Pamela A. Lowe, OD, FAAO, Dipl. ABO

  Pamela A. Lowe, OD, FAAO, Dipl. ABO Bio

  Pamela A. Lowe, OD, FAAO, Dipl. ABO

  Dr. Lowe is currently Director/President of Professional Eye Care Center, Incorporated, a private practice she founded in 1992 on Chicago’s Northwest Side. She received her Bachelor of Science degree from Loyola University of Chicago in 1984 and graduated with honors from the Illinois College of Optometry in 1988. The college named her the Alumnus of the Year in 2002.

  Dr. Lowe is active in organized optometry and is a Past President of the Illinois Optometric Association. Dr. Lowe was awarded Illinois’s Young Optometrist of the Year in 1995 and Optometrist of the Year in 2006. She has been a career long member of the American Optometric Association and currently serves as Chair of the AOA Contact Lens and Cornea Section and is a Key-person for AOA Advocacy; she is a Fellow with the American Academy of Optometry and a Diplomate of the American Board of Optometry. She serves as Vision Source Medical Director in Chicagoland where she is an administrator for over seventy independent private practice locations.

  Dr. Lowe has lectured and authored on many topics including retinal disease, cataract extraction, laser vision correction and currently travels throughout the country speaking on new technologies for early detection of macular degeneration, dry eye disease strategies and myopia management. She has had the distinction of serving as a Clinical Examiner for the National Board of Optometry, Past Chair for the Illinois Department of Professional Regulation State Board for Optometry and Past-President of the Illinois College of Optometry Alumni Council.

  When Dr. Lowe is not seeing patients, she is active in her community as a member of two chambers of commerce and involved in ministries at her parish. She enjoys cooking, fitness, skiing, volleyball and is a food and wine enthusiast who loves family adventures with her husband and two sons.

• Rajiv Rathod, MD

  Rajiv Rathod, MD Bio

  Rajiv Rathod, MD

  Dr. Raj Rathod is a native of Orange County, having grown up in the Anaheim  Hills area. He completed his undergraduate education at Stanford University, received a B.S. in Biology. He returned to California for a year, completing an internship at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center in San Jose. His residency was completed at Washington University in St. Louis/Barnes Jewish Medical Center, where he received several awards for teaching and patient care. Following residency, Dr. Rathod served as the Chief Resident at Washington University.

  Dr. Rathod practices at Orange County Retina in CA.

• Leo Semes, OD, FAAO

  Leo Semes, OD, FAAO Bio

  Leo Semes, OD, FAAO

  Leo P. Semes, OD, earned his OD from PCO and completed residency at The Eye Institute of PCO. He currently holds an appointment as Professor Emeritus of Optometry and Vision Science at UAB.

  Dr. Semes has authored numerous articles, book chapters and posters. He is a fellow of the AAO. Dr. Semes is a founding member of the Optometric Glaucoma Society, where he has served as Secretary and on the Executive Committee and a founding fellow of the Optometric Retina Society. In 2015 he received the Educator of the Year award from the Alabama Optometric Association. He has also been recognized with the Dean’s Distinguished Service award (2016). Dr. Semes has authored and contributed to the AAO’s Clinical Practice Guidelines and was recognized as among the 50 most influential in Eye Care in 2015.

• Pamela Weber, MD

  Pamela Weber, MD Bio

  Pamela Weber, MD

  A graduate of McGill University, Montreal, and Pamela Ann Weber, M.D. went on to Columbia University College of Physicians &Surgeons. Dr. Weber completed her Post-Doctoral training as a Resident in Ophthalmology at the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary, NY. She completed her Fellowship in Vitreoretinal Disease & Surgery at Schepens Eye Institute, Mass Eye and Ear Infirmary, and Harvard University in Boston. Dr. Weber is a member of the National Register’s Who’s Who, a Castle Conelly Top Doctor and a Newsday Top Doctor. Dr. Pamela Weber is certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology. She is also a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, and the American Association of Retinal Specialists. Dr. Weber joined the Vitreoretinal Consultants of NY and practices at the following locations Shirley & Commack, NY.